Comments on: Expert: TSA Screening Is Security Theater

TSA Head Disputes Claim, Tells 60 Minutes Measures Are Necessary Because "This Is A War"

[mswolfestock]

The TSA is the reason that I hate to travel. The way they treat us in our own country is terrible. They must get some kind of thrill out of embarassing and humiliating us, and then they have the nerve to claim it''s for our "safety."

Since 2004 I have traveled to Jamaica and Mexico twice. All of us tourists were treated like criminals in our own country every time. In Mexico and Jamaica it was totally different. We were treated with respect. In Mexico we did not have to take our shoes off. This is due in part to cultural differences. The Mexicans believe it is rude, bad manners, disrespectful, to ask a stranger to remove his/her shoes.

Oh yeah, even the airline crew will tell you that changing boarding gates at the last minute does not "stop terrorism." It just causes delays, makes people more mad than they already were, and their luggage ends up somewhere else.

As a white middle aged American with a valid passport, yes, I actually DO expect to be treated much better than Abdul and his buddies, traveling without luggage and a fake visa.

There will be problems as long as the TSA Storm Troopers treat their fellow Americans like criminals. They are killing the traveling industry.

[cdr1712]

whaaaa whaaa whaaa. I am so sick of the babys in this country.Why do you think that the screening force comes across as rude, its because they are treated so poorly by a bunch of winers like you that cant be botherd to wait in a ten min line and take your shoes off. People have short term memories and need to be reminded why they are in place. On average you can complete the whole proccess in less than 20 min, so big deal get off your high horses and let these do there job.

[jcassara]

Mr. Schneier should stay within the sphere of his expertise: computer security and cryptography. There may be intersections between those fields and TSA, but they are not one in the same.

To those of you who would criticize TSA because it inconveniences you: your convenience is not a measure of their efficacy.

This is CBS putting on "controversy theater."

[docpeter1953]

From the above article, ''... a prominent security expert, Bruce Schneier, who has advised the TSA ... the TSA''s efforts are largely "security theater" - a show to make passengers feel safe.
________________

No kiding! I fly often and he is just now telling us what I have observed over the past two or three years. If you fly; next time you are screened just ask yourself, "Do I feel safer now?"

I trust myself more than those guys & gals in the maroon sweater.

[samrt-2009]

Good to see CBS has discovered what the rest of us knew 5 years ago.

[Apple0803]

True, but the question is "when will things change"? I don't see this Administration modifying our antiquated immigration and national security system anytime soon. Unfortunately, good people will continue suffering for the few that have bad intentions. My main point is that we cannot continue to live in fear and we have to draw a clear boundary between national security and preserving the integrity of our democratic system (equality for all!).

[doclaw99]

There is too much cash flowing in the anti-terror/industrial complex for anything to change in airport security or any of the other aspects of the "War on Terror" anytime soon. Think of the "War on Terror''s" predecessor, the Cold War. That was the cash cow for defense contractors that keeps on giving. At least there we had benchmarks to tell us when the war would be over - goodbye USSR. There will never be an end to the "War on Terror" because there are none - every group unhappy with the status quo is a potential terrorist group in the eyes of government. In the meantime, the government will keep toggling the fear button periodically to justify new domestic spying and profiling laws, and shoveling money to the "anti-terror experts", sniffer and x-ray machine manufacturers, and the usual defense contractors, ad infitum. There are too many people making money off the "War on Terror" for it to do anything but grow.

[kaiyo4u]

The dog and pony show of TSA continues and their head has to justify his job when comments are made to his contrary.
As a part time traveler (right now in the middle east), never have I seen people treated with such disrespect as in the US. It''s like cattle going to slaughter and the TSA keeps making things more constrictive for travel.
We have the marshalls aboard again, let''s do away with those TSA jobs and save some tax dollars....

[chucks455]

So a air marshall can take care of a situation (one person) when all persons can take what ever they want (remember no TSA as per your views) on board and then over power this one air marshall.

[Apple0803]

No, we can't take everything we want, there has to be (minimal) regulations and governmental oversight, but at the same time, I don't want my lipgloss to be a prohibited item, or my computer to be turned on/off, swabbed, taken out of its case, etc. That's way too much. On a recent trip, I was wearing a sweatshirt (winter-March), and was patted down by a TSA employee. This is absolutely ridiculous, unnecessary, unjustified, and humiliating. I have seen so many travelers profiled and pulled over for further security checks. It's degrading and unnecessary- never once have I seen a single person pulled aside for further security checks be a threat in any way. Given that I have to travel quite a bit, this tells me that it's just another way for big government to take away our privacy and freedom.

[comeon11]

WE CAN''''T BE TOO SPOILED TO NOT REALIZE THAT THERE ARE DANGEROUS PEOPLE OUT THERE, AND THAT WE NEED GOVERNMENT PROTECTION. I CANNOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE GOVERNMENT TRYING TO KEEP US SAFE, BUT IT SHOULD BE EFFICIENT AND RESPECTFUL. THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON TO TREAT NORMAL CITIZENS AS IF THEY WERE TERRORISTS OR CRIMINALS. IT SHOULD BE BASED ON LOGIC AND FACT BASED STUDIES, NOT PARANOIA OR SKIN SHADE.

[comeon11]

WE CAN''T BE TOO SPOILED TO NOT REALIZE THAT THERE IS DANGEROUS PEOPLE OUT THERE AND THAT WE NEED GOVERNMENT PROTECTION. I CANNOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE GOVERNMENT TRYING TO KEEP US SAFE, BUT IT SHOULD BE EFFICIENT AND RESPECTFUL. THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON TO TREAT NORMAL CITIZENS AS IF THEY WERE TERRORISTS OR CRIMINALS. IT SHOULD BE BASED ON LOGIC AND FACT BASED STUDIES, NOT PARANOIA OR SKIN SHADE.

[Apple0803]

ya, there are dangerous people, trained by our government, who later turned around to kill us. We gave them weapons and training. Then there's the Blackwater scandal, talk about hypocrisy, lies, and unethical behavior.

[bobnjersey]

[It is also spending $160 million a year on over 2,000 undercover officers posted at checkpoints to read people%u2019s facial expressions and body language. TSA claims they can help spot potential terrorists. ]

what''s the success rate ... and the misread rate for this process? what''s that ... they have absolutely no idea?

[comeon11]

WE ARE NOW IN A PARANOID SOCIETY WHERE PEOPLE FROM THE TOP AND BOTTOM BELIEVE THAT ALMOST ANYBODY WHO IS NOT WHITE WITH BLUE EYES IS A TERRORIST.

[barbaram99]

It is just the govt''s way of telling us no ye can''t. Ye rub it in our faces as it we don''t know. Yeah that war is over oil. Ye say nothing of the people that go about killing in the towns. Yet ye make flying like hell. have the gall to say in is safer only reason is the public is treated like inmates out of bush fear. HE RUINED THIS NATION BY THIS. I felt safer before that busy family took over this nation.

[slim1h2o]

Expert: TSA Screening Is Security Theater
TSA Head Disputes Claim, Tells 60 Minutes Measures Are Necessary Because "This Is A War"


The war is in your head. It''s just another way to control the masses, and lets everyone know who''s in charge. And it gets everyone conditioned to government involvement.

[chucks455]

All the x-ray screening we do may look like window dressing but at least most people don't dry and take weapons of any kind on board the airplane because they know we are looking.

[avigil2]

One TSA member looked through a case that I had where I had all of my CD's stored in sleeves. She went through every single sleeve and looked at each CD. Really??? Was this really necessary? The bee-yotch made me miss my flight.