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TSA 'Secured' Metrodome During Recent Football Game

McGruber writes "Travel writer Christopher Elliott touches down with the news that the U.S. Transportation Security Administration was spotted standing around outside a recent American football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers (picture). According to Mr. Elliott, the 'TSA goes to NFL games and political conventions and all kinds of places that have little or nothing to do with ... travel. It even has a special division called VIPR — an unfortunate acronym for Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response team — that conducts these searches.' He continues, 'As far as I can tell, TSA is just asking questions at this point. "Data and results collected through the Highway BASE program will inform TSA's policy and program initiatives and allow TSA to provide focused resources and tools to enhance the overall security posture within the surface transportation community," it says in the filing. But they wouldn't be wasting our money asking such questions unless they planned to aggressively expand VIPR at some point in the near future. And that means TSA agents at NFL games, in subways and at the port won't be the exception anymore — they will be the rule.'"

10 of 364 comments (clear)

  1. At least it will create jobs. by khasim · · Score: 5, Informative

    My biggest problem is that the TSA has not caught a single terrorist yet.

    Everything they do and all the money they spend has accomplished NOTHING except to harass regular people.

    1. Re:At least it will create jobs. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      It has also greatly increased the government's awareness of the locations and activities of regular people. In-and-of itself that isn't valuable, but the moment any of these regular people become problematic (by engaging in perfectly-legal protests, for example), the knowledge will be invaluable in shutting them down.

      Catching terrorists is only the ostensible purpose of the TSA. The real purpose is to keep YOU and your ilk in line.

      And since Americans seem to love trading freedom for security, you may as well get used to it.

  2. Hey Republican Congress! by Rougement · · Score: 5, Informative

    You're looking for spending cuts to balance tax increases? I think I just found one!

  3. Re:Your papers, please... by mrquagmire · · Score: 3, Informative

    I think the US Border Patrol already beat them to it (no pun intended).

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    giggity
  4. As foretold by the prophet Osama Bin Laden by 0111+1110 · · Score: 4, Informative

    We will work to continue this battle, God permitting, until victory or until we meet God. I tell you, freedom and human rights in America are doomed. The U.S. government will lead the American people in -- and the West in general -- into an unbearable hell and a choking life.

    Osama Bin Laden. 2002.

    http://edition.cnn.com/2002/US/01/31/gen.binladen.interview/index.html

    --
    Quite an experience to live in fear, isn't it? That's what it is to be a slave.
  5. VIPR by phantomfive · · Score: 4, Informative

    an unfortunate acronym for Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response team

    It's not an 'unfortunate acronym,' they chose it exactly BECAUSE it spells VIPR. Someone in the system likes that name.

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    "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
  6. Re:Nazi America by Vinegar+Joe · · Score: 5, Informative
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    "The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old......They literally know nothing." - Ben Rhodes
  7. Re:Nazi America by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 5, Informative

    One night it will all crystallize...

    For those under 30...

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristallnacht

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    If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
  8. Re:Nazi America by Concerned+Onlooker · · Score: 4, Informative

    Quite possibly. However, that does not detract from the wisdom of it. Just leave off the quotation marks and keep using it. It's a warning worthy of perpetuation.

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    http://www.rootstrikers.org/
  9. Re:Nazi America by Joce640k · · Score: 4, Informative

    I mean, really, having security at major sporting events, is that really the equivalent of murdering millions and millions of people? Really?

    Remember Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, etc. That's what's lurking under the surface.

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    No sig today...