TSA chief rules out body cavity searches

[somone]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/monitor_breakfast/2010/1122/Video-TSA-chief-rules-out-body-cavity-searches

Video: TSA chief rules out body cavity searches
By Dave Cook, staff writer / November 22, 2010

Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole is careful not to rule out the use of additional security measures at US airports – except to say that body cavity searches were not on the table. At a Monitor-sponsored breakfast with reporters, TSA Administrator Pistole was asked whether the recent public controversy surrounding pat downs and full body scans showed the current government approach to airline security had reached the end of the line...

The TSA chief said his agency tries to address the tension between security and privacy “on an evolving basis.” But he ruled out a move to searching body cavities for bombs, despite reports that terrorists have used that approach.

“Being a risk based intelligence driven organization, the information I have seen out in public about body cavities and bombs I think is perhaps not accurate. There has been reporting about at least one incident involving … the Saudi Deputy Minister of Interior. The forensics on that are not dispositive as to it having been a body cavity,” he said. In 2009, a terrorist blew himself up in an attempt on the life of Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the nation’s anti-terrorism chief. The Prince survived the attack.

Since a body cavity bomb needs an external triggering mechanism, there is a possibility current screening technology would pick up the trigger even though it could not detect explosives hidden in a body cavity. “So we are not going to get in the business of doing body cavities,” Pistol said at breakfast. “That is not where we are.”

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So the asshole rules out body cavity searches.

[ananda]

1. The real issue here is money and access to government.

Who is making money off the machines and the searches?

Haven't two of the guys we know of -- Chertov and Chopra --
been shown to have close ties to government?

I really don't think this issue will be solved until airlines and
the tourist business start losing money.

[Matariki]

2. Christ, the way he so clinically rules that out, without any apparent regard

as to what is REALLY WRONG WITH GOING THERE.

That guy needs to spend 'more time with his family'.

[Demeter]

3. Watching them get traumatized in a "Pat down"

or dying of radiation poisoning from too many scans...

[JBoy]

4. TSA Chief "Won't tutch teh but".

[quinnox]

5. Sure he does, and when the next terrorists puts a bomb there

and is either caught or successfully boards a plane, then the policy will be "re-evaluated".

Bend over guys and gals, in the name of security we have to check you out thoroughly

[Lars39]

6. "See, it could be much worse for everybody, so stfu about the pat downs"

[guardian]

7. Wow! That's encouraging (SARCASM)

Sounds like if the TSA thinks someone can come up with an triggering mechanism that is internal to the body then body cavity searches will be "on the table." Pistole and Napolitano are Fascist assholes!!!!!!!!!!

Just wait till TSA starts screening people at

* Bus stops
* train stations
* subway stations
* shopping malls
* super markets
* public schools

To use their "logic" you don't have a constitutional right

* to fly
* to ride a bus
* to ride the subway
* to shop at a mall
* to go to the supermarket

Remember "safety" is paramount. According to Janet "lumberjack" Napoliano regarding a wholesale violation of your civil rights

"then don't fly if you don't like it"
"then don't ride the bus if you don't like it"
"then don't ride the subway if you don't like it"
"then don't shop if you don't like it"
"then don't buy food if you don't like it"

Oh yes. Napolitano, senior politburo officials, and Senators and Congressmen are exempt from the searches...searches and fingers up the butt are just for the LITTLE PEOPLE.

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. You KNOW there are plenty of people here who think that will never happen.

They forget that TSA started out just using metal detectors.
Then moving to having us remove our shoes.
then forbidding liquids.
And all during that time there was the opportunity to avoid the security areas by signing up for fingerprinting and iris scans
and being put on a "safe" list.
( what ever happened to that option, anyhow???).

Then Chertoff and his gang brought out the scanners and suddenly it is now a choice of "enhanced" pat downs or radiation.
( what is it about these goons that they love the word "enhanced" so much?)

And STILL people will drag their kids thru these airports!

The people who REALLY understand what is happening are not flying, believe me.

those who ARE flying and complaining are just making noise. TSA knows the blather is meaningless.

As long as you show up for oppression, it will continue.

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.

[mainer]

8. How hard is it to have an internal triggering device?

I don't understand why a terrorist couldn't rig one up.

[Lance_Boyle]

10. 'not on the table'

Yes - these will be done in the stirrups.

[woo me with science]

11. How magnanimous of him.

I can't believe that is a fucking headline in the United States of America. :grr: :puke:

[woo me with science]

12. And notice the rationale:

"Since a body cavity bomb needs an external triggering mechanism, there is a possibility current screening technology would pick up the trigger even though it could not detect explosives hidden in a body cavity. 'So we are not going to get in the business of doing body cavities,' Pistol said at breakfast. "

They will not do them now because the structure of the bombs renders them unnecessary, not because doing so would be WRONG.


Who knows what this guy will consider necessary when the next threat comes along?

[woo me with science]

13. K&R nt

[Leftist Agitator]

14. "Since a body cavity bomb needs an external triggering mechanism..."

What fucking fantasy world did they dream this up in?

Though I'm not a terrorist (nor an expert with explosives), I can state with absolute certainty that this is bullshit.

Lead Azide or Mercury Fulminate will detonate a high explosive charge, and there are ways to trigger the detonation of those initiating primary explosive that would be safely ensconced in a cavity of one's body. Hell, the chemicals involved aren't even dangerous through skin contact. A simple exothermic reaction would do the trick, and there are innumerable ways to generate sufficient heat to cause the detonation of the primary. No discomfort would be involved until moments before the primary (and secondary) were at the point of detonation.

And after that, you'd be dead, and probably wouldn't notice or care about the severe internal burns that you would suffer...


It's not about safety, it's about control.


On Edit: And what if the hypothetical terrorist has a neatly wrapped package containing the entire apparatus secreted in their vagina or anus? Then all it would take is a trip to the lavatory to assemble the device. And all the sexually assaulting pat downs and porno scanners in the world wouldn't be able to do a goddamned thing to stop it.

Again, it is NOT about safety, it is about CONTROL.

[unblock]

15. "tsa chief draws roadmap for next terrorist attack"

"have no fear, dear terrorists, we will not look over here!"



it's the incompetence, stupid!

of course i agree that widespread cavity searches are even more ludicrous than the gropedowns, but announcing it is absurdly incompetent.

[tblue37]

16. For now. nt

[damntexdem]

17. So TSA has caved on cavity searches?

;-)

[LisaL]

18. See, we are getting somewhere.

:rofl:

[northernlights]

19. here comes the tampon bomb.....nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

20. Why would he even go there? So the thought actually crossed his mind?

:wtf: