SOP discussion
Dec 10, 2009 | 6:33 pm
#451
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,006
How does this sound?
You also expressed alarm over the fact that the TSA SOP has been reposted on websites not under Government control. In your letter you revealed your eagerness to punish those that dared to post NON-secret information. As I am sure you are aware SSI stands for SENSITIVE Security Information.
Instead of wishing to inappropriately punish those that exposed this breach in TSA policy, you should be thanking them. That SOP was online for nine months before being found by accident. How many times do you think the terrorist organizations, and the countries that sponsor them, have scoured Government websites for errors such as this.
Unlike the terrorists and the covert operations agents of rogue Governments, the citizens that discovered this leak brought attention to the public and to Government officials such as yourself.
Instead of wishing to inappropriately punish those that exposed this breach in TSA policy, you should be thanking them. That SOP was online for nine months before being found by accident. How many times do you think the terrorist organizations, and the countries that sponsor them, have scoured Government websites for errors such as this.
Unlike the terrorists and the covert operations agents of rogue Governments, the citizens that discovered this leak brought attention to the public and to Government officials such as yourself.
Dec 10, 2009 | 6:43 pm
#454
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,006
Dec 10, 2009 | 6:49 pm
#455
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: An NPR mind living in a Fox News world
Posts: 14,343
As I am sure you are aware SSI stands for SENSITIVE Security Information and in no way is either confidential, secret or top secret, any of which would indeed compromise national security. This poorly redacted document was the standard operating procedure for a member of TSA management and in no way disclosed the SOP for screeners. This leaves the SOP for screeners still in the uncompromised state it was in prior to the discovery of the poorly redacted SOP for TSA supervisors.
The SSI designation for TSA documents skirted the requirements for classified documentation. It also allowed people who would not normally qualify for a security clearance to have daily access to the SSI documents in order to do their jobs. The SSI label required no stringent background investigation as would normally be the case to access classified documents. The SSI label, while being approved by Congress, bypasses the measures normal classified document requirements.
Something like that?
The SSI designation for TSA documents skirted the requirements for classified documentation. It also allowed people who would not normally qualify for a security clearance to have daily access to the SSI documents in order to do their jobs. The SSI label required no stringent background investigation as would normally be the case to access classified documents. The SSI label, while being approved by Congress, bypasses the measures normal classified document requirements.
Something like that?
Dec 10, 2009 | 6:53 pm
#456
Suspended
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,953
http://www.tsa.gov/approach/people/attrition.shtm
This from USA Today:
One in five screeners left between Oct. 1, 2006, and Sept. 30, 2007, federal Office of Personnel Management figures show. The turnover rate was identical the year before. Attrition for the rest of the federal government was 8% in 2006-07.
"Twenty percent (turnover) is pretty high," former Homeland Security Department inspector general Clark Ervin says. "You want people who are as sharp and experienced as possible, and that's why it's a concern."
"Twenty percent (turnover) is pretty high," former Homeland Security Department inspector general Clark Ervin says. "You want people who are as sharp and experienced as possible, and that's why it's a concern."
Dec 10, 2009 | 6:53 pm
#457
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: FrostByte Falls, Mn
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Posts: 2,157
Dec 10, 2009 | 6:55 pm
#458
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,006
I am using the direct email address so it should not flag my location. Mica is my Rep and I will be emailing him too.
Dec 10, 2009 | 7:13 pm
#459
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,006
Ok what am I missing? I am open to rewrites and corrections.
Dear Rep. Pete King,
Today you published a letter written to Janet Napolitano in which you expressed alarm that the "specific procedures for calibrating magnetometers" was released in the poorly redacted TSA SOP.
That procedure is widely known as any internet search will reveal. In fact the Department of Justice has an in depth document describing the details of that procedure. The DOJ hosted document also includes mechanical drawings and specifications for test objects.
You can find the in depth DOJ document at http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/193510.pdf
You also expressed alarm over the fact that the TSA SOP has been reposted on websites not under Government control. In your letter you revealed your eagerness to punish those that dared to post NON-secret information. As I am sure you are aware SSI stands for SENSITIVE Security Information.
This SOP and the much more sensitive Screening Checkpoint and Checked
Baggage Screening SOPs are entrusted to entry level, low paid, TSOs with no security clearance. With the TSA workforce turnover rate hovering around 20% a more likely scenario for a terrorist organization to use to discover SSI is the simple bribery of a disgruntled screener.
Instead of wishing to inappropriately punish those that exposed this breach in TSA policy, you should be thanking them. That SOP was online for nine months before being found by accident. How many times do you think the terrorist organizations, and the countries that sponsor them, have scoured Government websites for errors such as this.
Unlike the terrorists and the covert operations agents of rogue Governments, the citizens that discovered this leak brought attention to the public and to Government officials such as yourself.
Today you published a letter written to Janet Napolitano in which you expressed alarm that the "specific procedures for calibrating magnetometers" was released in the poorly redacted TSA SOP.
That procedure is widely known as any internet search will reveal. In fact the Department of Justice has an in depth document describing the details of that procedure. The DOJ hosted document also includes mechanical drawings and specifications for test objects.
You can find the in depth DOJ document at http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/193510.pdf
You also expressed alarm over the fact that the TSA SOP has been reposted on websites not under Government control. In your letter you revealed your eagerness to punish those that dared to post NON-secret information. As I am sure you are aware SSI stands for SENSITIVE Security Information.
This SOP and the much more sensitive Screening Checkpoint and Checked
Baggage Screening SOPs are entrusted to entry level, low paid, TSOs with no security clearance. With the TSA workforce turnover rate hovering around 20% a more likely scenario for a terrorist organization to use to discover SSI is the simple bribery of a disgruntled screener.
Instead of wishing to inappropriately punish those that exposed this breach in TSA policy, you should be thanking them. That SOP was online for nine months before being found by accident. How many times do you think the terrorist organizations, and the countries that sponsor them, have scoured Government websites for errors such as this.
Unlike the terrorists and the covert operations agents of rogue Governments, the citizens that discovered this leak brought attention to the public and to Government officials such as yourself.
Dec 10, 2009 | 7:19 pm
#460
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: FrostByte Falls, Mn
Programs: Holiday Inn Plat NW gold AA gold
Posts: 2,157
In your letter you revealed your eagerness to punish those that dared to post NON-secret information. A kneejerk response to this would result in a miscarraige of justice. Reform and oversight of the DHS/TSA operation is in order because of this and many other issues recently brought to light.
Dec 10, 2009 | 7:20 pm
#461
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Orange County, CA, USA
Programs: AA (Life Plat), Marriott (Life Titanium) and every other US program
Posts: 6,416
I would add, after the definition of SSI: "That is why the official press release, from the DHS, said that this was "unclassified" material."
Dec 10, 2009 | 8:10 pm
#463
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: The Sunshine State
Programs: Deltaworst Peon Level, TSA "Layer 21 Club", NW WP RIP
Posts: 11,372
"That procedure is widely known as any internet search will reveal. In fact the Department of Justice has an in depth document describing the details of that procedure. The DOJ hosted document also includes mechanical drawings and specifications for test objects."
When the Hon. Rep. is finished having his fit, you might point out that the DOJ document is released under the name of John Ashcroft, a man not known for favoring lax security or palling around with terrorists.
"You can find the in depth DOJ document at http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/193510.pdf"
That is an amazing doc. I love the drawings of the fake guns and knives. Plus fake watch, belt buckle, and eyeglasses. ^
When the Hon. Rep. is finished having his fit, you might point out that the DOJ document is released under the name of John Ashcroft, a man not known for favoring lax security or palling around with terrorists.
"You can find the in depth DOJ document at http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/193510.pdf"
That is an amazing doc. I love the drawings of the fake guns and knives. Plus fake watch, belt buckle, and eyeglasses. ^
Dec 10, 2009 | 8:13 pm
#464
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sydney (for now), GVA (only in my memories)
Programs: QF Lifetime Silver (big whoop)
Posts: 9,335
TK and all - good job with the letter. Go get 'em.
Dec 10, 2009 | 8:16 pm
#465
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,006
Ok here is the full letter, please proof it.
Dear Representative King,
Today you published a letter written to Janet Napolitano in which you expressed alarm that the "specific procedures for calibrating magnetometers" was released in the poorly redacted TSA SOP.
That procedure is widely known as any internet search will reveal. In fact the Department of Justice has an in depth document describing the details of that procedure. The DOJ hosted document also includes mechanical drawings and specifications for test objects.
You can find the in depth DOJ document at http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/193510.pdf
You also expressed alarm over the fact that the TSA SOP has been reposted on websites not under Government control. In your letter you revealed your eagerness to punish those that dared to post NON-secret, UNclassified information. A knee-jerk response to this would result in a miscarriage of justice. Reform and oversight of the DHS/TSA operation is in order because of this and many other issues recently brought to light.
This SOP and the much more sensitive Screening Checkpoint and Checked
Baggage Screening SOPs are entrusted to entry level, low paid, TSOs with no security clearance. With the TSA workforce turnover rate hovering around 20% a more likely scenario for a terrorist organization to use to discover SSI is the simple bribery of a disgruntled screener.
Instead of wishing to inappropriately punish those that exposed this breach in TSA policy, you should be thanking them. That SOP was online for nine months before being found by accident. How many times do you think the terrorist organizations, and the countries that sponsor them, have scoured U.S. Government websites for errors such as this.
Unlike the terrorists and the covert operations agents of rogue Governments, the citizens that discovered this leak brought attention to the public and to Government officials such as yourself, affording the TSA the opportunity to plug the security holes it created .
Those that you are trying to demonize are not against airport security, in fact the person that discovered this document revealed it on a forum for FREQUENT flyers. These are the very people that interact with the TSA on a daily basis. These are the citizens that want real security, not the dog and pony show that the TSA has provided to date.
There are far more serious security hazards created by TSA policy than this inadvertent leak of non-secret, unclassified information, such as the fact that the screeners are not screened before, during or after their shifts. The fact that luggage is not secured from molestation by TSA or airline employees, making it very easy to plant a bomb. If you can take something you can plant something. The fact that forced ID verification at the checkpoint is useless and those resources should be placed looking for weapons, explosives and incendiaries.
I realize that you get a pass on selectee screening as a perquisite of your position and may not be able to fully grasp what happens to your constituents at the TSA checkpoint, so I invite you to fly several times without the benefit of your Congressional identification.
I trust that once you take me up on my challenge you will be appalled at the gaping holes in security caused by the TSA that are not related to this latest faux pas.
Today you published a letter written to Janet Napolitano in which you expressed alarm that the "specific procedures for calibrating magnetometers" was released in the poorly redacted TSA SOP.
That procedure is widely known as any internet search will reveal. In fact the Department of Justice has an in depth document describing the details of that procedure. The DOJ hosted document also includes mechanical drawings and specifications for test objects.
You can find the in depth DOJ document at http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/193510.pdf
You also expressed alarm over the fact that the TSA SOP has been reposted on websites not under Government control. In your letter you revealed your eagerness to punish those that dared to post NON-secret, UNclassified information. A knee-jerk response to this would result in a miscarriage of justice. Reform and oversight of the DHS/TSA operation is in order because of this and many other issues recently brought to light.
This SOP and the much more sensitive Screening Checkpoint and Checked
Baggage Screening SOPs are entrusted to entry level, low paid, TSOs with no security clearance. With the TSA workforce turnover rate hovering around 20% a more likely scenario for a terrorist organization to use to discover SSI is the simple bribery of a disgruntled screener.
Instead of wishing to inappropriately punish those that exposed this breach in TSA policy, you should be thanking them. That SOP was online for nine months before being found by accident. How many times do you think the terrorist organizations, and the countries that sponsor them, have scoured U.S. Government websites for errors such as this.
Unlike the terrorists and the covert operations agents of rogue Governments, the citizens that discovered this leak brought attention to the public and to Government officials such as yourself, affording the TSA the opportunity to plug the security holes it created .
Those that you are trying to demonize are not against airport security, in fact the person that discovered this document revealed it on a forum for FREQUENT flyers. These are the very people that interact with the TSA on a daily basis. These are the citizens that want real security, not the dog and pony show that the TSA has provided to date.
There are far more serious security hazards created by TSA policy than this inadvertent leak of non-secret, unclassified information, such as the fact that the screeners are not screened before, during or after their shifts. The fact that luggage is not secured from molestation by TSA or airline employees, making it very easy to plant a bomb. If you can take something you can plant something. The fact that forced ID verification at the checkpoint is useless and those resources should be placed looking for weapons, explosives and incendiaries.
I realize that you get a pass on selectee screening as a perquisite of your position and may not be able to fully grasp what happens to your constituents at the TSA checkpoint, so I invite you to fly several times without the benefit of your Congressional identification.
I trust that once you take me up on my challenge you will be appalled at the gaping holes in security caused by the TSA that are not related to this latest faux pas.
Last edited by Trollkiller; Dec 10, 2009 at 8:36 pm Reason: added wording about planting a bomb. fixed typos