Aug. 15, 2006 - 20:13 MDT

ABOUT ANYTHING ?

A sobering article in the editorial section of the Rocky Mountain News this morning. By Johnathan Alter - with Daniel McGinn, Sarah Childress, Jennifer Ordonez and Jamie Remo it appears that they are all of Newsweek. Bolds and italics mine. Quoted in full here:

AIRLINE SECURITY STILL HAS ITS LOOPHOLES

"First the terrorists turn airplanes into missiles, now they plan to blow us up with hair gel or toothpaste. What's next ? That's the problem -- no one knows.

"Once modern society turns upon itself, the options for defense are limited, while those for mayhem seem practically limitless. Fear now comes in a jar of cold cream."

"Because 9/11 was a breach in airport security, air travel was supposed to be fixed first. Americans are certainly paying to fix it, in time and money. The $3.4 billion spent on airport and airline security in 2005 represents a more than tenfold increase over 2000. The Transportation Security Administration has federalized airport screeners and upgraded their training and vigilance. Cockpit doors are locked and hardened, and domestic pilots are allowed to carry guns. Flight attendants are instructed in how to identify suspicious passengers, restrain those who are dangerous and handle explosive materials. Expensive "explosive detection systems" have been installed in airports to screen all checked baggage."

"So compared to securing borders, ports and chemical facilities, where congressional oversight is spotty and politics frequently trumps security, aviation has seemed a model of terrorism prevention."

"But, is it ? Since 2002, more than 100 media reports have documented security breaches involving knives, explosives and even hand guns. In March, NBC NEWS revealed that government investigators smuggled materials for homemade bombs through security at all 21 airports they tested -- materials similar to those involved in the London plot. But nothing was done untill last week, just as shoes were not removed at airport security until Richard Reid tried to explode a shoe bomb in 2002. "We keep chasing yesterday's story," says Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia and author of a new book, Americans at Risk. "The terrorists always seem one step ahead of us."

"The focus may be wrong. Aviation consultant MIchael Boyd calls TSA "the gang that can't screen straight." Boyd thinks the new restrictions will inconvenience travelers -- without stopping terrorists. "(They) can strap (liquids) to their legs" when they go through security Boyd says."

"The view from inside isn't much different. "The people who work for (TSA) do a good job. But there aren't enough of them, things break down and go so slowly, and they don't have adequate tecnology," says a veteran United Airlines pilot, who requested anonymity so he wouldn't get in trouble with his employer. Under budget pressure, Congress has cut the number of TSA screeners by more than 25 percent since their post-9/11 peak. And the cool, expensive new "puffer" portals that detect explosives residue on individuals are still rare."

Then there's the problem of air cargo. As they empty their pockets and throw away the bottled water, travelers assume the rest of what's onboard has been screened, too. Not so. Passenger airlines ship nearly 2 billion tons of commercial cargo annually, and they don't have machines that can handle the varied shape and content of so many packages. Less that 7 percent is actually screened."

Congress cut funding for air-cargo screening in half to $55 million and rejected a 9/11 commission recommendation thjat each passenger airliner contain at least one hardened container for suspect cargo."

"Other aviation threats include inadequate security aimed at airport workers, who are often allowed to approach aircraft without being screened; the rapid proliferation around the world of shoulder launched missiles and the slow development of onboard countermeasures, and weak security at the 6,000 general-aviation airports (private pilots have a strong lobby)."

"One bright spot is the TSA's Registered Traveler program, an E-Z Pass-style system (already up in Orlando, Fla.) to speed freqent fliers through a special securty checkpoint if they've been "verified" by the government and a private company. These passengers still go through security, but the process is faster not only for them but also for those in other lines who haven't paid for the privilege."

"It won't be long before the shock of the London plot wears off and the flying public is less indulgent about the inconveniences of todays air travel."

"We were only just recently allowed to bring tweezers and now this !" Martina Clauser, a Ventura, Calif. accountant, said last week. But Clauser at least kept her sense of humor. "No water ? No lotion ? We're Californians. We spend big money keepng soft and hydrated. This is not good, not good at all."

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Sometimes my mind works in weird and mysterious ways, after reading this article, popped into my mind a cartoon of Bill Mauldin's, he was a world war Two cartoonist. His protagonists were Willie and Joe, muck bedraggled front line types. Willie and Joe were sitting with cups of coffee and looking over at a sparkling brass clad VIP, and Willie says, "Awrite, so it's a general what ya wanna do ? Pass in review ?"

Will we be in Willie and Joe's world soon ?

Seems as if our administration is spending money right and left and Congress is dropping wrenches in here and there by cutting funds.

Not that I think all the methods that the administration is using are squeaky clean and above board, but when it comes to screening passengers and cargo INCLUDING COMMERCIAL CARGO seems to me that it would be money well spent to adequately staff, train and supervise enough personnel, giving them the machinery they need to keep things safe for us all.

It would appear that all the arms of government are doing lip service to matters of personal safety and managing to screw up things along the way.

I hear that Congress again is giving themselves a raise . . . . . For What ? ? ? ? As far as that goes, if they want to fix Social Security, why not yank Congressional perks, pensions and health care and make them live under the same rules the rest of us have had to ?

Appears that Lazies Faire (spelling ?) is the operational method in our government, and putting a good face on it as well.

I wonder if they will ever get serious ABOUT ANYTHING ? . . . . . . . . . .

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