Wed, 11 Jul 2007 14:22:00
Water on a plane? Hell no, but that bomb is perfectly fine.
Federal inspectors were able to slip a fake bomb through a checkpoint at Albany International Airport during a test of the facility’s Transportation Security Administration screeners, according to individuals familiar with the incident.
The unannounced inspection by TSA officials took place early last week. The airport’s security measures failed in five of seven tests, most of the problems occurring at the passenger checkpoint, the sources said.
In one test, TSA inspectors hid the components of a fake bomb in carry-on luggage that also contained a bottle of water. Passengers are prohibited from carrying containers holding more than three ounces of liquids, gels or aerosols through airport checkpoints.
The screeners at Albany International confiscated the water bottle but missed the bomb. In all, the inspectors slipped four banned items through the main checkpoint during the test, sources said.
The TSA, which took over security at the nation’s commercial airports after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, conducts random tests of its workforce on a regular basis and failures are common, officials said.
Paul Varville, the TSA’s security director at Albany International, could not be reached for comment.
Ann Davis, a TSA spokeswoman, declined to discuss the circumstances of the covert test at Albany International.
“We don’t discuss the results because they tend to paint an inaccurate picture of the competency of our work force,” she said. “The tests are designed to be incredibly difficult and TSA does anticipate a fair level of failure.”
Can you imagine the arrogance and idiocy it must take to deliver that line with a straight face? “TSA does anticipate a fair level of failure. We realize this means that in the end, we’re utterly ineffectual and really, all we do is make air travel around a thousand times more stressful for the average person than it need be, but, hey...no liquids on a plane, right? That’s gotta count for something.”
Is there a more obvious waste of security money than hiring people with the IQ of root vegetables to screen air travelers using methods designed not to catch bad guys, but to avoid race-and-religion-based lawsuits?
Posted by JimK at 02:22 PM on July 11, 2007
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Categories: News, The Federal Government, The Stupidity Of Man
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Technorati: TSA airlines security
Comments:
#2 Posted by JimK 
on 07/11 at 05:10 PM -
It used to be that flying commercially was something kind of special--you’d “dress up” a bit--at least try to be presentable. But no more--I feel like I should go in shorts and flip-flops so that the proverbial strip search is a bit easier.
You ain’t kidding. Pro travelers will tell you: Sweats, slip-on/off shoes, no watch, etc. Wear nothing that has metal, nothing that can’t be easily slipped on or off. Sure, some of that is comfortable as all hell, but even in my limited air travel and 36 years, I’ve seen the airport go from a place where most folks were acting more civilized than normal and dressed smartly casual to a warehouse for miserable cattle dressed any goddamned way they can to make it four seconds faster to get through the TSA lines.
I really don’t see how we’re safer from all this if the bombs are still getting on the planes. All they’ve done is make the decent people MISERABLE.
Frankly, I’ve had it with being PC. Profile.
You damn skippy they should. Every single FBI profiler shoudl spend a few hours a month pouring over data and working up profiles for likely troublemakers. I don’t care if that means targeting *me* because of how I look or my blog or the price of tea in china. If I fit a profile, crawl up my ass with a microscope, just let the 88 year old lady or the woman from Kansas with three brats and a bottle of formula get through the damn line already.
#3 Posted by Sean Galbraith 
on 07/11 at 06:43 PM -
Security at the airport is about the appearance of safety to put people at ease with a level of inconvenience they will tolerate. People will, and do, tradeoff security for conveinence.
#4 Posted by Christian on 07/11 at 08:25 PM -
Penn Jillette (who hates TSA with the hate hotter than a firey sun, as he has been asked for ID while standing UNDER a sign advertising his Vegas show) has come up with a novel idea to solve all this. He calls it the “Kiss and Bacon” airline. Basically, to get through security you have to kiss a person of the same sex on the cheek and eat a piece of bacon. As those who want to blow us all to hell would find both of those totally repugnant, they wouldn’t be able to get on the plane.
I used to fly lots before 9/11, and can honestly say that some of the things they changed are for the better. Not being able to bring every bag your family has ever owned plus 4 Wal-mart bags on with ya is a blessing. Now having to get searched and your bag taken apart because high winds blew nitrate based fertilizer all over ya (the bomb making material of choice of home grown terrorists) is never fun.
#5 Posted by Astronomizer on 07/12 at 10:17 PM -
Security at the airport is about the appearance of safety to put people at ease with a level of inconvenience they will tolerate. People will, and do, tradeoff security for conveinence.
While I agree, to me, convenience means a choice. Whether or not to fly at all is a choice, too---but a major inconvenience.
I used to fly lots before 9/11, and can honestly say that some of the things they changed are for the better. Not being able to bring every bag your family has ever owned plus 4 Wal-mart bags on with ya is a blessing.
Also true. But at what cost? As I stated in another post, I’m 6’2” and 270. My “girth” isn’t the issue though. While some may consider me a “big” guy I know many men bigger than I. I do NOT fit in the seats--i.e. I have NO leg room. I literally cannot put the tray table down no matter how I cross or stretch my legs. The tray will sit on my knees at a 30 degree angle and hopefully I’m travelling with someone so I can share theirs. Ok, I’m ranting---and that wasn’t TSA related. I’ll stop now.... :)
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#1 Posted by Astronomizer
on 07/11 at 04:59 PM -
I’ve flown on the airlines literally hundreds of times. Luckily not anymore--maybe once a year now if I’m lucky.
It used to be that flying commercially was something kind of special--you’d “dress up” a bit--at least try to be presentable. But no more--I feel like I should go in shorts and flip-flops so that the proverbial strip search is a bit easier. I’m almost made to feel like a criminal by these moron campus cops who have the IQ of a houseplant. Frankly, I’ve had it with being PC. Profile.
I work in the aviation industry as a pilot. No, not for the airlines thankfully. Luckily I usually get to just walk out to my airplane. There are security measures taken--but usually by people who are actually in the industry who know what to look for.