Security Theater

2011

I have been calling it "security theater" for years. You take off your shoes so we can pretend something is being done to stop terrorists from taking dangerous things on planes, but of course, since shoe-removal is universal (in the U.S.), there is absolutely no reason to suspect that a terrorist will put something there. He will put it where the sun doesn't shine, and the first time they catch that we'll all be subject to rectal screening just to get on a plane. Then they'll sew it inside there pet dog and... well, you get the point. There is no way to stop all threats, and the things done are largely for show.

Steve Moore, a former FBI Special Agent and counter-terrorism specialist, says on his G-Man Blog;

TSA has never, (and I invite them to prove me wrong), foiled a terrorist plot or stopped an attack on an airliner. Ever. They crow about weapons found and insinuate that this means they stopped terrorism. They claim that they can’t comment due to “national security” implications. In fact, if they had foiled a plot, criminal charges would have to be filed. Ever hear of terrorism charges being filed because of something found during a TSA screening? No, because it’s never happened. Trust me, if TSA had ever foiled a terrorist plot, they would buy full-page ads in every newspaper in the United States to prove their importance and increase their budget.

Moore was a pilot for the FBI, and his father, also a former FBI Agent, worked for United Airlines for many years as the manager of security. He goes on to detail the flaws in the measures taken. He says he has had dealings with the TSA (transportation Security Administration) since it was started, and though he respects the hard working employees, he says, "I have come to the conclusion that TSA is one of the worst-run, ineffective and most unnecessarily intrusive agencies in the United States government."

The primary problem, he notes, is that we have unrealistic expectations. There is no way to detect every threat or stop every weapon possible from getting on planes. The entire process of running an airport and transporting people on planes provides too many ways for things to be hidden. He points out, as I have in other writings on the subject, that:

Toothbrushes, Popsicle sticks, pens, pencils, anything with wire (iPod headset), any metal object which can be sharpened, etc., etc. is a potential weapon. Carried to its logical end, TSA policy would have to require passengers to travel naked or handcuffed.

The TSA simply reacts to the most recent techniques or weapons tried by terrorists, which limits options, but never eliminates all possibilities. This is an expensive process, and taken to its logical conclusion, a policy of trying to be "perfectly safe" would result in so many rules and procedures that we could not afford the time, money or humiliation of flying. Moore says:

1. Nothing Al Qaeda tries will be caught the first time because it was designed around gaps in TSA security.

2. It is impossible to eliminate all gaps in airline security.

3. Airline security screening based on eliminating every vulnerability will therefore fail because it is impossible. But it will by necessity become increasingly onerous and invasive on the travelers.

His solution? In part is is to stop making TSA screening and other policies so predictable. I've written about this idea before, suggesting that shoe removal be required only occasionally and randomly. That leaves it risky for a terrorist to try to hide something in a shoe while reducing the burden on travelers. Other methods, not announced in advance, could be used at unpredictable times.

Moore is also highly critical of full-body screeners that look through one's clothing. They are incredibly intrusive, and yet still so ineffective. See the video on the page Big Lies for an example of hoe easily these machines are defeated.

If you read his post you'll probably laugh and be a bit disgusted at his experiences with TSA screeners, who have told him, for example, that his gun and bullets were okay (he was traveling on official FBI business), but not his knife.

This is security theater. It is designed to placate the public and keep a a lot of people employed.

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