Michael Chertoff Does Not Feel Foolish
I just noticed I was quoted by Peter Robinson in last Thursday's installment of Uncommon Knowledge. Peter had solicited questions for his guest, Michael Chertoff (former Homeland Security Director) from us, the Ricochetoise. My question was, basically, did he feel foolish enforcing HS rules in airport security.
I have a few reactions to Chertoff's response:
I wonder how many of us are satisfied with Chertoff's answer. I told two co-workers of mine (both left-of-center politically) about the video and they had nothing good to say about it."Half-truths"; "deflections"; and "infants on the no-fly list". That sort of thing.
I'm very flattered I was quoted by Peter. I'm a hero here at work now.
I hear all the time that the Israelis are more businesslike and efficient at airport security. Their agents are well-trained at profiling, using a wide (and secret) set of criteria for identifying risks. Is that a myth? If not, why can't we emulate them? That's the question I wish (now) I had asked.
Peter: I pronounce my moniker as "fred - oh - sphere." Don't feel bad that you got it wrong; I can see why you misread it, and anyway, I'm kind of glad: if "Frodosphere" ends up on the no-fly list, as I expect it will now, it won't cause me any trouble.
Is Peter Robinson such an effective and accomplished person because he is actually one of a set of identical (conjoined?) quintuplets?. . . .
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Jan '11
Re: Michael Chertoff Does Not Feel Foolish
I was not pleased with Chertoff's answer. He pointed out that threats continue; e.g. shoe bomber. Has HS at an airport ever caught a potential evil doer?
Re: Michael Chertoff Does Not Feel Foolish
Next time, I'll pronounce it correctly. Promise.
By the way, what did you think of Chertoff's remarks about achieving "operational control" of our southern border? Better?
May '10
Re: Michael Chertoff Does Not Feel Foolish
Peter Robinson: Next time, I'll pronounce it correctly. Promise.
By the way, what did you think of Chertoff's remarks about achieving "operational control" of our southern border? Better? · Jun 7 at 4:46pm
So, that's a promise there will be a next time? Yeeeee-hoo!
I'll have to run that phrase "operational control" through my bureaucratese-to-English translator to be sure, but it sounds like an unnecessarily weaselly way of making the mundane point that we can never achieve a perfectly sealed border, but we can get reasonably close.
That was a disappointment, but his unequivocal support for border control first then amnesty second was a relief. That means there's at least one Washingtonian not directly accountable to voters who still can think sensibly.
Would you agree? Or has my tone been too snarky all along? (I sensed a bit of impatience in your voice in the interview, Peter.)
Oct '10
Re: Michael Chertoff Does Not Feel Foolish
I have listened to this interview twice, and my conclusion is that Chertoff is the most egregious political hack ever to have been interviewed on “Uncommon Knowledge”. When questioned about the security theatre at the airports and he replied (I'm paraphrasing from memory—I cannot abide another play-through) “I go through those lines too”, I expected Peter to skewer him with his rising pitch, “That is outrageous! Are you seriously asserting that because you also endure this absurdity which has not identified a single terrorist, that citizens abused by this process should passively accept their humiliation at the hands of employees of the agency you used to head?”
Alas, that did not happen. This guy and his employees are collaborators, and should be treated as such.
His dissembling about the southern border was equally surreal. If the U.S. has the resources to invade, impose regime change, and nation-build in two lands on the other side of the globe, how difficult can it be to stop an invasion of its own territory across a border entirely under its own control?
Edited on Jun 7, 2011 at 5:38pmNov '10
Re: Michael Chertoff Does Not Feel Foolish
It's a perfect example of the absurdity of that system. Every time the former secretary of Homeland Security has to go through those lines, resources are wasted checking someone who will never, ever, ever try to crash a plane into a building.
Sep '10
Re: Michael Chertoff Does Not Feel Foolish
I haven't watched this but I loathe Chertoff . Apparently by the comments he hasn't changed.
May '10
Re: Michael Chertoff Does Not Feel Foolish
Comments above are an insult to a good man.
"If not, why can't we emulate (the Israelis)?" Because 1) there are a myriad of civil rights attorneys here who sue at the drop of a profile; 2) because the privacy zealots- the same people who constantly skewer the PATRIOT Act as though it is an unprecedented invasion of privacy- would never permit it; it may improve- ask Stewart Baker.
The comment about standing in the same lines for the same procedures at foreign airports was derided. These are speed bumps, defense in depth- no one process stops everyone, all of them together have a synergistic effect on the risk. This is not unique to the US- how long has it been since any of you went through airport security and got scanned or patted down in England or China? Inchon? Is every other country in the world, almost all with larger concerns than even our own, led by idiots, who somehow coincidentally hit on the same asinine ideas?
Chertoff built major portions of fencing by standing tall and waiving environmental impact statements and lawsuits from left and right. If he was still there, the border would be quite different.
Jul '10
Re: Michael Chertoff Does Not Feel Foolish
Is that a fair standard? It seems to me that deterrence is part of the game. Make it a pain, or awkward and lots of punks just won't bother.
Whatever one thinks about age limits and alcohol, the fact of the matter is that cashiers rarely sell booze to 12-year-olds and 12-year-olds rarely test cashiers.
There's all sorts of bureaucratic nonsense that results, of course.
DHS is full of bureaucratic nonsense.
But, there is something to be said for discouraging wannabee evil doers. Isn't there?
Dec '10
Re: Michael Chertoff Does Not Feel Foolish
Palaeologus
Is that a fair standard? It seems to me that deterrence is part of the game. Make it a pain, or awkward and lots of punks just won't bother.
The same could be said of potential airline passengers.
Last month, I needed to go to MN (from MO) for a job interview.
After running the numbers (flying vs driving), it turned out that it would only take ~1.5-2 hrs longer to drive than to fly. It was basically a wash, both time and money wise. As my old man would say, "Six of one, a half dozen the other."
Then I thought about how much of a PITA flying is.
I drove.
It was awesome. No one touched my junk or made me turn my cell phone off. Nobody charged me extra to put my bag in the trunk. I drank and ate whatever and whenever I cared to, and most importantly, I was the master of my own destiny.
As an added bonus, I did all that with my 1911 in it's holster, and my Benchmade knife in my pocket. I also had a bottle of shampoo over 4ozs in volume and a for-real pair of fingernail clippers.
Try getting THOSE past the crack agents of the TSA.
Edited on Jun 7, 2011 at 9:35pmOct '10
Re: Michael Chertoff Does Not Feel Foolish
Yes, and No. Yes every other country in the world has taken the same idiotic approach to security theatre. No, this is not a coincidence (but a matter of reciprocal and international agreements).
In the comparatively care-free days of 2006 the TSA alone screened over 700 million passengers. Even taking their measurement of average waiting time (3.79 minutes) that's FIVE THOUSAND YEARS of passenger - mainly citizen - waiting time. How many plots need to be 'deterred' to make that a worthwhile use of time, money and freedom?
The analogy to selling alcohol to 12-year olds (pace Palaeologus) would be valid if everyone, no matter how obviously not 12 years old, had to spend 4 minutes convincing a state official of that fact every time they wanted a drink.
I have nothing to say about Mr Chertoff as a man, but the system is screwed up.
Jun '10
Re: Michael Chertoff Does Not Feel Foolish
CoolHand
The same could be said of potential airline passengers.
Last month, I needed to go to MN (from MO) for a job interview.
After running the numbers (flying vs driving), it turned out that it would only take ~1.5-2 hrs longer to drive than to fly.
Geeze, how many layovers would you have cool hand.... isn't that like a 11 hour drive....
Have you seen the "Don't tread on me" flag with the words replaced with "don't touch my junk." There's always money in the bumper sticker business...
Mar '11
Re: Michael Chertoff Does Not Feel Foolish
Of all the people I have seen interviewed by Peter Robinson, Mr. Chertoff was the most political and least pleasing. To my surprise, that includes Donald Rumsfeld, to whom I have been exposed in his former working environment, and for whom I - unlike many conservatives - have a strong dislike . Donald came off slightly better than his former Secretarial self.
A close friend of mine worked in a very senior position directly for Mr. Chertoff in DHS. I found his very uncharitable estimation of Chertoff's abilities and character - unusual for him to be that critical of an individual - hard to reconcile with Certoff's public persona. Peter's interview, however, made clear the defects in character and ability my friend outlined for me about Mr. Chertoff.
The thing that really floored me was Mr. Chertoff's seemingly unconditional support for his successor, the deplorable Janet Napolitano. That really took the cake. I suppose he might have voiced those opinions out a sort of "noblesse oblige" for a fellow politician, but in a way that makes it worse - the elites sticking together against the foolish cant of the underclass. Sigh. A very discouraging interview, all in all.
May '10
Re: Michael Chertoff Does Not Feel Foolish
genferei
Yes, and No. Yes every other country in the world has taken the same idiotic approach to security theatre. No, this is not a coincidence (but a matter of reciprocal and international agreements).
In the comparatively care-free days of 2006 the TSA alone screened over 700 million passengers. Even taking their measurement of average waiting time (3.79 minutes) that's FIVE THOUSAND YEARS of passenger - mainly citizen - waiting time. How many plots need to be 'deterred' to make that a worthwhile use of time, money and freedom?..................
I have nothing to say about Mr Chertoff as a man, but the system is screwed up. · Jun 8 at 12:13am
Read my lips. I still have not seen a single substantive proposal that 1) scales the Israeli approach up effectively, and 2) satisfies the privacy advocates.
Sometimes there are no easy answers, period. Conservatives should get over it and concentrate on important matters like tossing Obama out.
I repeat, read Stewart Baker- free.