TSA mission creep now policy

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Jim Griffin <griffin () onehouse com>
Date: November 10, 2009 11:40:03 AM EST
To: dave () farber net
Cc: ip <ip () v2 listbox com>
Subject: Re: [IP] Re: TSA mission creep now policy
Reply-To: griffin () onehouse com

Happened to me about two years ago, shortly after they announced this new behavior analysis program. I was late for a 
flight from Washington Dulles to New York (JFK), was sweating, rushed, and of course they pulled me out of line -- 
after x-raying my bags -- for a discussion and a thorough search of all the little containers and pockets in my bags. 
They searched nothing big, everything little: toothpaste, aspirin bottles, deodorant, film containers, etc.

The dialogue was irrelevant -- where do I work, what do I do, etc. -- and they found nothing, of course, but what was 
clear was that they were looking for drugs, not weapons. These searches in the name of security are really about 
setting up narcotic checkpoints. Their goal is to keep us safe from ourselves, not others.

Thomas Szasz put it well: We Americans criminalize empty needles but defend the right to carry guns because we are more 
afraid of ourselves than we are of other people.

The longer I live, the more America looks like the Soviet state we were taught to fear. Your papers, please ...

Jim Griffin


David Farber wrote:
> Begin forwarded message:
> From: Richard Forno <rforno () infowarrior org>
> Date: November 10, 2009 8:28:53 AM EST
> To: dave () farber net
> Subject: Re: [IP] Re: TSA mission creep now policy
> When this TSA 'capability' was announced years ago, nobody I know of in the physical security / counterterrorism / 
> special operations world thought it would be as effective as the Israelis.
> The "behaviour analysis" so often cited that works for airlines like El Al (and where this idea comes from, 
> apparently) results from the fact that many of the airline representatives at checkin and security come from former 
> intelligence and security service.  They have been trained on behavioural analysis and interrogation for YEARS in 
> their careers, and not just based on some "top ten signs you might be a terrorist" list that's reinforced by 4 days 
> of training and orientation.  At check-in, they know what questions to ask and how to 'guide' a conversation to get a 
> good 'feel' for the person to see if they're lying or if things they say don't add up.   It's not based purely on 
> physical actions/attributes!
> That said, I can't wait for this scenario to pan out -- Overworked and highly stressed business traveller is late for 
> flight and sprints from car rental point to checkin to what turns out to be a LONG security line.  He's worked up 
> quite a sweat, literally.   Now he's on the line, sweating, nervous about getting through and making his flight on 
> time, and constantly looking at his watch and ticket.  Plus he's got nothing else to do so he starts to look around 
> the checkpoint to occupy his mind until he gets gate-raped at the magnetometer.    I'm sure TSA would see him and 
> assume (rightly) that he's got something on his mind.  They confront him.  He gets upset and angry because he was 
> almost about to get through security, catch his flight, and restore order to his day.  You can figure out how that 
> scenario ends up.  :(
> Yes, such a capability CAN work ... if done correctly and with the right people and after serious training and 
> experience already behind them.  Meaning, as with much of TSA's other expanded airport security policies and 
> procedures, anything short of that results into nothing more than expanded security theater.   :(
> -rf
> On Nov 10, 2009, at 06:03 , David Farber wrote:
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> > From: Daniel Haley <Daniel.Haley () pobox com>
> > Date: November 10, 2009 3:50:54 AM EST
> > To: dave () farber net
> > Subject: Re: [IP] TSA mission creep now policy
> >
> > Even if behavioral screening works, I am disturbed by the way this is being implemented. According to the Post 
> > article:
> >
> >      "Officers undergo four days of behavior training ... and then receive 24 hours of on-the-job preparation."
> >
> > It seems to me that any successful behavioral targeting would take longer to learn than two weekend courses.  It 
> > fact, that notion is a joke.  This is just more security theatre that will end up distressing normal passengers.
> >
> >
> >
> >
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