Which characteristics would those be? How well does your system respond to potential terrorists who don't fit the characteristics you lay out?

Kids and extremely elderly seem to me as great people to hide contraband on if we decide that they should get a more cursory screening than everyone else (especially because they're less likely to be totally on top of things).

El Al security does work, but I've seen them at T4 in JFK in the baggage pit do some things that you guys would be suprised about...this is the reason why in T4 in JFK airport there's always a TSA employee in the baggage pit when El Al is working. A few of us witnessed their guys not screening bags when the flight is ready to get out; it's just sent straight down the belt to the baggage room to get on the plane. But the main reason why a TSA employee is in the pit with El Al at T4 in JFK is because they had a potential IED in a bag, they all took off, and called us from outside the airport and told us about it

I may live here temporarily, but my heart is in Tel Aviv.

GU, You are making very broad declarations without any basis in reality. Nobody is being detained, theatened, abused, imprisioned or tortured by Israeli aviation security. Richard Reid (the would be shoe bomber) was on their list, and he did travel out of TLV. They KNEW he was a bad guy and they made sure he did not have the means or opportunity to do anything about it, but he did fly but there was absolutely no way he would have succeeded at doing anything to the flight.

In regards to your Sentence 1 above, you are incorrect. I have very specific items in mind that have been very well validated by real events. And do you really believe there is no basis in reality to claim that Rights are trampled on

? Really? :rolleyes:

In regards to your Sentence 2 above, I did not assert what you wrote. "Harassed, abused, detained" by people working with/for "Israeli aviation security" (writ large), yes on specific occassions.

If you care to have a protracted debate about the definition of harassment, abuse, or detention, that's another matter.

I'm sure somewhere in the world, and particularly in the US, the TSA severely breaks the law with regard to stealing information.

YOu'd do better to clarify exactly whom you are saying is violating rights, simply saying "rights are violated" IS a blanket statement.

I made no such blanket statement. What I said was:

That too is NOT a blanket statement. Note the words "on specific occassions". In any event, I'd do better not clarifying any further as it's being used -- as I suspected earlier -- to manufacture a protracted debate that is of no interest to me currently.

And you made this BLANKET statement about specific occurrances? or just for the hell of it? Because you're not saying anything specific.

I'm not going to bother replying anymore to this kind of nonsense.

Talk about taking things out of context. ;)

That is a blanket statement? Sure. But one that is nonsense? I wouldn't say such. But if you are comfortable asserting that "being harassed, abused, detained, imprisoned, tortured or killed for being a member of a religion" is NOT a trampling of rights and is nonsense to be thought of as such trampling of rights, then that is your business, right or wrong?

In any event (and in honest context w/r/t "blanket statement" claims) the following -- that Rights are violated by people working with/for "Israeli aviation security writ large on specific occassions -- is NOT a blanket statement:

It is simply correct. To assert otherwise is simply wrong.

Its not WRONG, its his opinion. Neither are right or wrong, just different.

"The world is flat".
"That is wrong, for the world is actually round."
"All opinions are equal."

now back on topic .....

How much does the TSA spend on foreign contractors for security advice?

I honestly don't know. All I know is that the WTMD (the newer ones) were manufactured and installed by an Italian company. I was there when they were installed and the contractors couldn't speak English. They had an interpreter with them.

Are these the ones that have indicators that assist with knowing approximately where (i.e., height level) on the person the "offending" item(s) are?