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 as if they can't have their bomb in the backpack they placed under the seat in front of them. Sure the person next to them will see them fumbling with it but is anyone really going to be asshole enough to be like "OMG THE PERSON NEXT TO ME IS RUMMAGING IN THEIR BAG!!!!"

[rugbybaby.livejournal.com]

I will do it. I will be that person.

Of course, I'll also be the person to take out huge knitting needles just to make people nervous.

After all the airplane terrorist issues we've had, you would expect SOMEONE would come up with more practical regulations. I'm cool with wearing Crocs since I know the shoes will have to come up at some point. I support the idea of searching a person and going through the carry-on bag (though more than once just makes me think that we don't have much faith in the first one, and I won't feel particularly safe). Maybe increased security will beef up employment. I can dream.

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Yeah might be good for employment. Most of these rules really are useless though. Beefing up cockpit doors was good and so was the new policy that passengers are to immediately subdue a hijacker rather than be cooperative.

Other things that could actually help? Vegas airport has machines that apparently sniff for explosives, that's probably helpful. Otherwise I don't know, little smoke detectors behind every seat in case anyone tries to ignite something? And better screening for actual suspicious behaviour, for example this recent fellow paid cash for a one way ticket and didn't check any luggage. Odd for a transatlantic flight.

He probably could have been weeded out if our airport security was more like Israel's -- I arrived in Israel w/o checked luggage, and at several different points security took me aside and asked me detailed questions about my plans. Surely if this guy had been subjected to that one of the security agents would have become suspicious and stopped him.

But in re "all the airplane issues we'e had", one is actually 20 times more likely to be struck by lightning than to be on a flight with an attempted hijacking!

[rugbybaby.livejournal.com]

Oh heck, I'd not heard that he hadn't checked any luggage. That's an interesting point.

Comforting! Mostly. It's helpful to put things into perspective like that.