TSA chief admits he withheld information on pat-downs

[sabra]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole said on Monday that he disregarded internal advice to the contrary and decided not tell the public in advance about aggressive new screening and pat-down procedures for airline passengers, fearing terrorists could try to exploit the information.

In an hour-long discussion with reporters, Pistole said media officials at the Department of Homeland Security had urged him to “get out ahead” of the potential controversy by formally announcing plans for enhanced body searches and the use of new x-ray and radio-wave imaging devices at 70 airports beginning in November.

But doing so would have provided a “roadmap or blueprint for terrorists” to avoid detection by using other airports where the new technology wasn’t in place, Pistole said.

Rather than publicize the changes, Pistole said he made a “risk-based” decision to roll it out first and “try to educate the public after we did that.”

The result has been a firestorm of criticism from lawmakers and passengers who claim the technology and aggressive searches are unnecessary, intrusive and a violation of their privacy rights.


Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/11/22/104123/tsa-chief-admits-he-withheld-information.html

[truthisfreedom]

1. Pistole admits inaction based on fear of terrorists.

What a pussy.

[CreekDog]

11. If he were liberal, the Adminstration would've fired him by now

sorry. :eyes:

[xchrom]

2. Oy -- really? Nt

[GodlessBiker]

3. Doofus.

[liberal N proud]

4. He is missing the point

It is still degrading and humiliating. We would still be pissed off about it even if we knew ahead of time that we all were going to get public gropings at the airport.


On edit:

What technology is involved in groping people? The rubber glove they change once a day?

[MsPithy]

12. Respectfully, you are missing the point.

These searches are UNCONSTITUTIONAL!

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

[liberal N proud]

17. But of course they are

And we need to fight for our rights.

[greiner3]

18. Really?

How about drunk checkpoints? Immigration checkpoints? I was caught in 3 of those recently. Federal ease dropping on phones, internet, via satellite, chance of going to jail for a traffic stop, for instance, cops arresting people in a peaceful demonstration, FBI infiltrating such organizations, etc...

And you get all worked up about a little grope? BTW, which of the parts of the stated Amendment does this fall under? Congress did give TSA broad powers, under the Republican admin by the way. If it could be established that there is no legal authorization for the searches then that might stop them. But I doubt this is the case. Even if it is, then Congress might well make it so retroactively. There is precedence in this.

[MsPithy]

20. Strip searches and sexual assaults are the definition of unreasonable!

I do have a problem with "checkpoints," and the Patriot Act, but, just because there are other government excesses, does not make strip searches and sexual assaults OK. Now is the time for Americans to take a stand, or we will get cavity searches, to make us "safer."

[pattmarty]

25. Haven't you heard? "We don need no steenkin' constitution"!

[katandmoon]

5. What a perfect encapsulation of the Obama administration he is.

[Iowa]

22. Yep. I agree.

[RC]

6. Ah, wouldn't the terrorests find out anyway? You know like they do now, just like the rest of us do

Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole comes across as incompetent to me.

[BanzaiBonnie]

7. Exactly

Now that the terrorists know, what's the point. TSA theater!

[bemildred]

13. Shhhhh! You are giving the terrists hints! nt

[KansDem]

8. I'm flying twice in the next two weeks...

I've had my reservations for awhile now. Had I known about this new development, I would've planned to travel by some other means than Grope-Me Airlines...

:grr:

[flyarm]

9. Oh come onnnnnnnnnnnn..taking one for the gipper it seems! eom

[SoapBox]

10. He needs to be fired...

and that is that.

[Iowa]

23. Yep. And he's not the only one who needs to be fired...

Anyone up the chain who supported this needs to be kicked to the curb as well.

[Plucketeer]

14. Good GOD!

What the HELL'S the qualifications for his job??? :dunce:<- WANTED: TSA DIRECTOR. mUST LOOK LIKE THIS.

[ipaint]

19. Arabian horse show judge. nt

[Plucketeer]

28. Well, certainly this fella's qualified

to recognize ONE END of a horse!

[Gormy Cuss]

15. What a tool.

Pistole said he doesn’t know what to expect of the protest, but that he worries for passengers who could “miss a flight because a group of people are blocking access or because they’re taking extended periods of time,” with the protest.

No, Mr. Pistole, they'd be missing a flight because of you.

[BadgerKid]

16. While UNconstitutional, it's proper security procedure

not to announce changes lest you tip off a current or potential adversary. For example, employers might stop an employee's computer access before firing him, or else run the risk of information leaks or some-such.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

21. IDIOT. why dont people get how difficult it is to keep secrets now?

i dont even know why they try. its so dumb.

[pattmarty]

24. Well, his "risk-based" decision should get his fucking ass fired...........

.......It is now getting scary, this administration is beginning to look incompetent. Doesn't Obama know what ANY of "his" agencies are fucking doing? This and the BP thing are two MAJOR fuckups.

[blackspade]

26. Pistole is an idiot

'Rather than publicize the changes, Pistole said he made a “risk-based” decision to roll it out first and “try to educate the public after we did that.”'

Tone def.
Another example of closing the barn door after the horse has flown the coop.

[backtomn]

27. Is NO Congressional approval required for this ???

I am sure that we did not give the Dept. of Homeland Security Carte Blanche to suspend our Constitutional rights. Maybe I am wrong....but why do they do this without any sort of approval or notice?? Is this the Obama administration or Bush administration??

[marasinghe]

29. triple-jeopardy for travelers: this ass pistole, probably - a liar, a crook, AND stupid to boot.

when the f*ck does this shit get flushed down the toilet & the sane among us allowed to return to the realm of reason?