is there any independent proof of this?

Pessimism on Meeting Bag Deadline

Airport executives told the Transportation Security Administration today that the Dec. 31 deadline for searching all checked baggage for explosives was impossible to meet and that trying to do so could make security worse.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/16/national/16AIR.html

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Not sure exactly what you're after, but is it this, the latest case?

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/005599.html

[This message has been edited by doc (edited 07-16-2002).]

In a surprising move, a select congressional committee on homeland security voted on Friday to extend the deadline for the government to install equipment at airports to detect explosives in checked baggage.

It was the first vote of any kind on rescinding the current aviation security deadline, which many big airports and airlines say is overly ambitious and cannot be met.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/020719/congr...irports_3.html


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Airport Security Is Tighter Than Ever. Does That Make Flying Safe Again?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2002Jul19.html

"According to Slepian and many other experts, the system of random checking is neither efficient nor effective. Precious resources are being wasted, Slepian says, by detailed screening of mass numbers of travelers who are unlikely to pose a threat, by screeners not qualified to look for terrorists."

Pretty much sums up what a sad joke "random security" is. Leave now, Norm.

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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry

Spiff: As usual you are right on the money.

I agree!

Bruce

Bush Warns Congress He Will Veto Senate's Security Bill

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/26/po...6CND-SECU.html

This sums up our recent experience at the Louisville Airport. We drove up to celebrate our son's graduation from ROTC Leadership Training Course. After a couple days with him we took him to the airport so he could fly back to his college. Every single cadet was tagged for a luggage search. These cadets had thier cadet/army ids with them. In the hour we spent at the check-in area only one non-cadet or soldier was required to have his luggage searched. My son asked why they check the cadets. Because they have one-way tickets. I guess the fact that these were government issued tickets had no value in the decision making process.

The process was aggrivated for us because my son's Gold Bond powder container opened in a side pocket. It happened when he was packing. Fortunately he did what most 19 year olds would do and just threw the container in his luggage (I would have thrown it away). He was able to produce it when they asked to see it. The big delay was waiting for a superior security agent to appear and fill out three lines in a black binder. He asked for ID and had a hard time dealing with my son's cadet id and military dependent id cards. He was asked if he had something better, "like a driver's license."

My son has reconciled himself that he will usually be tagged for a search (those Mediteranian looks). This was an exercise in screening a large number of people least likely to pose a security risk.

Library: What a total waste...sorry your son and all the others had to go through this.

Thanks. What is most maddening is that all the time spent dealing with the cadets meant no "real" screening of passengers could take place.
I just described the incident to a friend who works in military intelligence. He shook his head and said that they broke two of the basic intelligence rules:
1. Know your community.
2. Don't alienate the public, make them feel a part of the security team so that they serve as your extended eyes and ears.

(Is it obvious to everyone that I have a spelling gene missing?)

[This message has been edited by Library Dragon (edited 07-27-2002).]