TSA Continues To Harass Tots and Seniors
What I want is men who will support me when I am in the wrong.
These words were uttered by a British Whig politician, William Lamb, Lord Melbourne, in the early 19th Century, reportedly in reply to a fellow politician offering to support him when he was in the right. The principle the words embody, however, might as well be emblazoned on the employment contract for each TSA (Transportation Security Administration) manager, especially those at the highest levels of this federal bureaucracy.
The latest example of TSA leadership supporting its personnel no matter how outrageous the conduct, can be seen in the agency’s response to an incident in which a wheelchair-bound, 95-year old woman was pressured to remove an adult diaper before TSA agents at Northwest Florida Regional Airport would permit her to board a flight to Michigan. When details of this most recent controversy involving overly intrusive TSA pat-downs surfaced, the agency quickly circled the wagons and declared its people did everything “professionally and according to proper procedure.”
In other words, telling a cancer-stricken, 95-year old woman travelling in a wheelchair, that she cannot board a commercial airliner for which she has paid her fare and been “cleared” to travel, unless she takes off an adult diaper that a TSA agent deemed to be suspicious, is “professional” and “proper.” If that is “proper” and “professional,” I’d like to see what might constitute behavior that is “unprofessional and improper”; not that it matters — TSA leadership takes the position that whatever its agents do is, by definition, proper and will be supported by supervisors all the way up the chain of command.
This is the very same agency that within the same week in which this incident occurred, told the public it was “revising” its policies and practices regarding criminal-like pat-downs of small children. This PR gambit came in the wake of the highly publicized groping by a TSA agent of a six-year old girl at Kansas City International Airport. In fact, however, the “revision” was nothing but public relations double talk. The TSA still claims to have the power to conduct however intrusive a search it desires of any passenger, no matter their age or infirmity; and regardless of whether there is any articulable suspicion they are attempting to bring anything dangerous on board an aircraft.
The linguistic gobbledygook was displayed clearly in a statement made by TSA Administrator John Pistole in announcing the “new approach.” In the agency’s continuing effort to smooth-talk the public into supporting its intrusive activities, Pistole declared that, “every traveler is a critical partner in TSA’s efforts.” “Critical partner,” indeed; only in the sense that a robbery victim is a “critical partner” in ensuring they will not be harmed if they simply succumb to the perpetrator’s demands.
Clearly, President Obama is not inclined to step up and rein in the TSA or its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security. And thus far, TSA has resisted efforts by the Congress – especially the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, headed by California Republican Darrell Issa – to consider any reasonable limitations on the agency’s vast power over law-abiding citizens.
Whether citizens of this country will arise from their fear-based stupor to declare that “enough is enough,” and demand they stop being treated like common criminals simply because they need to travel by air, remains to be seen. Thus far, despite occasional public revulsion at individual incidents, the fear mongerers are winning.
By Bob Barr – The Barr Code
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85 comments Add your comment
Fisher1949
June 29th, 2011
5:56 am
In the same week Pistole defended this agency for frisking a six year old girl in New Orleans before the Senate Committee, TSA were removing a diaper from a dying 95 year old woman in Florida and screeners in Houston and Los Angeles arrested for theft from passengers. In the prior three weeks they confiscated a plastic hammer from a special needs man, groped two Texas officials and a wounded soldier.
http://www.travelunderground.org/index.php?pages/fisher-masterlist/
Congress has permitted TSA to promote an agenda of passenger-focused paranoia without consideration for the realities of airline safety. Many experts have stated that there has been no increase in aircraft exposure since 2002 and that the current procedures and technology are no more than theater. In the past eight months, TSA has been plagued by reports of agent thefts, sex crimes, assaults, drug trafficking, security breaches, drug use and dereliction of duty. Over sixty screeners have been implicated in that brief time without one notable success to offset this abysmal record.
After the Lockerbie bombing carry-on, items were x-rayed eliminating the possibility of that tragedy being repeated. When a flawed hijacking policy allowed the 9/11 terrorist to take control of four airliners and crash them into targets, cockpit doors were reinforced and pilots were armed making a repeat of the 9/11 attacks impossible.
TSA cites the 2009 “underwear bomber” as the basis for the need to implement the intrusive policies. However, ABC News reported that the terrorist’s underwear contained 80 grams of the explosive PETN, which tests revealed could only make a small hole in the wall of an airplane and would not disable the aircraft or result in a crash.
Over a million Americans have died in defense of our Constitutional liberties and it is shameful that the fearful and cowardly among us would squander those hard won rights on the miniscule chance that a few might die on an airplane. This agency needs to be shut down and security returned to FAA.
Fisher1949
June 29th, 2011
6:03 am
Both committees have been indifferent to the arrogance and duplicity of Director Pistole in testimony, while he has lost all credibility with the public. He has proven incapable of managing this agency and should be replaced. In the same week he defended this agency for frisking a six year old girl in New Orleans, TSA were removing a diaper from a dying 95 year old woman in Florida and screeners in Houston and Los Angeles arrested for theft from passengers.
Congress has permitted TSA to promote an agenda of passenger-focused paranoia without consideration for the realities of airline safety. Many experts have stated that there has been no increase in aircraft exposure since 2002 and that the current procedures and technology are no more than theater. In the past eight months, TSA has been plagued by reports of agent thefts, sex crimes, assaults, drug trafficking, security breaches, drug use and dereliction of duty. Over sixty screeners have been implicated in that brief time without one notable success to offset this abysmal record.
http://www.travelunderground.org/index.php?pages/fisher-masterlist/
TSA cites the 2009 “underwear bomber” as the basis for the need to implement the intrusive policies. However, ABC News reported that the terrorist’s underwear contained 80 grams of the explosive PETN, which tests revealed could only make a small hole in the wall of an airplane and would not disable the aircraft or result in a crash.
This ineffective focus on passengers has become both excessive and dangerous. Once cockpit doors were reinforced and pilots armed a terrorist could not gain control of a plane a repeat of 9/11 became impossible. A human is physically incapable of concealing enough explosive to bring down an airliner yet the focus of TSA remains on passengers while allowing 60% of cargo on airliners to go unscreened and remaining oblivious to threat of a ground based attack.
Over a million Americans have died in defense of our Constitutional liberties and it is shameful that the fearful and cowardly among us would squander those hard won rights on the miniscule chance that a few might die on an airplane.
carly
June 29th, 2011
6:07 am
Where is the common sense? what is wrong with the TSA? did they actually think that a sick 95 year old woman in a wheel chair is a terrorist?I found a site where people can complain about things like this airlineslodgingetc com and other travel related issues
Elizabeth Conley
June 29th, 2011
7:08 am
According to the elderly lady, who was interviewed yesterday in her new home, the TSA had already removed her pants.
That’s right. They took her to that private room and removed her pants. They weren’t just pawing at the outside of her garments. They took her into a private room and partially disrobed her.
The TSA is a national disgrace. We’re total twits for putting up with them.
Virgil Caine
June 29th, 2011
7:20 am
Y’uns have to stop flying commercially for a while to try to teach them a non-violent lesson – We won’t fly
Surely Granny and her kids have heard the reports about the TSA, but ignored them, thinking it wouldn’t happen to THEM. We hang together or we will surely hang separately
Elizabeth Conley
June 29th, 2011
7:30 am
Speaking to 24 Hour News 8, Mrs Reppert said TSA agents took her into an examination room.
She said: “That’s when they took my pants.”
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2009311/They-really-physical-exam-Leukaemia-sufferer-95-tells-TSA-ordeal-forced-removal-adult-diaper.html#ixzz1QfBQahjk
Fact Check
June 29th, 2011
7:44 am
“The woman’s daughter, Jean Weber, told CNN on Monday that the TSA agents acted professionally and never ordered the removal of her mother’s diaper. However, Weber said the agents made it clear that her mother could not board the plane unless they were able to inspect the diaper. According to Weber, it was her idea to remove the diaper so it could be inspected and they could make their flight.”
Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/06/27/florida.tsa.incident/
Esther Matteson
June 29th, 2011
7:57 am
We prefer to go Amtrak, thank you very much!
Wimpie
June 29th, 2011
7:58 am
“No amount of safety, no measure of security, NO NUMBER OF LIVES SAVED is worth sacrificing the founding principles of our nation.
This is (ostensibly still) the land of the free, not the land of the safe. Freedom means risk and 235 years ago, some people decided that given the choice between living safe lives of submission to authority, or taking their lives in their hands and being free, they would rather have liberty at the expense of personal risk.
Yes, if TSA stops doing what it is doing, planes may be blown up. Maybe we’ll have another 9/11. Maybe we’ll have 911 more 9/11s. It will be sad, people will be hurting and mourning. But that is the price we pay for liberty. When people say “freedom isn’t free,” that’s where that slogan comes from. When Thomas Jefferson said “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants,” it was not intended as some sort of anarchist screed. He was saying that sometimes, in order for there to be freedom for all, good people must stand against oppressors and, sometimes, sacrifice themselves in order to do so.
And for godsakes, nobody is even asking any American patriot to fall on their sword. What we’re talking about is the people standing up and saying “Enough is enough” to the TSA. Saying “If we have to choose between being less safe in the air and enduring the wholesale sexual assault that you neander-thugs perpetrate against us every day at terminals across the nation, then we’ll keep our 4th-Amendment rights and take our chances. Now get the hell out of our airports.”
Anyone who values safety over liberty is not espousing American principles and, in point of fact, this can be confirmed via the words of Benjamin Franklin himself. It’s been quoted a thousand times before but it rings absolutely true each and every last time. “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
America. Land of the free. Not “Land of the free, except in airports or when we’re really really scared, void where prohibited, some restrictions may apply.”"
Rfdkurn
June 29th, 2011
8:11 am
That the TSA exists is evidence that the US is no longer “the land of the free.” And the response of the people who defend them for ’security” reasons is proof enough that the US is no longer “the home of the brave.”
Carlosgvv
June 29th, 2011
8:36 am
A majority of Americans have already said that “enough is enough” about our troops being in Iraq and Afghanistan but both parties seem intent on keeping them there as long as possible, So, if we say enough is enough when it comes to TSA pat downs, odds are both parties will ignore us and do nothing.
TSA Continues To Harass Tots and Seniors
June 29th, 2011
8:52 am
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/bob-barr-blog/2011/06/29/tsa-continues-to-harass-tots-and-seniors/?cxntfid=blog... [...]
WOW
June 29th, 2011
8:52 am
I like to fly just for the TSA pat down. I can’t wait until they step up to cavity searches. YEEHAa!
Lisa Simeone
June 29th, 2011
9:01 am
The 9/11 victimology in this country is pathetic. Millions of people around the world suffer far more from terrorism every day than this country ever has. Yet people here are willing to hand over their rights – and their human dignity – bit by bit, all for the illusion of “security.” “The Terrorists! The Terrorists Are Everywhere! Please Save Me! I’ll Gladly Bend Over And Spread ‘Em, Especially If You Tell Me It’s For My Own Good!”
And all over the blabbosphere, we even have thousands of people further denigrating a dying woman, even to the point of pretending to know how often her diapers are changed! But blaming the victim is a time-honored practice.
Congratulations, United Sheeple of America. You’ve done us proud.
Grandpa Simpson
June 29th, 2011
9:15 am
You oughta see what’s in my diaper.
Janis
June 29th, 2011
9:33 am
Mmm, mmm, mmm, legalized molestation. What won’t the sheeple stand for?
Jimmy62
June 29th, 2011
9:45 am
How many airplane bombings were there before the TSA? How many since? The numbers are pretty similar. Near zero. The TSA is a waste of time and money.
Lisa Simeone
June 29th, 2011
9:48 am
FACT: no bombs were brought onto planes on 9/11. The planes themselves were commandeered, something that won’t happen again because the cockpit doors have been secured, and because passengers will no longer silently submit (which is more than we can say for TSA apologists.)
FACT: The last time a bomb was smuggled aboard an airplane in the USA was December 11, 1967. The plane landed safely; no fatalities, no injuries. Source: Aviation Safety Network
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19671211-0
FACT: The last time a bomb was smuggled aboard an aircraft in the US from which there were fatalities was May 22, 1962.
Source: Aviation Safety Network
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19620522-0
And for all that time, until just recently, the TSA reign of molestation and rank stupidity didn’t exist. Gee, how is it possible we all haven’t been blown out of the sky by now?? After all, The Terrorists Are Everywhere!
kimmer
June 29th, 2011
9:52 am
Factcheck, TSA didn’t order the woman to remove the diaper but wouldn’t let her fly unless she did which is the same as in my book. That is like a kidnapper claiming he didn’t order parents to pay him $1M. He just wouldn’t give them their child back until they did.
Bottom line is there seems to be an institutionalized lack of discretion in TSA policy caused by letting political correctness override logic and common sense.
Lisa Simeone
June 29th, 2011
10:07 am
FACT: no bombs were brought onto planes on 9/11. The planes themselves were commandeered, something that won’t happen again because the cockpit doors have been secured, and because passengers will no longer silently submit (which is more than we can say for TSA apologists).
FACT: The last time a bomb was smuggled aboard an airplane in the USA was December 11, 1967. The plane landed safely; no fatalities, no injuries. Source: Aviation Safety Network.
FACT: The last time a bomb was smuggled aboard an aircraft in the US from which there were fatalities was May 22, 1962. Source: Aviation Safety Network.
And for all that time, until just recently, the TSA reign of molestation and rank stupidity didn’t exist. Gee, how is it possible we all haven’t been blown out of the sky by now?? After all, The Terrorists Are Everywhere!
kimmer
June 29th, 2011
10:15 am
Jimmy I think you are on the right track and while obviously there is a need for some kind of passenger screening the TSA dilutes their effectiveness by their shotgun approach. The most effective thing from 9-11 that will keep commercial airliners from every being flown into another building is passenger awareness. The give-them-what-they-want treatment of hijackers evaporated even before the last 9-11 plane could reach its target. Any hijacking today would almost certainly be met by fierce and overwhelming resistance by the passengers and crew. No hijacker could pull one off with a handgun much less a pair of nail clippers or a penknife.
the guy on the couch
June 29th, 2011
10:22 am
We have sacrificed our civil rights in the interest of being politically correct. In the interest of appearing non-biased, the TSA treats everyone equally poor. The agent that screened the 9/11 conspirators would later go on record to say that they appeared to be terrorists if there every was one. These are the people that the TSA should be saving its investigative enthusiasm for screening, not the non-threatening elderly, crippled, or children.
But then the A-rabs will be upset that they’re being discriminated against, so in the interest of PC we all get to suffer.
RxDawg
June 29th, 2011
10:22 am
Flying is the only time I’ve ever freely given up my rights and freedom. I hate it and avoid it at all costs.
hd
June 29th, 2011
10:23 am
El Al has not had a terrorist incident in a long time. I bet they are not looking in diapers. They know where to look. So does the TSA, but they are not allowed to look there for passenger molestation is more tolerated than profiling.
Harvey
June 29th, 2011
10:24 am
TSA is worse then the gestapo, atleast the gestapo had a clear set reason for existing, what the hell does the TSA stand for besides fake security theater, just hire some out of work actors and give them the same equipment, hell don’t even give them batteries or plug it in, it’ll save more money and give us the same level of security.
the guy on the couch
June 29th, 2011
10:24 am
Personally, I’m tired of the majority being held hostage by special interest minority groups with agendas.
C from Marietta
June 29th, 2011
10:25 am
Until the American people decide to change their voring patterns. We are stuck with this kind of control over our lives.
Darwin
June 29th, 2011
10:33 am
The TSA is denying they made the woman remove her diaper.
Monroe Burbank
June 29th, 2011
10:38 am
The last time I checked you could hide a gun or explosive device in a diaper. In December 09 a Nigerian had 80 grams of high explosive PETN in his underwear and tried to bring an airliner down over Detroit. 50 grams of PETN can blow a hole in the side of an airplane.
Booger Fling
June 29th, 2011
10:38 am
The TSA isn’t going anywhere. They’ll be in the train stations and on our highways soon.
Why is the TSA in the airports in the first place? Terrorism you say? How come the US gov is now working with the TERRORISTS in Libya and Yemen? The last 10 years has been an illusion. Notice the rights our citizens no longer have due to the sheep in this country believing the lies. Believing the boogeyman story.
The underwear bomber was escorted to that plane by an American in a coat and tie. Couple weeks to a month later? TSA in the airports gropping people. Conditioning you to accept it.
Any time they want to push something through they use fear to get the citizens behind the tyranny. These rights they are taking won’t come back. Like I said before, TSA will be on the road soon. Most of American will accept them. It’s all it the conditioning.
q
June 29th, 2011
10:41 am
Unfortunatly you have to live with these intrusions because terrorist will use any means (i.e. old or young person) to kill Americans. Underwear bomber, shoe bomber, child suicide bombers etc.
If you don’t like it take Greyhound or Amtrack. No security at all!!
Lawrence
June 29th, 2011
10:43 am
Terrorist would not hesitate to put a bomb on an eighty five year old woman or a six year old child. If TSA starts to make exceptions, where will it stop. I don’t like it, but I don’t like terrorists, either.
Sommer Gentry
June 29th, 2011
10:45 am
Pistole declared that, “every traveler is a critical partner in TSA’s efforts.” John Pistole, I am not your partner. I am your adversary. I am your worst enemy. I will dedicate my life to stopping your malevolent attacks on innocent people. John Pistole, you are a sick child molester, a criminal who belongs in jail for orchestrating a heinous network of thugs to ogle our naked bodies, irradiate us, steal from us, squeeze and twist our breasts, and sexually abuse us, and humiliate us. I will never be your partner, you depraved monster, and neither will any other moral and decent human being.
J. Wellington Wimpy
June 29th, 2011
10:49 am
Good News Bob! If anyone wants to check your diaper, make a contribution first, than let them! I bet you’re always loaded with a pile of sh##t in your drawers!
ByGolly
June 29th, 2011
10:53 am
Someone earlier made a valid statement: “That the TSA exists is evidence that the US is no longer “the land of the free.” And the response of the people who defend them for ’security” reasons is proof enough that the US is no longer “the home of the brave.”
It appears that most of us lost their common sense, maybe it is due to the poor educational system and we are now seeing the impact. I don’t know any Government agency to EVER admit that they are wrong, from Politicians, Law Enforcement, etc.
Maybe if we stop flying and these companies start losing a lot of money, maybe than the pressure is put back but unfortunately the NEW American mentality is “just take it”. And these agencies simply tell us “Stop your whining and complaint, we will do what we want regardless, so shut up and take it” and we do each and every time.
groundmiles
June 29th, 2011
11:13 am
Agreeing with q and Esther: “Amtrak is ready when you are”. Comfy seats, good food, no hassle at the station, and at the other end you don’t have to fight traffic getting from the airport to downtown – you’re already there! Do yourself a favor- wean yourself off airports and “see the USA”.
captguitarman
June 29th, 2011
11:17 am
Who didn’t see this coming when the TSA was created? It will get worse. Unfortunately we have created an agency that is an ode, an homage to Political Correctness, and we have manned it with an army of Barney Fifes. The depends wearing granny’s big mistake was not wearing a burka. Not even Barney would not have dared touch her then. The raison d’etre of every bureaucracy (federal, state, local) is to increase its power, size, and budget and to entrench itself as an indispensible agency of government, while working under its self-created rules and means and schemes. They will never admit any kind of impropriety, even as their power and intrusiveness, and unconstitutional behavior increases. Is excellent airport security necessary? Of course it is. Does that give the TSA license to become unreasonable in its searches and seizures? According to our Constitution, it does not. But, they can quiety create unreasonable rules and procedures that increase intrusiveness, inappropriate scannning and touching, and other violations of privacy, and then when incidents like this occur, the response is that our professionals were appropriately following the guidelines and procedures. Unfortunately we have created a monster that will never be suppressed, but will continue to grow because it always has the “security” card to play. What’s the matter with you? Are you opposed to good airport security? Maybe ve should haf a look at vhat iss inside zatt briefcase and vhat’s under zose BVD’s. Heil Hitler. Sad but true.
Blog Soup
June 29th, 2011
11:18 am
Luckovich blasphemed for comedy today. Shame.
Be thankful that Bob Barr is not the head of the TSA, or else there would be a bomb on every flight. Bob is playing to the tea party choir and it’s not pretty.
TSA = Thousands Standing Around
June 29th, 2011
11:19 am
The closed mindedness of the psuedo-law enforcement psyche of TSA employees is the problem. If you read the article, the quote that if there is an alarm, the rule is that they must find the source of the alarm–no exceptions, is about as smart as when Cobb Co. Schools sent home the girl with the tweety bird keychain. A 95 year old woman with a wet diaper isn’t a threat to anyone. But the TSA idiot will blindly “follow orders” and detain her. Failure of common sense.
AlG
June 29th, 2011
11:24 am
Quiz for the TSA: Which represents the greater threat to air safety? A. A 6 year old child, B. A 95 year old invalid granny. C. A middle eastern male between the age of 25 and 35. D. They are all the same threat. The ‘official TSA answer’ is “D, anything else would be profiling.” This idiocy is precisely why the public cannot respect the charade TSA puts on, and why congress must step in to stop the destruction of our constitutional rights. The DHS Secretary and TSA Director need to fired right now.
Not Chicken Little
June 29th, 2011
11:26 am
I’d like for those of us who are outraged at the TSA, to start seriously thinking about what can and must be done to stop them, and to put in their place an effective and intelligent alternative that does not involve them abusing their petty authority over the flying public.
I don’t have any good suggestions, except that I now drive instead of fly whenever possible. But we must put forth some ideas, perhaps along the lines of how the Israelis approach airport security. Until we do, and until we become united and take action, the TSA will continue as it is now, and under Obama, will undoubtedly become worse.
SandySprings=SpeedTrap
June 29th, 2011
11:33 am
The TSA and every willing, paycheck-leeching “employee” of it should burn in H E LL.
The terrorists WON on September 11, 2001 in their efforts to take away our freedom in this country.
You need only go down to screening area at Hartsfield-Crooked Mayor International to verify that.
This county needs someone like RON PAUL as a leader who understands what is happening to us over the past decade.
Elmer Dinkley
June 29th, 2011
11:39 am
Just and FYI to those posters who keep claiming that Amtrak is the way to go…take some time to google the VIPR exercises that have occured across the country. You are not safe from unlawful search and seizure on the train either.
double
June 29th, 2011
11:41 am
“what I want is men that will support me when I’m in the wrong” Whig William Lamb.Is this not what is wrong with the world today?We need security,along with some common sense.Wide open borders would be a good place to begin.
Janis
June 29th, 2011
11:41 am
I would rather have armed soldiers on the plane than to have my grandmother and child molested. If everybody is so scared that they would give away their personal freedoms then I say it’s time to have armed soldiers or police on every plane.
Ed Graham
June 29th, 2011
11:48 am
Until Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano or Obama’s daughters get molested by the TSA, nothing will come of this. How DARE people think they can actually board an airplane without being groped by these useless people who couldn’t get a job in the private sector if their lives depended on it.
DK
June 29th, 2011
11:51 am
@ Blog Soup – “Be thankful that Bob Barr is not the head of the TSA, or else there would be a bomb on every flight.”
This is mindless stupidity. It took Al-Qaeda years of planning and a different public mindset concerning hijacking to pull off their one shot caper and you think they have the ability to place a bomb on every plane. This mentality can only exist among a society of mindless cowards and this fear has caused us to act exactly the way Al-Qaeda hoped we would. As far as the underwear bomb goes, may I remind everybody that the time it was tried it failed and the guy was restrained by passengers. Al-Qaeda is a toothless tiger and we treat them as they were a powerful force.
This country has lost the spirit that once made her great. Now we’re just a bunch of mindless cowards who has let our freedom and way of life be replaced by a police state because of our fear and lack of fortitude.
C from Marietta
June 29th, 2011
12:01 pm
@ DK – you get it. It is too late though. The American people will still vote in the empty sutits. That only want power. I hope I am wrong, but I am proved right everyday.
Real Athens
June 29th, 2011
12:08 pm
Ed:
The TSA was created by the Bush Administration as a part of the Department of Homeland Security.
It’s a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the U.S. from terrorist attacks and responding to natural disasters. In financial year 2011 it was allocated a budget of $98.8 billion and spent, net, $66.4 billion.
The Department of Homeland Security works in the civilian sphere to protect the United States within, at, and outside its borders. Its stated goal is to prepare for, prevent, and respond to domestic emergencies, particularly terrorism. It absorbed the Immigration and Naturalization Service and assumed its duties. In doing so, it divided the enforcement and services functions into two separate and new agencies: Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Citizenship and Immigration Services. Additionally, the border enforcement functions of the INS, the U.S. Customs Service, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service were consolidated into a new agency under DHS: U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
With more than 200,000 employees, DHS is the third largest Cabinet department, after the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Homeland security policy is coordinated at the White House by the Homeland Security Council. Other agencies with significant homeland security responsibilities include the Departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, and Energy.
According to the Homeland Security Research Corporation, the combined financial year 2010 state and local HLS markets, which employ more than 2.2 million first responders, totaled $16.5 billion, whereas the DHS HLS market totaled $13 billion. According to the Washington Post, “DHS has given $31 billion in grants since 2003 to state and local governments for homeland security and to improve their ability to find and protect against terrorists, including $3.8 billion in 2010.”
The creation of DHS constituted the most significant government reorganization since the Cold War, and the most substantial reorganization of federal agencies since the National Security Act of 1947.
DHS also constitutes the most diverse merger of federal functions and responsibilities, incorporating 22 government agencies into a single organization.
The TSA was created as part of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, sponsored by Don Young -R AK in the United States House of Representatives and Ernest Hollings D- SC in the Senate, passed by the 107th U.S. Congress, and signed into law by President George W. Bush on November 19, 2001. Originally part of the United States Department of Transportation, the TSA was moved to the Department of Homeland Security on March 25, 2003.
TSA is the baby of the GOP
Big Jim
June 29th, 2011
12:24 pm
Why didn’t civil servants like Bob Barr see this happening before?
Since screening increased at airports,it was inevitable that abuse of
power was on the horizon.Why couldn’t Barr speak out against this 5-7
years ago? Instead,you supported the status quo.That old lady,among others,
could’ve been spared the EMBARRASSEMENT of being fondled/groped so that
conservatism could be defended!
Can’t we get similar,non-invasive results from metal detection/x-ray scanners?
We need forethought,not afterthought from people like you Barr.
Polka Dotty Jones
June 29th, 2011
12:34 pm
I am not going to rant and rave (although I DO feel like it). Just want say that I believe these random searches are NOT keeping us safe and are merely cosmetic. Without profiling passengers, these searches are just futile exercise and are not preventing terrorism. A tremendous waste of Americans’ freedom, time and money!
Mo Schreibman
June 29th, 2011
12:36 pm
They should be made to change diapers as long as they are inspecting them in the first place.
Deborah Newell Tornello
June 29th, 2011
12:36 pm
Commenter ‘q’ says: “Unfortunatly (sic) you have to live with these intrusions because terrorist (sic) will use any means (i.e. old or young person) to kill Americans. Underwear bomber, shoe bomber, child suicide bombers etc. If you don’t like it take Greyhound or Amtrack. No security at all!!”
First, I would ask q if he is okay with having the TSA perform mandatory, random, rectal exams on would-be passengers, because there have indeed been incidents of suicide bombers hiding explosives this way.
Well?
Ultimately, Americans must realize that there IS NO SUCH THING as perfect, 100% protection from terrorism. As they stand in lines of people numbering into the hundreds, waiting to be screened, x-rayed, groped, or otherwise searched, do they not realize that they’re vulnerable to an attack right then and there, standing in line? It has already happened in Russia. So what would they have the government do–begin strip-searching people two miles away from the airport? How about shopping malls, stadiums, university lectures? Do we search everyone, all the time, and should all those searches include internal exams, since we know that the terrorists will exploit this and hide their weapons wherever they think authorities *won’t* look?
Second, ‘q’ is WRONG about Amtrack or Greyhound not having security at all. The TSA not only shows up at train stations and bus stations to carry out these unconstitutional searches–scans, “enhanced pat-downs”, and luggage searches–they are also accompanied by well-armed officers from ICE and metro police as part of their “VIPR” program, making the coercive nature of these searches even more obvious.
If citizens do not stand up for their rights, they are essentially giving them up. And once you’ve given up your rights, good luck ever getting them back. I would note that we are now halfway through the year 2011.
Rose
June 29th, 2011
12:55 pm
I guess “judgment calls” are a thing of the past. Because most of the TSA agents are “highly qualified, professional” and what else – not much, or they wouldn’t be doing that job. I’m sure they’re fairly mortified as well. But what does it take to be a TSA agent?? I’m guessing not much.
My mother, who is 91, and was in a wheelchair as she was recovering from a fall, ICU, hospitalization, rehab and was flying home. They patted her down. My brother, who is in good shape, just walked through security – no total body scan, no pat down, just whatever security there is in Atlanta – where you just empty your pockets and walk on through.
Makes a lot of sense huh?
I’m a patriot and believe in keeping us safe, but as many people have pointed out – they don’t do this at bus stations, train stations, etc. Like a terrorist can’t bomb them or malls or stadiums, etc.
Amy
June 29th, 2011
1:07 pm
But you will NEVER see TSA take off the head covering worn by Muslim women….THAT would ve profiling.
Paul
June 29th, 2011
1:43 pm
Bob, thanks for demonstrating your well honed low-key humor at a recent speaking event. I asked if you knew what TSA stood for, and when I explained that it was “Too Stupid for Arby’s” you responded with “hey wait a minute – I LIKE Arby’s”.
michael
June 29th, 2011
1:43 pm
Americans are so naive. Of course TSA needs to check diapers, regardless of who they’re on.
You’d think after 9/11 they’d drop their genteel sensibilties and realize what true guerilla tactics entail. Diapers have been the favorite spot for smugglers for years, because they realize that Americans won’t go there.
Hell, if people will carry things inside their bodies, of course they’ll slip them into undergarments, rectums, etc.
bob
June 29th, 2011
1:44 pm
I remember someone telling me that they will never fly again unless airport screening IS ELIMINATED! I thought about it and if we had roming Airport security, like we have in public, instead of any screening then no terrorist could take any planes because at least 5 or 6 passengers would shoot him dead.
Then again I believe an armed society is a polite society.
angry doughnuts
June 29th, 2011
1:53 pm
Fact: Intrusive passenger screening – groping, stripping, under-clothes pictures – are NOT making air travel any safer.
Why? You ask…
Because everyday 100,000’s of airport employees (incl. TSA clerks) and vendors enter the secure side of this nations’ airports – WITHOUT BEING SCREENED.
Because cargo is being put on your plane WITHOUT BEING SCREENED.
You are nothing but a DAMN FOOL if you think intrusive passenger searches are making you safe on an airplane.
Mission Creep
June 29th, 2011
1:59 pm
FYI morans -
TSA has ALREADY expanded to trains, subways, busses, and ferries. Oh, also roads and highways.
In fact, TSA has taken to searching little kids AFTER the get disembark Amtrack; not because of any threat.
BUT BECAUSE THEY CAN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1B3AubsTBo
Mel
June 29th, 2011
2:38 pm
While watching an interview with Saxby Chambliss on a local morning show, he made a comment that really showed me how politicians think. When asked about the latest search controversy with the TSA, he said that Americans knew that it was for THEIR own good. (emphasis mine) As long as the elitists in Washington do not consider themselves American, exempt themselves from the mindless regulations imposed on the little people (the ones that vote them in) and have the mindset that they can trample on the Constitution it is time to clean them out. No more career politicians.
Pablo
June 29th, 2011
2:38 pm
It has been my experience when traveling that those TSA agents are either so skinny they can’t keep their size 2 pants around their waists, or so fat that they couldn’t even catch a cold. So, whenever I find myself in the position of having no other option but to travel by air, I curse the muslim ideology that gave birth to this comedy of errors, and enjoy watching them trying to convince me that by making sure I do not carry a cup of coffee with me will make air travel safe for everyone…
Larry
June 29th, 2011
2:38 pm
The minute our government no longer trusts us, they better start fearing us! Fight the TSA.
jj
June 29th, 2011
2:42 pm
The only way the pressure can be exerted is by the airlines. I know this is an impossible request but if everyone in this country did not fly for one week, and told their carrier it was due to TSA I guarantee you the carriers would lobby the hell out of Washington to get this changed. Imagine every airport in the country empty except for airport employees, that would be quite a sight.
I am a multi million miler who has an implant and gets stopped/mugged for every single flight.
seabeau
June 29th, 2011
2:51 pm
Let the flyers pay for this foolishness!!
TruthBe
June 29th, 2011
4:56 pm
/????
The TSA’s tentacles spread – The Guardian | jerrymandering - Framing the debate so I always win.
June 29th, 2011
5:16 pm
[...] mandating no traveller may fly in American airspace unless TSA agents first see and/or feel …TSA Continues To Harass Tots and SeniorsAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)TSA must apply common sense when searching passengersTbo.comNo [...]
Father Murphy
June 29th, 2011
6:24 pm
I like it when they give me a body search!
oldguy
June 29th, 2011
10:01 pm
Hey all,
If you like the way you are treated like cattle now by the TSA just wait until the Feds control your healthcare also!!
Actually cattle are treated with more respect than flyers, at least PITA looks out for cruelity to animals, who looks out for cruelity to people!
With all of the harrassment etc, I have yet to see a report where TSA has intersepted a bonified terrorist strictly by airport inspection. Any takers??
The underware bomber?? His bomb was defective and he was restrained by a GERMAN national trying to save his own skin.
The Shoe Bomber?? A steward and passanger saw and smelled him trying to light his shoe bomb.
Sooooo
we are 0 for 10 years by this fall with the TSA!!!
Reminds me of the story of the old English Major who retired to London after 40 years in India. Every day he went to his local Pub and ordered a Gin and Tonic. Finally the bartender asked him “sir, why do you always order a gin and tonic, Its a hot weather drink and it is as cold as blazes outside!” The Major replied confidently “because it keeps the Malaria away!” The bartender replied, “But sir, there isn’t any malaria within 1000 miles of here!!” to which the Major responded, “and it does a dambed good job too!!”. Thats the TSA!!!
And realize that we had airport screeners and metal detectors before 9/11 but the terrorists knew our parameters (utility knives were not banned) and they took advantage of them; including the policy of not fighting a hijacker for fear of violence.
I believe it was Napoleon who said “he who protects everything protects nothing!”
The answer:
Basic screening but profile!! Look for the terrorist not just the weapon. Keep the terrorists guessing at the level of security, do random intensity runs. Take most of the TSA out and use the money to provide MANY more undercover ARMED security guards, as many as 2 per long flight, with orders to shoot on site of a hijacking!
i.e. much like the Israeli do!
But most of all…..LOOK AT THE LIKELY TERRORIST!!! They are young and male and Muslim; not always, but 95%+ so put your effort where the likely terrorist is and to hell with the profileing!!
oldguy
June 29th, 2011
10:10 pm
BTW Some of us have to fly….
I go to Spain to visit relatives
My daughter lives in Vancouver, Canada Its a 4 day drive for me and Rail is almost as long (and actually more expensive than flying!!).
TSA Continues To Harass Tots and Seniors | The Barr Code – Slinking Toward Retirement
June 29th, 2011
10:35 pm
[...] TSA Continues To Harass Tots and Seniors | The Barr Code. Share this:EmailFacebookRedditDiggPrint Posted in Opinion, TSA – Tagged adult diaper, [...]
Mike
June 30th, 2011
7:01 am
TSA really needs to be reigned in. They are nothing more than a federal crime wave committing continuous crimes and civil rights violations against the American people.
At Travel Underground, one of our members has a compiled an incredible list of TSA crimes and abuses committed over a seven-month period:
http://www.travelunderground.org/index.php?threads/master-list-of-tsa-abuses-failures-lies-lawsuits-etc-submitted-by-fisher1949.146/
Please work to reform this rogue agency. Whether you are a terminally ill 95-year-old or a healthy 6-year-old, American travelers deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.
Mike, Executive Director
Travel Underground
http://www.travelunderground.org
Blog Soup
June 30th, 2011
8:17 am
Did I say “a bomb on every flight”? My bad. I meant a box cutter on every train. No, that’s not it. I meant an exploding cigar in every newborn delivery waiting room. Aw, that’s not it either. I meant to write that if Bob Barr were the head of the TSA or any government bureau, then we’d all be F’d. He is the candle-in-the-wind demagogue from H…E.. Double Hockey Sticks, man.
Bob Barr plays only to the indoctrinated choir, yet he refuges behind freedom imagery like any incontinent scoundrel hidse behind his depends – while the cherished notions of our founding disinfectors become diluted and uninspiring, (and clothespinned).
Bob Barr belongs behind Bobbies, bars and barbed wire.
Point of order: British cops are called “Bobbies”. So were New York City cops called “bobbies” in 1850.
This has been another bwa barb on Bob Barr from the blog bard. Hope you enjoyed it. More2come.
U C, I gotz a big problem about Bob Barr, who can’t write worth a lick, yet we are asked to endure his violation of everything decent folk come to be expectins whens theys reads somethings.
I gotza bigs problems wid it.
Peace out.
thewatchdog
June 30th, 2011
8:26 am
It was on the news this morning, a Muslim from Nigeria got on a plane at JFK with an expired boarding pass and flew to Los Angeles.. Now, you tell me, why a six year old girl and a 95 year old woman get the full invasive search, all in violation of the 4th Amendment,(to be secure in ourselves).
What is going on? Is the TSA a bunch of incompetents that are trying to [make work] for themselves by finding the most least likely, most vulnerable target to search and at the same time letting a Muslim fly with an expired boarding pass.
This is the 4th of July weekend, I am going to spend time perusing the Constitution and finding out how far the U.S. has strayed from our founder”s idealiasm for a great and prosperous and democratic country.
ncgreybr
June 30th, 2011
10:47 am
Just wait until we see a bomb go off in a plane and they trace it back to a wheelchair that a 95 year old took on board and it wasn’t checked because of the recent uproar! THEN we will hear those same people calling for the headS of the TSA honchos to roll because “They didn’t do their jobs and protect us!”
Liberalism = retardation
June 30th, 2011
11:10 am
Bob, there’s a reason Libertarians never ever ever get elected to office. Yeah, this is a huge problem but there are even bigger problems that you keep ignoring. For instance, the current Retard in Chief has the leadership skills of Jimmy Carter and we’re all paying for his stupidity and inexperience. How’s about writing about something relevant?
Liberalism = retardation
June 30th, 2011
11:11 am
Quickest way to end this problem is to profile Muslims. Israel does it and they haven’t had one single problem.
Liberalism = retardation
June 30th, 2011
11:13 am
“Of course TSA needs to check diapers, regardless of who they’re on.”
How many bombings have old white people been involved in?
Zero.
Now STFU.
thewatchdog
June 30th, 2011
2:39 pm
I am a “Jeffersonian Constitutionalist.” So henceforward, I will be taking a Jeffersonian perspective to all of Bob’s utterings. During the session of congress neither house will adjourn for more than three days. “To RAISE AND SUPPORT ARMIES BUT NO APPROPRIATION OF MONEY TO THAT USE SHALL BE LONGER THAN TWO YEARS.” Now, the war in the middle east has gone on longer than two years and at a cost of 3 and one-half trillion dollars. Jefferson would call this an outrage to the Constitution.
Oscar Greasemanelli
June 30th, 2011
4:42 pm
“THEN we will hear those same people calling for the headS of the TSA honchos to roll because “They didn’t do their jobs and protect us!””
No I wouldn’t.
AssumeThePosition
June 30th, 2011
7:52 pm
“Clearly, President Obama is not inclined to step up and rein in the TSA or its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security.”
Because he’s WEAK. He talks a good game, but he’s not managing the government the way the President is supposed to. Likewise with the various wars we’re involved in, he’s allowing the generals to call the shots. He’s just an onlooker.
joey
July 2nd, 2011
9:45 pm
Keep in mind most of the mental giants at tsa are smarter than the politicians on the left, May GOD help us all!
joey
July 2nd, 2011
9:48 pm
Personally, I have started rooting for the terrorists!
joey
July 2nd, 2011
10:12 pm
At least they know how to profile a terrorist, I just can’t imagine them searching little old ladies and babies!
more power
July 4th, 2011
7:21 am
hey bob:
Your buddies in congress created this “patriot” act that took away legal rights from ordinary people and the corrupt TSA, another paramilitary police force that gets to order people around like slaves at airports with their fancy badge. Congrats!