Army General Tapped to Lead TSA

President Barack Obama said he wants a former senior Army official with a career in intelligence to lead the Transportation Security Administration.

The president announced his choice, retired Gen. Robert Harding, on Monday.

The decision to appoint someone with an extensive intelligence background comes after the attempted Christmas airliner attack. That attempt, foiled by passengers, led to scrutiny of government intelligence programs and criticism that the Obama administration wasn't doing enough to foil would-be terrorists. The incident prompted a review of U.S. security policies.

"I am confident that Bob's talent and expertise will make him a tremendous asset in our ongoing efforts to bolster security and screening measures at our airports." Obama said in a statement.

Harding served in the Army for 33 years and retired in 2001. He has been the Defense Department's top human intelligence officer and managed a $1 billion intelligence collection program. Between 2003 and 2009, Harding was a government consultant on human intelligence and counterintelligence issues. He sold his company in 2009, according to an administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.

Obama's original pick for the TSA job, Erroll Southers, withdrew from consideration in January when it became clear he would face a tough confirmation battle in the Senate.

The president has been criticized for leaving the TSA job open for so long. It took him eight months to nominate Southers.

Harding would be the fifth man to run the Transportation Security Administration, which was formed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

[Hosheen]

The best thing this "new leader" could do with the TSA is to line them up and lead them all off a cliff. At least then the average IQ of the human race would go up a bit.

Unfortunately, there are still a lot of neo-cons and religious reich (same thing?) out there that will be holding the average down.

[warsux]

before you know it, the president will be running about with his green military shirt on, big sunglasses, leading hoards of people in hour long nationalistic pep rallies at places like "the people's square" while parades of tanks drive by.

[weewoods]

LOL, OK so that takes care of the "leadership". What about all the other idiots in the TSA?

Wee
www.total-anonymity.us.tc

[sfe2010]

Great... another warmonger making decisions for our country. Obviously, this guy is qualified to bag groceries, but the last thing we need is another idiot warmonger telling us what to do.

[riptide213]

Robert Harding is a candid, adept professional mentor talented enough to clean house, focus mission, and modernize TSA to exploit prompt and concise 21st century intelligence with tangible outcomes for the better.

Proactively integrating TSA operations in positive, dynamic partnership with all national security and intelligence agencies for maximum effect, exploiting leading edge technology, and enforcing highest standards of professional integrity for all staff will no doubt figure prominently from day one under an enriching Harding leadership tenure.

TSA is suffering from a lethargic organizational culture, resistant to consequential change.

Top notch, progressive national security team players only please.

TSA mission conspicuously important, so do away with substandard performers and inept policies as soon as possible.

Now is the uncompromising time for a scrupulous, revitalizing TSA strategy evolution and heading in the right direction opportunity to ax lackluster deadwood.

If stringent El Al and Israeli airport security model is way forward, so be it.

US taxpayers deserve the best possible security for their top tax dollar.

Political mist has finally cleared and fate brings forth an excellent, shrewd nominee for right position at the right time.

[jsf14]

Looks like they might actually be appointing someone competent rather than connected.

[jimbom121]

jsf14:

The last gu nominated was the head of security at LAX. He wasn't connected to Obama in any way.

[Hosheen]

"Intelligence" and the TSA in the same sentence? It's called the Terminally Stupid Authority for a reason. Not one thing they have ever done could stop a genuine terrorist. They have not made anyone safer, only more inconvenienced and assisted in the making America into a totalitarian state.

I'm not a genuine terrorist but I can think of several ways to take over an airplane, smuggle weapons into the country and do whatever I wasnt. I don't think I'm one bit smarter than real terrorists but a LOT smarter than anyone in the TSA. It's just a very expensive welfare program for people that couldn't get a real job.

[uisignorant]

He will still be working with morons.

[CBSisCommunist5]

No we do not want a Army General that knows what he is doing!!!!

We want one of OBAMA's appointed CZARS that tell us "the system worked" when it clearly failed. We want a communist leftist that hates the United States.

[Hosheen]

Real Americans do not want a neo-con jerk like you in the country, so ****!

It's idiots like you that permitted George W. Bush to destroy the country. Go away and stay away.

[jimbom121]

umm...you shoudl remember that President Bush had more of these co called "Czars" than Obama has. Was it ok then?

[m0u5y]

Wohoo! Be prepared for mass firings. TSA are the farthest from being professional or disciplined. He's going to have a ball with dealing with TSA.