Feds disrupt suicide bomb plot at Wichita airport
Dec 13, 2013, 3:29 pm
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,728
A 5" wrench is acceptable, while a 7" wrench is not, but a 14" aluminum knitting needle is acceptable.
Ridiculous.
But if they're carrying in a chunk of C4, or carrying out an iPad stolen from a passenger, that should be relatively easy to spot, no?
Dec 13, 2013, 3:46 pm
#17
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Planet Earth(most days)
Programs: Hilton Honors, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 1,544
I can't believe I am actually defending the TSA, but having done a stint with a client at an airport recently and being badged at that airport, they do have TSA doing checks at the doors where employees have access to the secured area. Granted, it didn't include even a metal detector but hands were swabbed and backpacks/purses/etc were all checked.
Dec 13, 2013, 4:08 pm
#18
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,799
There's no point in screening a fuel truck driver for explosives because when he gets to the tarmac he's driving a FUEL TRUCK.
There's no point in screening luggage handlers because they have access to whatever might be in checked baggage.
...and on and on.
You need to catch these people upstream.
Dec 13, 2013, 4:29 pm
#19
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
The FBI disrupted the FBI's own plot for which the FBI found a "useful idiot" and supplied the "goods". According to the tapped/recorded communications, Team FBI had to motivate him too.
Amazing.
Amazing.
Dec 13, 2013, 5:59 pm
#21
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 471
I can't believe I am actually defending the TSA, but having done a stint with a client at an airport recently and being badged at that airport, they do have TSA doing checks at the doors where employees have access to the secured area. Granted, it didn't include even a metal detector but hands were swabbed and backpacks/purses/etc were all checked.
Dec 13, 2013, 6:16 pm
#22
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SYD (perenially), GVA (not in a long time)
Programs: QF PS, EK-Gold, Security Theatre Critic
Posts: 6,884
What I mean is there's no point in screening a mechanic for sharps when he has access to a full set of sharps once he's on the tarmac anyway.
There's no point in screening a fuel truck driver for explosives because when he gets to the tarmac he's driving a FUEL TRUCK.
There's no point in screening luggage handlers because they have access to whatever might be in checked baggage.
...and on and on.
You need to catch these people upstream.
There's no point in screening a fuel truck driver for explosives because when he gets to the tarmac he's driving a FUEL TRUCK.
There's no point in screening luggage handlers because they have access to whatever might be in checked baggage.
...and on and on.
You need to catch these people upstream.
But in screening employees, some might ask why an "avionics technician" has explosives (this case). Or (hypothetical) why someone who works at the airside newspaper shop is bringing in a hunting knife. Or (hypothetical) why the janitor is bringing in three loaded handguns. Any of those are currently possible if airport staff bypass screening.
And while there are tools and knives in workshops and kitchens in the (hilariously named) "sterile" side, by and large you would expect them to stay airside. (As Boggie Dog suggested upthread , they should be inventoried and accounted for.) So one should probably ask why an aircraft maintenance person or restaurant owner is bringing other tools or knives back and forth. (Maybe she has a good reason. But it's unusual and should be questioned.)
Screening airport staff is only going to catch the stupid terrorists. But screening passengers is only designed to catch the stupid ones, too.
Dec 13, 2013, 6:25 pm
#23
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
Didn't Kippie admit at one time that the only terrorists the TSA was going to catch were the stupid ones?
Dec 13, 2013, 6:39 pm
#24
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: WN Nothing and spending the half million points from too many flights, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,043
Not only that, they could establish a tool crib where they could check out tools as needed, particularly items that would be prohibited through the CP. I work in a lot of industrial facilities and this is a very common method of tool control.
Dec 13, 2013, 6:46 pm
#25
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 156
It's like the California "deputy" (he doesn't deserve that title) that asked an autistic kid SIXTY times to buy him some pot before the kid finally acquiesced and they arrested the kid. Not saying it's quite the same but it sounds too close for comfort.
Dec 13, 2013, 8:56 pm
#27
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SYD (perenially), GVA (not in a long time)
Programs: QF PS, EK-Gold, Security Theatre Critic
Posts: 6,884
Dec 13, 2013, 10:22 pm
#28
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
It comes from the government. 
.... because the FBI supplied what the FBI wanted to supply its "useful idiot".
.... because the FBI supplied what the FBI wanted to supply its "useful idiot".
Dec 14, 2013, 7:22 am
#29
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 42,124
A tool crib doesn't work very well if you don't control it - ie, adequate tracking of who checks a tool out and immediate consequences if the tool isn't returned/otherwise accounted for (and verified).
Dec 14, 2013, 9:19 am
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: An NPR mind living in a Fox News world
Posts: 14,174
Blogdad Bob would have had this all over Propaganda Village if the TSA had even been copied on some of the email traffic. The TSA website would have had an official Spokeshole statement. The silence is evidence enough.