17

12/5/2010 11:41:32 AM

Of course, this isn't a body scanner story, but still.

Quote :

"Gaping Holes in Airline Security: Loaded Gun Slips Past TSA Screeners Last fall, as he had done hundreds of times, Iranian-American businessman Farid Seif passed through security at a Houston airport and boarded an international flight. He didn't realize he had forgotten to remove the loaded snub nose "baby" Glock pistol from his computer bag. But TSA officers never noticed as his bag glided along the belt and was x-rayed. When he got to his hotel after the three-hour flight, he was shocked to discover the gun traveled unnoticed from Houston. "It's just impossible to miss it, you know. I mean, this is not a small gun," Seif told ABC News. "How can you miss it? You cannot miss it." But the TSA did miss it, and despite what most people believe about the painstaking effort to screen airline passengers and their luggage before they enter the terminal, it was not that unusual. Experts tell ABC News that every year since the September 11 terror attacks, federal agencies have conducted random, covert "red team tests," where undercover agents try to see just how much they can get past security checks at major U.S. airports. And while the Department of Homeland Security closely guards the results as classified, those that have leaked in media reports have been shocking. According to one report, undercover TSA agents testing security at a Newark airport terminal on one day in 2006 found that TSA screeners failed to detect concealed bombs and guns 20 out of 22 times. A 2007 government audit leaked to USA Today revealed that undercover agents were successful slipping simulated explosives and bomb parts through Los Angeles's LAX airport in 50 out of 70 attempts, and at Chicago's O'Hare airport agents made 75 attempts and succeeded in getting through undetected 45 times."

If they can't operate X-Ray machines, who thinks they can operate highly-advanced body scanners?

12/17/2010 10:08:01 AM

I have frequently made it through the checkpoints with fluid containers >3oz. I am a motherfucking rebel!

12/17/2010 10:09:47 AM

^^ link plz

12/17/2010 10:12:53 AM

^My bad

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/loaded-gun-slips-past-tsa-screeners/story?id=12412458

12/17/2010 10:17:28 AM

Oh lawd, Attn: LunaK, EMCE, terpball, The5thsoth...and others

http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2010/12/metro-start-random-bag-searches

Quote :

"Metro to start random bag searches Metro plans to begin random searches of its riders' bags in the coming days, the transit agency said Thursday, revisiting a plan first announced two years ago. Metro Police Chief Michael Taborn said the coordinated effort with the Transportation Security Administration was not in response to a specific threat but was part of a continuing effort to keep the system safe from explosives. Boston, New York and New Jersey transit officials do similar searches, according to the agency. Metro officials would not specify when the first searches will begin, how long they will last, which locations will be targeted or how many riders' bags will be searched. The agency planned to start alerting riders with pamphlets and station announcements on Thursday afternoon. But riders immediately started to sound off against the plan. David Alpert, who serves on the agency's Riders' Advisory Council and writes the Greater Greater Washington blog, called it "security theater" that wastes money without stopping terrorists. He said such resources could be better spent having more officers and dogs patrol the system. "Riders are already frustrated with Metro right now," Alpert said. "Doing something that's just going to frustrate riders is absolutely the wrong approach." Metro announced two years ago that it would conduct searches but never did any after riders and their advocates complained. Metro officials would not say what prompted them to revisit the policy now, denying that the recent arrests of two men on separate allegations of threatening the subway system had anything to do with the timing. "It's an added a layer of protection we can add at this time," Taborn said. "It's another tool in our toolbox." The officers will try to "minimize inconvenience to riders," General Manager Richard Sarles said, with brief inspections of randomly selected riders. This time, though, the bags will be searched for hazardous materials using ionization technology and explosive-sniffing K-9 units. The earlier proposal involved officers opening riders' bags and looking inside them. But bags will be not be opened unless they are deemed to need further inspection. Furthermore, Metro officials said, the equipment and dogs are looking for explosives and will not be looking for guns or drugs. "It won't cost us anything," Taborn said, saying that the agency already has officers, dogs and equipment through homeland security grants. He did acknowledge printing costs for the pamphlets but could not pin down a cost. Taborn said the screenings would not take more than about a minute and a half. "We don't want to create a bottleneck. We don't want to eliminate the mass in mass transit.""

[Edited on December 17, 2010 at 11:25 AM. Reason : DCDCDCDCDCDC]

12/17/2010 11:25:23 AM

Who didn't see this coming?

Now, bend over and grab your ankles, America.

12/17/2010 11:28:05 AM

Quote :

"How the searches will work ¥ Searches will occur in stations and transit areas before riders pay to enter, not on trains or buses. In areas with checkpoints, riders will see several officers, a sign announcing the search and a table. ¥ Officers will use randomized counting of riders carrying bags to choose who to screen. ¥ An officer will run a swab over the bag, then run it through a portable ionization device for finding explosives called a Sabre 4000, which is about the size of bread box. Bags will not be opened for the initial scan. ¥ Explosive-sniffing K-9 units will follow up on any positive scans from the equipment. The dogs are not trained to sniff for illegal drugs, Metro Transit Police Chief Michael Taborn said. ¥ Riders may choose not to have their bags searched but will not be allowed to enter the stations or buses with the items. "

Hell this sounds like a reasonable alternative to the body scanners in airports.

[Edited on December 17, 2010 at 11:34 AM. Reason : metal detector plus these explosives screens sounds pretty good]

12/17/2010 11:28:52 AM

12/17/2010 7:51:53 PM

^^ I have no problem with that. Hell I wish they would do it more. Thats how to properly do it.

12/17/2010 8:02:55 PM

^^Awesome, another picture of me getting my boner touched by TSA has leaked onto the internet again.

12/17/2010 8:35:31 PM

for some reason, the random searches on the metro doesn't bother me? i dunno.

i mean, if they're doing a damned cavity search - okay yea i have a problem. but just checking out my bags? :shrug:

12/17/2010 8:37:17 PM

TSA screeners somehow miss a LOADED FUCKING GUN, but we trust them enough to fondle our balls.

http://consumerist.com/2010/12/eagle-eyed-tsa-screeners-dont-notice-loaded-handgun-in-mans-carry-on.html

Quote :

"If you thought the TSA's inability to notice a 6-inch hunting knife was a sign that airport screeners might as well be watching Spongebob instead of X-raying you and your stuff, here's further proof. A man in Houston says the TSA screeners didn't blink an eye at the loaded .40 caliber handgun he'd forgotten was tucked away in his computer bag when he made his way through the security checkpoint at Bush Intercontinental Airport. Since the TSA requires you to run your laptop through separately from its bag, it should have been even easier for screeners to notice the gun in the laptop bag. "There's nothing else in there. How can you miss it?" asks the passenger. "You cannot miss it." The passenger noticed the gun when he arrived at his destination and reported the incident to authorities. The TSA investigated and provided "remedial instruction" for the screeners involved."

[Edited on December 20, 2010 at 8:59 AM. Reason : ers]

12/20/2010 8:58:43 AM

Quote :

"Furthermore, Metro officials said, the equipment and dogs are looking for explosives and will not be looking for guns or drugs."

what kind of damage could you possibly do with explosives on a subway train that you couldn't do with a gun? is there a minimum number of people you have to kill before it becomes enough of a problem to warrant these phony extra security measures?


i think the fatal flaw in our security system is undermining the efficiency of these terrorist. they brought this entire country to our fucking knees with a pair of box-cutters.

[Edited on December 20, 2010 at 9:38 AM. Reason : ]

12/20/2010 9:30:28 AM

They are supposedly all over Logan Airport in Boston but we didn't go through them. I wanted to see what they looked like and I think I missed it.

12/20/2010 9:50:41 AM

come to detroit (that's where it all began afterall)
i saw one but i dint have to go thru it

12/20/2010 9:52:20 AM

I thought everyone had to go through them -- I'm flying out of RDU Weds so I'll report back.

12/20/2010 9:54:02 AM

^no not everyone.

i had to go through one.
but one of the people who flew with me didn't

12/20/2010 10:01:47 AM

^bewbies?

[Edited on December 20, 2010 at 10:03 AM. Reason : Joie]

12/20/2010 10:03:18 AM

lollers.

12/20/2010 10:04:10 AM

Quote :

"i had to go through one. "

Yeah, of course the model has to get additional screening. Damn #1 terrorist suspects right there.

12/20/2010 10:14:35 AM

^It seems like at RDU terminal 2, they make one out of every three or so go through the scanner while everybody else goes through the metal detectors.

12/20/2010 10:15:26 AM

^ and ^^yeah they didnt make me go.

i thought the machine looked really cool so i purposely got in the line

but everyone else looked like it was randomly picked.
i think i remember one person opting out and go through a metal detector.




[Edited on December 20, 2010 at 10:30 AM. Reason : model is a weird word. lets use...promotional technician? ]

12/20/2010 10:27:12 AM

ThePeter...

Yeah, I saw that on the news the other day. Craziness.
Like....the metro is so essential to maneuvering around DC.

12/20/2010 10:41:21 AM

i went through one yesterday flying out of new orleans

not a big deal, assuming naked pictures of me don't end up on the internet (though i definitely agree with what others have said that i don't think it is making it any safer to fly)

i wouldn't have opted out for a pat down instead anyway, but it happened really quickly -- i was told to go through it instead of the metal detector at the last second

12/20/2010 10:41:49 AM

when I see the word model I think robot. Joie would be a great prototype, eh?

12/20/2010 10:44:39 AM

12/20/2010 10:52:55 AM

Sorry, I thought it was the most applicable word to use for saying that they saw an attractive female and were all "hey that one needs additional screening"

[Edited on December 20, 2010 at 10:56 AM. Reason : moot point anyway if you chose to do it]

12/20/2010 10:55:29 AM

lol.

thank you



alright im off to the hospital. i really really gotta go !

12/20/2010 11:06:29 AM

we had a delayed flight out of washington the other night. we got so bored while waiting on our flight to get there we went and asked the TSA people if they could scan us and they said no. I wanted to see my junk

12/20/2010 7:23:42 PM

If I am selected to go through one of these, would I be arrested if I stripped down and walked through completely naked? I mean, I'm making their job easier.

12/20/2010 7:43:47 PM

http://mybirdie.ca/files/a97da13bf437668a0151b78c370340bd-13180.php

12/21/2010 10:54:43 AM

I still plan on using the boner in the waistband approach if I have to go through one of these

12/21/2010 11:01:22 AM

Quote :

"Since the TSA requires you to run your laptop through separately from its bag, it should have been even easier for screeners to notice the gun in the laptop bag. The passenger noticed the gun when he arrived at his destination and reported the incident to authorities. The TSA investigated and provided "remedial instruction" for the screeners involved.""

"remedial instruction" = look at the motherfucking screen you imbeciles

12/21/2010 11:52:04 AM

http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2010/12/metro-begins-random-bag-searches

Quote :

"When Bob Baer was tapped for a check, he exclaimed, "Oh, boy!" as he put his bag on the table. "I think I just missed my train but this is a good thing," he said afterward as he headed to the platform to get to work -- at his job at Homeland Security."

lol

12/22/2010 9:33:47 AM

^ Its especially funny since that guy is a veteran CIA officer who was tapped with nabbing terrorists in 3rd world hellholes on many continents

12/22/2010 9:54:16 AM

Quote :

"http://www.news10.net/news/article.aspx?storyid=113529&provider=top&catid=188 Sacramento-area pilot punished for YouTube video SACRAMENTO, CA - An airline pilot is being disciplined by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for posting video on YouTube pointing out what he believes are serious flaws in airport security. The 50-year-old pilot, who lives outside Sacramento, asked that neither he nor his airline be identified. He has worked for the airline for more than a decade and was deputized by the TSA to carry a gun in the cockpit. He is also a helicopter test pilot in the Army Reserve and flew missions for the United Nations in Macedonia. Three days after he posted a series of six video clips recorded with a cell phone camera at San Francisco International Airport, four federal air marshals and two sheriff's deputies arrived at his house to confiscate his federally-issued firearm. The pilot recorded that event as well and provided all the video to News10. At the same time as the federal marshals took the pilot's gun, a deputy sheriff asked him to surrender his state-issued permit to carry a concealed weapon. A follow-up letter from the sheriff's department said the CCW permit would be reevaluated following the outcome of the federal investigation. The YouTube videos, posted Nov. 28, show what the pilot calls the irony of flight crews being forced to go through TSA screening while ground crew who service the aircraft are able to access secure areas simply by swiping a card. "As you can see, airport security is kind of a farce. It's only smoke and mirrors so you people believe there is actually something going on here," the pilot narrates. Video shot in the cockpit shows a medieval-looking rescue ax available on the flight deck after the pilots have gone through the metal detectors. "I would say a two-foot crash ax looks a lot more formidable than a box cutter," the pilot remarked. A letter from the TSA dated Dec. 6 informed the pilot that "an administrative review into your deputation status as a Federal Flight Deck Officer has been initiated." According to the letter, the review was directly related to the discovery by TSA staff of the YouTube videos. "The content and subject of these videos may have violated regulations concerning disclosure of sensitive security information," the letter said. The pilot's attorney, Don Werno of Santa Ana, said he believed the federal government sent six people to the house to send a message. "And the message was you've angered us by telling the truth and by showing America that there are major security problems despite the fact that we've spent billions of dollars allegedly to improve airline safety," Werno said. The pilot said he is not in trouble with his airline, but a supervisor asked him to remove public access to the YouTube videos. He does, however, face potential civil penalties from the TSA. He said he would likely go public when it becomes clear what the government plans to do with him."

Youtube videos are down from what I understand.

12/23/2010 8:01:46 PM

ThePeter is a security theater junkie nowadays ...

12/23/2010 9:10:40 PM

Went through today... it was the same security walkthrough as the first time I ever went flying like 12 years ago

I'm astraladvent and I approved this message

12/23/2010 10:23:18 PM

^^I'm addicted

From an old incident (2008) but could still be relevant

Quote :

"http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/stupid/tsa-pays-breast-exposure-suit JANUARY 13--The woman who sued the Transportation Security Administration after her breasts were exposed during a frisking at a Texas airport will receive a “nominal” payment from the government as part of a legal settlement, The Smoking Gun has learned. The settlement was disclosed in documents filed last week in U.S. District Court in Amarillo, where Lynsie Murley last year filed a lawsuit accusing the TSA of negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress in connection with the May 2008 incident at the Corpus Christi airport. Murley’s lawyer, Jerry McLaughlin, declined to disclose the exact amount of money that his client is receiving, but termed the payout a “nominal settlement.” Asked if the amount hit six figures, McLaughlin laughed loudly and said the negotiated payment was “way less than that. It wasn’t a whole lot of money.” Murley, he said, “was never interested in the money,” and would not have filed a lawsuit if TSA officials had simply sent her a letter of apology. Murley is pictured above in a photo from her Facebook page. The 24-year-old Murley alleged that after being “singled out for extended search procedures,” a TSA agent frisked her and “pulled Plaintiff’s blouse completely down, exposing Plaintiff’s breasts to everyone in the area.” Her complaint noted that, “as would be expected,” Murley was “extremely embarrassed and humiliated.” Murley charged that TSA employees “joked and laughed about the incident for an extended period of time.” After leaving the security line to be “consoled by an acquaintance who had brought her to the airport,” Murley returned to the line, where a male TSA worker said that he had wished he was there when she first passed through. The employee, Murley recalled, added that “he would just have to watch the video.” The court settlement was reached shortly after government lawyers deposed Murley. The agreement, McLaughlin said, “got her some justice.” (5 pages)"

1/13/2011 4:22:22 PM

Quote :

"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/24/AR2011012405955.html Ex-Minn. governor sues over body scans, pat-downs MINNEAPOLIS -- Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura is suing the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration, saying full-body scans and pat-downs at airport checkpoints are violating his rights. Ventura filed his lawsuit Monday in federal court in Minnesota. He says the new security measures violate his right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. He's asking a federal court to order officials to stop subjecting him to these searches. Ventura was governor of Minnesota from 1999 through 2002. He now hosts the television program "Conspiracy Theory." The lawsuit says Ventura had a hip replacement in 2008, and his titanium implant sets off metal detectors."

1/25/2011 8:48:36 AM

1/25/2011 1:41:03 PM

1/25/2011 8:03:12 PM

the tsa does something intelligent:

Quote :

"The Transportation Security Administration began testing on Tuesday new software that will transmit more modest images of travelers' bodies on some of its controversial airport screening machines. The new technology, introduced at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport for a 45- to 60-day trial, is designed to detect potential explosives and show them on a blurred "generic outline" of a person projected a monitor that can be seen by screeners and travelers. The outline will be identical for all passengers."

http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/2011-02-02-bodyscans02_ST_N.htm

2/3/2011 3:15:06 PM

^ That makes too much sense.

Wonder what took them so long...

2/3/2011 3:17:38 PM

Went through last weekend and they had the blurred screens that everyone could see.

Shit looked like a fake picture of me as drawn by a boardgame illustrator.

2/3/2011 3:52:43 PM

Yep, good thing we put these things in airports. A gunman will never board our aircraft again. Our aircraft are the safest ones in the sky. No chance anything will get on board now.

Oh wait.

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local-beat/TSA-Agent-Slips-Through-DFW-Body-Scanner-With-a-Gun-116497568.html

Quote :

"TSA Source: Armed Agent Slips Past DFW Body Scanner An undercover TSA agent was able to get through security at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport with a handgun during testing of the enhanced-imaging body scanners, according to a high-ranking, inside source at the Transportation Security Administration. The source said the undercover agent carried a pistol in her undergarments when she put the body scanners to the test. The officer successfully made it through the airport's body scanners every time she tried, the source said. "In this case, where they had a test, and it was just a dismal failure as I'm told," said Larry Wansley, former head of security at American Airlines. "As I've heard (it), you got a problem, especially with a fire arm." Wansley said covert testing by the TSA is commonplace -- although failing should be rare. The TSA insider who blew the whistle on the test also said that none of the TSA agents who failed to spot the gun on the scanned image were disciplined. The source said the agents continue to work the body scanners today. Wansley said that is a problem. "This was only a test, but it's critically important that you do something, because if that person failed in the real environment, then you have a problem," he said. The TSA did not deny that the tests took place or the what the results were. The agency would only provide the following statement: "Our security officers are one of the most heavily tested federal workforces in the nation. We regularly test our officers in a variety of ways to ensure the effectiveness of our technology, security measures and the overall layered system. For security reasons, we do not publicize or comment on the results of covert tests, however advanced imaging technology is an effective tool to detect both metallic and nonmetallic items hidden on passengers." TSA agents who spoke to a reporter agreed that the body-imaging scanners are effective -- but only if the officers monitoring them are paying attention."

Who saw this coming?

[Edited on February 23, 2011 at 3:04 PM. Reason : the agent must have been ugly and unattractive ]

2/23/2011 2:59:22 PM

i have a couple of ceramic kitchen knives

can i get through these scanners with them?

2/23/2011 3:11:34 PM

hell you could probably get through with regular stainless steel knives, since the agent got through with a metal gun no problem

2/23/2011 3:12:58 PM

i need assurances, man

2/23/2011 3:15:32 PM