SEAFFLYER
May 4, 10, 9:51 am
GREAT piece!
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/05/if-the-tsa-were-running-new-york/39839/
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/05/if-the-tsa-were-running-new-york/39839/
Practical Travel Safety Issues - What if the TSA Ran Times Square?...
View Full Version : What if the TSA Ran Times Square?...
mikeef
May 4, 10, 9:55 am
A wonderful piece. Now, let's get the area at the Twin Towers rebuilt.
We should be taking our lead from the Brits who went through the Blitz.
Mike
We should be taking our lead from the Brits who went through the Blitz.
Mike
PhlyingRPh
May 4, 10, 10:15 am
We should be taking our lead from the Brits who went through the Blitz.
Mike
Just to point out that as late as the 1970's there were still some buildings in London that had been damaged during the blitz and which had either not been razed and rebuilt, or were still awaiting cleanup. Sometimes it takes a while, but WTC should have been an immediate priority - need to do something with that space quickly, even thought it will always remain a target of mischief-makers.
Mike
Just to point out that as late as the 1970's there were still some buildings in London that had been damaged during the blitz and which had either not been razed and rebuilt, or were still awaiting cleanup. Sometimes it takes a while, but WTC should have been an immediate priority - need to do something with that space quickly, even thought it will always remain a target of mischief-makers.
clrankin
May 4, 10, 10:26 am
If TSA ran Times Square security:
1. Half of the uniformed agents would be sleeping at any time.
2. In addition to SUV inspections, a force of FVMs (Federal Vehicle Marshalls) would be created. They would only randomly select expensive SUVs to ride in, crawl into the front seats of them, and fall asleep during the drive around.
3. FVMs would randomly get drivers to pull off into alleyways. When there, they would hire prostitutes and try to show off their shaved bodies.
4. Agents would have drivers randomly pull off at gas stations so they could run in and steal a slice of pizza.
Feel free to add your own...
1. Half of the uniformed agents would be sleeping at any time.
2. In addition to SUV inspections, a force of FVMs (Federal Vehicle Marshalls) would be created. They would only randomly select expensive SUVs to ride in, crawl into the front seats of them, and fall asleep during the drive around.
3. FVMs would randomly get drivers to pull off into alleyways. When there, they would hire prostitutes and try to show off their shaved bodies.
4. Agents would have drivers randomly pull off at gas stations so they could run in and steal a slice of pizza.
Feel free to add your own...
Flaflyer
May 4, 10, 10:34 am
Feel free to add your own...
Don't forget Times Square would be full of VIPER Teams, code named Snakes on Plazas.
Don't forget Times Square would be full of VIPER Teams, code named Snakes on Plazas.
N965VJ
May 4, 10, 10:44 am
If the TSA ran Times Square it would be great news for places like Branson MO that could bill themselves as an alternate entertainment destination, sort of like SeaPort Airlines. :D
No vehicle inspections. No rubber gloves. No need to take your shoes off.
No vehicle inspections. No rubber gloves. No need to take your shoes off.
WChou
May 4, 10, 11:08 am
Weirdos in funny clothing will stand at corners staring you down, yelling random incoherent thoughts, trying to steal your stuff, and generally being a nuisance to everyday people...... oh.... and there will be the usual Times Square crazies too.
Flaflyer
May 4, 10, 12:51 pm
If TSA guarded Times Square the black SUV would have gotten through. Since TSA's only known SOP is Fight the Last War and Close the Barn Door After the Horse has Escaped (Shoe Bomb->Shoe Carnival; Tang Bomb->War on Water; 9/11™->War on little sharp pointy things, etc.), they would only be searching yellow rental vehicles. Real™ Professional Successful Terrorists only use Ryder trucks, doncha know? :rolleyes:
buckeyefanflyer
May 4, 10, 12:56 pm
Lots of places to buy food as I see alot of them walking around eating in the airports.
jbdk
May 4, 10, 3:02 pm
All fuel tanks of SUVs will be inspected for liquids. Any fuel tank with more than 3.4 oz of gasoline, will be drained down to 3.4 oz of gasoline.
jbcarioca
May 4, 10, 3:37 pm
Nobody has confidence in TSA? I do. They'd shut all the subway entrances and exits to reduce the chance of somebody taking an SUV on the train.
clrankin
May 5, 10, 11:16 am
Nobody has confidence in TSA? I do. They'd shut all the subway entrances and exits to reduce the chance of somebody taking an SUV on the train.
All purses and carry-on bags would be searched for SUVs as well.
All purses and carry-on bags would be searched for SUVs as well.
debua1k
May 5, 10, 12:53 pm
Names would be required on all Broadway show tickets and a government issued ID would be matched at the door of the theater...
(Gives a new meaning to security theater)
(Gives a new meaning to security theater)
BLI-Flyer
May 5, 10, 3:03 pm
If the TSA ran Times Square, we'd have to take our shoes off before we could enter. Yuck!
goalie
May 5, 10, 4:55 pm
If the TSA ran Times Square, we'd have to take our shoes off before we could enter. Yuck!not me (and other assorted orthopedic shoe ter'wrists) :D
Global_Hi_Flyer
May 5, 10, 5:07 pm
If the TSA ran Times Square, we'd have to take our shoes off before we could enter. Yuck!
If the TSA ran Times Square, we'd have to drop our pants to enter.
Oh, wait, the city has cleaned it up. Never mind. ;)
If the TSA ran Times Square, we'd have to drop our pants to enter.
Oh, wait, the city has cleaned it up. Never mind. ;)
N965VJ
May 7, 10, 2:27 pm
Here's some more thinking along the same lines by the Editorial Director of Airport Business magazine:
Let’s think this through. If the bomb had blown off in Times Square, would we subsequently have had full body scanners around every town square in the U.S.A.? Or what other draconian restrictions would we think about putting in place? In effect, this is what we have done around airports? To what end?
If nothing else, the Times Square incident offers perspective (and, fortunately, no victims).
I like the intel thing … it seems to work when it works. Maybe if we dedicated more resources to it, it would work more often.
I’m thinking it might be time to open up the airports to free commerce again, and spend our taxpayers dollars on more intel and presence of local law enforcement at our nation’s airports. Local law enforcement actually has a history of playing a big role in airport security through the years (a fact about which the Transportation Security Administration had to be educated initially).
If the Mall of America in Minneapolis is the victim of a terrorist attack, do we have full body scanners at all malls across the country? If a child day care center is the victim …. ? If … ? (http://www.airportbusiness.com/interactive/2010/05/05/call-me-crazy-but/)
Let’s think this through. If the bomb had blown off in Times Square, would we subsequently have had full body scanners around every town square in the U.S.A.? Or what other draconian restrictions would we think about putting in place? In effect, this is what we have done around airports? To what end?
If nothing else, the Times Square incident offers perspective (and, fortunately, no victims).
I like the intel thing … it seems to work when it works. Maybe if we dedicated more resources to it, it would work more often.
I’m thinking it might be time to open up the airports to free commerce again, and spend our taxpayers dollars on more intel and presence of local law enforcement at our nation’s airports. Local law enforcement actually has a history of playing a big role in airport security through the years (a fact about which the Transportation Security Administration had to be educated initially).
If the Mall of America in Minneapolis is the victim of a terrorist attack, do we have full body scanners at all malls across the country? If a child day care center is the victim …. ? If … ? (http://www.airportbusiness.com/interactive/2010/05/05/call-me-crazy-but/)