Israel and a lot of other countries don't have this TSA crap

[Mikeystyle]

Israel, which knows a few things about dealing with terrorist threats, doesn't use the TSA's new groping policy or the giant x-ray machines at its airports. Instead, travellers are briefly interviewed several times, by trained professionals, at different points before they get to the plane.

These security people are taught how to watch for a suspicious person, who can then be pulled aside for questioning and a possible search.

This avoids massive lines, invasive procedures for everyone and (gasp) actually works!

Alas, here in the U.S. it's billions for the machines, pennies for the personnel---and the end result is an inefficient, invasive and expensive system.

[arbusto_baboso]

1. Yes, but if we use the Israeli method, then we have to hired trained professionals...

And they'll undoubtedly want a union to represent them so they can work for a decent wage and demand humane, ethical treatment from their employer. We can't have that! The FederCorp Government would rather spend billions on useless machines instead of having unionized employees!

[HuckleB]

13. And LOTS of them!

We can't ignore the logistics issue of transferring what works in a very small country to a country the size of the US.

[NightWatcher]

2. Israel is about security, this crap here is about selling a product

Former DHS head, Chertoff's company stands to benefit from the installation of these body scanners which are the alternative to the patdowns.

Plus this week I'm dealing with trying to get a TWIC (transportation workers identification card) from DHS/TSA to get access to the port so that I can do my job on board ships and its a huge run around (with a $132 price tag). Its not about security its about getting you scared enough to buy a product from a security contractor. We're being terrorized and fleeced, that is all.

[sally cat]

3. A couple folks have some odd objections, some of which you may see posted here.

[Pholus]

4. And a couple other folks have some very good objections.

[Pholus]

5. CBS claims Israeli approach "doesn't scale" to our airports. But it is about money.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. BINGO

If it didn't scale then they'd better NOT go to Mexico City... handles the traffic of JFK

[Starbucks Anarchist]

6. They also engage in racial profiling.

Horrible idea.

[jberryhill]

7. Yeah, and no Fifth Amendment

Reflect on what you said here:

"Instead, travellers are briefly interviewed several times"

That's one of the "odd objections". Having had the Fourth Amendment be mutilated by decades of "administrative search" cases, then I gather some believe it is time to move to the next one.

Okay, let's see how it goes.

1. You are traveling from Pittsburg to New York for sex re-assignment surgery:

"Where are you going?"

"New York"

"Why are you going to New York"

"Medical reasons"

"You look healthy to me, what is your medical reason?"

BZZZZZZZZTTTTTTT!!!! HIPPA violation - nobody can make you answer that question.


2. (taken from a real life example) You are an attorney going from NY to LA to meet with a client on a legal matter:

"Where are you going"

"Los Angeles"

"What are you doing there?"

"I am meeting a client"

"Oh, who is your client?"

BZZZZZZTTTT!!!! Privilege violation.


3. You got up that morning, watered and tended your indoor marijuana crop, and then went to the airport:

"Where are you going?"

"Humboldt County, California."

"You look well rested, what did you do this morning before you came here?"

BZZZZZTTTT!!! Fifth Amendment violation - You have a Hobson's choice here. Tell the truth and admit a crime, or commit a further crime of lying to a federal official in the course of his duties 18 USC 1001.

Searching my bags and body is bad enough. I do not want to include a search of my MIND!

Is anyone going to get a Miranda warning?

I mean, this could work if they let lawyers set up shop at the airport. For a flat fee of $100, you can have a lawyer present during your screening interrogation by the government. We'll all just wait in a line, like the taxis.

[Book Lover]

8. I would say that the interrogation of every single airline passenger

about the details of where they are going and why they are going there is intolerable to a free people. I do not want this country to become like Israel in any way, shape, form, or manner, thank you.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. So you object to a trained person asking you if you actually packed

your bags?

Like standard all over, and real security.

Nah instead let's get in line for sexual battery.

[Book Lover]

15. Does

"Did you pack your own bags?" = "Why are you going to New York City? Who are you going to see there? What are your plans once you get there? Any confirmation of that you can give me?"

No, these queries are not equivalent.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Well then, I guess submit to sexual battery

by the way, israelized means exactly that, did you pack your own bags? Mexico City uses that...

But whatever.

[Mikeystyle]

17. that's not how it works

They ask a few basic questions such as "how are you?" and "did you pack your own bags?" and "have your bags been in your possession the whole time since you packed them?"

It's not about the questions---it's about the behavior. They apparently look people directly in the eyes the entire time and are trained to spot potential troublemakers.

What you envision is some kind if "slippery slope" where they can ask you for evey detail of your personal life---but that's not what it's about.

There is, however a REAL slippery slope in the form of the TSA groping and stories about agents who seem to make up their own rules--probably from a lack of training.

[Kennah]

9. El Al is heavily subsidized, flies only long flights, and no puddle jumpers

On a San Francisco to Los Angeles flight, it ain't gonna work.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Yes it would

but I guess we are happy to reinvent the wheel, and badly mind you.

[superduperfarleft]

14. Yeah, I'll pass on trying to emulate Israel. n/t

[hobbit709]

18. My mother flies to Europe on a regular basis.

She says that nowhere over there is she subjected to the crap that she is subjected to here.

[treestar]

19. People would find those questions intrusive

DU would look roughly the same - complaining about how it violates the Fifth Amendment to be asked so many questions.