To keep the workfare programme alive silly :

Actually one of the biggest problems is the way the IT is programmed. As usual politicians believe the answer is in technology and the puter will solve the problem

As I am having a boring afternoon I thought it may be nice share the yawns Here are just some of the systems available and used when compiling the no fly lists, there are I understand more sensitive databases used as well which are not in the public domain, a hit on your name or similar anywhere will cause delays, problems, cock ups and all round frustration!

CLASS (Consular Lookout and Support System) DOS
- Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) makes entries into this database.
- NCIC (see below) is now integrated into CLASS
CCD (Consolidated Consular Database)
- contains SEVIS (see below) data for consulars to access.

NCIC (National Crime Information Center)
- contains criminal record information for police to check when they stop or arrest someone.
- NLETS (National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System)
- above systems contain more than 7 million names, including information from state/local law enforcement agencies (including charges such as "shoplifting," DWI, etc.)

NAILS II (National Automated Immigration Lookout System II) DHS
- NIIS (Nonimmigrant Information System), containing nonimmigrant visa denial information, arrival/departure/overstay (I-94) information.

IBIS (Interagency Border Inspection System)
- ADIS (Arrival Departure Information System)

TECS (US Customs' Treasury Enforcement Communications Systems)

SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)

NSEERS (National Security Entry Exit Registration System)

APIS (Advanced Passenger Information System)

ADIS (Arrival Departure Information System)

IBIS (Interagency Border Inspection System)

IDENT (Automated Biometric Identification System)

CLAIMS 3 (Computer Linked Application Information Management System)

CHIMERA

US VISIT

TAL (Technological Alert List)

Now factor into that lot a very common computer function called SOUNDEX is utilised. Soundex is not a system, it is a function.
example:
SELECT SOUNDEX ('katy'), SOUNDEX ('katie');
this would return a number specific to the pronunciation of katy and a number associated with the pronunciation of katie. in this case each would return "K300" which basically indicates that the two's pronunciation is close.
Now soundex is not a system, it is just an algorithm that compares two strings and their associated characters to a pre-assigned values.

A quick look at a basic overview http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundex would explain to an average 10 year old why this is going to result in an outrageous number of false hits and the Cat Stevens scenario referred to earlier in this thread.

Sometimes I wonder if security would be improved if we don't spend all the time in the world making useless acronyms and instead of actually paying attention to whose name is actually added to the list!

Someone wants the credit and the money for naming the systems.

That is so yesterdays news. Any changes or cuts will mean we need new names which of course means a new fee

Why the heck do the Stevenses need to fly anyway? Can't they just drive wherever the need to go on their Bridge to Nowhere?

Not to mention that Stevens is a relatively common name among Native Alaskans (no relation to Ted).

Ted could have come out against the list on the basis of his constituents' hassles. But no.

Well, better late than never.

Nothing is ever going to change at TSA/DHS until and unless folks with money and politicians are personally affected repeatedly by the problems.

The most influential folks with money (i.e. campaign contributors) fly in private jets, and the politicians can get special treatment. Ergo, the Kettles will have no impact at all. Mark my words.

He doesn't want me to fly with my carry-on luggage. He probably wants us "carry-on only" travellers blacklisted.

There are ways for non-state actors to get people (including state actors and their relatives) blacklisted without even interfacing with the government mandarins. Can't wait to hear that story realized.

Any bets on when Alberto Gonzalez & companions will be flagged down at an airport by a blacklist?

Yes, see

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/01/17/D8MNE7DG0.html

It's a double absurdity -- first, that Cat Stevens was himself on the list in the first place, and then again because of the list's identifying people by a non-unique identifier (first and last name).

As the other have said, the list needs to end, now. Anyone who doubts this needs to re-watch the "60 Minutes" episode in which the woman who ran the list admitted it is full of inaccuracies and intentional omissions of known terrorists, not to mention the well-known problem that it flags everyone with a matching name (like Stevens' wife) to someone on the list.

I'm surprised it hasn't become a frat house pastime.

they have "death pools"... why can't we start a "blacklist pool"

Best done overseas.

Take note of this quote:

So, if this is true, all the hulabaloo about this happening and making a difference to the average passenger is just creative sophistry.

Nice.

THe whole story in the WashPost is interesting: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...011901649.html