EHD swabs and "false" detections
Sep 5, 2012, 11:57 am
#61
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Houston
Programs: CO Platinum
Posts: 283
It was a mistake only if one is willing to reduce the idea that alarms always indicate something dangerous. ETD alarms indicate that there is a chemical present that is also present in explosives. In other words, something dangerous.
Splitting hairs serves no useful purpose, and neither makes the other right or wrong, it just makes the conversation inane when one party pretends obtuseness.
Splitting hairs serves no useful purpose, and neither makes the other right or wrong, it just makes the conversation inane when one party pretends obtuseness.
If am alarms sounds when there's no danger, what's the point? Isn't that the same as the Boy Who Cried Wolf???
Obviously you and your colleagues do not understand spectroscopy in the slightest. While it's true that the ETD technique will "flag" a number of functional groups present in compounds both benign and dangerous, all you get is a flashing red light.
The steps that a TSO takes to "resolve" the alarm does not involve any investigation of what caused the alarm to occur. Basically the methodology is 100% flawed. Rubbing my testicles does not help determine if I have actually handled anything explosive.
Water is a dangerous compound. In excess, it can kill, too. Oh wait, that's why we can only have water in 100 ml containers, otherwise, we all might drown waiting to go through screening.
Sep 5, 2012, 12:40 pm
#62
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,972
So why haven't all of these terrorists chosen softer targets?
It's not like there's a shortage of targets that would obtain even higher moral outrage than blowing up a plane, or a checkpoint line.
It's not like there's a shortage of targets that would obtain even higher moral outrage than blowing up a plane, or a checkpoint line.
Sep 5, 2012, 2:15 pm
#63
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: Delta TDK(or care)WIA, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,869
Terrorists can attack the queue at the checkpoint anytime they want; the reason they don't is that they want the TSA to remain just as it is, and they are afraid that if they attack a checkpoint queue (or breeze past the checkpoint with weapons and attack an airplane) the TSA would be reformed so as to either provide some security, reduce it's cost to the taxpayer and burden on commerce, or both.
Sep 5, 2012, 2:18 pm
#64
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Posts: 3,728
http://articles.courant.com/2012-03-...a-drug-dealers
One of the dealers who organized the ring said that he gave cash and gift cards worth $50 to $100 to the TSA officers who screened him, according to a DEA affidavit.
Sep 5, 2012, 2:23 pm
#65
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: Delta TDK(or care)WIA, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,869
That's only because they wanted to set up a stream of goods coming through. Terrorists only want to bring a few things through, on one occasion. They could easily take advantage of the laziness and inattentiveness of the clerks. For example, they could put an 8-ounce tube of toothpaste on top of the goods, so the clerk could find and confiscate the tube.
Sep 5, 2012, 2:43 pm
#66
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,425
That's only because they wanted to set up a stream of goods coming through. Terrorists only want to bring a few things through, on one occasion. They could easily take advantage of the laziness and inattentiveness of the clerks. For example, they could put an 8-ounce tube of toothpaste on top of the goods, so the clerk could find and confiscate the tube.
Sep 6, 2012, 7:50 am
#68
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,425
Even under current administrative search rulings, the requirement for this being non invasive and effective, neither of which is true in this case, not when 100% of alarms result in no explosives being found and yet on account of this people are getting sexually abused.
Sep 6, 2012, 8:36 am
#69
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 616
I flew with a cast on my hand and forearm a couple of years ago. I thought it was great because I didn't have to try to opt opt. They just sent me through the WTMD and swabbed my cast. I'm glad there wasn't a false alarm. It makes me wonder what the TSA would have done in that situation.
Sep 6, 2012, 8:53 am
#70
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,728
Even under current administrative search rulings, the requirement for this being non invasive and effective, neither of which is true in this case, not when 100% of alarms result in no explosives being found and yet on account of this people are getting sexually abused.
One half-ounce of C4 in a tobacco tin in checked baggage.
And this wasn't found by swabbing his hands, either.
Of course, they found the half-ounce in the checked bag, but missed the still-wrapped BRICK of C4 in Trey Atwater's carry-on. Twice.
Sep 6, 2012, 11:11 am
#71
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,425
So far, I have found evidence of ONE actual find of explosives.
One half-ounce of C4 in a tobacco tin in checked baggage.
And this wasn't found by swabbing his hands, either.
Of course, they found the half-ounce in the checked bag, but missed the still-wrapped BRICK of C4 in Trey Atwater's carry-on. Twice.
One half-ounce of C4 in a tobacco tin in checked baggage.
And this wasn't found by swabbing his hands, either.
Of course, they found the half-ounce in the checked bag, but missed the still-wrapped BRICK of C4 in Trey Atwater's carry-on. Twice.
Sep 6, 2012, 11:13 am
#72
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Posts: 3,728
Sep 6, 2012, 10:27 pm
#75
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 1,007