McPaper: Next layer of air security: "Chat-downs on top of pat-downs?"
Oct 14, 2011 | 7:23 pm
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McPaper: Next layer of air security: "Chat-downs on top of pat-downs?"
Today's Boot-licking story about the SPOTNik interrogations going on at BOS. Read at your own risk. Here are a few of the highlights/lowlights:
There's lots more, but I'm too mad to go on other than to document why the terrorists and their TSA accomplices have won:
"It was a new experience," says Esser, 31, who works in public relations. "It doesn't bother me at all. I understand their job, and it's keeping America safe."
<snip>
Chat-downs already are controversial in their trial stage. Civil-liberties advocates and some critics of the TSA see them as another government invasion of fliers' privacy, a hassle for mostly law-abiding passengers or ineffectual.
"They're asking questions that people have a right not to answer," says Mike German, senior policy counsel at the ACLU. "It's nobody's business and certainly not the government's business where you're traveling and why."
<snip>
So far, only 48 travelers out of about 132,000 who have been questioned here at Logan have refused to answer the questions, and instead their carry-on bags were physically searched.
"If they refuse to answer, we (still) let them catch their flight," says Ed Freni, Logan's aviation director.
<snip>
Travelers say the questions typically focus on where they are headed, for how long and the purpose of the trip. More probing questions include whether carry-on bags have liquids or why the traveler is holding so much cash.
<snip>
Suspicious travelers can be diverted for further questioning, but only 10 people have been referred to authorities for alleged crimes such as drug possession not as terrorist suspects.
Despite the low numbers, George Naccara, TSA's federal security director for Logan, says the experiment is a good move by the agency to help narrow their search for potential threats. He says people found carrying fraudulent documents or large amounts of cash could represent terrorists testing airport security.
<snip>
Chat-downs already are controversial in their trial stage. Civil-liberties advocates and some critics of the TSA see them as another government invasion of fliers' privacy, a hassle for mostly law-abiding passengers or ineffectual.
"They're asking questions that people have a right not to answer," says Mike German, senior policy counsel at the ACLU. "It's nobody's business and certainly not the government's business where you're traveling and why."
<snip>
So far, only 48 travelers out of about 132,000 who have been questioned here at Logan have refused to answer the questions, and instead their carry-on bags were physically searched.
"If they refuse to answer, we (still) let them catch their flight," says Ed Freni, Logan's aviation director.
<snip>
Travelers say the questions typically focus on where they are headed, for how long and the purpose of the trip. More probing questions include whether carry-on bags have liquids or why the traveler is holding so much cash.
<snip>
Suspicious travelers can be diverted for further questioning, but only 10 people have been referred to authorities for alleged crimes such as drug possession not as terrorist suspects.
Despite the low numbers, George Naccara, TSA's federal security director for Logan, says the experiment is a good move by the agency to help narrow their search for potential threats. He says people found carrying fraudulent documents or large amounts of cash could represent terrorists testing airport security.
Back in the security line at Logan, banker Russell Chong, 40, shrugs off the added security step as he heads to a flight home to New York City.
"No problem," he says with a wink, "as long as it doesn't slow things down."
"No problem," he says with a wink, "as long as it doesn't slow things down."
Oct 14, 2011 | 7:48 pm
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Since when did carrying large amounts of cash become a crime?
Oct 14, 2011 | 8:46 pm
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Just a few days ago, I responded to someone on a different thread about why I was opposed to something as minor as having to state my name for the TDC. I specifically mentioned that as soon as that becomes accepted, the TSA will add another "minor" little thing. And so on and so on.
And here we are.
Just stating your name isn't enough. Now, they want to know where you are going, what you are doing there, and why you are carrying a certain dollar amount of cash.
Gee, who could have possibly seen this coming??
And here we are.
Just stating your name isn't enough. Now, they want to know where you are going, what you are doing there, and why you are carrying a certain dollar amount of cash.
Gee, who could have possibly seen this coming??
Oct 14, 2011 | 9:15 pm
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...and if you don't answer they physically search your stuff? How is this an administrative search and how is it not a detention? New conditions to fly every day. Just nuts.
Oct 14, 2011 | 10:32 pm
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If you're not on the east coast, watch Leno's "Jaywalking" segment tonight, in particular the first question: "What is the Bill of Rights?"
Of course Leno always finds the most stupid Americans for the show. (Not that that is a particularly hard task.) But you'll get a better feel for why Joe American sees no problems with the questions, as long as he's not slowed down.
By that reasoning, frequent fliers should be subject to more, not less, scrutiny. After all, someone who has flown 50 times the past six months surely must be trying to scope out the checkpoints.
Of course Leno always finds the most stupid Americans for the show. (Not that that is a particularly hard task.) But you'll get a better feel for why Joe American sees no problems with the questions, as long as he's not slowed down.
Despite the low numbers, George Naccara, TSA's federal security director for Logan, says the experiment is a good move by the agency to help narrow their search for potential threats. He says people found carrying fraudulent documents or large amounts of cash could represent terrorists testing airport security.
Oct 15, 2011 | 1:29 am
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Despite the low numbers, George Naccara, TSA's federal security director for Logan, says the experiment is a good move by the agency to help narrow their search for potential threats. He says people found carrying fraudulent documents or large amounts of cash could represent terrorists testing airport security.
What represents a large amount of cash anyway, and why is that suspicious? What if the guy was flying to Vegas or was carrying cash from a political fundraiser (a la Steve Bierfeldt)?
We are now going to all but interrogate people for carrying cash over some unknown amount.
God, what a gutless, cowardly country we have become, filled with denizens convinced that every shadow is an Al-Qaeda operative.
Oct 15, 2011 | 2:39 am
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Meanwhile, GAO checked 16 people who had been charged in six terrorist plots during that period and found they had passed unhindered at least 23 times through eight airports where SPOT officers worked.
Oct 15, 2011 | 1:17 pm
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FTA ""They do it in Europe, I don't see any reason why they shouldn't do it here," David Jones, a 73-year-old retiree from Shapleigh, Maine, who was heading to Spokane, Wash., says of questions about where he was headed and whether he was traveling alone."
And some of the comments at the bottom of the say something similar.
Where do they do this in Europe? I live in Europe and have travelled extensively in Europe and have NEVER been asked these questions or been SPOTed. at any European airport I have flown out of The only time I am asked stupid annoying questions is when flying from Europe to the US when they do the useless "who packed your bags?" litany of questions.
And some of the comments at the bottom of the say something similar.
Where do they do this in Europe? I live in Europe and have travelled extensively in Europe and have NEVER been asked these questions or been SPOTed. at any European airport I have flown out of The only time I am asked stupid annoying questions is when flying from Europe to the US when they do the useless "who packed your bags?" litany of questions.
Oct 15, 2011 | 1:43 pm
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Oct 15, 2011 | 2:38 pm
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FTA ""They do it in Europe, I don't see any reason why they shouldn't do it here," David Jones, a 73-year-old retiree from Shapleigh, Maine, who was heading to Spokane, Wash., says of questions about where he was headed and whether he was traveling alone."
And some of the comments at the bottom of the say something similar.
Where do they do this in Europe? I live in Europe and have travelled extensively in Europe and have NEVER been asked these questions or been SPOTed. at any European airport I have flown out of The only time I am asked stupid annoying questions is when flying from Europe to the US when they do the useless "who packed your bags?" litany of questions.
And some of the comments at the bottom of the say something similar.
Where do they do this in Europe? I live in Europe and have travelled extensively in Europe and have NEVER been asked these questions or been SPOTed. at any European airport I have flown out of The only time I am asked stupid annoying questions is when flying from Europe to the US when they do the useless "who packed your bags?" litany of questions.
It's truth by repeated assertion, a combination of "It sounds like the kind of thing foreigners would do" and "Everything is worse outside the US".
There was one (at least) person here who claimed to work for TSA who frequently argued that airport security was more intrusive, slower, more arbitrary - just generally worse all around - in "other countries." After several rounds where those of us who actually, ya know, go to "other countries" challenged him to name just one place, he shut up. 
Oct 15, 2011 | 2:49 pm
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The problem is, I also am wrongly subjected to what they deserve.
It's getting to where we need to start learning German - and giving stiff-armed salutes to those interrogating us - in order to properly respond to these jackbooted thugs. It honestly is getting to be like something out of a WW2 movie and I'm astonished at the complacency of the general population, who appear to believe that "it can't happen here" simply because, well, "This is 'MURIKA, bah GOD!!"
There's nothing magical about this country, it's only the actions and attitudes of its people which prevent the sort of atrocities they blithely assert can't happen here - and those same people are whittling (or CHOPPING) away at the barriers which prevent them.
Oct 16, 2011 | 1:02 am
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Actually, this isn't entirely accurate. You often face a grilling at the check-in counter in Germany at US airlines by contract personnel for flights going to the states. However, if you fly LH, you get no questions for US bound flights. I always wondered what would happen if you refused to answer the contractors, since it seems to be an airline thing instead of an airport security program. I wonder if the airline could deny you check-in if you don't answer the contractors.
Oct 16, 2011 | 12:43 pm
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A lot of people just make it harder on themselves. Smile and be polite. Anything other than my information on my BP / DL / Passport is not given. I tell them it's Business, and it's confidential with my Company. 1 TSO insisted on more information, so I simply smiled, handed him my Business Card and told him "Feel free to call my office for any information you may require."
Last edited by magic111; Dec 6, 2011 at 3:35 pm