TSA Exposed Its Undercover Operatives

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

TSA Exposed Its Undercover Operatives

Friday November 2, 2007 6:31 PM

By EILEEN SULLIVAN

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Transportation Security
Administration touts its programs to ensure security
by using undercover operatives to test its airport
screeners. In one instance, however, the agency
thwarted such a test by alerting screeners across
the country that it was under way, even providing
descriptions of the undercover agents.

The government routinely runs covert tests at
airports to ensure that security measures in place
are sufficient to stop a terrorist from bringing
something dangerous onto an airplane. Alerting
screeners when the undercover officer is coming
through and what the person looks like would
defeat the purpose.

But that's exactly what happened on April 28, 2006,
according to an e-mail from a top TSA official who
oversees security operations.

In an e-mail to more than a dozen recipients,
including airport security staff, the TSA official
warned that “several airport authorities and
airport police departments have recently received
informal notice” of security testing being carried
out by the Department of Transportation and the
Federal Aviation Administration.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-7045447,00.html

[DCKit]

1. Old, old news. nt