Isn't the TSA guy equally culpable? Didn't he leave his post knowing that there was a guy who wanted to walk in the out line before he left his post? The TSA guy should get equal punishment to whatever the culprit gets.

 

As long as we have a gaping hole where Rampers and Airport Workers can carry stuff in and out of the secure area with very little scrutiny I am not very confident that our screening up in the terminal is all that effective.

What is in that lunchbox? Or in the case of a many foreign nationals who work our ramps, what is in the box of stuff you trying to get carried back to Africa?

Low paying ramp jobs seem very attractive to employees who see the position more as a way to score "free shipping" and travel benefits more than as the "profession in the airline business" their more highly paid predecessors did.

I'm just saying there is nothing all that effective in a screening system when you have a hole in the airport perimeter you could drive 500 trucks and several hundred busses through every day. But now I can't get Aretha Franklin singing "the only one who could ever reach me ... was the son of a Breacher, man" out of my head.

 

You took the keyboard from under my hands. Like their counter part, the BAA in the UK... TSA is a disgrace... a laughing stock who realizes that their feet will never be held to the fire. TSA is a group of thugs who know who to do one thing and one thing only... abuse their power and make crewmembers' lives a living hell. They don't have the common decency to admit their foibles... but then again... what would you expect from a bunch of idiots?

 

On page 36 of the Department of Homeland Security Annual Performance Report, catching about 25% of high risk travelers to the USA is considered "successful."

www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/cfo_apr_fy2008.pdf

"..Improve the targeting, screening, and apprehension of high-risk international cargo and travelers to prevent terrorist attacks, while providing processes to facilitate the flow of safe and legitimate trade and travel..."

In 2008 the target was to have a 41% airline passenger apprehension rate for major violators. The actual apprehension rate of major airline passenger violations was 25%. So to correct this problem in 2009 and 2010 the new Department of Homeland Security goal will be to be have a success rate of 25% and 26%.

 

What amazes me is how the TSA is going to bat for this employee in the press. I've seen multiple instances where they've stated how hes a good employee and received an accommodation last year.

Why bother having talks about TSA organizing a union, seems their management has their back pretty well.

 

Are you referring to these:



1. To take charge of this post and all government property in view.

2. To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert, and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.

3. To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.

4. To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guard house than my own.

5. To quit my post only when properly relieved.

6. To receive, obey and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Command Duty Officer, Officer of the Deck, and Officers and Petty Officers of the Watch only.

7. To talk to no one except in the line of duty.

8. To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.

9. To call the Officer of the Deck in any case not covered by instructions.

10. To salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.

11. To be especially watchful at night, and, during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.


Ahhhh, now those were the days

 

I am most nostalgically referring to those. No ambiguity in the language and,indeed, they were the days.

 

How difficult would it be to mirror the Israeli's airport security system?

 

Israel runs an excellent security program. However, we are talking about just around 40 El Al airplanes and a handful of airports. Their security staff consists of many highly paid intelligence officers. It would be very difficult if not impossible to mirror their procedures without significant government expenditure (read...taxes). However, we can take some aspects from them to improve our system without huge investments.

 

The law breaker knowingly and intentionally broke the law with full knowledge of what he was doing. So no the law enforcer who failed is not equally culpable. So he be terminated , probably.