Well folks here is where I'm going with this thread. It deals with how TSA handles the issus of suspicious items within someones carry on bag.

When a TSA agent is screening a carry-on bag via the x-ray scanners and they observe a suspect item (ie: weapon, sharp object, contrband, etc) they pull the bag aside (in the same general area of the other passengers) with the owner of the bag for further inspection. Then a TSA agent just blindly unzips the bag and begins proding and searching for the contraband object. What I don''t get is WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU TAMPER WITH A BAG THAT CONTAINS POSIBLE CONTRABAND!!!??? As soon as someone tampers with evidence it is considered comprimised!

I have worked in the Information Securities industry and have been a CISSP for nearly 10 years. I have dealt with numerous computer and facilities forensics investigations. I will tell you this much, any time it was discovered there was a system or facility that was suspect to contain contraband, a specific procedure for securing the devices and then properly investigating them was enacted.

The last thing anyone who deals with computer security or forensics want to do is just jump right into say tearing open a laptop bag, computer systems, cell phones, etc. The same priciples apply here with respect to inspecting someones bag that is suspected to contain contraband, such as a weapon. Rather than removing the bag and the suspected person to a SECURED screening area completely away from the other passengers (for security and safety of others) the TSA idiots just start unzupping the bag and begin poking around.

If I was a would be attacker attempting to smuggle on board a weapon or materials that could be assembled into a bomb like device, one of the first things I would do is "booby-trap" the bag to detonate against unwanted opening by someone other than myself. This would be in the event I am "discovered" as an attacker, and before I could use the device to cause some harm.

But TSA fails to see this as any kind of threat.

My point is when a suspicious package is found at any government office such as a Federal Court House the first thing that is done, is the area is evacuated and a Bomb Disposal Unit is called in to INVESTIGATE the situation properly and with due diligence. Following a STRICT procedure for the safety of civilians and themselves. However TSA TAKES NONE OF THESE PRECAUTIONS to protect themselves or other individuals.

The whole searching of carry-on bags is needed to help ensure the safety of the passengers and flight crews, but when a suspect bag is found TSA is not following proper guidelines with respect to explosives or weapons handling.

Why has there not been any discussion by TSA Security Experts regarding this lack of proper procedure? I'd like to hear others thoughts about this?

The whole x-ray screening procedure is here to stay people, it's NOT going away. So get OVER IT! I travel for a living and since the inception of the full body scanners I have been through them more than 30 times. I have even been subsected to secondary screening. This is another area where TSA FAILS. If someone who goes through the scanners whether it is the full body x-ray or just the magnetron (metal detectors) and they are not flagged as having any metal on their body, they should be allowed to pass through and go onto the gates.

I could go on about the whole smoke and mirrors security, but let's see where this thread goes.

Safe travels during the holiday season.