Whether Or Not The TSA Has Ever Caught A Terrorist Is Apparently A State Secret
from the which-means-no dept
We asked recently if there was any evidence, ever, that the TSA's security procedures prevented an attack on an airplane. Last week the TSA claimed, without any details, that its procedures had stopped 130 "prohibited, illegal or dangerous items" from getting on airplanes in the last year. But it provides no details. And, in a day when a bottle of water and nail clippers are considered "prohibited," it's difficult to judge if this actually means anything.Over at Slate, Juliet Lapidos tries to dig into the question, but the TSA won't point out a single specific case claiming it's a "national security" issue. Huh? Actually telling us whether or not the naked scans and crotch grabs catch anyone is a state secret? That seems likely to mean that the answer is, no, they have not caught anyone or stopped any attempted attack, and they're just too embarrassed to say so. In fact, Lapidos points out that, in years past, the TSA has publicly announced when it "caught" someone -- as in the one time, nearly three years ago, it found a guy who had enough materials in his (checked) suitcase to make a pipe-bomb. Of course, there wasn't an actual pipe bomb in the suitcase, so it wasn't going to blow up the plane or anything.
So, in effect, it seems pretty clear that the security screening process isn't catching anyone. Of course, supporters might claim that terrorists are too scared off by the screenings, so that's why we're safe. But that makes little sense. As Jeffrey Goldberg showed a few years back, it's quite easy to get things past the security screenings if you really want to. This is security theater, plain and simple. And the TSA must know that. Which is why it's a "state secret."
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Filed Under: security, state secrets, terrorism, tsa
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"Of course, supporters might claim that terrorists are too scared off by the screenings, so that's why we're safe."
I present you, quotes from The Simpsons episode "Much Apu about Nothing"
Homer: Not a bear in sight. The Bear Patrol must be working like a charm.
Lisa: That's spacious reasoning, Dad.
Homer: Thank you, dear.
Lisa: By your logic I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away.
Homer: Oh, how does it work?
Lisa: It doesn't work.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: It's just a stupid rock.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: But I don't see any tigers around, do you?
[Homer thinks of this, then pulls out some money]
Homer: Lisa, I want to buy your rock.
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Whatever.
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Re: Whatever.
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This current incarnation of that pattern is very different but fundamentally the same. The terrorists see America and the west as simply being too powerful. Our culture is taking over the world, our military is policing the globe, our technology and economy put theirs to shame, and our religions (or lack thereof) makes us infidels in their eyes. They see us as the enemy and they are jealous, afraid, and hate us. They are fighting however they can. And while I doubt that they only fight because of our actions in recent history, our actions have a lot to do with it.
/off topic rant
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Anonymous Coward what ya say?
What we want is safety and security not a left vs right fight no? It is not Americas fault but what in the world does that have to do with the TSA and it being ineffective yet intrusive?
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Re: Anonymous Coward what ya say?
speak for yourself.
i'd rather have them continue fighting amongst themselves than come together with some bs legislation that gives us some temporary, ineffective "safety & security"
i am vastly more afraid of the US government than any terrorist organization.
terrorists cannot take away our rights and freedoms; the government can and will in the name of safety.
THE LAND OF THE FREE AND HOME OF THE BRAVE
Apparently this is no longer my Father's America.
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it hasn't been hundreds its been around ONE hundred they are currently going though a time like the dark ages where a small set of people got hold of power (the holy blood line, incest awesomeness) and while losing 100`s of years of progress.
and the "stop hating your own country simply because it is fashionable for people on the left to do so" excellent trolling, I HATE MY COUNTRY BECAUSE ITS A COUNTRY nothing more, sorta like comparing minimal wage jobs, all suck but some of the better ones could be called bearable
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They arent responsible for it at all, we are.
/s
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My biggest concern would be a dirty bomb set off in the middle of a busy TSA security check point.
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No, they were most likely told not to anymore:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zcczeuu7iA
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Re: Why not
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Adam Savage (Mythbusters) Describes how he went through the body scanner while his laptop went through the x-ray. His 'tiny junk was offended' by the body scan but the x-ray some how missed the (2) 12" steel razor blades in his laptop case.
WTF TSA indeed.
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stopped 130 "prohibited, illegal or dangerous items"
20 bottles of soda
30 combs
14 hand sanitizers
14 "travel" bottles of shampoo
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Schneier concurs, TSA security theatre doesn't work
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TSA fails
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Re: TSA fails
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The country that lets random people into the white house (uninvited) without so much as a "who the hell are you?" has more stuff to worry about than checking everyone's crotch, I think.
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Security KeyStone Kops
When you land in Pittsburgh, you are in a mall/concourse -- safe from lighters! -- except for the ones they were selling at the newsstands right at the gate.
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No snowglobes!
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FOIA?
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Normally I'd defend Security Classification...
If releasing the actual numbers of attacks or insurgency probes foiled by TSA is, truly a case of 'exceptionally grave danger...' in the opinion of anyone at NSA or any other agency, then the individuals overseeing those programs REALLY need a reality check.
The procedures by which we travelers are screened aren't classified, and the technology behind the backscatterers aren't to my knowledge classified, and neither are the resulting images, apparently, but whether or not they are doing the job is? Get real.
How is it conceivable that small containers of liquid, nail clippers, pocket knives, and the like really pose a threat? In 2005, my then five-year-old, daughter was mortified when they took a thirty-year-old teddy bear from her to scan it for bomb residue. Granted, he has visible scars and stitching, but she didn't want to part with it. We got it back after a few minutes, but she wouldn't let it out of her grasp for a week after that incident. I can almost justify him as a covering for a weapon, since cadavers have been used to smuggle drugs and weapons before, but these other items can't be any more dangerous than the things which ARE let on the plane.
Mt wife and I were discussing how to get around these procedures, and we discussed one sure-fire way. Get elected. That's right, your lawmakers responsible for inflicting this crap upon you are exempt, apparently.
So who's more corrupt? A religious fundamentalist, a politician, or a lawyer?
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Re: Normally I'd defend Security Classification...
There's a difference?
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Stop jumping to conclusions if you don't know what you're talking about.
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Why is it only planes
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Yes, tell the terrorists how to fool the system, that will help.. Good one Mike !!!!
Without formal charges, sure, let them know that the trick they just tried did not work, give them immediate feedback, or just catch the person, and continue the investigation.
Really it is stupid to think that you have a right to know what is happenend with security, it is none of your business, it has nothing to do with you, except to know that there is a risk that they are trying to reduce that risk.
It is odd that you seem so intent on attacking everything you dont like as if it was some evil..
And crying that they should be giving us all the information as soon as they gain it, post all the naked pics on the internet, so you can check for yourself to make sure you are safe..
And not thinking for a second that providing a list of ways you get caught with these security systems, is also providing a list of ways to try to fool the security systems.. but you dont see that mike.. you dont seem to see much at all !!
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Just saying.
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TSA are of bunch of gay muslim centrists who support NAMBLA
WTF people? This is about the TSA not the assinine political debate that seems to have erupted. It is a show, like much of human existence and we as a species have lost the ideals of right and wrong.
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TSA is wasting money on the wrong things.
They could invest in a few more checking stations and more tables to set your stuff on while filling up the buckets if they fired a few of the people with no apparent job to do.
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TSA isn't About Security
It's time for We the People, Voters, TEA PARTY and friend to say Baah humbug to TSA and demand transparency for their budget and results instead of transparency for our undies.
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