Former DHS Official Blames Privacy Advocates For TSA's Aggressive Procedures

colinneagle writes with an interesting excerpt from Senate testimony offered yesterday, on the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, from Stewart Baker. Baker formerly served as DHS Assistant Secretary and NSA General Counsel, and gave his opinion on the source of the real problems within the TSA, opining: "Unlike border officials, though, TSA ended up taking more time to inspect everyone, treating all travelers as potential terrorists, and subjecting many to whole-body imaging and enhanced pat-downs. We can't blame TSA for this wrong turn, though. Privacy lobbies persuaded Congress that TSA couldn't be trusted with data about the travelers it was screening. With no information about travelers, TSA had no choice but to treat them all alike, sending us down a long blind alley that has inconvenienced billions."

Comments

Liar!!

[MatthiasF]

They have had the data since 2008.

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

Every person's name that has flown, what airline, what flight, gender, etc.

ALL OF IT FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS.

And have they caught anyone using it? Not that I've seen.

Re:Actually . . .

[CRCulver]

the problem rests in the TSA's basic operational principle which is both invasive and arguably a violation of the 4th Amendment. The Israelis have a much greater problem with terrorists than we do and yet their airport screening procedures are far less intrusive.

Far less intrusive? Flying out of Ben Gurion, you have to stop and be questioned by airport employees at some three or four checkpoints, and when your bags are being swabbed down and tested for chemical agents, they might decide to question you yet again. Yes, they are efficient and they move you through the airport somewhat faster than you might expect, but they get up in your face much more than TSA staff.

In any event, while the Israeli method does involve scrutinizing everyone's responses to the security agents' questions, it also allows profiling of passengers according to national origin, race or religion. Barring major changes to law, the USA is not able to adopt their methods entirely.

Re:bizaro universe

[Jason Levine]

It was the fact they put their arms up to shield their face that resulted in such a horrible beating

You say this as a funny comment, but I've been told this seriously. Back in the second grade, my son was in lining up for an assembly (about bullying, ironically) when one kid (a known trouble-maker) started jumping forward in line. My son is sensitive about his personal space so when the kid jumped in front of him, my son put his arms up to protect his face. The kid hit my son hard in the stomach. Hard enough to send him to the nurse with bruises.

I had a meeting with the principal and teachers about it. After first denying anyone saw what happened, they then told me that my son started it by raising his hands. When they moved from that to "your son's not the TYPE to be bullied" (their exact wording), I ended the meeting and my wife came to bring my son home. We pulled him out of school and went to the superintendent to change schools since we didn't feel he was safe there.

Blaming the victim, sadly, is something that many people engage in instead of taking responsibility for their actions.

Re:The Horror!

[intermodal]

I recall a certain active duty Army officer at Fort Hood that unfortunately would have been a problem if he knew he could get on planes without scrutiny. Fortunately, he just got convicted for his crimes...