Anyone Travel To/From The Us To Thailand Lately?

[robert121]

I don’t think that body scanners are that much of a need at airports. Terrorists are smart people and find unique ways to fulfill their motive. But if you are not comfortable with body scanner then you can certainly stay away from it and still if authorities ask you for it then you can call the manager or higher authority.

[lomatopo]

The TSA employs something like 40-50,000 scanners. They are low paid jobs, and thus attract unskilled workers. For sure you are gonna find a lot of bad apples in that bunch. Ya get what ya pay for....

You can research pretty much any large manufacturing company and will get the same crime stats.

Of course you're stating the obvious, but people at a large manufacturing company (not a whole lot of those left in the U.S.) aren't responsible for insuring that your plane doesn't blow up.

Look I understand these folks are a notch above 'french fry salters' but "security theatre audiences" think these folks in the spiffy, blue military-like uniforms are something special; the last line of defense between your loved ones and the evil doers. But they are not. My point was, after pulling just a few recent samples, that they could be compromised by terrorists. (Plus they seem to attract a higher than normal amount of sex offenders so having them pat down your 9 year old daughter might be cause for concern?) Having said that, the scuttlebutt on Red-Team activities is that the easy routes to the aircraft are not through the TSA check-points. 'Nuff said.

[craigt3365]

The TSA employs something like 40-50,000 scanners. They are low paid jobs, and thus attract unskilled workers. For sure you are gonna find a lot of bad apples in that bunch. Ya get what ya pay for....

You can research pretty much any large manufacturing company and will get the same crime stats.

Of course you're stating the obvious, but people at a large manufacturing company (not a whole lot of those left in the U.S.) aren't responsible for insuring that your plane doesn't blow up.

Look I understand these folks are a notch above 'french fry salters' but "security theatre audiences" think these folks in the spiffy, blue military-like uniforms are something special; the last line of defense between your loved ones and the evil doers. But they are not. My point was, after pulling just a few recent samples, that they could be compromised by terrorists. (Plus they seem to attract a higher than normal amount of sex offenders so having them pat down your 9 year old daughter might be cause for concern?) Having said that, the scuttlebutt on Red-Team activities is that the easy routes to the aircraft are not through the TSA check-points. 'Nuff said.

Understood. Plenty of large US based manufacturing companies left. And they are responsible for the food you eat, the cars you drive, the phone calls you make, public audits, etc., etc., etc. The TSA for sure does not have a higher than average number of sex offenders...just more publicized. Who cares about a sex offender at GE?

You are right on about easy routes not being in the US....they are outside the US. It's complicated for sure. But the TSA staff is just one piece of the puzzle...they are not the entire security apparatus for airlines.

Top 10 Public American Employers

Rank Company Type of Business Employees

1 Wal-Mart Retail 1,800,000

2 Kelly Services Staffing/Temporary Help 750,000

3 McDonald's Fast Food 465,000

4 UPS Express Delivery 428,000

5 IBM Computer Hardware 355,766

6 Home Depot Home Retail 345,000

7 Target Retail 338,000

8 Citigroup Banking 337,000

9 General Electric Leasing & Finance 319,000

10 AT&T Staffing/Telephone Service 302,770

Top 10 Private American Employers

Rank Company Type of Business Employees

1 Publix Super Markets Grocery 125,000

2 PricewaterhouseCoopers Business Services 125,000

3 Cargill Crops 101,000

4 Ernst & Young Business Services 100,600

5 Meijer Grocery 70,000

6 MDFC Holding Food Processing 63,100

7 HE Butt Grocery Grocery 60,000

8 Enterprise Rent-a-Car Business Services 57,350

9 Cox Enterprises Broadcast & Cable 52,800

10 Hy-Vee Grocery 46,000

[lomatopo]

Opt-out protests fizzle as holiday air travelers say bring on the frisks

Pat me down. Frisk me up. Take an X-ray of every curve and bulge on my body. Just get me to Oklahoma City.

That was the prevailing sentiment among airline travelers across the country on the day before Thanksgiving, including at Mineta San Jose International Airport, where the mood was calm and the lines were short.

"We'll do anything," said Fariba Mehran of San Jose, who was traveling with her husband, Jeno, and daughter, Talla, to Oklahoma for a family reunion.

"What's this stupid thing about a boycott?' asked Mehran, who said that in her native Iran, men and women are divided into separate rooms for modesty reasons as they go through security.

Read more: www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_16703330?nclick_check=1

Edited November 27, 2010 by Maestro
Added link to source.

[lomatopo]

Another useless, fear-based response bites the dust.

November 24, 2010

U.S. to Drop Color-Coded Terror Alerts

By JOHN SCHWARTZ

There goes another punch line.

The Department of Homeland Security is planning to get rid of the color-coded terrorism alert system. Known officially as the Homeland Security Advisory System, the five-color scheme was introduced by the Bush administration in March 2002.

Red, the highest level, meant “severe risk of terrorist attacks.” The lowest level, green, meant “low risk of terrorist attacks.” Between those were blue (guarded risk), yellow (significant) and orange (high).

Read more: www.nytimes.com/2010/11/25/us/25colors.html

Edited November 27, 2010 by Maestro

[lomatopo]

Why the TSA pat-downs and body scans are unconstitutional

By Jeffrey Rosen

Sunday, November 28, 2010;

The protest on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving was called National Opt-Out Day, and its organizers urged air travelers to refuse the Transportation Security Administration's full-body scanning machines.

But many appeared to have opted out of opting out. The TSA reported that few of the 2 million people flying Wednesday chose pat-downs over the scanners, with few resulting delays.

There have been high-profile acts of civil disobedience in response to the two controversial procedures recently deployed by the TSA for primary screening - the body-scanning machines and the intrusive full-body pat-downs - including software programmer John Tyner's unforgettable warning to a TSA official: "If you touch my junk, I'll have you arrested."

Read more: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/24/AR2010112404510.html

Edited November 27, 2010 by Maestro
Added link to source.

[Maestro]

Everybody, please, when quoting from an online news article, post only the first three sentences, followed by the link to the source. At the bottom of the quoted text, just write something like "Read more: " and copy/paste the URL after that. This is to comply with the principle of "fair use" and will help to avoid complications.

Thank you very much.

[lomatopo]

Frisky

The TSA spawns anger - and a new lexicon

If you flew anywhere over the Thanksgiving holiday, you probably encountered the new Transportation Security Administration “enhanced screening procedures,” or at least the news stories of traveler outrage about them. Now, in addition to the no-shoes rule, the no-liquids-over-3-ounces rule, the baggage scanning, and the metal detectors, certain passengers — or, at some gates, all passengers — are now subject to a new level of screening. This involves either passing through a scanner that X-rays you through your clothes, or undergoing a hands-on body search.

Read full article here --> http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/11/28/frisky/

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Note that for those U.S. airports which have scanners, ~ 20% of passengers are chosen for the scanner. Attractive, young women seem to get chosen randomly for the scanner most often. Not sure why? Also, women should not wear skirts or dresses as they may have to take these off to get the pat down. Also many reports that women's hygiene products (panty-liners) are getting extra attention. Lastly, experts say that the scanners would not have picked up the underwear bomber's "package".

[lomatopo]

The Real Threat to America

By ROGER COHEN

Published: November 25, 2010

LONDON — The full-body scanners and intrusive pat-downs that are fast becoming the norm at U.S. airports — just in time for Thanksgiving! — do at least provide the answer to what should be done with Osama bin Laden if he’s ever captured: Rotate him in perpetuity through this security hel_l, “groin checks” and all. He’ll crumple fast and wonder that 19 young guys in four planes could so warp the nervous system of the world’s most powerful nation that it has empowered zealous bureaucrats to trample on the liberties for which Americans give thanks this week.

Read full Op-Ed piece here --> http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/26/opinion/26iht-edcohen.html?_r=3&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=a212

[neverback]

Just for your thoughts:

Both Soros and Chertoff are profiting from the naked body scanners by way of the company Rapiscan, whose contract is worth $173 million. Lobbyists for this company include Susan Carr, a former senior legislative aide to Rep. David Price (D-N.C.) who is coincidentally chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee.

Former Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff was "flacking for Rapiscan (company that makes naked body scanners).After the undie-bomber attempt on Christmas 2009, Chertoff went on a media tour promoting the use of these scanners, without disclosing that he was getting paid by Rapiscan, one of the two companies currently contracted by TSA to take a nud_e picture of you at the airport.

Another notable connection to Rapiscan is leftist billionaire George Soros, who owned 11,300 shares of OSI Systems, Inc., the company that owns Rapiscan

Edited November 28, 2010 by neverback

[lomatopo]

Gotta love the picture on the TSA website next to "employment"

http://www.tsa.gov/join/index.shtm

Edited November 28, 2010 by lomatopo

[lomatopo]

TSA: All fliers are now checked

Every passenger who flies in American skies is now being checked against a list of people who pose a terrorism risk, Transportation Security Administration head John S. Pistole said Tuesday.

The announcement that 197 air carriers, including 127 that fly internationally, are participating in the screening program brings the TSA into compliance with a key recommendation of the federal commission that investigated the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Read the story here --> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/30/AR2010113006647.html

Not sure why it took 9 years to get this common-sense check in place?

[lomatopo]

Woman in wheelchair and underwear misses flight at Will Rogers, blames TSA

A woman who passed through security at Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport in a wheelchair and her underwear missed her flight Tuesday, and she said TSA denied her boarding. A TSA spokeswoman wouldn't say if the woman was denied by TSA employees.

She said TSA employees told her equipment detected traces of nitrates, which are used in bombs, on her clothing and luggage. She said a TSA supervisor told her to leave the airport and “come back tomorrow” after more than an hour of hand searches and questioning.

Read the story here--> http://newsok.com/woman-in-wheelchair-and-underwear-misses-flight-at-will-rogers-blames-tsa/article/3519691

OK, so she tests positive for bomb residue, or maybe she just cooked some bacon that morning, and they send her home, and tell her to come back the next day? <deleted>. If she's a terrorist arrest her, if not let her fly.

[lomatopo]

TSA rules could make 2011 a flat year for travel

Tough screening procedures may have travelers reconsidering their options

With the economy slowly rebounding, 2011 was shaping up to be the best year for travel since the recession began. Prices were expected to rise only slightly, and people were making plans to take a long-postponed vacation.

Don't miss these Travel stories

But now that the Transportation Security Administration has introduced full-body scanners at many American airports, and subjected those who opt out of the machines to an "enhanced" pat-down, the 2011 outlook has changed, say travelers.

Read the story here --> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40440009/ns/travel-travel_tips/

[Tinkelbell]

OK so now the terrorists can use children to carry bombs

..............................................................................................................

Nothing new about this.

Have you seen the tape of ' Beheading by the terrorists ' ?

Few years ago there was a VDO showing the 14 y/o boy doing the beheading on this Afghan journalist who the Al Qaida blamed that this unfortunate soul was a spy, working for the USA.