An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Crossing The Line
TSA’s security charade
Washington Times
In the past few days, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) policies have been probed almost as thoroughly as the elderly men and teenage girls subjected to one of the agency’s indecent “enhanced” pat-downs. They’ve come up short. TSA’s top man, John S. Pistole, testified Wednesday that he had no choice but to implement the security measures based on the intelligence he has on potential threats. Not that he is willing to share this information. It’s all classified, of course.
A more likely explanation is that the Obama administration is engaging in a classic form of bureaucratic backside covering. Should another Islamic extremist board an aircraft while TSA agents are busy grabbing sippy cups from toddlers and confiscating fingernail clippers from Marines, the agency plausibly can claim there was nothing more it could have done. After all, with nude photography sessions and stories of nuns and 3-year-olds being groped, TSA has made it clear it has crossed every line of common decency – even laws governing sexual assault.
That’s an oversight that at least one member of Congress seeks to remedy. Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Republican, introduced legislation last week that would strip federal agents of any perceived immunity from prosecution for their actions while handling passengers at the airport. The measure strikes at the heart of the present problem: TSA’s arrogance.
Consider the case of Oceanside, Calif., resident John Tyner, who famously refused to be scanned or manhandled with the phrase, “If you touch my junk, I’ll have you arrested.” TSA field director Michael J. Aguilar decided to get back by announcing at a press conference that he would investigate Mr. Tyner and perhaps impose an $11,000 fine. It’s now clear this threat was nothing but unauthorized bullying. Mr. Aguilar’s boss stated under congressional questioning that he had no interest in pursuing the matter. “I’m not aware of any instance where someone who’s refused screening has been fined,” Mr. Pistole said. “It is being reviewed. I don’t want to prejudge anything, but I do not anticipate anything coming from that.”
TSA’s tactics are all about bullying. The agency wants every American to enter a literal position of surrender while being undressed by an X-rated x-ray machine. There is good reason to question whether such devices are effective, let alone safe. The airport backscatter machines can easily detect metal objects on people, but they are quite a bit less effective at detecting chemicals whose atomic makeup is similar to that of the human body. Rational discussion of whether such machines do any good are swept away with the, “It’s classified” dodge.
In other words, surrender your judgment – and dignity – to the Department of Homeland Security because Big Sister knows best. One could only imagine what would have happened if the passengers on United Flight 93 had embraced this misguided “government will protect us” mentality. Likewise, it was the passengers on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 who caught underwear bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, not the TSA.
Allowing this rogue agency to demean and diminish the American spirit makes us less safe, not more secure. TSA must be stopped from its exploitation of fliers’ fears and doubts for the sake of expanding bureaucratic power. The current security charade weakens the nation.
Apparently there was a second guy this week here in San Diego named Sam something who stripped down to his underwear and THAT wasn’t good enough for the TSA and they arrested him.
Are you flippin’ kidding me?? This is getting WAY out of hand, and must be stopped! These asshats are NOT making us safer!
About time we start cold cocking the worthless cretins.
But I have no intentions of ever getting on a plane again. Period.
I have been on my congress critter’s site bugging him about this crap. No answer as of yet. I can’t complain to my senators. I am stuck with babs and diannef. Those two tramps have no idea about anything except illegal aliens and section eighters voting for them.
Get a load of this. But take a deep breath and count to ten first: http://gizmo.do/bH7ef5
– dan
Oops, I just realized that’s not an active link in my prior comment. What’s the trick on doing that, OB, do I just use standard HREF tags?
– dan
I feel sorry for the people that work in the shops in the concourses that have to go through that CRAP everyday they go to work!!!!
If I ever fly again, I may just wear a kilt and NO underwear; that way, they can do a visual inspection and not touch my privates.
It would be interesting to see the reaction of all within visual range!
Fixed it!
And yeah, saw that. And yeah…PISSES me off, big time!
To link, highlight, then click on the linky thingy on that tool bar lookin’ whatchamacallit.
Real technical, aren’t I! LOL
Brilliant idea Gary! Heh. Wouldn’t it be a hoot if EVERYBODY did that. *snicker* Mental image of their faces. ROFLMAO
It is time that the TSA and its parent organization, the Homeland Security Agency be simply shutdown. They are both completely worthless, do nothing of value, and serve more to harass Americans than anything else. They certainly contribute exactly nothing to the safety of America.
It is time to bring our Army home to defend America, and get rid of this pseudo-Army of thugs that are called Homeland Security. This was never part of the original plan for America. Go back to the Constitutional plan for this nation, NOW!
Doc, you’re asking a big gubmint bureaucracy to go away? Gracious sakes, that would put DC into total disarray! They wouldn’t know what to do if they couldn’t harass the bejabbers out of the folks!
Well, you know I’m all for it! We have enough government alphabets that don’t earn their keep as is…we wouldn’t even notice one less, but we sure do notice it when they add one more. Waiting for them to bundle ‘em all together into one HUGE big brother, so they can increase the intrusion, and completely take over our lives. Then hand the reins over to the most useless alphabet….the UN!
I think I’m getting conspiracy minded.
These procedures obviously violate our rights under the Fourth Amendment – no searches of persons or property, etc.
What I can’t understand is - why are people putting up with it? Even more puzzling to me is why doesn’t a federal judge just stop this invasion of our rights?
Sometimes I feel as if I’m living in the world of Alice in Wonderland. Everything is upside down – and the mirror is cracked!
Yep….shoved us all down the rabbit hole.