Statement from DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson (July 2, 2014):

"DHS continually assesses the global threat environment and reevaluates the measures we take to promote aviation security. As part of this ongoing process, I have directed TSA to implement enhanced security measures in the coming days at certain overseas airports with direct flights to the United States. We will work to ensure these necessary steps pose as few disruptions to travelers as possible. We are sharing recent and relevant information with our foreign allies and are consulting the aviation industry. These communications are an important part of our commitment to providing our security partners with situational awareness about the current environment and protecting the traveling public. Aviation security includes a number of measures, both seen and unseen, informed by an evolving environment. As always, we will continue to adjust security measures to promote aviation security without unnecessary disruptions to the traveling public."

(Reuters) - The United States said on Wednesday it would increase security at overseas airports with direct flights into the country and U.S. officials cited concerns al Qaeda operatives in Syria and Yemen were developing bombs that could be smuggled onto planes.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/...0F724820140702

Increased security on flights to the US from Middle East, Med, Africa as per NBC Nightly News.

... and Europe.

Our intelligence agencies and allied ones and the ones reporting on this are relatively clueless -- this is less about Al-Qaeda than about ISIS\ISIL\IS; and it's about the clueless intelligence agencies having lost track of people from OECD countries having gone to and returned from Iraq and Syria and gotten some violent experience in the MENA/Horn area that could be exported or imported by those people who were encouraged (by our governmental "allies" hostile to Iran) to back the anti-Syrian/anti-Iranian/anti-Shia efforts in the region.

I flew TATL today on a USA carrier from CDG. I didn't experience any heightened security. In fact at no point was I asked the typical security questions about who packed my luggage, when and where, and whether I had been given something by another person.

At the gate there was some hand searching of carry on bags that seemed to be based on the profiling of passengers, but I just walked past the tables and security officers.

What he really wanted to say:

"Every so often, DHS has to issue a "heightened security" message in order to justify the huge amount of money we spend to operate our ongoing version of Kabuki Theater, otherwise known as TSA. We don't really have any credible evidence of a new or increased threat, but if we make allusions to such a threat, and something terrible was to happen to a commercial airliner, issuing a statement like this is essential for providing some protection against the invariable accusations that would erupt from Capitol Hill and the press. In addition, issuing statements like this will serves to reassure the gullible part of the traveling public that believes we are providing them with 100% security."

Didn't he really want to say "allusions"?

Yes, he did. thanks!

I don't see any problem at all. I don't see a suspicious behavior or criminal activity. They have keep terrorist out of USA. They have keep terror off the planes. No one put the terrorist in the entire aircraft.

And nobody puts Baby in a corner either!

Right!!! Keep him out of there. Keep the criminal or terrorist off the planes.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/u-...rports-n149186

Idiots...

OK, I'm confused.

According to TSA, if you are told to turn on a device at the checkpoint and it doesn't power up, it will not be allowed on the plane.

Are baggage screeners now required to open and power up any electronic devices in checked bags?

Agreed. I assume we'll now see a new garbage container next to the one into which explosive liquids are put (making them "unexplodable") and they'll use the new container for the "voluntarily surrendered" noncharged electronic devices... and I assume the new container also will magically render the "surrendered" devices "unexplodable"?

I despise my government for how it tries to subjugate us in the guise of "protecting" us. Ugh.

Added comment: Observed at DEN yesterday that TSA was pouring water from pax's containers into open tubs under the x-ray belts. Wow; exposing everyone to the toxic fumes from explosive liquids!!! And this is to protect us, no less! How dumb dumb dumb.