IP: airport security with a bag of wires etc

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 07:47:47 -0600
> From: Jim Brenton <brentonj () swbell net>
> Subject: RE: your posting
> To: "'Dennis L. Bark'" <bark () hoover stanford edu>
> Cc: farber () cis upenn edu
> Reply-to: brentonj () swbell net
> X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook CWS, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2911.0)
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>
> Mr. Bark,
>
> Here is the link to Washington Times article you requested:
> http://www.washtimes.com/national/20020119-79003878.htm
>
> I have just returned home from my trip on Southwest Airlines and found your
> message waiting.  My recent experience with airport security was interesting
> in the very least.
>
> At Kansas City, my computer bag full of cables, network hub, and some AA
> batteries, ignited the interest of the civilian scanners.  Hence, I got to
> remove my shoes and totally empty out the bag.  The bag and my shoes were
> most thoroughly examined for 15 mins including two trips through the X-ray
> machine and wipes to look for explosive residue.  We turned on my computer
> and the folks seemed surprised to find WinNT screens, not Win 98 or
> something they were more familiar with.  They didn't really understand the
> need or use of hub and my Cat 5 cables.  Finally after final pat down and
> hand scan, I was allowed to pass.  The only real damage was my fellow
> travelers received boarding numbers in the 1-30 range, while I received a
> pass with 121 on it.  Since I was much later to arrive at the Southwest
> boarding gate where boarding numbers are assigned, I had a middle seat for
> the next 3 hours.  There was an SPEC4 from 35th ID, KS ANG observing the
> whole affair but he was really more interested in making sure boarding pass
> numbers matched up with Southwest Airline's plastic passes.
>
> In Orlando, I stayed at an Embassy Suites near airport that also quartered
> about 20 FL ANG members on TDY to provide airport security.  I understand
> that there were others at several other local airport hotels.  The ANG is
> getting excellent rates on local hotels (troops are billeted two to a  room)
> and working 12 hour shifts (14 hours counting guard mount and travel to/from
> hotel and airport).  They do not receive any days off and they are putting
> in very long days to provide airport security.  The Spec4 and SSGT I spoke
> with both indicated they had been there over four weeks and were now anxious
> to return back to their homes and jobs in FL.  Both were extremely sharp,
> polite, and in a short discussion about their previous military assignments
> and backgrounds, very well suited for the task.  They were not Military
> Police, but had instead received special training for task at hand.  One was
> late 20s and other early 30s.  Both had been previously deployed to Bosnia
> on peacekeeper duties while on active duty in Germany.  Extremely sharp
> uniforms and exemplary behavior in hotel indicated a strong chain of
> command.
>
> My return trip via Orlando with my computer bag full of wires likewise
> attracted security attention, but the wait was only 5 mins and the bag and
> shoes only had to go through the X-ray once this time.  FL ANG personnel
> were simply observing activity in main terminals and occasionally walking
> through the satellite facilities.
>
> Jim Brenton, CISSP
> Principal Network Security Architect
> Corporate Security
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dennis L. Bark [mailto:bark () hoover stanford edu]
> Sent: Monday, January 21, 2002 1:33 PM
> To: brentonj () swbell net
> Subject: your posting
>
>
> Dear Mr. Brenton:
>
> I am unaware of the encounter of Gen Foss with airline security, and I
> would like to know about it (can you please tell me where to find a report).
>
> Concerning your own observations, you are absolutely right about the lack
> of knowledge of our own history.  It's appalling, and over the long term,
> ignorance of our own history will contribute to destroying the cultural
> fabric of the United States.  Worse than that, is that the majority of
> security personnel in our airports can't read English well enough to
> understand a well written history book in the first place.
>
> Moreover, they can't speak or understand the spoken word well enough to
> understand the answers to the questions they ask in gramaticaly incorrect
> English in the first place.  Unfortunately, often now, when I am asked
> questions the individuals asking don't understand my response.
>
> And, as far as the young National Guard soldiers in the airports is
> concerned, heaven help us if trouble should start. From my observation of
> many of them during the last four months (I fly over 100,000 per year), the
> majority doesn't have a clue what they are doing.  They are doing a lot of
> laughing and talking with each other; but they are not paying close
> attention.
>
> I was delighted to read your comments -- thank you!  Dennis L. Bark, Senior
> Fellow, Hoover Institution

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