OMGWTF TSA

[aggienaut]

   Seriously though.

   These new TSA regulations, WTF?

   I mean, they've always been a joke.

The confiscation of "sharp objects" down to and including nail clippers? Useless considering there's restaurants on the far side of the security checkpoint, which presumably have knives. You really think Al-queda can't infiltrate McDonalds and pass a knife off to their man on the plane? Or smuggle explosives in amongst the patties of grade F meat?

And that obnoxious rule about individually packaging your liquids and gels? What the hell does that accomplish? Would that have stopped the shoe bomber and his explosive shoes? Did it stop this fellow from smuggling his explosives in on his body? This rule accomplishes nothing other than getting my toothpaste confiscated when I forget about it. That and I saw a fellow lose a $40 bottle of wine he had bought in the previous airport, not realizing he'd have to go through another security checkpoint.

And now they're banning moving about the cabin in the last hour of flight, as if for a second a terrorist is going to be thwarted by that? Aside from the obvious (so a the terrorist will just strike at any OTHER time), if he really wanted to do his terroristing in the last 20 minutes is the rule going to stop him from jumping up and doing it anyway? It really accomplishes absolutely nothing other than being obnoxious.

And then of course the rules about not having blankets or any other objects on your lap, I'm guessing they'll reverse that pretty fast because that's preposterous. Apparently they even banned the provided in-flight entertainment on some international flights --- WHA? People are going to START committing acts of terrorism OUT OF SHEER BOREDOM! And HOW does watching a movie in the seat in front of you potentially lead to a terrorist threat?!?!?!?!

The Transportation Security Administration did little to explain the rules. And that inconsistency might well have been deliberate: What's confusing to passengers is also confusing to potential terrorists.

"It keeps them guessing," transportation expert Joseph Schwieterman said."

I think that's clearly bullshittery for "we have no idea what we're doing and we're making it up as we go along!"

   Seriously though, how obnoxious are they going to make flying? I think they should have the option of flying on special lower security flights, for those of us who'd rather take our chances with the terr'ists than the psychotic rule of TSA.


Picture of the Day

This seems like the appropriate juncture for a picture of a bald eagle in flight no?
Taken while under sail on the Colombia River last month.

See Also:
Getting Shafted by Airport Security (2004)
Racist TSA Agents (2003)

Comments

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Yeah exactly -- since when is the last hour the only time they can do their terroristifying?

The only actual useful innovations have been the stronger cockpit doors and the policy to take down terrorists immediately rather than try to negotiate with them.

[sra33.livejournal.com]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they hijack the 911 planes within the first 30 mins of flight or so? I could be wrong on that, though. So stay seated the entire first hour, then the entire last hour... And too bad if you only have a 2 hour flight..............

AND let's add to the fact that, as you create rules, you're half-encouraging certain individuals to try and break it as a challenge. Like banning a book only gets it read more? Stuff like that.

I stick to my old-time adage that my dad used to say all the time: "Locked doors only keep the honest people out."

[mermaidkween.livejournal.com]

The last hour is more likely to be over US soil on an international flight. These weird guidelines (which were relaxed yesterday and are now at the discretion of the captain AFAIK) make no sense because can't someone just take a domestic flight and do the same thing? Argh, these people make no sense.

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Yeah why don't they just say "when the flight is nearing a major population centre" or something. I really think it was just them blurting out something