Former TSA Administrator Speaks 196
phantomfive writes "Former TSA head Kip Hawley talks about how the agency is broken and how it can be fixed:
'The crux of the problem, as I learned in my years at the helm, is our wrongheaded approach to risk. In attempting to eliminate all risk from flying, we have made air travel an unending nightmare for U.S. passengers and visitors from overseas, while at the same time creating a security system that is brittle where it needs to be supple. ... the TSA's mission is to prevent a catastrophic attack on the transportation system, not to ensure that every single passenger can avoid harm while traveling. Much of the friction in the system today results from rules that are direct responses to how we were attacked on 9/11. But it's simply no longer the case that killing a few people on board a plane could lead to a hijacking. ...The public wants the airport experience to be predictable, hassle-free and airtight and for it to keep us 100% safe. But 100% safety is unattainable. Embracing a bit of risk could reduce the hassle of today's airport experience while making us safer at the same time."
Don't fix it, abolish it. (Score:5, Informative)
Please get rid of it.
Not only is it expensive, it is total theater.
It's useless and doesn't help anybody or anything but TSA agents and the companies selling cancerous porno x-ray machines.
In case you're all clueless... (Score:5, Informative)
This is a reference:
In September 2006, in response to the new policies limiting the amounts of liquids and gels that passengers could carry on airplanes, Milwaukee resident Ryan Bird wrote "Kip Hawley is an Idiot" on a plastic bag given to passengers by airport security for those substances. As a result he claims he was detained and told that the First Amendment did not apply to security checkpoints.
Hijacking is still possible. (Score:5, Informative)
Weapons have never been necessary to take control of an airliner. They just make it a little easier.
Better qoutes (Score:5, Informative)
it's simply no longer the case that killing a few people on board a plane could lead to a hijacking. Never again will a terrorist be able to breach the cockpit simply with a box cutter or a knife. The cockpit doors have been reinforced, and passengers, flight crews and air marshals would intervene.
I wanted to reduce the amount of time that officers spent searching for low-risk objects, but politics intervened at every turn. Lighters were untouchable, having been banned by an act of Congress. And despite the radically reduced risk that knives and box cutters presented in the post-9/11 world, allowing them back on board was considered too emotionally charged for the American public. We did succeed in getting some items (small scissors, ice skates) off the list of prohibited items.
He has a list of five things he suggests to improve the TSA:
1. No more banned items
2. Allow all liquids
3. Give TSA officers more flexibility and rewards for initiative, and hold them accountable
4. Eliminate baggage fees
5. Randomize security
Re:Former ______ head says we fucked up (Score:4, Informative)
politics intervened at every turn. Lighters were untouchable, having been banned by an act of Congress.
Re:and you can go overboard on anti-terrorism (Score:4, Informative)
Why do you think there are CCTV cameras on every corner in the UK? That was the first response. Then they made the financial area of Londin a car free zone. Something that the Green parties had dreamed of doing but were ignored. Then we have the logging of every telephone call, SMS message, Email and visit to a website. Finally, we have the X-raying of everything including shoes.
RON PAUL (Score:2, Informative)
RON PAUL
RON PAUL
(RON PAUL)