Re: A provokative pov -- screening gets slammed by federal judge

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Richard Forno <rforno () infowarrior org>
Date: July 9, 2009 8:13:17 AM EDT
To: krulwich () yahoo com
Cc: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>, Mark Blacknell <mb () blacknell net>, rob () casasiegel com
Subject: Re: [IP] Re:    A provokative pov --  screening gets slammed  
by federal judge


On Jul 9, 2009, at 06:13 , Krulwich wrote:

> Without being for or against, there's a big difference between  
> adding invasive searches without necessity and leveraging invasive  
> searches that are necessary for more than one purpose.
>
> The searches need to happen for basic airline security, and while I  
> wish they were more competent and didn't waste time in silly things  
> like water bottles, they're a necessity.  The question below, which  
> you didn't answer, is what's wrong with using them GIVEN THAT THEY  
> EXIST to stop other bad things.
>
> --Bruce

If something is to be extended and such 'mission creep' authorized  
than it should be declared publicly that is the case.  The USAPATRIOT  
was intended for terrorism investigations yet the DOJ IG reports over  
the years show it's been invoked on other common criminal  
investigations despite the USG staunch pledges that such powers would  
not be abused (ie, used outside the scope of the spirit of the reason  
behind the law - ie, terrorism).   In that case, "just trust us to do  
the right thing" turned out to be another hollow promise by people  
being granted newfound powers over the populace.

If the USG intends for TSA to serve as "criminal screeners" at our  
airports and thus extend its mandate from "terrorist detection" (ha!)  
to "detect and detain ANYONE we think odd, suspicious, or has any real  
or perceived criminal wrongdoings in their history" then it should say  
so publicly and not let this mission creep continue.   Watch air  
travel plummet, and the protests begin about a police state.     
Frankly I think the USG likes this gray-area wiggle room .... they can  
get away with anything until told otherwise.  Yeah, like that's gonna  
happen anytime soon.

I commend the judge in this case for calling foul on them.

-rf




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