Originally Posted by
oenophilist
I've heard here and on other forums that the TSA should be eliminated. But what I don't understand is, with what do we replace it? Are people suggesting that giving airline security over to private firms is the right approach? In my mind, this would be an unmitigated disaster that would set us back by a decade. Reform the TSA? Absolutely! But replace it? I just don't get the argument.
Bolding above mine. Why? Why would this be an 'unmitigated disaster'? How would we be set back a decade?
You seem to be implying that they only thing that has prevented a repeat of the hijackings in Sept '01 is the TSA? If that is the case I'll ask you the same question that has been asked, repeatedly, of our self-proclaimed TSAers on this board-what is the 1 policy or procedure, instituted soley by the TSA, that had it been in effect on 9/10/10 would have prevented the hijackings that took place the next day? Just 1 & your answer can't include anything done by the airlines or the FAA.
Don't worry if you can't answer that-the self-proclaimed TSAers haven't been able to, either.
Do you know why? That's because nothing the TSA has done would have prevented the hijackings.
Not. One. Thing.
The hijackings suceeded because 4 pilots, following company policy at the time, cooperated w/the hijackers, allowing the hijackers to not only gain entry to the flight deck, but also control of the planes. Airline policy now states the door remains locked no matter what is going on in the cabin & the plane lands as soon as possible.
THAT is what will prevent future hijackings, not the TSA's War on Water, Shoe Carnivals, or the Nude-O-Scopes.
What most of us have advocated for is a return to sanity (w/all due respect to Messers Stewart & Colbert) when it comes to aviation security. Keep the federal oversight, but lose the theater. There are already airports that have contracted out checkpoint security & dumped the TSA (SFO comes to mind). Expand that model but w/real accountability for both the gov't agency providing the oversight as well as the front-line contractors.