"New" TSA screening

Part of the problem is people don't understand what the image looks like (frankly most TSA agents aren't quite sure either; those w/o the scanners that is).  People also don't realize that the WBI is optional.  It is supposed to be used to resolve alarms.  You can opt out of it and do the WTMD and a pat-down - which our fine DHS leader says doesn't occur, only the WTMD.

I think there would be more of an outrage from the public if the TSA followed its own "rules" and made clear what the machine does and what the images look like.  Supposedly, the machine would not have seen the explosives in the underwear, which makes one wonder why the haste to push it forward?  It can't see between folds of skin either. 

That's a risk we might take.  You can start the "2010 Girls of BT thread" with that. 

I am all for anything which actually improves security, as opposed to the random and cursory pat down.  I don't feel safer, I just feel annoyed.  Too much of what the TSA does seems to be for an appearance rather than actually enhancing safety.  Considering the numbers of people going through, I doubt if they were scanning everyone there is much time to be spent gawking over hotties.  And if the software is set to automatically delete images after a certain period of time (perhaps after 12 or 24 hours - allowing for flights to land and therefore no need to go back and review scans), I don't really have a problem with it. 

I don't think it's an invasion of privacy considering the potential devastation an airliner can do... obviously.  But I do question why it would be considered necessary for everyone and how you even attempt to make it cost effective to scan everybody.

Some people here know that I used to live in Israel, so I sort of grew up flying back and forth on El AL a couple of times.  So my idea of "security" and "acceptable time in an airport" may be drastically different than other people here.  But from that experience I do take away one big issue:

Why does the US and other countries insist on focusing on the bags and materials?  Close inspection of luggage and your carry-ons, but what plans, builds and executes an airline hijack or bombing?  A piece of luggage?  No.  It's a person or people.  So why not focus on the people?  Here we go again, "the Israeli method".  Their security is drastically different in three main ways:

1.  It's multi-staged.  From the moment you get out of your car, bus, taxi - before you walk in the door to the airport, someone is asking you a couple of questions.  Then more questions at the check-in counter.  Another round at the security check-point, more in the waiting area and even more before you get on the plane.  The TSA puts all of their eggs into one basket in one place.  Just a handful of high-school drop-outs in one spot to get past.

2.  While they do search the luggage and you do go through a metal detector, it's your answers to the questions they ask that are most important.  And the questions mean nothing.  It's all in reading your answer.  "Do you have a pet?  What kind?  What's his name?"  You try to fabricate an answer, they can tell.  if you're not truthful about something innocent, then what about other things.  Who cares about grandma with nail clippers - they're looking for liars.  What this leads to is...

3.  The ugly "p" word... PROFILING.  A 4-letter word in the US, perfectly acceptable in Israel.  If security doesn't feel you're honest or maybe hiding something, you get escalated to higher levels of screening.  Maybe a 5-minute interview in a small private room.  Maybe only then, a full-body scan.  Whereas in the US, the TSA might have every passenger go through a full-body scanner, the Israelis might only have 5% of people go through one.  Why?  Because those are the only people that warrant a privacy-invasive scan.

And understand that Palestinians, Muslims, Arabs, etc. have been flying through Ben Gurion and other Israeli airports for years.  They're treated just like everyone else.  No one is profiled by how they look or what religion they are.  They're profiled by the level of suspicion they give off.  I was once detained for an hour in private interagation because, well... I was already drunk before my friends and I even got to the airport.  My answers weren't coming quite so quick and that did it for me.  That's why you leave about a 2-3 hour buffer when flying El Al.  You never know.

The "crocth bomber" would never even had made it to the gate at Ben Gurion.  A Yemeni, on the watch list, with a one-way ticket paid in cash...  Hello!  Instant profilied!  Never mind the fact that his father reported in Nigeria that he had joined Al Qaeda.

The proof is in the number of incidents on El Al planes over the years.

graceful_dave - 2010-01-06 12:47 PM

Bigfuzzydoug - 2010-01-06 12:31 PM [abridged] Lots of info on Israel's security.

I think you make excellent points. Our security is for show. I've accidentally taken the pictured knife (nearly 3" blade) through at least four times in the last year. They've only managed to catch it 3 times. Not very good statistics. And it's way more dangerous then a box cutter.

I took a very similar knife ( by accident ) through security twice.  Two weeks after 9/11.

I found it buried in a pocket of my backpack, which I carried on a trip from Chicago to Denver and back.

Take a quick read through this article:
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/744199---israelification-high-security-little-bother#article

The IDF is THE goto agency for dealing with terrorism.

That being said, the comments bring up a good point that if you're over 20 in Israel, you've got some basic military training, and have very different experiences then your average TSA worker.