TSA failure (and spin in 3...2...1...)

The TSA failed some in-house tests. When a student receives a10% on an exam, it's usually time to drop the class. When the TSA gets a similar score (missing 67 out of 70 bombs), it's "out of context"; an indication of weaknesses to work on; and time for a high-level scapegoat to be fed to the media.

(Melissa Block of NPR interviewed John Pistole, former TSA director, about this. It was completely mundane. My cynical side says she isn't a journalist, but rather just part of the media machine that can get interviews with officials anytime she wants as long as she never really presses then to actually inform taxpayers about what is really going on and how they are culpable.)

Washington Post Joins the TSA Propaganda Parade

The Washington Post carried another TSA propaganda statement over the holiday weekend, serving up creampuff questions for the corrupt administrator. The article attempts to praise Pistole for reigning over this criminal workforce and violating the basic rights of travelers.

Under his “leadership” over 60,000 people a day are harassed and molested at his direction. Of that 20,000 are subjected to his groping at random, without any rational security basis for this harassment.

He has presided over a criminal workforce that has had 62 screeners arrested for serious offenses so far this year.

His "professional" employees include 10 screeners that have been charged with child sex crimes this year including four child rapes.

Over a dozen of his vaunted screeners have been jailed for stealing over $800,000 from passenger baggage this year alone.

He has lied in testimony to Congress over ten times this year. He claimed that TSA would stop molesting children on four separate occasions, in November 2010, again in April, then again in May and November 2011 yet their invasive groping of children continues.

He lied about Congress and the public saying that the scanners produced a chalky, cartoon like outline, but in August Denver TSA Director, Pat Ahlstrom admitted that the images were indeed “very graphic”. So millions have been digitally strip searched despite the propaganda earlier this year.

He has deliberately misled the public into believing that the privacy software exists at all checkpoints. In reality, they continue to have male workers view the nude images of men, women and children. TSA has not added the privacy software on the 250 x-ray scanners installed at many major airports, including LAX, JFK, O’Hare, Orlando, Boston and Phoenix and has not said when, or if, this will be installed.

He has told Congress three times since January that the scanners would be independently tested yet again reneged on the latest promise he made in October, saying that he deems the scanners safe. Meanwhile, millions of passengers continue to be digitally strip searched and irradiated by these dangerous devices. He continues to expose passengers to these dangerous scanners despite expert testimony that these will cause over 100 cancer deaths a year.

TSA has been adamantly refused to allow independent testing. He has not explained what TSA is afraid the tests will reveal or why they are so willing to sacrifice passenger privacy and health other than to protect private manufacturers’ products and their profits. There is clearly an implication of corruption in the deployment of these scanners and demands investigation by Congress.

Under his “leadership”, complaints about TSA screening have increased dramatically. According to an article in WSJ on 9/1/11 complaints about TSA screening jumped this year. TSA logged 1,975 screening complaints in June alone, more than double the 814 received in June 2010.

Since Pistole assumed control and instituted these Draconian procedures air travel has declined. The US Travel Association reported this month that “We can reduce the hassle of flying without compromising security” and estimated that TSA is costing the travel industry $85 billion in lost revenue and 880,000 additional jobs.

TSA can plant all the stories they want saying that people like TSA but the fact remains that the vast majority of travelers despise this agency and want it dismantled.

Only the politically favorable will be able to fly soon

Pistole gave testimony on Capitol Hill in which he stated that the horrendous Trusted Traveler program is going to be expanded:

As a result, Pistole said, the agency is moving in the new direction by expanding several pilot security programmes and changing the way children are searched at airport security checkpoints.
A test programme that began last month at four American airports � Miami, Dallas, Detroit and Atlanta � lets passengers who volunteer personal information zip through a special screening lane without having to remove their shoes or jackets, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Pistole told lawmakers that it has worked so well that he wants to expand it to more airports.
"We are working closely with other airlines and airports to determine when they may be operationally ready to join," he said. [emphasis mine]

Here's the deal: you open up your entire personal, financial, political, medical, etc... files for the state, and it will allow you to take your family home for Christmas, have a face-to-face business meeting, or just take a vacation. This has great and terrible potential for abuse. Maybe you trust Pistole, (big sis) Napolitano, Obama, your Congressman, etc... But maybe you won't like the one that replaces him or her in five years. Are you so confident that there is nothing in your history that could ever be used against you by a totalitarian jerk?

I am also assuming that by using the plural "security programs," that SPOT will also soon be expanding beyond Boston. This is the Stasi-style interrogation methods in which they intimidate passengers in order to identify who is worthy of flying.

TSA News Roundup

• We know the TSA doesn't really protect us from terrorists, but it can occasionally catch people who are smuggling live animals (including parrots, snakes and turtles). Aside from such smuggling having nothing to do with national security, I'm pretty sure that stewardesses and fellow passengers could similarly note a live animal on a plane.
• The TSA agent who had used her position of power to aid a drug smuggling ring had her day in court and pled guilty. But, of course, it's "unfair" to form an opinion of other TSA agents based on this one agent's actions. Unless you realize that corruption is bred by bureaucracy.
• What's worse than a regurgitation of a TSA press release about cartoon software upgrades? An editorial that is a regurgitation of said press release. It even ends by saying: "the TSA deserves credit for responding to customer concerns."
• Ineffective TSA lead to calls for draconian measures by some:

Coverage of the Trusted Traveler Program

Some neutral and some negative. Here's my opinion.

By the way - I want to reiterate something in Rand Paul's questioning of Pistole. He pointed out that the law is clear on whether flying is a privilege: it's not a privilege, despite Pistole's opinion on the matter.

The heat is getting turned up

Lew Rockwell reports that Pistole is staying true to his promise to use naked scanners as primary screening for most airline passengers. But is public opinion coming around? I hope so:

Writes John Keller:

I flew from Atlanta to San Francisco this week. In Atlanta, if you take the side security lines, which are out of site until you get around the corner, you must go through the porno scanner or opt out. They no longer use the magnetometers at the sides, at least during low traffic times. In San Francisco there is a similar trend with one line going through the magnetometer and one through the porno scanner, you can't really see which until you round the bend.

In the past, in both airports, the porno scanner was in the middle of several lines, and every line had a magnetometer. They would wave people through the pornotron randomly. Now the TSA frog boiler is set to medium. Next step is surely all pornotron all the time, and finally no opting out, unless we keep the pressure on to end this dangerous, invasive, expensive practice.

On both ends, I managed to unknowingly get in the porno line and opted out. A funny thing happened. Two women in Atlanta joined me, one a professional tennis player, the other 4 months pregnant. In San Francisco, a fellow passenger coming through the magnetometer stopped to say he agreed that opting out was the right thing to do. I suggested that maybe we need a national opt out day to show the TSA that the pornotrons must go. Everyone ready to opt out, show up 2 hours early and be ready to wait a little extra. He said "sign me up."

No 'private' security at Montana airports

Of course, the "opt-out" for airports doesn't lead to actual private security, but, rather, promotes corporatism. The "private" security at airports all have to follow TSA directives, so it's just a wealth transfer from the taxpayer to private security companies instead of a wealth transfer from the taxpayer to TSA employees.

However, Pistole has not shown interest in allowing more "opt-outs" and just turned down three different applications in Montana. Although "privitization" will not protect our rights any more, this is revealing in giving more evidence that the TSA is a rogue agency: Congress' legislation creating the TSA also created the "opt-out" option, and Pistole has unilaterally and effectively nullified that provision.

Pistole wants our money

Of course, the head of the TSA must do his duty and press Congress for more funds (to intrude on more of our Constitutional rights!). So, last week, Pistole made such a plea. Mostly, it's standard bureaucratic fare. However, to save you from reading this propaganda, I can highlight some things he said.

• In my post this weekend about the security at ports, I wrote:

...I'd be surprised if naked scanners showed up anytime soon. Such a move would be most likely if the federal government started mandating scanners and/or providing grants to buy scanners. 

Well, Pistole's statement specifically talks about federal grants for security, albeit for ground transportation:

In the surface transportation arena, we continue to work with our law enforcement and security partners to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience against a terrorist attack. TSA works with the Federal Emergency Management Agency Grants Program Directorate to direct federal grants to the most at-risk transit properties.

• With the funding for this year, the TSA will be able "to screen an estimated 60 percent of passengers" using naked scanners. If Congress gives TSA the additional money for scanners for next year (which the House has so far scratched), this number increases to 80% of passengers. What this means is scanners will get harder and harder to avoid, even if the next round of purchases don't get approved by Congress.

Nothing coming of Mica's fascist dream

Pistole is drawing a line in the sand, protecting his bureaucracy and the labor unions. He has slowly granted approval for "private" security at additional airports since Rep Mica started promoting this corporatist "opt-out." But, now Pistole has refused one airport's request and is halting the process of allowing future opt-outs. I don't know how this will play out long term, but, either way, I won't fly! The feds need to be out of airport security entirely, or our rights will never be respected.

Since you didn't respond, Mr. Pistole, here are my demands

Jon Deniro never heard  back from the head of the TSA, so he has written to Pistole again. Here's an excerpt:

John Pistole, 

It seems you are resolute in your choice to continue your assault on the people of the U.S.A.  You appear steadfast in your desire to violate the rights citizens are guaranteed under the Constitution, and to continue your criminal activities.

I am equally resolute to defend the Constitution and the rights guaranteed to citizens thereunder. 

You are a traitor to the United States of America and I will not treat you as anything more honorable than that. 

I demand that: 

1 - The TSA be immediately disbanded. Airport security immediately revert to the private sector, this being it's natural and lawful domain; 

2 - The TSA website be wiped clean of all propaganda and replaced with a database containing the following for each and every employee, associate, contractor, etc., both present and past, who has ever been associated with your organization in any manner;

A - Each such person's full name (including any and all aliases), social security number, home address, telephone number, and spouse's same information (if applicable). Also the person's job title(s) and location(s) worked;

B - A clearly legible photo of a government issued photo ID card showing the person's name and photograph;

C - Two completely nude photographs of the person, one frontal, one rear view, full length and positioned in the same pose as used in your backscatter machines;

D -  A notarized affidavit signed and fingerprinted by the person stating that they now and forever waive all their rights as an American citizen. As it has been irrefutably evidenced that TSA personnel do not believe in the protections of our laws, and the Constitution in particular, they can voice no objection to affirming that they have no rights. The primary purpose of this being so that any person on U.S. soil, irrespective of citizenship, may, without fear of legal repercussions, grope, fondle, sexually assault, digitally rape, verbally and/or physically abuse, and in various ways humiliate TSA personnel, as well as confiscate personal property of those TSA personnel, as dictated only by their whim and fancy;   

Read the rest

John Pistole: Enemy of the Constitution

Jon Deniro forwarded me the following letter that he sent to John Pistole at TSA headquarters on December 16th.

John Pistole,

I have never in my life written to any member or employee of the US government before today. Your recent actions and arrogant refusal to 1) act in accord within the framework of the Constitutional restraint on governmental invasion of the Peoples' rights and/or 2) abide by the wishes of the American people have forced me to get involved. I swore a solemn oath, many years ago, and reaffirmed it on more than one occasion to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America from all enemies, foreign and domestic." You sir, are an enemy of the Constitution -- as are all employees of the TSA who stand with you or otherwise acquiesce to your instructions.

The very fact that you and other members of the TSA have been caught outright lying to the American public is irrefutable proof that your actions are criminal, immoral, unconstitutional, and inherently anti-American. Misleading and outright lying to the public to instill fear so that you may advance your agenda is by definition an act of terrorism. If your actions were in any way justifiable, you would not need dishonesty to gain submission from the masses.

Pistole before the storm

This interview with the new head of TSA is from about a month ago. Note that obscuring information from the public is intentional (for "national security"). When asked whether scanners should completely replace metal detectors, he says:

What I don't want to see happen is terrorists going on a website and seeing where there is AIT and where there's walk-through metal detectors and using, like on Christmas Day, a non-metallic explosive device through one of those airports that does not have AIT. So that's my concern.

And when asked about privacy concerns, the fact that this is illegal, Unconstitutional, immoral, and wrong (take your pick) is not on his radar:

Well, trying to reassure the public that first, it's optional. They don't have to go through it. Of course they will receive a thorough patdown. The person seeing the image never sees the person. We don't retain the image. I think that addresses most of the privacy concerns.

Here's the point: This is not about what is best for you, or even what is best for the public. If it were, there would be some more sensitivity and an acknowledgment that there should be transparency on what and where the scanners are.

I am not surprised by this, but I just want to make sure that you understand that his is about power and money for the few in charge over the many who fund this operation against our will. Don't fall for the national security, the terrorists are under every bed, rhetoric. Cui bono?