TSA Terminates Its Contract With Maker of Full-Body Scanner

McGruber writes "The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has ended a contract with Rapiscan, a unit of OSI Systems Inc., manufacturer of about half of all of the controversial full-body scanners used on air passengers. TSA officials claim that Rapiscan failed to deliver software that would protect the privacy of passengers, but the contract termination happened immediately after the TSA finally got around to studying the health effects of the scanners, and Congress had a hearing on TSA's 'Scanner Shuffle'."

Comments

pronounciation

[Anonymous Coward]

is the first 'a' in Rapiscan pronounced as just a regular 'a' or like 'ae' ?

Re:pronounciation

[mwvdlee]

Since full body scanning does not make boarding a plane go more rapid, I think the answer is obvious.

alpha test?

[OffTheLip]

Why wasn't this determined during the test and acceptance phase for this product. Perhaps it's my cynical nature tempered by years of working for the government but this type of thing happens far too frequently.

Re:alpha test?

[Anonymous Coward]

Because by the time that scientists can get through all of the obfuscation, the administrators that approved it will be retired. And the current administrators can simply say that it wasn't their decision. Everybody wins! (except almost everybody)

Re:alpha test?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd sooner trust the terrorists than the TSA. At least the terrorists are up-front about their agenda.

Re:alpha test?

[SuricouRaven]

Because if you respect people's privacy and safety, the terrorists win.

Re:alpha test?

[lorenlal]

Because Chertoff was the principal lobbyist for Rapiscan was a former DHS head. They were able to just get the contract in without any sort of vetting. It's one of the more shameful episodes in shady government contracts, except those involved seem immune to shame.

Re:alpha test?

[Anonymous Coward]

Because if you respect people's privacy and safety, the terrorists win.

Based on the way the West has acted in "The War Against Terror", the terrorist *have* won. They have us jumping at shadows, wasting millions of dollars on useless schemes, and all they have to do is make scary noises from time to time.
How many plane/bomb threats have been averted by DHS vigilance in the last ten years? The few that have been found have all been foiled by traditional counter-terrorism techniques: the security theater in airports is just a way for certain groups to siphon off public money into their own pockets.

Re:alpha test?

[RoTNCoRE]

Yep, just you. Remember what flying was like pre-9/11? We're no safer now, aside from the fact that the cabin is now inaccessible to passengers.

Also, just because it isn't on the congressional record doesn't mean it didn't happen - maybe a sweetheart deal like, if you push these through, we'll give you a sweet consultancy gig afterwards? Like his current role as head of a consultancy firm for the industry called the Chertoff Group? Do you think just maybe Rapiscan has even been a client? Similar to how generals become board members for the defense industry the second they leave service. Crony capitalism (corruption) at it's best. These postings need to have 20 year non-compete and NDA type clauses. I'm sure the pension isn't lacking...

Re:alpha test?

[Zemran]

I think the real irony is that if you want to blow up a plane you need to use the tried and tested methods as they are the only ones that we do not protect against. No one has ever blown up a plane with a bottle of water, it was theoretical, but you cannot take a bottle of water onto a plane. Most planes were blown up with bombs made to look like ordinary objects. The bomb that blew up the plane over Lockerbie was made to look like a radio and the explosives were disguised as batteries, this would still work today as no one stops you from having a radio in your suitcase in the hold.

The security theatre has only served to frighten the people into letting our rulers do as they wish. The lack of real terrorist events is because no one is really trying to kill us. If a group started up today with the brains of the IRA we would be just as screwed today as we were back then. Although most of their success was due to American help which might not be as easy to get today.

Re:alpha test?

[lorenlal]

Huffington Post? Try Washington Post, oh and he disclosed it on CNN.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/31/AR2009123102821.html

Re:alpha test?

[Agent0013]

It's almost to the point where the terrorists don't need to actually pull off an attack. They just release "chatter" about an attack and watch the West scurry around.

It's pretty close to how the U.S. brought down our big enemy during the cold war, U.S.S.R. We made these big plans about Star Wars, and having satellites that would be able to shoot down any missile. Our side was mostly talk. On their side they spend enormous amounts of money trying to keep up with what they thought we were doing. Our president actually hired science fiction writers to come up with some of these fantastic ideas that sounded plausible and expensive. If the terrorists figure this out they can just up the chatter until we spend ourselves into bankruptcy and fall like Rome. Then the terrorists win.

Re:alpha test?

[Anonymous Coward]

Great, now everyone posting as AC is on a list.

I fucking love the names these days

[drinkypoo]

Everyone and everything's name is hilarious, but RAPEYSCAN really takes the proverbial cake, and eats it too.

Re:Who named this company?

[Anonymous Coward]

The one company that gives us honesty in its marketing and you are all upset.

Some people are never satisfied!

Re:This is great news for L-3 Communications

[show me altoids]

Do a Google search on "security theater." That's all these scanners are.