Minihan's World

TSA Allows Unvalidated Employees Access in Atlanta

April 26, 2012 Arlington VA

Airport Security Questioned on TSA 'Convenience'

The Associated Press is reporting this morning that the TSA has approved the utilization of uncleared employees, allowing them ID Cards that givem access to airport facilities, without the necessary completion of background checks.

This is apparently happening at Atlanta-Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta, according to the piece in the Washington Post Today.  The travelling public should be concerned that virtually anyone willing to give the TSA their fingerprints to get a job could be working the planes and the runways at Atlanta. Hartsfield.  Read the whole story here.

TSA Screeners Indicted for allowing drugs at LAX Airport

Four current and four former  TSA screners have been indicted and are awaiting trial for allowing drugs to pass through screening at Los Angeles International Airport, according to today's LA Times.

As the LA Times article says, in part: "The man with eight pounds of methamphetamine in his carry-on bag stood in the snaking security line at Los Angeles International Airport's Terminal 4, inching toward the checkpoint, when a TSA screener approached.

But it wasn't to stop the contraband, according to prosecutors. It was to make sure it got through.

The screener, John Whitfield, allegedly told the man to get to the back of the line so he and his luggage would get to the X-ray machines when Whitfield's shift started. That way, he would be the one watching the meth show up on screen; and in exchange for $1,200, Whitfield allowed it through, according to a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday.

Read the rest of the story here.

Yet another example why TSA's preference for hiring out of the local unemployment offices is bad policy and leads to  situations such as these.

Comments??

Reasonableness versus lawlessness

November 29 2010

We had a lot of hits on my views on TSA (You know them--the TOUCH, SEARCH and ARREST agency).  Things calmed down a bit after the initial onslaught of complaints, and that is probably normal around here in the USA.  First, people tend to be excited about the cause de jour rather than be really concerned about any one issue. Second, those in the wrong, especially the Feds, have virtually unlimited funding to blanket a proble with PR to makle it seem like nothing.  Third, the incidents themselves did not happen to congressmen, senators, or their staffs so no really important damage occured in the minds of those with purstrings.

TSA gets a bit like the FBI at this time of year--create a lot of spurious threats of violence to get your budget passed, and then calm things down.  The FBI has done it successfully for years, and the TSA is quickly learning.

The biggest shame of this whole mess, other than those that were egregiously insulted by the TSA gestapo was the total lack of concern about the issues by Pistole, their Director.  He casually admitted that it was his decision not to publicize the new screening procedures ahead of their introduction--after all they had the RIGHT to do it--even though advance notice may have diffused the situation.  What was the most telling part of the mess was his complete lack of concern for the travelling public--and the abject defense of him by King Obama and his other minions.  People don't matter anymore--only the potentates of Washington.

 

When is the next election?

Obama Administration Caught with its Pants Down

December 31, 2009

First the Event....

As most people now know (unless you have been in Antarctica in a blinding snow storm) a Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was allowed to board a Delta jet from Amsterdam bound for Detroit last weekend.  This was despite a plea by his own father to the US Embassy to warn that his son was missing, had been taking training from al Qaeda, and was concerned that something would happen.  This information was forwarded to the US State Department who did nothing with it (although later spinning seemed to indicate that information had been sent to the National Counterterrorism Center, who really decided to do nothing with it).  Nor was the information coordinated with yet another report that spoke to young men trying to blow up  planes with simple bombs that could be carried unnoticed onboard .  This report, by the way, only finally arrived at DHS on Tuesday (12/29), after incident.

Janet Napolitano, the DHS Secretary, quickly spun up the issue further, indicating that an investigation would be held without at all indicating that she felt a serious breach had occured.  Afteralll, according to napolitano, the bomb did not go off.  Insterad, the would be-bomber only succeeded in setting himself on fire, and in a very private place that must have caused real pain.

Then the repurcussions...

The talk shows, evening news, and late night comics had a field day with the whole situation--some from a serious mode, and others who were less serious, but all brought the situation out as yet another failure of DHS and the TSA to really monitor and provide safety in the airways.

Several members of the former 9-11 Commission, such as former Governor Tom Kean of New Jersey, and Lee Hamilton, former Ohio Congressman also appeared on the air to say that they felt this situation was simply a continuation of the status quo.  In their views, DHS had really done little over the longer term to increase safety, increase sharing of information among agencies, and paid little attention to data as it did come out.

Then the big gun, Former Vice President Dick Cheney, came out and asserted that the Obama Administration had been trying to forget that we are at war on terrorism.  That stung the administration, having only just put the President on the airwaves to denounce the act and demand answers.  The presidential Press Secretary quickly rebutted Cheney poorly, and even more spin started with the announcement that the president expected answers by December 31st from his agency leaders.

Future actions...

I believe the administration will continue to make noise--mostly spin--over the next several weeks.  They already put out a new secret security policy that was quickly leaked to several bloggers, but there will be no major repurcussions to the political appointees.  A couple of lower level career employees will get bashed, and some may resign, but that will be it--and then back to business as usual in this administration.

It doesn't have to be that way, but it will be unless there is a real, sustained uproar over airline safety and the broader question of continuing actively and intensively the War on Terror--even if Obama doesn't like the word.

TSA subpoenas bloggers on new security directive

December 31, 2009

TSA has issued subpoenas to two bloggers on travel to try and determine which of their own TSA employees leaked the new directive on increased security, the New York Times reported in yesterday's editions. As is usual with the TSA, their directives are supposed to be secret, even though they enforce them with the public.  TSA special agents served subpoenas to travel bloggers Steve Frischling and Chris Elliott, demanding that they reveal who leaked the security directive to them.  Both claimed they had little information.  Frischling claimed the document simply appeared in his e-mail, and Elliott indicated he would have a statement after talking to his attorney.

More at the New York Times and on these sites:

http://www.elliott.org/blog/full-text-of-my-subpoena-from-the-depart ment-of-homeland-security/(pound sign)more-10228

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2009/12/30/the-fallout- from-sd-1544-09-06-the-feds-at-my-door/

TSA Does it Again! Travel for terrorism

December 29, 2009

Al Qaeda takes credit for plot to down plane

Here we go again, with agencies not talking to each other. Umar Farouk Abdulmuttalab, A Yemeni, managed to have a bomb on his person as he left Amsterdam on a Delta flight bound for Detroit, MI.  He had secreted his bomb in his underwear.  As the plane approached the airport in Detroit, this genius attempted to ignite the bomb and only succeeded in igniting himself--causing a small cabin fire and only God knows what damage to his private parts.  He was subdued by a passenger and hauled away on arrival.

This was not an unknown situation. Authorities had been alerted b y this guy  by his uncle, and he had already been interrogated by the FBI  as a potential member of the same group as has been alleged to also have Major Hasan as a member.  He was also on the terror watch list.  In short, he should never have been on a plane to the US, at least.  He also continued to hold a valid visa to the US.

Information on this guy was telegraphed from the US Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria, to the State Department in November.  It was also shared with the Interagency National Counterterrorism Center, who decided there was insufficient information to invalidate his visa.  I can certainly understand that--everybody can't be on their lists--even though the Bush Administration tried, and the Obama Administration has continued, the policy of putting anyone on their they choose.

What does bother me is that no one found the bomb before he got on the plane.  His name of the watch list should have caused an interview, at least, at the airport, and a search.  Neither happened as far as can be determined.  Of course, DHS Secretary Napolitano will 'get to the bottom of the circumstances' -- probably in about 6 months and no one will be fired or disciplined for the oversight.

Meanwhile, al Qaeda, or at least someone calling thmselves that, has taken credit for the whole affair.  What a world, and what a great law enforcement community we have.  They can't even talk to each other in the same language.

 

Israeli Government Furious over Arrest Warrant for Livni in UK

October 15, 2009

The Israeli Government has issued a 'stern' warning to the UK Government over the issuance of an arrest warrant under the Fourth Geneva Convention for the former Foriegn Minister of Israel Tzipi Livni.  The message warned of increased tension and potential reduced relations over the incident, according to the Times of London in today's editions.

Under the convention, any country can arrest and try someone for crimes deemed so heinous that society in general would condemn them.  In this case Livni had been a principal in the decisions to invade Gaza during the last go-round in the MIddle East--a situation described in the Goldstone Report, and condemned by the UN General Assembly.  Since Livni had no diplomatic immunity as a former member of the Government, the warrant by the Westminister Court  could have resulted in her arest and confinement.  Instead, she cancelled her inteded trip to the UK and stayed home.  Increasingly, there is reduced travel between israel and UK and other Eurpoean countries as the Geneva Conventions come up more frequently and requests are made for arrests in Europe.  Israel is a signatory to the Conventions from 1951.

While these actions are seen by some as a ploy for publicity, it is increasing the pressure on Israel and other supporters, such as the US, to come to grips with the message that Israel cannot simply do what it chooses to the people of Gaza, or elsewhere, in violations of law, without consequences.

The UK Government should tell Israel to shove their 'stern' warning.  They won't, of course, but it would go a long way to make them accou ntable for their indiscriminate large scale bombing, injury and killing of civilians, especially women and children in Gaza.

Once in a While Something Good Happens

November 2, 2009

I spend too much time pointing out the stupidity of the TSA and its parent the DHS.  There is a lot to write about this far from needed or successful cabinet agency.

However, down at the people level, once in a while a light shines through the otherwise murky mist.

Returning from a trip to Salt lake on Monday, I arrived at Reagan National in DC and started to exit the Delta Terminal when I saw a uniformed TSA agent helping a soldier in fatigues.  Not unusual, since there are a lot of soldiers in uniform going through the airports these days.  However, it quickly became obvious that this soldier walked with a limp, and carried a cane.  Also not unusual.  Then I saw the dark glasses, and heard some of the conversation going on between the agent and the soldier--who was obviously vision-impaired.  The agent was helping the soldier get through the screening area--explaining each of the steps, and helping him with his backpack and other things he carried.

I remembered back to my first trip home during the Vietnam-era and the total lack of any kind of help then.  You were more likely to be spit on than assisted by anybody.  But things have changed, and for the better.

I wish I had gone over to get the agent's name so that I could tell everybody about a real hero of an otherwise onerous process---one that is probably necessary but not normally well done by TSA.  I know the soldier thanked him, but I wanted to do as well.

THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE.

Today in the Middle East

October 13th)

Israel - The Israeli PM, Netanyahu, told the Israeli Knesset that Israel is "seriously considering restricting travel to Europe by its senior officials and military officers.." in reaction to the possibility that they might be arrested for war crimes, according to today's Washington Times.  His statement comes just  before the Goldstone Report is scheduled to be discussed in the UN Security Council and, a long way before any possible action could occur, seems to be aimed more at swaying US and other Council members than being engtrenched in reality.  A splinter group did try to have Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak arrested in London recently, but neither the UK Government or the police took that effort seriously.

"While the Goldstone Report accuses both Israel and Hamas of suspected war crimes, Israeli offiicals see themselves as the biggest targets and charge that Mr. Golstone's findings effectively deprive the Jewish State of the right to self-defense.," continued the Times Article.

Conservative estimates of deaths range from 900  to 1300 among the residents of the Gaza Strip--invaded by Israel to try to stop rocket attacks--with the Israeli death total at about 20.  Some sources thank this is clearly indicative of the Israeli intent to simply go in and punish the population rather than stop rocket attackes--while killed no one, and did little real damage.  Converselt, thousands of homes, utilities, and public facilites were simply leveled by Israeli armor and artillery.

The Ti mes report is far from objective, with the reporter Eli Lake, making a number of statements that referred to the Goldstone Report as commissioned by  'authoritarian states', suggesting that attention is being focused on israel while the crimes in Sudan go unnoticed and unpunished, and that the "Israeli Defense Forces sought to minimize those casualties..", a statement in significant conflict from testimomy from a number of solidiers on the group during that invasion.

Netanhayu's views are not shared throughout Israel, and are often at odds with the facts.  The Israel Blog  Has a broader view--quoting several sources, such as the Economist, which said:

"It concludes that “While the Israeli government has sought to portray its operation as essentially a response to rocket attacks in exercise of its right to self-defence, the Mission considers the plan to have been directed, at least in part, at a different target: the people of Gaza as a whole.”"

"The purpose, the mission added, was “punishing the Gaza population for its resilience and for its apparent support for Hamas”. It held that Israel’s partial blockade of the Gaza Strip since Hamas took power there three-and-a-half years ago amounted to collective punishment and violated the Geneva Conventions."

Read the Israel Blog.  Several of its writer/readers have incisive comments on the overall situation in Israel following the invasion.

On the Arab side, al Arabyia had several comments in its latest editions, including:

"Is there no limit to the wiles of those dastardly anti-Semites?
Now they have decided to slander the Jews with another blood libel. Not the old accusation of slaughtering Christian children to use their blood for baking Passover matzoth, as in the past, but of the mass slaughter of women and children in Gaza."

"And who did they put at the head of the commission which was charged with this task? Neither a British Holocaust-denier nor a German neo-Nazi, nor even an Iranian fanatic, but of all people a Jewish judge who bears the very Jewish name of Goldstone (originally Goldstein, of course). And not just a Jew with a Jewish name, but a Zionist, whose daughter, Nicole, is an enthusiastic Zionist who once “made Aliyah” and speaks fluent Hebrew. All this in order to defame the most moral army in the world, fresh from waging the most just war in history!"

"The official Israeli reaction to the Goldstone report would have been amusing, if the matter had not been so grave." That last line sums it all up.  Why not let the UN conduct its inquiry, participate in it, and suggest solutions--other than stifling it totally.  Israel still has the feeling that anything it does is right, and anyone opposing them is wrong.  That will get them no where these days.  Bit if Israel cdid nothing in violation of International Law, why be worried about prosecution of its leaders? Fatah vs. Hamas - Another tinderbox, but for a different reason.  Egypt has been attempting to broker a cease fire between the two Palestinian factions, and finally seemed to make progress.  Fatah has agreed with the major points and also agreed to sign the accords.  Hamas has yet to respond on its own.  That will unfold further over the next several days, but be hopeful that some form of reconciliation actually occurs.  It will not happen, nor will it be successful with Abbas continuing to be a stooge for the Israeli Government and the US. Palestinians vs. Israel -  With Fatah at least willing to enter into an accord with Hamas, the Israeli Government has not raised the ante on a settlement agreement-- the palestinians must now not just recognize Israel as a state, but as a "Jewish State".  That brings everything back to 1948 with the original screwing of the Palestinians by the UN and the US.  Do things never change?