The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : TSA and Amtrak

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This morning, I boarded an Amtrak train leaving Washington, DC, where the security measures consisted of me having to flash my ticket to an agent before proceeding to the track. In other words, they were non-existent. A lot of criticisms have been leveled at the TSA for its body scan/pat down policy, especially as it pertains to privacy. But something that particularly bothers me about the procedure is that it's indicitive of the American tendency to respond to the last attack rather than anticipate future attacks. There's a shoe bomber, so we have to take off our shoes. There's a plot involving liquids, so we can't carry bottles of water. There's an underwear bomber, so we have to have our junk touched. At the same time, we allocate scant resources toward securing other potential targets, such as our train system. A well-coordinated attack on Amtrak trains could wreak havok with the Northeast Corridor and cause a national panic during the busy Thanksgiving travel week, and there are virtually no measures in place to stop it. Yet if terrorists were actually to attack the trains, the next day we'd see a series of ad hoc security measures at train stations, and be treated to countless news stories about how the warning signs were there and we failed to act. I'm not arguing that train security should be as stringent as airport security, but it seems absurd to place such an inordinant focus on stopping the next underwear bomber while acting as if trains (or whatever else) could never be a target.

View all comments (20) | Leave a comment

Too Many Tims| 11.23.10 @ 12:01PM

There you go again, thinking, asking questions...

The Monster| 11.23.10 @ 12:39PM

Obviously, the TSA will be expanded to cover passenger trains and bus terminals.

Which will accomplish nothing. If someone wants to blow up a train, they don't have to get anything onto the train. They just have to get access to the track so that they can get the bomb out there right before the train hits it. Or they could just tamper with the rails to encourage a derailment, with no explosives at all.

All it takes is someone who doesn't care if they get caught, because they expect to be in Paradise with their 72 virgins, instead of Leavenworth.

Sandy| 11.24.10 @ 8:26AM

I agree Monster- The TSA security procedures are useless. The only goal is to get total control over the American people. A terrorist can walk into an airport with a backpack containing a bomb, and blow up the airport before they even get to the scanners or probers.

If this administration was serious about security at all, they would close our borders. Our ports and shorelines are also unguarded.

This is about control, plain and simple.

Merchant| 11.23.10 @ 1:42PM

These are the projection of future attack? Incredible！！

ncatty| 11.23.10 @ 3:03PM

Would we be able to tell any difference in Amtrak efficiency before an attack and after an attack?

ConservativeWanderer| 11.23.10 @ 6:26PM

Amtrak is one thing, but how about the nation's freight trains? Imagine one carrying, say, ammonia in 50-gallon drums being derailed inside a large city. There are a lot more freight trains than Amtrak trains running on any given day, and the possible damage if the wrong (or right, depending on one's point of view) gets derailed is quite serious.

Rich Fisher| 11.23.10 @ 10:38PM

Given America's love affair and dependence on the automobile you have to wonder why we haven't had a spate of car bombs around the country. Why do you think they are so popular around the world with the terrorists. Because cars are everywhere and there is virtually no practical way to monitor cars for bombs. Set off three car bombs in the parking garage of Mall of America during Christmas and 9/11 could look pretty small. It may take a while but car bombs will finally become the weapon of choice for terrorists in America. When that happens we will have truly lost the war.

edgard| 11.24.10 @ 4:10AM

It seems to me that some folks are bent on giving new ideas for the terorist to try. You don't have to give them, and the TSA new ideas on how to keep us off balance and tormented. There is nothing you can do to stop a determined anarchist or terorist from trying any new sceme that pops in their twisted minds. The best way to twart them is using the methods that have the best results for the buck. So perhaps you should hire some Israely security personel to train your personel. ED

martin j smith| 11.24.10 @ 8:02AM

The problem is not what is done, but the premises from which the "what" leads. As in the GWB years, the TSA started from the premis that you look for things less than the actual people. This has been expanded to a degree that it becomes harassment of people. There is an assumption that out of 100 or 10000 diverse people, the chances of any one of therm--regadrless of any aspect about them--anyone of them could be The ONE. Most Americans do not buy that. Most Americans believe that those who hate America are the ones who are motivated to kill. Who are3 they: Primarily Muslims --( 16-40 age male or female ), Muslim Converts of any race,previous religion etc,Muslim Symps of the LEFT and even some on the very faaaaaaaaaaaaaaar right( they are so far rightt that they become LEFT in fact like the American Nazi equivlents. Nazis were LEFTIES. And I will add some unwitting dupes to fill the pot. This means that people have to be profiled based on ethnicity,age,religion,.political affiliation,and most of all behavior at the airport. This means that the number of probable suspects is cut down dramatically.

Sandy| 11.24.10 @ 8:31AM

Speaking of Amtrack, which has had to be heavily subsidized by the government since it's creation. I'm not so sure that the Obama admin. isn't looking to drive travellers from planes to trains. They have wanted to push high speed rail for a long time. It reminds me of cattle being loaded onto trains and headed to the slaughter house.

Tenn Slim| 11.24.10 @ 9:04AM

Trains, cars, planes, trucks, all are vehicles or means of transportation, almost impossible to 100% secure from any would be terrorist.
Add to this, the US absolute, no line in the sand, demand for free access, for limited impositions of a Security Minded State, and the doors are open for crisis.
Now. Given all that, the NEED for some level of common sense security is apparent.
We have been told, via the Leftists activistits the PC folks, that Profiling is shameful. Any Security Criminologist will remind you, that is method that solves crimes, usually after the fact. Putting the techniques in front of the fact, is the problem. The method is doable, but the taste is simply awful. So, we let the enemy win. We suffer, complain, and angst, again, after the fact.
Use the common sense methods. Let the Security Folks, trained, able and w/o political fences to mend, protect and serve.
end
Semper Fi

MikeN| 11.24.10 @ 9:18AM

Foolish to think there is no security at train stations. This has been considered by DHS.
Consider how many train stations there are, and how many basically have no infrastructure at all. The task is too large and expensive. On top of which attacking a train on the tracks might be easier. The security measures are different for trains.

Shannon| 11.24.10 @ 12:48PM

Do not think for a minute that the "security checks" will just be at airports...before you know it the government will be having every form of transportation checked including car searches. Then their next move will be our homes....get ready America, this TSA jazz is just the beginning...afterall you did vote for hope and change, right. Check out www.takingonissues.com

WMcFey| 11.24.10 @ 1:45PM

And when it happens, it will be Obama's fault, right?

e cowan| 11.24.10 @ 2:02PM

I can't find an answer to my question: Have these nude scanners uncovered any drug 'mules' - who have swallowed (or have otherwise secreted) heroin filled balloons?
Can the scanners detect heroin? If not - how can they detect explosives in a powder form?
Anybody know?

Sandy| 11.24.10 @ 2:18PM

e cowan- From what I've read, the scanners do not pick up any powdered substance.

Sandy| 11.24.10 @ 2:26PM

e cowan- Here is a link-
http://www.time.com/time/world.....29,00.html

"One of the main criticisms of the scanners is that they cannot detect low density materials such as powders, liquids, thin pieces of plastic or anything resembling skin. Nor can they detect any explosives concealed internally."

ironhorzmn| 11.24.10 @ 3:45PM

Why attack a train when you could just roll 2 or 3 suitcases filled with explosives into a crowd of airline passengers conveniently corralled at a TSA security checkpoint?

Not only would you kill hundreds of infidels, but the destruction would be visible to news cameras for weeks; not cleaned up in days like an aircraft disaster.

The TSA can rest easy after such a bombing...no one will want to ENTER an airport.

e cowan| 11.24.10 @ 8:30PM

'Here is a link-'
Thanks for the link. An interesting point from that story:
".... says the bigger concern is that authorities may be diverting scarce security resources away from more proven measures, like training airport staff to detect suspicious behaviors in would-be attackers before they board planes. "We have a tendency to over-rely on technology, especially Americans, instead of human intelligence," he says." (OMG - Profiling?)
Sounds like TSA hired a bunch of ex (or wannabe) DIs and prison guards - the kind in the old 50s movies - really mean.
Glad I don't have to fly anywhere

Patriot| 11.25.10 @ 12:32AM

I hope for your sake you don't go to any sporting events either--it's only a matter of time before these porno-scanners show up at college and professional football games.