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Airport Security Still Piss Poor

By Justin Gardner | Related entries in The War On Terrorism

20 of 22 “devices” got past security? That’s crazy.

The tests, conducted Oct. 19 by U.S. Transportation Security Administration “Red Team” agents, also revealed significant failures by screeners to follow standard operating procedures while checking passengers and their baggage for prohibited items, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because it is against TSA policy to release covert-test results.

“We can do better, and training is the path to improved performance,” said Mark Hatfield Jr., Newark Airport’s federal security director, declining to address specifics. “Test results are not a grade or a scorecard; they are a road map to perpetual improvement; any other characterization is simply misleading. We have to challenge ourselves to do better every day and be relentless in that pursuit.”

Hey, can’t beat the undying enthusiasm of Mark Hatfield. Of course, it only takes one time to turn that around.

And lest we forget…

The poor test results at Newark come after heightened security procedures that the TSA put in place at U.S. airports in August, after authorities in Great Britain said they foiled an attempt by terrorists to blow up trans-Atlantic flights using liquid explosives.

Hey, maybe we don’t need to secure the borders or the ports. They’ll get through our airports no problem.

And note to terrorists, if you want to hit NYC again, just go through New Jersey.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 1st, 2006 and is filed under The War On Terrorism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “Airport Security Still Piss Poor”

Jason Shapiro Says:
November 2nd, 2006 at 1:49 pm
So where’s the surprise? You hire people who are neither the best nor the brightest, provide regulations that are both amorphous and stupid, and allow all the petty harassments that little tin-badge sheriffs have exercised since the beginning of time and what do you get? A non-functioning system that is about public relations and not real security. I’ve given up nail clippers, tiny scissors, a small portable coffee grinder, etc. to these keystone-cop-wannabees and I still hear some sheople say “Well, better safe than sorry.” Baloney! Do it right (see, e.g. El Al-Isreali security) or don’t do it all.
Tom Says:
November 2nd, 2006 at 3:34 pm
Don’t do it at all.

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