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Special Report

Disband the TSA

By on 11.23.10 @ 6:08AM

In nearly a decade it hasn’t captured a single terrorist.

It is September 11 that immediately comes to mind when most Americans think of terrorism. Although the 9/11 attacks were indeed horrific terrorism’s first big heyday may have been the 1980s.

More than 300 were killed in the 1983 bombings of the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. A U.S. Navy diver was killed during the 1985 Hezbollah hijacking of TWA flight 847. The same year a wheelchair-bound American was killed during a take-over of the Mediterranean cruise ship Achille Lauro.

Using grenades and assault weapons Palestinian gunmen killed 19 and wounded 140 on attacks at the Rome and Vienna airports in late 1985. In 1986, four U.S. citizens were killed by a bombing aboard TWA #840 en route to Athens. Two U.S. servicemen were killed and dozens were injured when a bomb detonated in a West Berlin discotheque in 1986. The bombing of New York-bound Pan Am flight 103 in 1988 killed all 259 passengers and crew and another 11 people on the ground in Lockerbie, England. One-hundred ninety of those killed were American.

In a previous career I was a U.S. intelligence officer stationed in London during the 1980s. I traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Middle East. I worked on terrorism and related issues. During that time I was in a small group that had access to a highly classified codeword program focusing on suspected terrorists and terrorism planning. Not a single alleged terrorist planner was ever caught or an anticipated attack thwarted as a result of this program. Yet, that did not stop the sponsors of the program from claiming incredible success.

I am reminded of this as I review of the performance of the Transportation Security Administration. In nearly a decade there is not a single report of a terrorist having been caught during the TSA screening process. No bombs have been discovered. No hijackings have been thwarted. For the TSA to claim it has made the nation’s skies safer is as absurd as the rooster taking credit for the sun rising each morning. Observant passengers have caught more terrorist-wannabes than the 67,000 TSA employees.

My low opinion of the TSA is not due to recent events but began soon after the agency was created. The recent spate of reports of TSA officials acting irresponsibly has finally brought the agency much needed scrutiny.

It is long past time to disband the TSA. Replace it with an effective, free market system that actually works.

Critics of the TSA’s naked body scanners and intrusive pat-downs (including its genital probing) miss the biggest problem with this agency. It is the TSA’s premise that the 89-year old great-grandmother in a walker, the soccer team comprised of 11-year old girls, the two-year old toddler on the family vacation, the airline crewmember and the soldier traveling home from Iraq pose the same potential threat to airline safety as the Middle Eastern man traveling alone, without luggage, on a one-way First Class ticket that was purchased with cash. The TSA is fueled by political correctness run amuck. Its sole accomplishments to date have been establishing a sizable airport presence and humiliating passengers.

For a number of years following 9/11 I regularly flew between Baltimore and Atlanta. I was saddened at the all-too-frequent sight of a soldier dressed in his camouflage uniform on the way to or from his two-week R&R with boots off and the contents of his backpack strewn across the floor as a TSA agent nosed through the belongings to see what potential threat faced other air travelers.

No one has been spared the unwarranted indignities and gross violations of privacy perpetrated by the TSA.

In 2002, then-75 year old Congressman John Dingell (D-MI) was forced to strip down to his underwear because his artificial hip set-off alarms on the magnetometer. The issue is not that Dingell should undergo the same invasive inspections as everyone else. Instead, it is that the 99% of American airline passengers who do not raise meaningful red flags should not be subjected to such invasive inspections. (As an aside, I happen to believe members of Congress pose a greater threat to the American way of life when they are voting than when flying.)

Then-U.S. Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) was asked to produce a picture I.D. at the Washington National Airport security screening area before a 2002 trip. Reagan National is the airport used by nearly every member of Congress when flying. Burns showed the TSA screener his U.S. Senate identification. The official refused to accept the government-issued I.D. but allowed Burns to proceed to his flight when he produced his Sam’s Club shopping card as proof of identification.

Retired Brigadier General and former South Dakota Governor Joe Foss nearly lost his Medal of Honor when TSA officials threatened to confiscate it from him during a 2002 screening of his carry-on belongings. Believing the medal could be used as a weapon, the TSA screeners fortunately relented when the 86-year old showed them a photograph of President Franklin Roosevelt presenting the medal to him for his WWII heroics.

In 2003, a U.S. Army medic who was wounded in Afghanistan when he was shot in the jaw was grossly mishandled at San Francisco International Airport. His jaw wired shut, the soldier was given a small pair of wire clippers to use in the event he became air sick in order to keep from choking on his vomit. TSA officials confiscated his wire clippers and he was forced to fly from San Francisco to Texas even though flight attendants informed him there was nothing on board the aircraft to open his jaw in an emergency.

In 2004, a chartered airline flight rotating an Army unit back to the U.S. from an Afghanistan deployment was stranded on the tarmac at San Francisco airport for hours during a layover. The troops were not permitted to deplane to purchase food and drink nor to use the bathroom. TSA officials ruled the soldiers posed a threat to airport security because the unit’s weapons were stored in the cargo hold of the aircraft.

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About the Author

Mark Hyman hosts “Behind the Headlines,” a commentary program for Sinclair Broadcast Group. You can follow him on Twitter at @markhyman.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (135) |

John Daniel| 11.23.10 @ 7:19AM

TSA a complete waste of money. Interesting that the talking heads are interviewing all the sheep in the terminals who think it's OK. Can't interview me because I'm not there...opted out of flying long ago because I refuse to be treated like a felon.

Daniel L. from Chicago| 11.23.10 @ 9:16AM

Hogwash!

Wash a hog in it!

As a frequent flyer, I am happy to be searched before I board a flight because it eases my mind.

The hysterics who are hollering about their precious "genitals being fondled" by TSA are fools. I could not care less if an examiner's hand brushes my genital area. What the hell!

Drudge, always a nasty provocateur, has instigated this hysteria with his usual hyperbole, carefully selecting little wacky stories from around the world about people's privacy being violated at the aeroport.

I WANT my privacy "violated." Why? For SAFETY! That's why.

Move on, Mr. Hyman, to something more important

FugBug| 11.23.10 @ 9:27AM

The right-wing bloggers are going apeshit over this "fondling genitals" crap. They're like broken records repeating, repeating, repeating.

And some of the posters on here, loulou, for example are lyers. She did not have a veiled Muslim search her luggage.

AmSpec is getting crazier and crazier.

chester arthur| 11.23.10 @ 10:00AM

Fug,the crazy thing is that AMSPEC upsets libdrone free-thinkers-in-lockstep so much.If you were right,you'd have real arguments for whatever your odd position of the day is.You don't,so name calling becomes the argument.Aren't there other sites that cater to the drone class?

Purple Lips| 11.23.10 @ 11:12AM

FugBug,

You speak like a true sheep. I can just see you lefties some time in the future. You are at an airport, and the TSA agent barks out orders like some Parris Island DI, " All passengers will strip off all of thier clothes and assume the position!!" I can see you an other sheep meekly undressing and offering up your bums for a deep anal probe. Of course it is all in the name of safety. Anything for the Anointed One!

And some place far away your Minders view on a remote video feed the sheep submissively obeying.

Mr. Enlightened| 11.23.10 @ 1:11PM

TSA Deters Terrorists!

TSA has prevented untold numbers of terrorist attacks. How many attacks would have been attempted had it not been for stricter screening after 9/11? I think it is a fairly reasonable conclusion that airport security deters some attacks, in the same sort of way that having police on a street corner deters muggings, even if nobody is arrested.

Willy| 11.23.10 @ 1:15PM

Makes sense to me, Mr. Enlightened, but I doubt it will convince the anti-government fanatics on this radical hogblog.

They are not open to reason. A pity for our country's sake.

ncatty| 11.23.10 @ 3:50PM

You think government equals country. We don't.

Ray| 11.23.10 @ 8:26PM

"TSA has prevented untold numbers of terrorist attacks. "

Do you mean like the Panties bomber? The Show bomber? Both of whom who passed through TSA screening?

Anna Keppa| 11.28.10 @ 2:28AM

Yes, "untold" numbers. As in " there is no DATA,so there's nothing to TELL".

I might as well say I have deterred "untold" numbers of home invaders because I've got a motion-sensitive switch that turns on my front porch lights.

What TSA doesn't deter is terrorists whose flights originate abroad. Far from being "untold", they are well-known (shoe bomber; underpants bomber; ink cartridge bombers).

What the hell did TSA have to do with their capture or detection before they put explosives on the planes??

Ray| 11.23.10 @ 8:24PM

"The right-wing bloggers are going apeshit over this "fondling genitals" crap. They're like broken records repeating, repeating, repeating."

As opposed, I supposed, the the left -wing bloggers who went apeshit over "domestic spying," correct?

Christopher Holland| 11.24.10 @ 12:52AM

My 75 year old mother got strip searched when her artificial hip set off the metal detector. She told the bozo in charge that she had an artificial hip and the bozo called out 'I got an artificial hip here!' Mum had to go off for a strip search anyway. When she told me, I told her that she fitted the terrorist profile too well, but she didn't see the joke.

These things aren't the fulminations of right wing crackpots, they are real, they happen to ordinary people who deserve much more consideration and respect. Security is a waste of time and money and a disgrace when it strip searches old ladies, with or without artificial hips.

JohnD| 11.23.10 @ 9:33AM

The TSA blames the underwear bomber for their policy of fondling the genitalia of children and old ladies. Yet the underwear bomber's father alerted the State Department that his son was a terrorist.

Here's an idea - when someone's father tells the U.S. Government he is a terrorist, how about not letting him on a plane?

Here's another idea: His name was Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab - see what I am getting at here. . .

Leave the Joe Smith's and Sally Jones' alone, and focus on the one's born overseas, and with funny Middle Eastern names (like Mohamed Atta, Marwan al-Shehhi, Ziad Jarrah, Hani Hansour. . . see a pattern here?

Also, someone who has traveled to Yemen, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, etc., who is unemployed, and buys a one-way ticket with cash, etc., why not ask him a few questions: Where are you going? Why? Who do you plan to meet with? Who is paying for your trip? What do you do for a living?

This is security, not fondling Swedish Lutheran Grannies from Minnesota and molesting 3 year old toddlers.

chester arthur| 11.23.10 @ 9:49AM

You are happy to be searched because the searchers are your only human contact.You have to be a sentient being for your mind to be eased.Move on to democrat site for drones.

John Daniel| 11.23.10 @ 9:52AM

What's trily frightening is that you've been deluded into believing this makes you safe. The next bomb, fyi, will be planted deep within a digestive orifice (...need I be more graphic?). I'll start flying again when every TSA agent has to don a finger cot and make full cavity searches....

Brubaker| 11.23.10 @ 10:00AM

Daniel L., I hate ad hominem attacks, but in your case I'll make an exception. You, sir, are an idiot.

CharlieEcho| 11.23.10 @ 10:00AM

If you think these wana-be-rent-a-cops at the TSA and the what-r-we-getting-paid-for-this bosses at the TSA are protecting your butt. Ben-d-over and kiss it good bye. This is in your face bureaucracy and soon to me martial law.

dac| 11.23.10 @ 10:00AM

You're a coward and a slave. You know damn well that the TSA--its very existence and its actions--have zero, nothing, absolutely zip to do with protecting American citizens or "catching" terrorists. The article demonstrates, with actual facts, what the TSA has done and what it hasn't and isn't capable of doing.
If you're comfortable being fondled by some worthless union bureaucrat who would run screaming like a ninny from any actual threat, fine, drop trow and take it where you like it. For those of us who consider ourselves citizens and not subjects and slaves, we will continue to protest until this group of union stooges is defunded and eliminated.
But that won't happen until your Dear Leader is either voted out of office, or immolates himself in a violent civil war. He knows what the TSA is about; he knows that accustoming Americans to being treated like animals dehumanizes all of us, and makes us less likely to resist full collectivization of the economy and rationing of energy, food, and (ultimately) politically undesirable folk. You either don't recognize the ultimate goals here, or you support them. Willful stupidity or auditioning for a spot as Chief Guard at the Re-education Camps? Which is it?

Wesley Mouch| 11.23.10 @ 1:23PM

I think Obama created the TSA as a way to see how the camps might work. I miss W.

Steve S| 11.23.10 @ 1:56PM

Umm, actually is was under W that the TSA was created. W gives true conservatives a bad name.

JeffW| 11.23.10 @ 2:14PM

Yes, "W" passed it however, the creator was Democratic Senator Fritz HollinAviation and he authored the " Transportation Security Act (ATSA, Pub.L. 107-71 November 19, 2001." The Act created the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation

Brad| 11.23.10 @ 10:02AM

Are you a man or a sheep? Do you really believe you are safer by having your privacy violated? Come on! Are you serious?!? That's you're reasoning for accepting the crap going on? Like a sheep led to the slaughter. Bahh...

sam Vaughn| 11.23.10 @ 10:04AM

The TSA has never caught a terrorist yet routinely viloates the fourth amendment. You're an idiot and a fool if your ok with this. You're an even bigger fool if you think this makes you safe.

Publius| 11.23.10 @ 10:09AM

I demand that Daniel L be prevented from flying. If he believes he must be screened for a flight to be safe, he must intend to perpetrate vile acts against air travel.

Nice try, comrade. Give away your own rights if you're not man enough to protect them but don't try to take mine. You won't like the result.

Dai Alanye | 11.23.10 @ 10:12AM

Danny L doesn't seem to have been paying attention. The justification for screening is not that it eases fliers' minds but that it prevents terrorism. However "secure" the present system makes someone feel is beside the point. The need is to find and arrest terrorists.

T1Brit| 11.23.10 @ 11:06AM

The point is that your safety would be better secured if the TSA were not crippled by politically correct absurdities and staffed by incompetent time-servers.

JFGalt| 11.23.10 @ 11:09AM

Wow - isn't this the sort of mentality that allowed good Germans to stand idly by as their Jewish neighbors and friends were rounded up, loaded in trucks and sent off to concentration camps to die. Thank God I don't live in Chicago near Daniel! You are no safer. You are simply less free and on a slippery slope to living in a total police state. How do you think it all begins?

Anthony| 11.23.10 @ 4:11PM

Excellent point, unfortunately it seems like Americans have lost the will to stand up to bullies. It wasn't just Jews in Germany, how many people suffered under the tyranny of communism because they failed to stand against statists?

Bob Menzies| 11.24.10 @ 1:38AM

A total police state?

Humiliating people is not necessarily an indication the state is slipping into a totalitarian nightmare.

For a totalitarian or fascist environment you also need an ever-present enemy - both external and internal. This allows the state to control by fear, and the people will surrender their liberties.

You also need to find evidence of state sanctioned torture and military tribunals.

You will also need to see laws enacted that destroy habeas corpus and will treat all citizens as suspects.

You also need to see evidence of the state spying on its citizens and using information collected (legally or illegally) to target dissent.

Of course anybody who dissents will be accused of treason.

You also need to find evidence that the media and state are in bed together.

You also need to find evidence that the state favors corporations over the citizens and in turn gets paid to do so.

That's the sort of stuff that was happening in Germany in the early thirties.

If you see that sort of stuff going on in America today then you are looking down the barrel of fascism.

Of course America doesn't do any of the above so it doesn't matter.

Anyway time to piss off and watch re-runs of Big Brother, far more exiting than worrying about whether my Jewish, or Muslim neighbours gets groped and humiliated at check points - they'll never do it to me.

Rmandraccia | 11.23.10 @ 11:36AM

Daniel must be forgetting that the TSA was brought to us by the government, who also brought us "airbags for safety" which are now obsolete,global warming, which is obviously a hoax eetc. Maybe Daniel has been seeing the Reverend Wright in Chicago, always a source you can believe in!!!And look at all those new union jobs.

david7134| 11.23.10 @ 11:55AM

Your attitude represents the real problem with America. You desire for an agency of the government to destroy your 4th amendment rights because you "feel" better. The actual fact that you are not safer does not enter your head. If we forced the govenment to revert to the Constitution, then they would have to truly achieve security by addressing the problem, which is Islam. In the meantime, they get a free ride.

Taxmaiden| 11.23.10 @ 12:51PM

So it's ok with you that they have now exempted muslims from being searched? Does that make you feel safe, Dan?

Albert| 11.23.10 @ 2:23PM

That you are happy to be searched is irrelevant. That a TSA person's hand touches your privates and you do not object is unimportant. Others are not happy about it and it is their rights that are being violated. These searches are 4th Amendment violations, period. TSA, show me your warrant. Furthermore, these scan and grope procedures do not make you more safe, except in your mind. These procedures are essentially "placebos," in that they make some feel better and more secure without actually making them more secure. The bottom line is that there ARE better, more effective, and less invasive procedures available. To those who "want" their "privacy violated for safety," I ask you, why? Why not move to proven methods and abandon what is invasive and ineffective?

JKS| 11.23.10 @ 2:42PM

A person who is willing to give up liberty for the illusion of security deserves neither. You sir, deserve neither.

Sheba G| 11.23.10 @ 3:44PM

So you want to be safe at all cost, Daniel. Life is risk. No one is totally safe ever. Do you think think that our Constitutional rights are not to be treasured and safeguard. As Benjamin Franklin said, " A society that is willing to give up essential liberty to gain a little security deserve neither and will lose both. If you really want to be safe stay away from those cancer causing x-rays and the TSA agents latex gloved hands that have been EVERYWHERE.

Negro X| 11.23.10 @ 5:23PM

Dan, Hit the road troll.

Coyotes15| 11.23.10 @ 5:53PM

The fact remains that the TSA has been less effective in preventing terror attacks than the very citizens whom are being needlessly screened. It is also true that the issues of secondary screening based on a targeting of those less likely to complain could be termed "politically correct profiling" or "reverse profiling". The TSA takes the tact of choosing to screen those less likely to present a challenge to their authority than those more likely (from any substantive measure) to actually present a terrorist threat. What sane person would grope a five year olds child wearing a t-shirt and blue jeans, or a nun for that matter? Yet you find this acceptable?

And it is not unreasonable to complain about the gross waste of taxpayer funds, the misuse of power and the high incidence of wrongdoings- as well as countless other unreported everyday such incidents in which the tenants of common human decency are violated- all under a pretext of "security". Do we need security as we travel. Yes, no argument.

The argument here is about whether the TSA accomplishes that end, or is simply another bureaucratic monster that further unleases govenment gone mad on its citizens as a means of conditioning them to accept absolute authority.
Is this a question worth discussing a writing about. Yes, absolutely. And the items Mr. Hyman writes about are not the arguments of "hysterics" at all. He provides real life examples of unreasonable abuses of real people. The fact that you as a frequent flyer do not object to the TSA searches and your experiences have been acceptable to you does not invalidate the importance of the situations presented in this article, and it certainly does not make your statments any more credible than the "hysterics" you attempt (rather ineffectively) to ridicule.

And IF YOU have something more important - and hopefully substantive to say, then speak out with some measure of intellect, rather than dismissing the concerns of your fellow citizens so callously.

NJK| 11.23.10 @ 8:21PM

I don't want my privacy violated. I want them to use proper profiling techniques to fight these monsters. Using your logic we should violate honest American's fourth amendment rights to spare the feelings of a few. They are supposed to protect the Constitutional rights of citizens while protecting the country. If they can't do that, they need to get the hell out.
"Those that would choose security over freedom deserve neither."

The Fourth Amendment (Amendment IV) to the United States Constitution is the part of the Bill of Rights which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures. The amendment specifically also requires search and arrest warrants be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause. It was adopted as a response to the abuse of the writ of assistance, which is a type of general search warrant, in the American Revolution. Search and arrest should be limited in scope according to specific information supplied to the issuing court, usually by a law enforcement officer, who has sworn by it.

In Mapp v. Ohio, 367 U.S. 643 (1961), the Supreme Court ruled that the Fourth Amendment applies to the states by way of the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court has also ruled that certain searches and seizures violated the Fourth Amendment even when a warrant was properly granted
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized

Aindyin| 11.23.10 @ 10:11PM

Ah another useful idiot, go away little sheep boy.

HALOMan| 11.24.10 @ 1:36PM

DLC,

As a former member of the military, I can vouch for the increased secondary screening I received. This, in spite of a federal regulation that stated military personnel on officials travel orders are NOT to be delayed while traveling. When I asked a not especially bright TSA screener who he thought the US Government called upon when there was an attack, I had to tell him it was me (he didn't know the answer to my question).

I would also add that the only reason you are happy to be searched before boarding an airplane, and that it eases your mind, is because you either don't know if you yourself are packing restricted material, or you enjoy the attention you otherwise wouldn't receive.

Albert| 11.24.10 @ 10:39PM

Sir you are indeed a queer AND a moron. Anyone that don't have personal standards are simple and if you value this type of security you are indeed an idiot.
More power to you to fly in every instance for me and people like me.
You didn't even read the article did you.
You'll get fired from your stinkin' job if they do away with this crap, right!!

Albert| 11.26.10 @ 2:07PM

Just for the record, the above post is by another person calling himself "Albert." It was not me.

John Harlow| 11.27.10 @ 8:23AM

As a frequent flyer, I recognize that the TSA are doing nothing to improve my security.

They haven't detected any bombs. They haven't stopped any bombers. In the best possible case, they are designed to stop something from happening a second time.

The strengthened cockpit doors and passenger resolve are what have saved flights since 9/11. How can we possibly justify spending $7B annually on imaginary security (or security theatre as some call it?)

The main thing that the TSA does is perpetuate its own bureaucracy while whittling away at our rights and teaching us to obey.

How many more lives could be saved by that $7B if it was invested in the safety of our food supply or in highway safety or stem cell research.

TX Cop| 11.28.10 @ 7:42AM

Daniel,
I would submit that you are conflating inconvenience and security. I further submit that the activities in which the TSA currently engage merely inconvenience, while not increasing the level of security at all. As someone familiar with the threats we face as a nation, I can say without hesitation that you are incorrect in your assumption that the TSA regime is protecting you from anything other than having pre-security coffee spilled on your pants as opposed to post-security coffee.

Khurt | 11.28.10 @ 9:47AM

How would your house guests react if you told them you had to pat down their private areas before entering you home? For safety reasons, right?

Cheney| 1.5.11 @ 1:33AM

you my friend have some serious moral issues, one who would grovel and debase himself like an animal for safety does not deserve it.....get a soul.

Anita| 11.23.10 @ 2:06PM

Get rid of the TSA.

Hire returning and retired military in their place. Gives them a job and gives us true security by true professionals.

Get rid of TSA and Obama too.

Paul Clare| 11.23.10 @ 7:22AM

The Romans said it -- Who will guard the guards? TSA workers are a waste of time and money. Additionally, they are overly carried away with their self importance! At best, they promulgate searches based on the last incident which means they are at least 2 steps BEHIND the terrorists!

Ret. Marine| 11.23.10 @ 8:06AM

Look people, this has nothing to do with catching terrorist. It has more to do with control over our rights and privileges as free individuals and the extent upon which the average American ( with a thinking brain) is going to tolerate what appears to be the first of edicts from the "won" for his police state wet dreams of his father. Remember he is the one who proudly proclaimed to the entire country " in five days we are going to fundamentally transform this country". I'll have none of it, and in fact am putting paper to pen in my own way to deny them any resemblance to their grand scheme by illustrating discontent with my privileges as an individual of a certain state, in the Union known as these United States, being trampled upon by using this so-called terror tactic to render me nothing but a number. Screw this fraud and the camel he rode in on. What do they think they are going to do jail the entire 92 million ( the % of us who know its our country not his, obamas Bin Ly'n) of us for not paying attention to their little perverted pipe dreams. I think not. Take at the least some comfort in the fact that this is a clear violation of our 4th amendment rights and get behind the effort to impeach this fraud before we have nothing left to fight for other than our lives because of his arrogance and sheer stupidity. Constitutional scholar my arse.

Marine Vet| 11.23.10 @ 1:02PM

I would have thought your comment crazy a few years ago, but I have to agree.

In ’91 part of my battalion came home from Desert Storm on a chartered flight. We stopped over in Maine before continuing down to Cherry Point. When we deplaned, the Airport Security just got out of our way. Some family members (and an amazing number of college girls) were there to welcome us home.

After an hour to refuel the plane we got back on. All airport security did was thank us, which was good for them. We were still pretty keyed up from combat and not about to take s*^t from mall cops. And if they had tried to take our belongings or put their hands on us? Holy crap, there would have been a fight and it would have ended very badly for the security guards.

I can’t imagine how soldiers and Marines today put up with this crap. It makes me sad that we were so much more free and less submissive to government a mere twenty years ago.

JP| 11.23.10 @ 8:11AM

The TSA is a Progressive creation (created by a Progressive, Bush43). Rahm Emmanual's famous 2008 quip, "Never let a crisis go to waster", only under scored distilled 100 year old Progressive thinking. Liberty is anethema to Proressives. Hence, every crisis must be used to grow govermental power over the people. Liberty dies, not in one fell swoop, but by a 1000 cuts.

The symbolism and reality of air travel now come together in the form of the TSA check points. There is also a message being conveyed to the people: Your Minders are in control; submit of pay the consequences.

The TSA agents are not trained, law enforcement officials. They do not receive any federal warrants like FBI or Federal Marshalls. Every scan and every "pat down" is illegal. Not even State Police or the FBI can do this without first arresting you. The TSA gets this authority (which again, is illegal) by a Congressional waiver, which puts the TSA outside judicial boundaries. Private citizens cannot sue TSA agents or thier supervisors.

Congress can change this law anytime they wish. And what is amazing is how meekly people submit to this.

Curly Smith| 11.23.10 @ 8:58AM

I wonder how much of this current exercise of "submit or pay the consequences" is related to the large number of grossly under-funded public pension plans. Public employees, and their unions, have bankrupted many Cities and States so perhaps this in the opening salvo in the Public - Public Employee War. Although I think the message is really submit AND pay the consequences.

Intelligent Design| 11.23.10 @ 8:16AM

The new Congress should defund / dismantle the TSA in favor of a sophisticated Profiling system. We are standing in long security lines to have our rights violated thanks to Obama and Islam, literally. All terrorist attacks (worldwide) except perhaps 0.10% over the past few decades have been the work of Muslims, who have killed thousands of people. This bloody record continues on a daily basis (see www.thereligionofpeace.com) but the impostor Obama says we should be tolerant of Islam. Islam is primarily a political ideology which seeks to merge religion and state to dominate or kill Jews, Infidels and all non-Muslims. Islam does not recognize secular law. As such it is subversive to our Constitution. It should be identified by Congress as a subversive organization, mosques should be outlawed, entry into the U.S. by Muslims should be completely stopped, Muslims should not be allowed on U.S. carriers or at U.S. airports, and Muslims should be banned from employment in our government, civilian or military. True religions oppose evil, whereas Islam embodies evil.

Khürt Williams | 11.28.10 @ 9:55AM

Based on your premise Christianity should be banned in the USA as well. I see no distinction between what Christian and Islamic conservatives seek. Domination of their religion over the rights of others.

Louis Jenkins| 11.23.10 @ 8:53AM

We are at War with Islam. And the first payload of prisoners to be taken are airline travelers. You give up everything to fly, and Congressional leaders joke? Why not strip everyone naked and make them fly that way? That's what it is coming to! The Muslims surely are enjoying their joke that they have played on American society. The air carriers are beginning to lose customers. How much longer before we concentrate on the real criminals?

loulou| 11.23.10 @ 9:10AM

Silly, we will NEVER concentrate on the real criminals/terrorists. They are Muslims and enjoy protected status here in the USA.

To add insult to injury, I actually had a Muslima hidden in a veil paw through my luggage.
The insanity!!

tom ritter| 11.23.10 @ 9:02AM

Offer the private, competing, firms substantial monetary prizes if no terrorist incidents occur on their watch.

loulou| 11.23.10 @ 9:07AM

How many of the TSA workers (after all, if it were not for the TSA, they'd be working as security guards at WalMart--not that there's anything wrong with that) are perverts and sadists? It's called hiding in plain sight.

The TSA workers I've had to deal with were mostly uneducated union types but then that's before they got the go ahead to fondle and molest innocent people.

WilliamInWien| 11.23.10 @ 9:39AM

"Regardless of the purpose for which any organization is established, it will, sooner or later, serve the personal advancement of its leaders." Mosca's Iron Law. The Department of Homeland Security and the TSA manifest the singular ability of politicians to approach every problem by creating another organization/entity that will, most probably never go out of existence. TSA is an ineffective bureacratic "response" to 9-11 that will continue to be ineffective in indentifying terrorists but totally effective in disrupting the lives of US citizens and visting foreigners. Cut the number of TSA screeners in half and create a well trained law enforcement cadre* to: Observe and check on suspect passengers at the airline check-in counter, observe and check on suspect passengers while in line for screening, segregate suspect passengers for secondary/intensive screening and let the 90 plus percent of legitimate travellers be on their way.
* Use of information and intelligence (classified and non-classified), well trained, imaginitive and experienced with observation/questioning/interrogation skills, and the use of profiling. After all, the plus 90% who will
be subject to minimal screening are profiled also!

Petronius| 11.23.10 @ 9:45AM

The Liberals who control the government look at the TSA as just another social weapon in their culture war. They think the plebes will be mollified if there is equality of hassle at the airport.
To the trolls who do not object because they want to be safe. You will never be safe until those who want to take your lives are all dead.

Publius | 11.23.10 @ 10:17AM

Two observations:

1. Being a TSO requires a GED *or* one year experience in security. Let's consider where that year of experience would come from for someone not in possession of a GED or high school diploma.
2. Given that the standard for TSOs allows for the uneducated to perform the duties, why would we expect anything different from what we are experiencing?

Dustoff| 11.23.10 @ 10:23AM

TSA needs to become (proacvtive) not the other.

After the fact means zip when your aircraft is blown from the sky.

QuietPro| 11.23.10 @ 10:31AM

All criticism, but no soution. So tell us, Mr. Hyman, what do you propose to be done? Who shall replace the TSA? What did you have in mind? The same relaible private contract companies who let 9/11 terrorists on board planes? Not calling TSA saints or anything like that, but you have to come to the table with some solutions instead of just saying "it's broke".....

Puprle Lips| 11.23.10 @ 11:42AM

QuietPro,
You speak like a sheep. The fault didn't lie with private security ren-a-cops. They had no federal mandate other than to perform last second screenings. They were not deputized, nor were they trained. In short, they had no authority. In reality, niether do the TSA people. Thier mandate is does not give them the auhtority to do searches. But Congress did issue them a waiver that prevents both criminal and civil litigation. It's a nice end around of the Constitution. For, not even Cops or the FBI can physically search your body until after you have been arrested. And BTW, the TSA has no authority to make arrests.

No, what failed in the US on 9/11 was the federal government. At least 2 agencies (discounting the DOD Able Danger task force) had the 19 hijackers nabbed. One FBI SA in Pheonix even had the method figured out 3 months before the attacks. The bureaucrats at the FBI DC HQ ignored her. Yet, people like you want to give up your Constitutional rights and be humiliated by a bunch of rent-a-cops with bad attitudes. Go figure.

QuietPro| 11.23.10 @ 6:15PM

Wow, Purple Lips. I guess my three trips to Iraq in order to help preserve your right to call me a sheep really DOES re-enforce my belief that we live in a spectacular country. As does my work as a Police Officer. ....You know, one of the the "Sheep Dogs" who protects you from the Wolves? Furthermore, since you "claim" to be a true patriot, let me quote another one for you- Glenn Beck. "When your opponent has resorted to name calling, you have won the argument." So I appreciate your capitulation before I even got a word in edge-wise. Thanks, and be safe.

ProveIT| 11.24.10 @ 7:19AM

You say that you have been to Iraq 3 tours plus you are a police officer....prove it! otherwise you are sitting in your mom's basement ranting like the sheep you are.

QuietPro| 11.26.10 @ 9:24AM

And how exactly would you like me to prove it, GENIUS?! Put my DD214 and personal information online? Along with my SSN? Please, gimme a break.......

Cutter| 11.23.10 @ 11:00AM

This argument propounded by Mark Hyman is stupid. The TSA may be doing a bad job, but the lack of any captures in a decade isn't the evidence. The point of TSA is to prevent airline bombings, hijackings, etc. If that result is achieved simply by scaring away the bad guys then the TSA has succeeded in doing its job.

Mark's argument makes as much sense as saying that nuclear weapons are useless because throughout the Cold War they were never used; or saying that all the effort to mitigate the "Y2K" problem was wasted because computers didn't start madly crashing on Jan 1, 2000.

dc| 11.23.10 @ 11:14AM

Cutter, you'd make a great regional commissar in Il Duce Negro's Socialist States of America. The TSA "may" be doing a bad job? The point of TSA is to prevent airline bombings...?
The TSA exists to harass American citizens and turn them into the sheep and slaves that you already are, or over whom people like you believe you should rule (and ration). The TSA has, in fact, prevented nothing dangerous. It has been entirely and exclusively reactive. It is not capable or interested in doing anything else. Did you see that puffed-up suburban cop Pistole try to justify his existence? Did that make you feel safe, or did it remind you of a unionized NFL official admitting absolutely nothing about a series of obviously horrible calls he'd made, where video evidence conclusively showed him to be dead wrong?
Don't insult our intelligence. Just admit that you love watching American citizens being treated arbitrarily like criminals, while our enemies laugh at us. Just admit you have dirty wet dreams about a totalitarian thug society in this country, with Il Duce Negro and bootlickers like you running the thug squads. Because the TSA was a big, huge step in that direction (for which, by the way, I also blame GWB).
One more point: any actual "bad guy" would scare the TSA union pukes off their posts faster than a shortage of powdered donuts. They would no more protect against any real threats than you would last thirty seconds in a fight against an actual American who can and does protect us and kill our enemies--take any newly minted Marine shipping out overseas and having to go through the TSA bullsh*t, for instance. Those people protect us. TSA people pretend to, and not even you believe their lies, even as you attempt to expand them and force us all to live those lies. Go to hell.

Cutter| 11.23.10 @ 11:42AM

Calm down, dc. If you were to drain the blood from your eyes and the steam from your ears, you would see that I am not defending TSA at all. I am simply pointing out that the evidence Mark Hyman is using is irrelevant to the argument he is trying to make.

JP| 11.23.10 @ 11:44AM

But the Panty Bomber got on a plane, anyway. Muslims are routinely waved through as to not humilate thier sensibilities.

vtwin| 11.23.10 @ 11:00AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB2tYYYlwMc
Hey Daniel L. and Fugbug! Me too I do appreciate having my body cavities inspected by rude fat guys.
Come and visit me at my favorite joint "The Bronze Rod"

MoeBlotz| 11.23.10 @ 11:02AM

The first time I looked,Lockerbie was located in Scotland.

LBryan| 11.23.10 @ 11:04AM

AS is the case with any government program, PC guides the program, and sadly many, though not all, of the TSA employees would have great difficulty finding any gainful employment outside the Federal government. I was flying out of Milwaukee a few years ago, and while waiting for my flight, I bought a sandwich at the food court. While I sat eating my over priced meal, a very large person sat next to me. The person was at least 6'5" and would have weighed upwards of 300lbs. AS I looked over at this person, I noticed it appeared to be a woman, with a lot of poorly applied makeup, an ill fitting cheap wig, clip on earrings (like your grandma used to wear), and whisker stubble coming through the makeup. The person had breasts like a female, and I could see they were wearing a bra. I then noticed that this person had hands the size of hams, and wore shoes that would be at least men’s size 15. Finally, I noticed that this large person was wearing a TSA uniform. Now, I am not opposed to the transgendered/transsexual crowd being permitted to do their thing, but I do believe with all my heart that having such people in positions such as TSA screeners is nothing short of plain stupidity, and those who would argue that I am just another bigoted hate monger are just as stupid as the TSA itself.

Stop kidding yourself| 11.23.10 @ 11:08AM

Yup, you are just another bigoted hate monger.

Grow up, jerk.

dac| 11.23.10 @ 11:21AM

So, you're "bigoted" if you don't want some foul transsexual sociopath ramming his (?)/its digits up your anus while pretending to do his job (whatever that may be--since the searches are entirely arbitrary and pointless)? Interesting. Is this the type of arbitrary search to which we can all look forward when totalitarian assmonkeys like you are in charge? Will you pick normal-looking, white heterosexual fathers, or better yet for you, their pre-teen sons, for "special treatment," and then scream "bigots" when we resist the violations of our children?
Thank God for the 2nd Amendment; ultimately, if you vermin can't be voted out, you'll be killed or driven out of the country. I wouldn't insult stray dogs by feeding them your innards.

Stop kidding yourself| 11.23.10 @ 11:47AM

You too are just another bigoted hate monger. But you appear to be even more dangerously unhinged than LBryan. What foul swamp do people like you come from? Inquiring minds would like to know.

By the way, I have detemined your real-world identity from your IP address, and you can expect to hear from law-enforcement regarding that threat you have made on my life.

dac| 11.23.10 @ 11:59AM

Sorry, coward, even if you can determine who I am and where I live, any "threats" above were entirely conditional. IF people like you can't be voted out, THEN I'll have the debate about how I go about disposing of your putrid guts. Just like the TSA child-molesters and ninnies you defend, at the first whiff of someone standing up to you, you whine and bitch like the sniveling bully that you are.

Stop kidding yourself| 11.23.10 @ 12:10PM

Jeez, you really ought to get your rabies shots. First, you can't vote me out since I was never voted in. Second, I am not defending TSA. Third, my guts are no more putrid than anyone else's, and a lot less than yours. Fourth, you are hardly standing up to me or anyone else. You are just revealing your own personality disorders.

LBryan| 11.23.10 @ 12:02PM

Stop kidding yourself, stop kidding yourself.

dac| 11.23.10 @ 1:08PM

He's too busy fantasizing about TSA transvestites and child-molesters fondling him, and/or trying to sic the Maobama Praetorians on me, to think rationally.
Turning ass-up to a pack of union stooges is perfectly ok for slaves like SKY, it's not ok for most Americans who still consider themselves citizens and not slaves. It's pretty simple, but well beyond the comprehension of people who have already accepted that whatever the Ruling Class decrees must be followed blindly.
If believing in this country and our Constitution as they were originally (not perfectly, mind you) conceived, and being willing to defend it and my family's freedom under it, amount to a personality disorder, I wish more people had it.

Herb Tarlek| 11.23.10 @ 1:35PM

It's post strings like this that keep me coming back here day after day. I love this website, it's better than Comedy Central.

Todd S| 11.24.10 @ 12:11AM

Anything is better than Comedy Central unless you are the type of moron who finds Jon Stewart funny

Tom| 11.23.10 @ 3:39PM

And how exactly did you determine his IP address from a blog post?

Seek| 11.23.10 @ 11:14AM

The problem is not the TSA per se, but rather its unwillingness (on orders from on high) to engage in ethno-religious profiling. Put simply, it should single out Muslims for extra probes and leave the rest of us alone. Ideally, all Muslims should be deported.

Eric Damon | 11.23.10 @ 11:35AM

It is this sort of fool's talk that makes me shudder when listening to all of my fellow conservatives call for profiling. I have heard ad nauseum about the 4th Amendment violations inherent in the TSA procedures, yet too many seem to be willing to allow...no, too many are advocating that a government they claim not to trust be allowed to dispense with the 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause. It' s also okay, I suppose to now discriminate against people on the basis of their religious beliefs, which means the 1st Amendment would also be shunted aside, right?

My abiding question here is whether the Constitution really matters to any of us anymore, or has it become just a political prop? We held an election just a few weeks ago and trumpeted the GOP majority as being filled with people who understood and would honor the Constitution, yet we come here on this issue and actively ignore the Constitution...while pretending to defend that very document! Either all of the Constitution and its protections are sacrosanct, and apply equally to all of us or the document is worthless because we are able to pick and choose who gets protected and who does not. Which is it?

And for Seek specifically, how are we to determine who the Muslims are that should be deported? How is the TSA to know who the Muslims are that should have their 14th Amendment rights violated by being singled out for extra scrutiny? Are we now to start informing the government about our religious affiliations so that they can single us out when they deem it necessary? Because that is the only way that I can imagine that the government could possibly know what God, if any, we worship.

George S| 11.23.10 @ 11:31AM

The TSA should be disbanded. Not for what they are doing but for what they will prevent from happening. Right now there is a need to screen for explosives and a demand not to be groped or scanned. Somewhere -- right now -- the free market has dispatched some of the best and brightest of her agents to come up with a solution. It won't be long until one of them comes up with a more effective explosive sniffer that obviates nude scanning and groping. Somewhat like a metal detector, it can be harmlessly waved over people and luggage and sniff out the smallest trace of explosive. Yet... would the TSA embrace a technology that turns them into doormen? No way. This is the heavy hand of government and it will never let the free market develop a Constitution friendly technology. They could easily profile, but they don't. Why do you suppose?

Buckeyeman| 11.23.10 @ 11:35AM

Proposed changes (not solutions, there are no "solutions")

1. Profiling. It's not perfect but it helps. It also sends the message that the TSA is serious. It is completely unserious and frivolous to grope grandmothers, three year old's, and algore.

2. Competence. Don't grope me when I already know that nothing was done about Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab despite advance warning. Get your act together before, or at least be in the process of getting it together before groping me. (This goal cannot be accomplished with idiots like Janet Napolitano in charge. Honestly folks, where do they get people like this?)

3. Random checks. These are OK, but only when combined with profiling. Running EVERYBODY through the scanners/grope line may enhance the self esteem of Muslims but diverts resources from actual effective surveillance.

4. Get real. I heard Janet Napolitano's response(with my own ears) to being asked if Muslims would be exempted. Her response was unintelligible gibberish, but certainly left the impression that exclusion of Muslims was a possibility.

5. Common sense. A couple of years ago in Florida, while wearing shorts with my shoes off, I was "wanded" on my bare legs. I asked the TSA agent what he could possibly be looking for INSIDE my skin and he looked at me like I was speaking Croatian (dobro den!)

6. Man's best friend. (no, this does not mean B.H. Obama). Has anyone ever seen an explosives sniffing dog at check in? I haven't. I've seen drug sniffing dogs at check out but not the other way around. Are they effective? I don't know, and neither to the potential terrorists. Anyone who can't stand being sniffed by a pooch needs to live on another planet (with Janet).

7. Control the borders/immigration. We don't have a clue who's here or why. Again, it's clear that the government is not serious about terrorism/national security. If they were taking reasonable, serious measures across the board then I believe Americans would accept many personal inconveniences. The truth is we all know they're not serious about the bad guys so the intrusions on the rest of us seem more onerous.

8. Reality check. We can't stop all terrorism. That's right, we CANNOT. The next attack may be in a subway or at a sports event and we can't prevent them all. Be SERIOUS about national security and we will understand and deal with it. Grope screaming three year old's an we will hate you for it.

Tim the Enchanter| 11.23.10 @ 11:37AM

Note to the 112th Congress: Defund the TSA aka Keystone Kops. If I wanted to watch the Keystone Kops I can rent a DVD. Much cheaper on the public purse, as well.

Arne Paul| 11.23.10 @ 11:48AM

If anyone truly believes that searching, questioning, let alone groping grandmothers, the handicapped, little babies and others has anything remotely to do with terrorism please raise your hand.

The TSA, born out of the same hysteria that launched the Patriot Act, has become a growing bureaucratic monster that needs to justify its existence by doing more and more nonsensical things that has no real value other than to be more and more oppressive to honest citizens.

It's ironic that now that the left is in charge they justify the same horrors that they screamed about Bush and Co. having introduced. And, those of us who do not blindly support stupid actions to "be a good party member", were correct when we warned the political dogs that bad legislation is bad legislation, regardless of the hysteria that promotes it. Anything that has the potential to be used against you absolutely will be at some point when those who disagree and dislike you get into power.
Until you see that human rights and decency are universal (meaning you must support them even when granted to people you don't like but mean you no direct physical harm), abusive and useless agencies like the TSA will continue to flourish and become nonsensical, self justifying monsters.
Don't forget, Hitler was elected and all the laws that led to the Third Reich were legally legislated and justified with the so-called "best of intentions".

Puprle Lips| 11.23.10 @ 11:55AM

Funny how a few years ago, the Left went ballistic over the Abu Grahib prisoner abuses. As of 29 Oct 2010, much of the same "abuse" are now carried out by the TSA on American civilians. All that's missing are the dog leashes, a camera, and a K-9.

The current administration would never, ever tolerate sexual abuse of murderous foreign terrorist; but, they demand Americans be sexuall abused by rent-a-cop, later day Brown Shirts as price to fly. And, from what I hear, Napalitano has plans to expand the TSA to bus stations, train stations, and othe public areas.

We are all sheep!!

skeptic| 11.23.10 @ 12:26PM

i'll believe that the government's "security" policies, as carried out by the TSA at airports, are effective when they institute them at our southern border crossings.

just imagine what would happen if we patted down everyone who comes into the country from mexico!

Pete| 11.24.10 @ 6:04PM

Ah, but that would be profiling and specifically prohibited. We'd have to bus in an equal number of non-illegals to be violated.

erp| 11.23.10 @ 1:16PM

That's what happens when we allow public service unions.

Pat| 11.23.10 @ 1:21PM

We’re going about this all wrong and isn’t it time we admitted we can have our airline security cake and eat it too? TSA is about huge agency budgets and thousands of jobs – now throw the word “government” into the mix and this “money, jobs, government” combo begins to form a very familiar pattern and we’re not talking “Happy Meal” here. We need to re-focus TSA with a new weapon in their arsenal – “affirmative action screening” (yeah ok, profiling, but don’t tell the Democrats that).

“Profiling” - now that’s an ugly word sitting third down on the White House’s list of “Forbidden Words and Phrases”: just above “secure our borders” , but below “tax cuts” and “Hillary”. But what if we called it “affirmative action” instead? To Democrats everywhere “affirmative action” has produced very positive results – just look at the vibrant city of Detroit for example. And, the plain truth is, we’ve been profiling in public places for years now, we just don’t call it that.

For example where, outside of San Francisco, can you see a group of men hanging out in the Women’s Restrooms? We profile men and women as having to tinkle in separate rooms – I’ve seen guys at Starbucks hopping around anxiously waiting for the Men’s room to free up when the room marked “Women” has been completely empty for the last 10 minutes – the restrooms are identical in every respect, but the sign clearly says “Women” – obviously words can have a very powerful impact on behavior.

We need to put some of those TSA folks to work coming up with new programs which feature “affirmative action” in an efficient security screening sort of way. It’s all in how we sell the program to the American public and TSA should offer fabulous prizes to any of its employee who can come up with catchy titles and exciting concepts which acknowledge “affirmative action” as the latest – and greatest - thing in airport screening techniques. Perhaps, as an incentive, we could offer highly creative TSA employees $100 in Baskin Robbins gift cards or maybe one of those DVD’s featuring Paris Hilton and Bill Clinton engaged in sex – you know the “Secret Sex Tape” which both Paris and Bill realize is being filmed along with the 25 or so production crew folks on the other side of the camera.

How about relabeling ugly security terms with trendier names like “Celebrity Wanding”, “Yoga Pat Downs” or “Body Scanning the Oprah Way”? Can we convince those passengers with a certain ethnic background to voluntarily enter the “affirmative action” security line? We’ll need a special luxurious seating section similar to the First Class section as an “affirmative action free upgrade” to those who completely fill out their questionnaires. Except , we don’t call it a security questionnaire, we call it “Application for Fair Security Screening”. And, it’s not the “Holding Area”, it’s the “Platinum Security Lounge” complete with prayer rugs, 27 kinds of fruit juice and People magazine in Arabic.

The rest of us must do our part and complain loudly about the “special treatment” these affirmative action passengers are receiving. That’s the cherry on top of the sundae and the only way to convince scary looking young men that we’re not engaged in any form of “profiling” and “affirmative action security screening” is an honor, but an honor they completely deserve. Or, would you prefer that TSA hire another 5,000 employees who meet you in the airport examination room with you wearing one of those hospital gowns open in the back and the security guard wearing a rubber glove?

Language maven| 11.23.10 @ 2:28PM

Ironic that your name is "Pat".

dsn| 11.24.10 @ 10:39AM

Pat, you are dead bang on with your conclusion the next step will be language modification that helps people to rationlize that it's ok to accept what the government is saying. President Obama summed this up nicely, when he said that the communication of WH ideas were not understood during this last election cycle, otherwise they would have voted democrat. Watch for the new phrasing words in the next few weeks that push back against those that oppose the Government view. My guess is that in a few months we will all be lined up still submitting to this treatment by the TSA. Words just words.

Anita| 11.23.10 @ 2:05PM

Get rid of the TSA.

Hire returning and retired military in their place. Gives them a job and gives us true security by true professionals.

Get rid of TSA and Obama too.

Tom| 11.23.10 @ 3:42PM

Hiring militart would be meaningless without a change in the policy driving these actions. as would privatizing airport security functions.

Intelligent Design| 11.23.10 @ 2:09PM

Maybe Congress could turn over air travel safety to the airline companies. Let them form a private association to completely replace the TSA. The airlines would intelligently screen and profile, since their existence depends on safety as well as customer satisfaction. They would do a much better job than the government.

Radegunda| 11.23.10 @ 2:17PM

As a matter of logic: if the TSA has not caught specific things going through security, that doesn't prove that the TSA's presence had nothing to do with preventing those things from getting on the plane. It could mean, rather, that potential terrorists know what is being screened for (e.g. box cutters) and therefore don't try those means anymore.

As many people have noted, the TSA's strategies are designed to stop the types of attacks that have previously been tried -- rather than other types that might be tried in the future to get around the security that is known to be in place.

This isn't to say that the TSA is doing security in the optimal (or most constitutionally acceptable) way. But mixing up cause and effect doesn't make for a strong argument.

chris haynes| 11.23.10 @ 3:01PM

How about this.
No more about war with Islam.

Look at Brazil. Theyre guys arent 7000 miles away. In order to force PC leftist feminism on the Moslems. So the Moslems, theyre not trying to attack Rio.

Let's do the same. Mind our own business. Live in peace. Stop wasting money on the army. And the navy. And the TSA.

Dean from Ohio| 11.23.10 @ 9:51PM

Spoken like a true dhimmi. As the T-shirt says, our troops are over there so the jihadis don't cut off your head over here. Without the USA, what do you think the Russians, Chinese and Iranians will do with Brazil in 10 or 20 years? It wouldn't be pretty.

Joan| 11.24.10 @ 5:30PM

Brazil is not an issue we should be involved in. I agree with Chris.

Tim in the West| 11.23.10 @ 3:25PM

This has NOTHING to do with being 'liberal' or 'conservative'. The fact remains that if you support the TSA or the Dept. of Fatherland Security and its policies you are a simpering coward. The Nazis also used the spectre of terrorism and 'national security' to gain the support of a compliant and fearful German population. The words of Pistole and Napolitano mirror the best of the Nazi propagandists. History repeating?

9/11 was a shockingly horrid event. Unfortunately it's constantly being dragged out to justify draconian measures - like rubbing salt in an open wound. Let it heal!!! I'd rather go back to pre-9/11 security and demand that the CIA and FBI do their damn jobs!

Joan| 11.24.10 @ 5:28PM

I agree.

Khürt Williams | 11.28.10 @ 10:21AM

Agreed!

martin j smith| 11.23.10 @ 4:18PM

Like any other part of our government, the TSA is subject to politics and that is the problem. Unless security is the primary goal and nothing more. And of course the truth is these policies of the TSA reflects on the President himself. It is time to pressure those who were elected in the recent election to press for eliminating political correctness in our security and do "profiling" along with random searches. And, all luggage and bags do need to be screened. It is needed to look at Muslims ( especially young men and women ) recruits--converts to Islam, Left oriented persons involved with Anti-American political groups. and other malcontents.

Khürt Williams | 11.28.10 @ 10:24AM

What about the right oriented lynching people involved with anti-immigrant groups?

Jack in the Midwest| 11.23.10 @ 4:44PM

The same people that gave the world the Cheka, the NKVD, the, KGB, th Mossad, and Shin bet gave us the Dept of Homeland Security and the TSA. Disband both of these unconstutional entities and let the states, airports, and airlines provide security. There are too many federal agencies getting in the way of the rights of Americans.

Arch| 11.23.10 @ 5:35PM

Looked up the statute authorizing TSA screeners' to search luggage [49 USC 114 (e)]. Look at (2)(b) and (c). They need probable cause or a warrant!

(p) Law Enforcement Powers.—
(1) In general.— The Under Secretary may designate an employee of the Transportation Security Administration or other Federal agency to serve as a law enforcement officer.
(2) Powers.— While engaged in official duties of the Administration as required to fulfill the responsibilities under this section, a law enforcement officer designated under paragraph (1) may—
(A) carry a firearm;
(B) make an arrest without a warrant for any offense against the United States committed in the presence of the officer, or for any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if the officer has probable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing the felony; and
(C) seek and execute warrants for arrest or seizure of evidence issued under the authority of the United States upon probable cause that a violation has been committed.

(3) Guidelines on exercise of authority.— The authority provided by this subsection shall be exercised in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the Under Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General of the United States, and shall include adherence to the Attorney General’s policy on use of deadly force.
(4) Revocation or suspension of authority.— The powers authorized by this subsection may be rescinded or suspended should the Attorney General determine that the Under Secretary has not complied with the guidelines prescribed in paragraph (3) and conveys the determination in writing to the Secretary of Transportation and the Under Secretary.

Cincinnatius| 11.23.10 @ 5:47PM

Thousands Standing Around pretty much sums up my opinion of the TSA. I am an airline captain who has almost daily interaction with the Keystone, oops, I mean the TSA. Though I hesitate to generalize, my general impression of them and their effectiveness is basically zero. The only program that I have been impressed with that has anything to do with the TSA is the Air Marshal program and the Flight Deck Officer Program that allowed pilots to fly armed. I acted as a FFDO for five years and the dedication and professionalism of the men and women that donate their services (at cost to themselves) to insure the safety of the traveling public is outstanding! Pity so few people realize that there are thousands of pilots that "work" for them FREE of charge! Try asking you politicians how much they do for free or rather pay to do the job for you! The TSA agents could be effective....IF they were to be completely retrained and reprogramed to analyze real threats. As it stands now, I know that I and my crew (F/As) are the only real security that I have, i.e., looking and watching and evaluating who boards our plane and reacting to the threats that WE see. About all the TSA is good for is to harass innocent people and crew especially! Profile, PROFILE, PROFILE.

led display | 11.23.10 @ 9:46PM

world place!

The Mad Cat| 11.24.10 @ 11:13PM

I think the phrase you're looking for is:
"Imagine... Whirled Peas!!!"

PECB| 11.24.10 @ 3:23AM

Time to seek out and utilize air travel options not affected by TSA B.S. -- things like charter, local private pilots, small regional airlines that have structured their ops to avoid as much Federal B.S. as possible, etc... .

NOTE: Local private pilots can offer surprisingly affordable options and even private charter can be very affordable when done in groups. Another option (if you fly alot) is to get together with a local private pilot, and some friends, and set up a group ownership arrangement of an aircraft that meets most of the group's needs. Some recommended, affordable, capable aircraft: cessna 206, cessna 210, cessna caravan, king air 100, and the king air 200 (most, especially non-aviator types, will be happiest with the caravan and king air aircraft).

Pete| 11.24.10 @ 6:07PM

If you believe that the TSA keeps you safe, you must be thrilled at all of the jobs that have been "saved or created" by the "stimulus" package.

Thom| 11.24.10 @ 7:57PM

When the TSA changed their shirt color from white to UN Blue I figured there must be a self esteem problem.... now it would seem then need to change their shirt color again to be more in line with their new mission. Brown I would suggest.

SpecOpsMike| 11.24.10 @ 8:55PM

The article was well written, however, I digress. So, Johnny, Annie, what do you want to do when you grow up? Be a TSA Agent, Daddy!!!!! (Quitetly go outside and throw hand lawnmower across road; mumbled curses to self; smashing glass sounds coming from garage.) Where did I go wrong?

The Mad Cat| 11.24.10 @ 11:16PM

LOL!!!... yeah I think I would get that extremely sick feeling in my gut if I heard those words coming from my kid's mouth.

Montana| 11.25.10 @ 12:05AM

The crazies that called for the National Opt Out Day, don’t know what they are talking and the majority of our nation flew anyway. As soon as we get another terrorist attack these same crazies will be whining that our government did not do enough to detect them, the usual. They have no ideas on what should be implemented instead of what is in place, but I am sure that will call this a victory. What a bunch of empty suits that are just real haters not debaters.

The Mad Cat| 11.25.10 @ 12:13AM

I am heartened by many of the intelligent comments made here - all of which have been generally in support of Mr. Hyman's article. I do have great hope that REAL CHANGE can now occur - particularly now that we have a new Congress not beholden to the Obama / Socialist agenda.

The second thing that MUST take place immediately is the defunding (firing) of the entire TSA airport security workforce (particularly it's management - all the way up to the SES level). BUT, before that can take place - a new process based on proven screening methods (see Israel) utilizing personnel trained in SPOT (a substantial number of individuals), who will be the ONLY TSA personnel not to be affected by the "second action" (which will take an "act of congress" to occur). These individuals will DIRECTLY screen all the passengers, face to face as they enter the security zone at the airport. They will be "badged" federal law enforcement officers; and have the power to detain and arrest.

We will maintain the same level of aircraft security by allowing the aircrew to be armed (which seriously complicates any "attackers" plans for seizing an aircraft - not knowing if the pilot has a pistol or not), and securing the cockpit cabin's entryway during flight (another effective means).

All Major airports should have a sizeable "immediate reaction force" (yes, a SWAT team) stationed a moment away from the passenger entryways into an airport - to prevent another type of Terrorist Attack (in the event the bad guys can't mess around with the aircraft) - the "Lod airport" type attack (small team shooting up an airport). This would be VERY DIFFICULT to maintain - keeping trained experts on hand for a very unlikely event; but perhaps a more creative means could be figured out.

Fact of the matter is - it's virtually impossible to STOP 100% of the time, a dedicated terrorist bomber from carrying out his mission... if he has any brains. Fortunately for us, the remaining Islamic Terrorist in the world with any brains don't like blowing themselves up - so they recruit fairly stupid Islamic radicals to do it for them. Good "SPOT type" trained security agents can catch those guys easily. BUT!!!.. you have to anticipate "leakers" or a foolproof plan by the terrorist to get explosives on board an aircraft on a suicide mission. One means of stopping that from happening is the Air Marshall program - but they can't be on ALL the domestic flights... (should focus on those flights from overseas anyway). So, this is where a FREE PEOPLE have to exercise some civic responsibility... and make a point of "watching out" for any activity during flight (which is how that shoe-bomber dude got caught), and taking "appropriate action" if need be. As far as the sneaky guy who goes in the "restroom" to do the "dirty deed"... a good automatic Halon extingusher system - designed to be fool and tamper proof would do the trick (need to "lock the door" during activation... and sound an alarm to warn the aircrew too) - even a "chemical bomb" device could be squelched with a rapid deploying Halon gas system.

For those who think we should just focus on STOPPING the terrorist (with weapons and / or explosives) from getting on the aircraft in the first place (the present TSA system)... that is a FOOLS game - as it's been said in other ways: you can't have 100% Liberty and 100 % Security & Safety at the same time. We absolutely MUST be allowed as a Free People to move about the country without Government interference / intrusiveness - as long as we don't break any LAWS by doing so... that is the TRUE American way of Life. Islamic terrorist cells in the country must of rooted out and destroyed. Terrorist "home bases" in other countries must be found and destroyed... the means of it's their support found and stopped.

The TSA Airport Security Div., has grown to be just another "jobs program" from the Fed. Gov.. a heavily unionized one at that. It's NOT anywhere near cost effective (lots of bucks for no real impact) - and when one of the original sponsors of the bill creating the TSA (Rep. Mica, FL) is now advising the Airport Authorities to "opt out, and go private" in lieu of having TSA provide airport security... you should figure something is seriously WRONG with this picture.

SpecOpsMike| 11.25.10 @ 3:06PM

Well, well. The liberal comments came to a screeching halt after your reply, Mad Cat. Profiling, and independent thinking are the issues. These personifications should be utilized always during peacetime and war. Especially when it comes to the protection of the citizens and MOST IMPORTANTLY, our Brothers and Sisters in uniform serving the United States. Later

al| 11.27.10 @ 8:51AM

I believe that there is a paid, subversive contingent lurking these comment sections who are a voice for revolution. They stir up hatred and focus the discussion on hatred versus the facts. I thought this article was well written. It had a clear objective followed through with facts. Too much of todays journalism is non substantiated garbage and opinion. I read through the comments and I didnt find one fact to refute the authors premise that the TSA has really done nothing. Nice article.

milesperhour| 11.28.10 @ 8:58PM

Well stated al. I agree. Great article, good comment.

vtwin| 11.27.10 @ 10:35PM

http://st1.xhamster.com/u/s/65655.gif

Ken| 11.28.10 @ 4:22AM

John pistole and his tsa goons are nothing more then perverts molesting americans thanks to the democratic party.

Outraged Mom| 11.28.10 @ 4:35PM

Vtwin you are the typical liberal litterbug, you are disgusting and hopeless.

Richard C. Andrews | 12.9.10 @ 3:51PM

I recently went to Hawaii, my toothpaste was in a container that was more than 3ounces, the anal retentive confiscated it! We fially have a program for hiring Nazis or duffs types. I went to th added labor of acquiring a control number through TSA which basically tells all that I am who I am and not the crippled old person that needs to be prodded and patted down every time I travel, but all it seems to do is mean a little more politeness. The program is wasteful and the israeli's have already perfected a better system for suspect recognition. Are we to stupid to adopt that which works without being rudely intrusive? Apparently, or is it just another step in removing the rights of citizens and continue to scare us into surrendering more to the military industrial complex? Or will we continue to watch our nation slip into being a glut of frightened, paranoid, sheep?

Lacy| 12.12.10 @ 10:45PM

Does anybody even care who is benifitng financialy from all those back scanners, john pistole pat downs will force american to accept the scanner and that will put a lot of money in someones pockets.

dresses | 11.14.11 @ 10:31PM

The hysterics who are hollering about their precious "genitals being fondled" by TSA are fools. I could not care less if an examiner's hand brushes my genital area. What the hell!

custom usb | 3.20.12 @ 4:33AM

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