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US Airport Screeners Missed 95% of Weapons, Explosives In Undercover Tests
An anonymous reader writes: An internal investigation by the TSA found that 95% of agents testing airport checkpoints were able to bring weapons through. In one case, an alarm sounded, but during the pat down, the screener failed to detect a fake plastic explosive taped to the undercover agent's back. ABC reports: "Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson was apparently so frustrated by the findings he sought a detailed briefing on them last week at TSA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, according to sources. U.S. officials insisted changes have already been made at airports to address vulnerabilities identified by the latest tests. 'Upon learning the initial findings of the Office of Inspector General's report, Secretary Johnson immediately directed TSA to implement a series of actions, several of which are now in place, to address the issues raised in the report,' the DHS said in a written statement to ABC News."
If they would stop testing it, then it would be better security theater. For example, when I went to the theater over the weekend to see a movie, the theater people didn't notice I had a small pocket knife in my pocket. This is exactly how the security theater at airports work. They don't notice either. Several trips recently I forgot to take my 1 quart baggie of liquids (small hairspray, small shampoo, etc.) out of my carry on. Did they notice, despite their warning signs? Nope. My wife doesn't travel much and she went through the scanner with stuff in her pocket. The signs say you can't do that. Do they notice or care? Nope. It is theater. Theater doesn't have to catch stuff, it just has to make dummies feel safer and make other dummies think twice before bringing weapons and explosives on board.