'We Should Put A Metal Detector On The Other Side': The Laughable Waste Of TSA Body Scanners
from the common-sense dept
If anyone needed the perfect example of the giant waste, fraud, and abuse a government emboldened by fear and ineptitude can achieve, that example absolutely has to be the TSA's body scanners. These glorious devices that didn't work in catching weapons or explosives but did let TSA agents see you naked, and which are administered by the TSA, an agency so perfectly unable to do its job properly that all us Techdirt writers now have carpel tunnel syndrome from writing up posts on its exploits, now have a detailed price tag associated with them. So, what did the public pay for all of this fail?
Oh, only $160 million of taxpayer money, according to Politico.
The cost breakdown, which the TSA recently turned over to some members of Congress, provides the latest look at the agency’s investment in body imaging technology since it decided to make the scanners the centerpiece of the checkpoint screening process. The price tag averages more than $150,000 per unit since the agency bought the first batch of 45 devices in 2008.Yes, dear sirs and madams, full body scanners, so inept that esteemed government officials are suggesting people exiting them should immediately go through a traditional metal detector, come at a $150k/ea price tag. But the danger of a program like body scanners, when it comes to government malfeasance, isn't solely in the primary failure of the program. Rather, the danger is in the way the failure then begins to infect everyone around it, like some kind of IQ-deteriorating brain bacteria. For example, the esteemed SHS Chairman mentioned above, who suggested metal detectors be used immediately after the body scanner, begged pardon if you had thought he meant that the body scanners weren't still needed.
And for that money, lawmakers privy to classified reports say, the TSA has gotten a woeful failure rate. Senate Homeland Security Chairman Ron Johnson has such low confidence in the scanners’ ability to catch explosives and weapons that he says the agency should make fliers walk through metal detectors after passing through the body imaging machines.
“If you really want to keep using those, and I’m not saying we shouldn’t, at a minimum we should put a metal detector on the other side,” the Wisconsin Republican said in an interview. “Why not go through two? You’ve just gotta use common sense.”Ah, yes, common sense. Well, Senator, let me try some of this common sense thing you speak of for myself. My common sense suggests that any procedure about which the following can be written ought be permanently done away with:
A recent security audit found that TSA had failed to find fake explosives and weapons in 96 percent of covert tests. And members of Congress familiar with the classified details say the body scanners are to blame for much of the problem.Common sense does not inform me that, rather than removal of these devices, our best bet is to simply stack devices upon devices through which we should walk, all while being uncertain of their efficacy. The problem isn't a lack of devices to walk through; the problem is there are too many.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has said he has received assurances from L-3’s CEO that the company will work with the department to improve the technology.Ah, yes, an assurance that this next go 'round they'll get it right, from a company that screwed it up the first time. You'll excuse me, sirs, if I am laughing. The point is that it's time to give up the game. The security we get at our airports is mere theater and we know it. The devices that didn't work the first time around while costing American taxpayers a hundred and sixty million dollars shouldn't get another bite at the apple. 9/11 is far enough in the rearview mirror that we can't use fear as an excuse any longer. It's time to end the masquerade and get on with it.
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Filed Under: body scanners, metal detectors, security theater, tsa
Companies: l-3
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Ah yes, another small government Republican looking out for my tax dollars.
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I still do not hear any of the candidates that are running even squeaking a smidgen about restoring our liberty. Trump is only positive for 1 single message and that is trying to resolve the illegal immigration issue, but he is still a business man, and not likely to do what he says once in office.
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His one best defininng attribute that might help him stand out in the crowd, and get votes to boot, and it looks to me like he's buried it.
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One of these days we will wake up and realize something was ripped right out under our feet. I have already woken up to that fact but a vast majority have yet to even realize a small portion of it.
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You listened to all those listed here:
http://www.politics1.com/p2016.htm
I am impressed, that is a large feat.
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Second Generation Nekid Scanners
What the hell, couple of hundred million here, couple of hundred million there, sooner or later somebodies gonna feel safer.
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Re: Second Generation Nekid Scanners
Which probably work better than the current breed of millimeter wave scanners, but the risk of cancer was higher, so they scuttled those.
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Re: Why stop at two?
Why not just continue to walk thru successive metal detectors until you arrive at your destination? That way you're absolutely positive that there was no bomb allowed to board the plane -- since you didn't board either.
And that would also help solve the obesity problem -- a double win! See, the government *IS* here to help you.
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That would be stupid!
The obvious solution is first you go through a body scanner. To find those big items and so that TSA employees can look at some naked "cutie" from time to time, happy employees work harder.
After the full body scan you go through a metal detector to find anything metal that the body scan didn't show. But to be sure a hand held metal detector will be used to find even the smallest things.
Then the mandatory pat down, see happy emploees above.
And now that there is nothing on your body and you are metal free you can finally go into the full body MRI to make sure there is nothing hidden inside your body.
You might want to arrive at the airport 1-2 days before your flight but that is the price we have to pay to be safe. And of course if you deny any of that you will be investigated for possible terrorism but that is obvious I guess.
Have a nice flight
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don't forget the shoes
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A thousand people per day opting out of the voluntary scans and L3 would care. Yes, every scan is optional. They know pussies like you will always comply.
I am a 1K flier. I have gone through precisely zero scanners. If 999 people a day would also opt out, it might change. The government and L3 rely on the fact that most people sheeple are all talk.
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Lewis Black said it best....
Back in 2002, comedian Lewis Black exposes on the futility and utter BS that airport security has become in his 'End of the Universe' routine.
Listen for yourself and see if he's missed anything, or if anything's gotten any better since then.
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I realize we all dislike civil asset forfeiture but I'd be sorely tempted to use it against the scanner manufacturers and partners in corruption.
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Are you fucking kidding me?
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So we need metal detectors...
Logic dictates that we really need to just go back to the way we used to do it - since they worked as well, if not more, than what we are doing today.
Bureaucracy dictates we need to add what we used to do, to the current waste that's not working now.
The only difference in going back to the old way is that instead of keeping your box-cutter when you put it in the tray, airport security will keep it.
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Re: So we need metal detectors...
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Put the supplier "at risk"
It is long overdue the US government do with procurement what some state and local governments have been doing with some of their construction contracts: put the provider at risk. It's called CMAR: construction manager at risk. The bid documents spell out the requirements, the outcome, and the amount of money the CMAR will get. That last part is important: the amount of money specified is all the money the contractor will get. If the contractor cannot provide the outcome for that amount the contractor eats the loss. And the contractor has to complete the job to the desired outcome or their license(s) get suspended and any bonds they put up for the contract are forfeited.
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Thank You Sir, May I Have Another!!!
The tunnel would start with a body scanner, then a metal detector, then Jared Fogle would pat you down, then the fun "victory tunnel" from my kid's soccer team would cheer you up for the final section, disgraced University of Oklahoma fraternity SAE would give you ritualized spankings while yelling racist or other slurs at you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdyqMVziKck
I can't PROVE to you that this would catch more terrorists, but I FEEL like we'd be safer. Should we implement my plan? I’m not saying we shouldn’t, at a minimum we should try my plan. Why not go through the security tunnel? You’ve just gotta use common sense.”
PS: It's for the children
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no, it gets stupider
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Can you keep a secret? I discovered that a kneck or shoulder problem which makes it painful to lift your arm (wink wink) gets a quick trip through metal detector and no grope-down.
This has worked for years for me, and I havent been patted down since 2012. I believe it legally works because of ADA. Not allowed to discriminate based on disability of arm shoulder neck pain.
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Current techniques are clearly inadequate
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Bit overpriced
Those were sold for $180,000 a piece to the gov. While those scanners were still in use the researchers were looking to buy one and they found one for a different price: $50,000
Security Analysis of a Full-Body X-Ray Scanner [31c3]
https://youtu.be/x_f4HUrn-NA?t=7m57s
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Or the TSA could just combine metal detectors with patdowns sans groping. You know the method that worked quite well for decades before the invention of the useless body scanners.
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There is ALWAYSa real officer from a local police jurisdiction. Only that person has a gun, handcuffs, authrity to detain or arrest, etc.
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But even that won't be enough so orifice checks for everyone (who aren't TSA). Then some exploratory surgery and later on some vivisection.
Just need some cattle prods to move the "citizens" along.
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-Flyer goes to airport
-Flyer is rendered unconscious
-Flyer is stripped naked and searched including cavities
-Flyer is loaded onto plane
-Upon arrival at destination, flyer is brought back to consciousness
SAFE AND SECURE!
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