Soon he might be checking much more than your duffel bag
Photo: mrcrash/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The TSA’s response to the jock-strap jihadist is mystifying some passengers. According to one of my checkpoint sources at a major U.S. airport, passengers who expected to see a huge visible response were almost disappointed—“they’re asking ‘where’s the security?’" this source reports. But on inbound flights from overseas, it’s the opposite approach: passengers on flights must remain seated one hour before landing, they can’t access their carry-on bags, dthey can't have blankets or laptops on their laps, and those flight-tracking maps that are integrated into seatback entertainment systems must be turned off.
All this would prevent one thing: an exact copy of last week's attempted attack on board a Northwest flight from Amsterdam. True, copycat crimes are a plausible scenario, but this is also security theater carried to a ridiculous extreme. Any self-respecting jihadist would certainly find it easy to circumvent these safety measures.
But here’s the issue facing the security community in the longer run: privacy, if we thought we had any left, is sure to be surrendered almost completely—and the ensuing debate will get downright embarrassing. Here, again, the take of one of my former TSA colleagues:
“As long as we cannot pat down the private area, we cannot be 100 percent secure.” This brings back memories of my job as an airport screener, and that unnerving moment in the pat-down when we were instructed to say, “I am now coming to a sensitive area.”
The good news, if there is any, is that we already have better technology in the pipeline to detect explosives and new body scanner machines will probably soon be installed at airports. Screeners are being told that they will be doing more swabbing of passengers' shoes and hands, presumably because anyone dabbling in these substances will have traces clinging to them.
Meanwhile, Joe Brancatelli posted yesterday’s DHS memo to airlines that operate flights abroad. Read after the jump for an excerpt.
Listen to Peterson talk about the challenges of terrorism security on NPR's The Takeaway this morning.
(You) must immediately implement all measures in this (directive) for each such flight.
1. BOARDING GATE
1. The aircraft operator or authorized air carrier representative must ensure all passengers are screened at the boarding gate during the boarding process using the following procedures. These procedures are in addition to the screening of all passengers at the screening checkpoint.
2. Perform thorough pat-down of all passengers at boarding gate prior to boarding, concentrating on upper legs and torso.
3. Physically inspect 100 percent of all passengers’ accessible property at the boarding gate prior to boarding, with focus on syringes being transported along with powders and/or liquids.
4. Ensure the liquids, aerosols, and gels restrictions are strictly adhered to in accordance with SD 1544-06-02E.
2. IN FLIGHT
1. During flight, the aircraft operator must ensure that the following procedures are followed:
2. Passengers must remain in seats beginning one hour prior to arrival at destination.
3. Passenger access to carry-on baggage is prohibited beginning one hour prior to arrival at destination.
4. Disable aircraft-integrated passenger communications systems and services (phone, internet access services, live television programming, global positioning systems) prior to boarding and during all phases of flight.
5. While over U.S. airspace, flight crew may not make any announcement to passengers concerning flight path or position over cities or landmarks.
6. Passengers may not have any blankets, pillows, or personal belongings on the lap beginning one hour prior to arrival at destination.
1. BOARDING GATE
1. The aircraft operator or authorized air carrier representative must ensure all passengers are screened at the boarding gate during the boarding process using the following procedures. These procedures are in addition to the screening of all passengers at the screening checkpoint.
2. Perform thorough pat-down of all passengers at boarding gate prior to boarding, concentrating on upper legs and torso.
3. Physically inspect 100 percent of all passengers’ accessible property at the boarding gate prior to boarding, with focus on syringes being transported along with powders and/or liquids.
4. Ensure the liquids, aerosols, and gels restrictions are strictly adhered to in accordance with SD 1544-06-02E.
2. IN FLIGHT
1. During flight, the aircraft operator must ensure that the following procedures are followed:
2. Passengers must remain in seats beginning one hour prior to arrival at destination.
3. Passenger access to carry-on baggage is prohibited beginning one hour prior to arrival at destination.
4. Disable aircraft-integrated passenger communications systems and services (phone, internet access services, live television programming, global positioning systems) prior to boarding and during all phases of flight.
5. While over U.S. airspace, flight crew may not make any announcement to passengers concerning flight path or position over cities or landmarks.
6. Passengers may not have any blankets, pillows, or personal belongings on the lap beginning one hour prior to arrival at destination.
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