Latest Terrorist attempt

[richlevy]

The only danger in profiling is that the bad guys can use it against you. The drug smugglers have certainly learned. The cheap dumb ones get caught with drug mules that pretty much look like drug mules.

In 2003; statistics confirmed that over 50% of foreign females in UK jails were drug mules from Jamaica.[3]. Nigerian women also make a large contribution to the remaining figure.
In all, around 18% of the UK's female jail population are foreigners, 60% of which are serving sentences for drug related offences—most of them drug mules.[4]

All of these people caught and we're still swimming in drugs. If you want to move millions of dollars of drugs or guns up the East coast, do you put it in the trunk of a red sports car full of gangbangers or do you put it in station wagon with Ozzie and Harriet and their kids? You probably run the red car a few miles ahead of Ozzie and Harriet as the cop magnet.

I'm not saying that all profiling is counter-productive, just that it's not perfect and too much reliance on it can create blind spots.

[Shawnee123]

I do not know how anyone could strap a bomb to my person without my knowledge.

[wolf]

Airport is one of my favorite books and favorite movies.

It is often in power rotation on Encore movie channel, so sometimes I'll see it on the channel guide and just flip it on to see where it is, just to catch some of my favorite parts (like Mrs. Quonset explaining how she gets onto planes or the dad in the development off the end of the runway freaking out while he's saying grace). I grew up in Chicago and flew out of O'Hare more times than I can remember, so there's a lot of nostalgia in the movie for me.

I thought it was a watch instantly on netflix, but I can't find it now.

[BrianR]

Our powerful aren't afraid! They fly on private jets.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by BrianR

Our powerful aren't afraid! They fly on private jets.

Or on military jets when Congress wants to cavort in Scotland.

[Cloud]

what no one is saying, and what I really want to know is . . .

did the guy actually blow his dick off?

[TheMercenary]

I think he just burned it really well. Well done.

[Undertoad]

"Well done" as in, no pink left in the middle?

[TheMercenary]

Ok this is just getting stupid. What kind of idiot is in charge of TSA?

WASHINGTON – Some airlines were telling passengers on Saturday that new government security regulations prohibit them from leaving their seats beginning an hour before landing

The regulations are a response to a suspected terrorism incident on Christmas Day.

Air Canada said in a statement that new rules imposed by the Transportation Security Administration limit on-board activities by passengers and crew in U.S. airspace. The airline said that during the final hour of flight passengers must remain seated. They won't be allowed access to carryon baggage or to have any items on their laps.

Flight attendants on some domestic flights are informing passengers of similar rules. Passengers on a flight from New York to Tampa Saturday morning were also told they must remain in their seats and couldn't have items in their laps, including laptops and pillows.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_airlin...ck_regulations

[classicman]

Uh wrong thread - try this one . . . Link

[chrisinhouston]

"Ok this is just getting stupid. What kind of idiot is in charge of TSA?"

I fear the same idiots that got the TSA where they are today! For instance, I've seen several reports that TSA in some airports are not allowing any unmarked bottles of liquid in 3 oz or less size through security in carry on luggage, only commercial name brand bottles. So the TSA previously approved clear bottles sold by travel companies like Magellan and others or the ones you get at sporting goods stores like REI are now obsolete. If the bottle says Pantene Shampoo it is ok because a terrorist would never figure out that they could buy those and replace the contents with chemicals that could be used to make a bomb. This is the same TSA that made sure that anyone buying a one way ticket got extra rigorous searches because anyone with any sense would realize that would be terrorists only need a one way ticket and can save a few bucks on the ticket and not buy a leg they won't ever use.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by BrianR

I don't understand why everyone else has to suffer. Make the terrorists suffer.

I'm glad you know how to identify them. Sell the secret to governments worldwide and you can make a fortune.

Already, I find the security to be overbearing to the point that I don't fly commercial unless it is really necessary. I'm driving to more places that I would have flown to and rented a car before the advent of airline security.

I'm tired of prescreening my luggage. I'm teed off that I can't bring a snack or drink on board with me. I'm sick of ditching my lighter. I don't like moving all metal items to checked baggage prior to the flight. Taking off my shoes is just silly. The delays are onerous. Why in the world should I wait in a two hour line just to get on a plane? Punish the bad guys without making life miserable for everyone.

Yay! You also know how to identify the bad guys! Sell the secret to governments worldwide and you can make a fortune.

Originally Posted by wolf

In addition to the inconvenience of the security screening [snip] I want the TSA to profile the heck out of people ... by behavior as well as demographics.

Funny, profiling by demographics is usually regarded as fascist. I know it fuelled unrest during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

When we're so afraid someone might get their feelings hurt, at the expense of a boatload, um, planeload of innocent people...well, eff that.

You can be all for it, but it doesn't work. Targetting anyone coming into England with an Irish passport/ accent/ name only raised tensions. My friend's husband - a British Citizen of Pakistani parents - was held for hours at US Customs and questioned on everythign from his income to his bank statements. Both are decent Westernised Muslims (she has US nationality) but both were very shaken by the ordeal. I'm not saying check no-one. I'm just saying over-zealous targeting marginalises and potentially crimalises people. And is a far cry from American standards as I have learned them here.

[SamIam]

I think the new rules are just stupid and they wouldn't have stopped this most recent nutter. He didn't get up, but remained seated, and the bomb was in his undies, not a copy of Reader's Digest. Just how unpleasant are they going to make flying, anyhow? You can't use the restroom and you can't even read a book. I'm glad that I no longer have the need to fly anywhere. I'd rather spend 8 hours in a car than 15 minutes on an airplane with these new and ridiculous rules.

[Shawnee123]

There's a bunch of Arabs or Iranians or whatever down at registration, talking furtively. They're probably not terrorists. But how do I know?

I just have to walk by and hope for no bombs. *shrugs* I never used to feel this way about anyone.

Being shaken by an ordeal is a small price to pay, for the safety of those who are just minding their own business in their own homes and places of work.

Like I said, I'll expect the same when I start running around Nigeria or Iraq.

So, deal with it, or don't fly. These are the times we live in. There is a choice, just not that one you all would like.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

Being shaken by an ordeal is a small price to pay, for the safety of those who are just minding their own business in their own homes and places of work.

Sounds similar to what happened to anyone Oriental-looking after Pearl Harbor was bombed.