need to add title here

Screening The TSA

August 2, 2009 4:53 PM

Are the hassles passengers endure at airport security checkpoints really making them safer? The TSA says they are, but a security adviser who has advised them says those measures are "security theater." Lesley Stahl reports.

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by JJtwins August 10, 2009 6:21 PM EDT
"safeT4u" I think you need to tone down all the caps. This is a place where ALL points of view are welcome whether you agree with them or not. Please be polite and open minded to others even though you may not share their point of view.

Also, to the person who is annoyed that Muslims work for security, that is a very prejudice and rascist. Many Muslims are also US citizens who care about the US just like everyone else. They serve in our military, and our navy, they work for our CIA, our FBI, and our Department of Defense to protect us. They even represent their states in Congress.
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by Collin1976 August 9, 2009 1:58 AM EDT
Why not just profile, like Israel does? I mean, it's a bummer if your of Middle Eastern descent... But really who else is hijacking and blowing up planes? Just saying..
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by fiyaman3 August 7, 2009 9:44 PM EDT
wow the supply of favoritism needs to be screen for integrity.
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by rbien124 August 7, 2009 1:30 PM EDT
Oh I forgot only when terrible things happen in this country that everyone will be saying that the TSA wasn't doing enough.


America need more jobs. People have too much times in their hands to complain about every single insignificant things.
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by DrJohnTWhiting August 5, 2009 2:17 PM EDT
Lesley,

In 2001 I wrote a conceptual paper to try to create some discussion regarding the development of a more practical, cost-effective and efficient airport security model. It was entitled "Guaranteeing Airline Security Based on the Adoption and Implementation of a Commercial Flight Eligibility Standard for Airline Passengers." It can be reviewed at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/01/prweb97213.htm.

Rather than trying to identify the proverbial needle in a haystack it focuses on those who would create a secuirty problem for the air lines and America.

Yes, we need to stop wasting money on a process that wastes taxpayer money, inconveniences the public and is unlikley to provide real security to the flying public.

If you would like to discuss the concept or agree there is a need for some debate to generate ideas regarding a more creative, practical and efficient approach to air line security please feel free to contact me.

Dr. John T. Whiting (john.whiting@e-businessmanagement.com)
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by vinnym August 4, 2009 10:49 PM EDT
This is a charade and a fraud. 911 could have been prevented just by allowing the pilots to have guns or locking the cockpit doors. This should have been common sense. This billion dollar government charade does almost nothing to make us safer. In fact I routinely bring shampoos and liquids through in my carry on and never get stopped. this is just another excuse for the government to expand power and spending and they do it in the areas that people most fear, flying, health care, false pandemics, economic armageddon, etc. They take a crisis and intervene making everything worse and worse and crushing liberty. I'd rather see the airlines implementing their own security and get the government out of it. Surely people would choose to fly the airline with the best and least obnoxious methods of security and the marekt would be allowed to function instead of this fascist solution. We need to be smart, just reacting and throwing money at things has been the downfall of this country. It's obvious what the goals are, all they had to do was arm the pilots, allowing them their second amendment right which already exists, yet they choose this instead. Where does it stop? Supermarket gestapo? Library guards? Maybe homeland security personal escorts? People better wake up because a government left unchecked will expand it's powers exponentially until it becomes much more dangerous than the terrorists that you fear. "evidence he adds the research carried out at the University of Michigan that suggests that an American?s chance of being killed in one non-stop airline flight is about one in 13 million. Apparently there ?would have to be one set of September 11 crashes a month for the risks to balance out? between travelling by plane and by car."
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by kiskaenya August 4, 2009 2:46 PM EDT
i cannot believe how generally lacking in the brains department the TSA folks are. they are power hungry folks with not a lot in the upstairs department. if we were going to set up yet another department within government did we have to hire any tom, dick or harry that showed up to apply- is a high school diploma really all these folks need or do these folks just represent the general population of all americans??? how embarrassing.
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by fariborzzak August 4, 2009 10:06 AM EDT
we need TSA
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by RJEgan August 4, 2009 9:24 AM EDT
I'm disappointed that you did not interview any of the millions of Americans, mostly seniors, who have medically imploanted metal, knee and hip replacements, pace makers, etc. who regularly get harrassed by7 screeners who have belt sizes larger than their IQ. I have been hurt by one screener who slapped my knee after being told it was a metal replacement. Why can't Homeland create a listing for those of us with medical metal and speed up the process while reducing hasstle?
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by Crispus_A August 4, 2009 4:51 AM EDT
A flight from Beijing to LAX: Security check in Beijing took about 15 minutes.
Return, LAX to Beijing: Security took three and half hours.

Rude, pushy, confused TSA people. I went through TSA security 8 times and was pulled out of line three times to have my luggage swabbed for explosive residue. I am a short fat white guy, over 65, with white hair. Why me? Oh, its just random. Right, 3/8 times I get checked within two weeks.

Chinese police are more effective, more polite and much much faster.

Chinese communists are better than American Fascists,
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by gramaemy August 3, 2009 8:58 PM EDT
I say hats off to the TSA!! My compliments for a job well done!!!
I thank them for screening me when I go through. Maybe all the airports in the USA should have huge photographs of the airplanes flying into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11. It seems so many Americans have forgotten. Quite your moaning and groaning you cry babies or take the bus!!
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by Manitobawoman August 3, 2009 8:17 PM EDT
Hi Leslie, I too am frequently ticked off with having to go through the various security procedures that are the bane of travellers these days. You spoke in your piece about old people being treated like terrorists. Here is my thought and story on that one. A couple of years ago I took my 83 year old uncle to the airport (incidentally, I'm old too at age 65). I had arranged for a wheelchair for him which was ready when we arrived. The check-in clerk said she'd give me a pass so that I could wheel him right to the gate. Sounded great to me! At the security area, they let us go right to the front of the line. Treated my uncle like royalty pushing him right through the xray area. I was about to follow when I was stopped, had to put my purse, jacket, etc. etc. through the scanner. They went through my purse, even opened my wallet, patted me down. This was more than I'd ever gone through when I was actually going to get on a plane! Finally, after dropping him off at his gate in the care of delightful employees, I fumed back to my car and home. On the way I realized that, in fact, this was not harrassment. What if I had decided to pack that old person's pockets with some kind of explosive once we were through security, leave him at the gate where the airline folks would place him on the plane and I would be on my merry way. They were not overreacting, they were correct. Am I still annoyed with the messing around when I'm travelling? You bet. But I do understand the need for it.
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by cindytongsl August 3, 2009 6:28 PM EDT
Let me say first of all that I think the TSA screenings are a necessary evil. But my experience during a flight out from the Las Vegas McCarran Airport to SFO was not pleasant. One of the screeners clearly had an attitude, throwing my mobile phone and flinging my other belongings into the tray. I thought it was extremely disrespectful and rude, and being a tourist from Singapore who had always had a wonderful impression of your country before that incident, it sure left me disappointed.
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by benbosma August 3, 2009 2:56 PM EDT
TSA has done some things that are making screening easier namely, a handicap line at most major airports and allowing you to leave your laptop in the bag with checkpoint friendly laptop bags and checkpoint friendly trolley bags.
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by salanontony August 3, 2009 12:54 PM EDT
Aviation Security France
http://www.surete-aerienne.eu
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by yea_usa August 3, 2009 10:31 AM EDT
Good job and many thanks to the TSA!!!
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by champ1997 August 3, 2009 12:23 AM EDT
I refuse to surrender my common sense to the scare tactics of those who wish to perpetuate 911 forever. Hardening of cockpits and arming the flight crews is the only thing that really needed to be done, as far as I'm concerned. If terrorist just want to kill a lot of people, train stations; malls; or stadiums are much more inviting targets. The airport nonesense is just that....nonesense.
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by design4good August 3, 2009 12:22 AM EDT
Kip or Skip is not "trying to scare us" He IS scared himself. The irrational fear that he and those who believe like him feel is a result of how George W. Bush mishandled 9/11.

Thank you 60 minutes for correctly identifying the most needed and effective deterrent to plane attacks. That is, securing plane cabins. My faith in common sense is restored.

Unfortunately, there do not appear to be enough informed, intelligent, and offended Americans to adequately protest the stupidity and the waste of time, energy and effort represented by the screeners, the process and Kip or Skip.

Thank you 60 minutes for the brief but balanced report!
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by flapjack1337 August 2, 2009 11:58 PM EDT
Leslie,

Just whose side are you on, us or the terrorists who now know the weak links in the system? I also anticipate more America travelers being even more rude to TSA personnel because of your report and they now think TSA is ineffective.
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by arooney1 August 2, 2009 11:18 PM EDT
I enjoyed your piece on the TSA... I thought your interview was thoughtful and unbiased. I even learned something about the x-ray machines - that my identity and body parts would not be exposed and subject to some foolish TSA officer using it for their perversion... lets face it, as challenged as they are to screen absolutely everything the TSA would be challenged to sceen out sickos. That all said tho, I still think this is security hysteria and the TSA man is justifying his job and the organization. Oh and to the person who suggested the hiring of muslims is the problem... sounds like racism and supremacy to me.
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