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DHS Plans Changes in Air Passenger Screening
narramissic writes "The Department of Homeland Security on Thursday announced plans to revamp its Secure Flight program, with the agency no longer assigning risk scores to passengers or using predictive behavior technology. In addition, the Transportation Security Administration, part of DHS, will have direct control of checking domestic passenger lists against terrorist watch lists, instead of the airlines, said DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff. Just the same Marc Rotenberg, executive director of privacy advocacy group the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), notes, air passengers still can't see the reasons why they're targeted for extensive searches or kept off flights, nor can they correct bad information on the terrorist watch lists. 'The problems with the watch list are still valid and are not going away,' said Rotenberg."
The Carnival Booth Attack can turn any passenger screening system against itself making it do the exact opposite of what it is supposed to do. The one requirement for the Carnival Booth Attack is that the system remain unchanged between the time it is tested and the time it is exploited. By routinely changing the system (this is at least the third time in six years) they can throw a wrench into any prep work that has been carried out to circumvent the system.
Yeah - that's why I'm voting for Ron Paul. Bush and Clinton are a joke (all 4 of them).
Check out Ron Paul's voting record if you haven't already. He is the most popular canididate on the Net.
Libertas in infinitum
The way the US metal detectors are calibrated these days, I'm worried that I'll set them off if my blood iron content is too high. I almost feel like frequent travelers (which I've been in the past) could use a boot-camp course on rapid "remove the laptop, take off the shoes, remove the belt, wallet, keys... walk through the detector, reverse the process and continue onward".
A few days ago I was flying out of Tel Aviv on El Al. Yeah, that's right, the airline that cares more about *real* security and is a far more tempting target than any of these US airlines. And I didn't have to present my plastic bag, or remove my shoes or belt! (of course they do scan the baggage, and question each passenger a bit more thoroughly than they ever do in the US, but it was still a far more pleasant experience than checking back in with Continental in Newark on my way back.)
The TSA is all about making it look like they're doing something, instead of actually doing something. I once heard it said that you simply cannot apply logic to security policy, since then it will never make sense to you. I'm curious what the next hairbrained terrorist scheme will be, and what sort of totally senseless travel restrictions will be added as a result. Any ideas?
See, I used to ask every time that I was pulled out by a police officer, what was the reason for him to stop me. This is America (still...) and we have the right to come and go, whenever we want.
Not quite, you have been subject to Terry stops since 1968. Clearly that was all part of Dubya's master plan.
On the past, before Bush Neo-Con dictatorship, they used to get upset but answer on an educated and respectful tone. Now, they will usually say: "step out of the car, sir", and try to humiliate me, as they are instructed to do with all that don't comply with the order to be meek and follow Dubya to the hell he is taking us
You're a nut. Take off your tinfoil hat. How can a cop possibly tell if you are a Dubya follower or not? And frankly, many cops didn't vote for Dubya either.
Saying "Get the fuck out of the car, nigger!" is humiliating.
Saying "step out of the car, sir" is polite.
I have a friend that is going through police academy now, and he says that they are learning anti-riot techniques and how to fight "internal" enemies,
Riot control has been part of police training for years (decades?). Nothing new or sinister there.
Internal enemies? Those are called criminals. Fighting against criminals has been part of police work for quite a while (centuries?).
as according their instructions: "all that are not wearing an officer's uniform are potential enemies and harmful".
Quite possibly, it is very dangerous being a police officer in many parts of the USA. Is the guy walking on the street just going to corner store? Or is he a gangbanger wanted for murder? Far more likely to be the 1st case, but the 2nd case does occur, and cops should be prepared & trained to handle both.