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TSA Screening Barely Working Better Than Chance

rwise2112 writes "The General Accounting Office (GAO) has completed a study of the TSAs SPOT (Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques) program and found the program is only slightly better than chance at finding criminals. Given that the TSA has spent almost a billion dollars on the program, that's a pretty poor record. As a result, the GAO is requesting that both Congress and the president withhold funding from the program until the TSA can demonstrate its effectiveness."

11 of 337 comments (clear)

  1. Israel's airlines globally recognized as safest... by Press2ToContinue · · Score: 2, Interesting

    for decades, and is a nation that much more frequently faces domestic terrorism. What are the chances they have a better, and cheaper method? Oops, they use common sense. Never mind.

    http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/11/yeffet.air.security.israel/

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    Sent from my ENIAC
  2. Re:Fuck the TSA by trollboy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    as a 7' tall man of german descent, I always get "randomly" chosen as well. I assure you it's not so much the "olive skin" as it is the "different" or "standing out for any reason".. which is also deplorable and ineffective for the task at hand.

    And yes, no option to opt out of all the still beta FBS

    --
    That which is not dead may eternal lie,and in strange aeons even death may die
  3. Re:Purpose of the TSA by artor3 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    No, it's not. Don't be stupid. There's no grand conspiracy out to get you. The TSA exists because after 9/11 people demanded that the government do something to make us safer. And so the politicians created this security theater, because it's what the voters wanted.

    And they still do want it, as the TSA gets excellent approval ratings. They don't know or care that it's just theater, they just want to feel safe.

    It's as simple as that. The people want to feel safe, so an organization was created to help them feel safe, even if it doesn't actually make them safe. And contrary to the ravings of the conspiracy theorists, this IS a democracy. The people get what they want, for better or worse.

  4. Re:Purpose of the TSA by 0123456 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    No, it's not. Don't be stupid. There's no grand conspiracy out to get you.

    You apparently haven't been reading the news.

    The TSA exists because after 9/11 people demanded that the government do something to make us safer.

    Really?

    Who exactly demanded that, other than the usual suspects in government who always want more power?

  5. Re:Purpose of the TSA by AHuxley · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A US court document that made it to the press might make interesting reading:
    http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20131019/02322924936/accidentally-revealed-document-shows-tsa-doesnt-think-terrorists-are-plotting-to-attack-airplanes.shtml
    Think of an internal and external papers please checkpoint for any other "legal" issues you have with your nation.

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    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  6. Re:I can hear them now... by liquid_schwartz · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I've always thought that working for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) must be incredibly depressing. They must just see billions upon billions wasted, produce reports or try and enact change, then get ignored because the right congress people have been paid off. Must be a sad and depressing existence.

  7. Re:Fuck the TSA by sjames · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm fine with armed pilots. They should be given frangible bullets suitable for use on aircraft./p

  8. Re:Fuck the TSA by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Actually, pilots falling asleep at the controls, in some cases both at once, is one of the more genuinely terrifying aspects of modern aviation. It reportedly happens often, and the pilots' unions are vocal about the lack of adequate rest between cockpit hours. The only reason we don't hear more about it is because modern planes are (at the risk of grossly oversimplifying) basically flying themselves for much of their journey, so it's not as if they suddenly fall from the sky if someone dozes off for a couple of minutes mid-journey when there's nothing anywhere nearby.

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    If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
  9. Re:Fuck the TSA by Mistakill · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Indeed you deserve mod points...

    Everyone should watch 'Please Remove Your Shoes' http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1600841/ as the Israelis do it MUCH better

  10. Re:Fuck the TSA by Immerman · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Really - I mean if your intent is to destroy a plane you're riding on then why *not* just use an internal explosive, whether fluid or surgically implanted. You'll probably still have one of the less painful deaths associated with the destruction.

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    --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
  11. Re:Fuck the TSA by fractoid · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Why not just put knockout gas in the cabin air supply? As long as it's generally non-harmful, it doesn't matter if a few passengers or even cabin crew pass out. The copilot can then use a gas mask and zip-cuff the hijacker into immobility before they wake up.

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    Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.