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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