The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
I just flew out of San Francisco and opted out of the nude scan they do. I always opt out of the nude scan but today it had an added bonus of getting me through the line quicker. The naked scan machine in my line had some kind of backlog and so I notified the guy at the front of the line that I'd be opting out in any case -- I flew right through security. Partly that was because my assigned TSA massage therapist was not doing her job as thoroughly as others have. I've been left in tears before by an over-aggressive freedom fondle (in Philadelphia, if you're curious). Here it was a minor inconvenience. Sure, she glided her hands over and under my bosom, but she left other zones more or less untouched.
There is a lack of consistency in airport security, you all have noticed. Over at Bloomberg, Jeffrey Goldberg interviews John Pistole, the TSA’s administrator, who formerly helped lead the FBI’s counterterrorism efforts, about the latest al Qaeda underwear bomb plot. It turns out that the underwear plans we intercepted showed that someone could set off a bomb wearing nothing other than typical-feeling underpants. He leaves open the possibility that TSA screening might have found a bomb such as this, but it's hardly even close to a probability.
Since it is intelligence, and never TSA screening, that leads to success in the Global War on Terror, Goldberg has some additional thoughts:
As a frequent flier who generally chooses the pat-down over the scanner (I find the scanner even more humiliating than a federally funded groping), I can say that on some occasions the manual search I experienced was so rote that I could have passed through security with a bag of grenades down my pants. And the devil’s workshop operating in Yemen under al-Asiri’s direction is the obsession of counterterrorist forces worldwide precisely because it is focused on designing a bomb that will defeat airport security.
Which suggests an obvious conclusion: The existence of this latest iteration of the underwear bomb is, as the security expert Bruce Schneier argues, an advertisement against increased airport security -- not in favor of it.
The chance that the government would actually ratchet back security is close to nil. But when even the head of the TSA admits that its technology might not be able to stop innovative new bombs, it might be time to look at our counterterrorism spending priorities -- and focus more resources on stopping embryonic plots and less on harassing my mother-in-law.
The operation against AQAP’s newest bomb was a success precisely because it took place so close to the source of the plot. As Schneier points out, terrorism isn’t easy. Most plots fail, and fail early. If an underwear bomber reaches an airport, and is only a couple of hours away from boarding a plane he plans to destroy, it means that he and his co-conspirators have brought a complicated plan to maturity despite the best efforts of the most sophisticated counterterrorism campaign in history.
In other words, if the only thing standing between the bomber and his target is a TSA pat-down, bet on the bomber.
The more I travel, the more I have come to the understanding that TSA and its groping and nude scans are little more than extremely expensive and invasive security talismans -- objects and rituals that are designed to make us feel safer as opposed to be safer. Unfortunately, these are talismans that many love and value. Something tells me we'll never be rid of them.
- Comment (55)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
Comments:
Jul '10
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
There is a good reason airport security is compared to a kabuki dance. All of the abuse we've endured from these tweezer searchers and not ONE terrorist has been caught yet. Sure they found some drugs and some jerks with weapons, but so far there is no sign they caught a single terrorist due to security in the airport alone. Or even at a security checkpoint at all. Am I wrong?
May '11
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
I love the concept of freedom fondled. I suppose that is a derivation of freedom fries. The nude scan you describe is really not that. Initially it did create a crude image that reproduced your nude body appearance but I believe subtraction technology now produces an image of everything left on top of your body, not the body itself. A diaper with plastic explosives may still look like an extra thick diaper, which is the reason the latest bomb attempt was problematic. Still, there might be a righteous point in submitting to a freedom fondle. I so seldom ever get fondled enough.
May '10
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
Once a government program is initiated it never gets smaller and/or saner. It only gets bigger and crazier.
Sep '11
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
All of these security measures have caused me to fear boarding a plane with my husband. He hasn't flown in years, but we will be flying in the near future. He totally refuses to be scanned; he says that the TSA agents can pat him down, but in his words, "If they grab my ----, I will punch them in the mouth. End of story." My husband isn't usually a violent person, but I am seriously afraid that our next trip will be cut short by arrest and assault charges.
Jun '10
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
The TSA is focused on the wrong goal.
We had hijackings and bombings before 9/11 and we didn't overreact. The game changed because the hijackers flew the planes into buildings.
The proper response to this was already figured out that same day by the passengers of Flight 93: fight back. Under no circumstances allow hijackers to fly the plane.
The goal of the TSA should be prevent terrorists from using planes as flying bombs:
Oct '10
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
The TSA truly is theatre and a make work project to enhance a false premise of competence.
The last time one flew, there happened to a block of Tillamook cheese in the carry on bag. Now that experience provided a volume of data on TSA responses. Something to avoid.
Mar '11
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
Even denoting this nonsense as talismans gives it a dignity that is in no way justified. ScD. Schneier is entirely correct in his analysis, this is "security theatre" an expensive, pointless, civil liberty destroying absurdity.
Consider this simple proof, even if this nonsense achieved anything international travel is governed by completely different criteria so it is moot regardless. Richard Reid, the "shoe bomber" was flying in from Paris. He was not stopped by a meaningless TSA sexual assault, he was stopped by the other passengers on board that plane.
Edited on May 22, 2012 at 3:56amMar '11
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
Not remotely, you can see the results on their "handiwork" on the TSA's own blog:
This is all in their own words, this is what that agency is proud of.
Sep '11
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
The more I travel, the more I have come to the understanding that TSA and its groping and nude scans are little more than extremely expensive and invasive security talismans -- objects and rituals that are designed to make us feel safer as opposed to be safer. . · · 1 hour ago
Or are they designed to accustom you to the idea that you have no rights over your own body?
Oct '10
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
I've not flown outside the U.S. for a year, but I remember one time having to do both the scanner and the pat-down. Anyway, I prefer the scanner; that they use the same gender for the pat-down is not helpful if you are bisexual, it just means you don't want either gender touching you there.
Very creepy.
Dec '10
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
The only way any of this is ever going to change is to vote with your feet and your pocketbooks.
STOP FLYING. Encourage those around you to stop flying.
When the airlines start to take it in the shorts due to reduced revenues, they will do the heavy lifting RE the TSA for us.
We need some kind of force multiplier though, because for every one of us lamenting the loss of liberty, there's three to five jibbering jackasses whispering "it makes me feel so safe" to themselves as they're having their "luggage" juggled.
The sheep will always outnumber the sheep dogs, so in a purely democratic scenario, we will always lose.
We need to learn from our unhinged friends on the left and find a way to applied leveraged force against the airlines until they do our bidding.
Edited on May 22, 2012 at 4:50amMay '11
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
The TSA is not about airport (or any other place) security. The TSA is about government employees who will vote for liberal causes...period. That's why the Democrats insisted they be government employees and not private and why they are unionized.
Mar '11
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
"Freedom Fondle" !
Mollie, my gosh have you the meme on that one! I've never heard it called that before but by golly I'll be using that expression from now on. Prior to that I would have assumed the expression had something to do with, umm, exotic dancing.
I will go through the nudie scanners only because I dislike the T&A and I figure that my figure will be burned into their minds causing nightmares for years to come. Payback I say.
Dec '10
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
Heh. I just used the words "do our bidding" in a totally serious manner.
I must now append on the evil maniacal laughter such a line deserves:
"Muahhahahahaahahahahahhhhhaaaaaaaa. . ."
There, I feel better now.
Apr '11
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
I am no fan of the TSA and agree that much of what they do is Kabuki. However, "As Schneier points out, terrorism isn’t easy. Most plots fail, and fail early. "
That means even if the TSA will only find 50% of bombers that might be too large a risk for the terrorists. Why go through all that trouble for a 50% chance of success? Why not send 10 terrorist you say? Well if TSA catches the first one chances are they might find the other 9 and instead of a great victory the terrorist would suffer a great humiliation.
So the TSA does not need to find 100% of bombs to deter terrorists. The fact that they had to go through so much trouble to build the latest underwear bomb, greatly increased the chances of the plot being discovered.
Imagine if the terrorist had a 90% chance of getting through TSA. Their calculations would change dramatically.
Edited on May 22, 2012 at 5:16amMay '10
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
As long as the TSA exists, I will know that America's political leadership is not serious about freedom.
CoolHand: The only way any of this is ever going to change is to vote with your feet and your pocketbooks.
STOP FLYING. Encourage those around you to stop flying. ...
Agreed.
This would require many people to change careers because their jobs depend upon fast and regular travel. But they are a minority. Most people airline customers fly because they want to (because it's convenient), not because they need to.
Feb '11
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
CoolHand: The only way any of this is ever going to change is to vote with your feet and your pocketbooks.
... find a way to applied leveraged force against the airlines until they do our bidding.
I'd pay an extra $20 for a ticket that included NO security screening. Yes, I'd pay extra to take my chances on a plane where no one had security screening. If we had that sort of option, perhaps enough people would choose it to send the right message.
Mar '11
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
Let us accept your logic for a second. It still makes no sense whatsoever. The TSA does not uncover 50% of al-Qaeda plots. Nor does it uncover 40%, nor 30%, nor 20%, nor even %10 what the TSA uncovers is 0%, absolutely nothing! With an annual budget of over $8 billion dollars the TSA has not uncovered one single terrorist.
Every single attempted attack here on the homefront has been deterred by the FBI, the CIA, the the NSA or local law enforcement. The TSA does nothing.
Edited on May 22, 2012 at 5:28amJul '11
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
Mollie, I'm sure I'd do a better job but I charge more.
Apr '11
Re: The Limitations Of The Freedom Fondle
If Al Qaida are spending their resources on making bombs that evade TSA restrictions, I don't see how that is an argument against the TSA. If wannabe terrorists in Brooklyn find out from the news that the TSA restrictions are useless, because any AQ terrorist with connections to this dude in Yemen can still take down the plane using their sophisticated technology, this is a very good thing.
Anything that persuades the guy in Brooklyn that he, the guy in Brooklyn, can't do it (because he hasn't earned the trust of the dude in Yemen), makes a difference to our security. In Iraq, we had pretty similarly easily avoidable security, but it turns out that security theater works. There are two ways of preventing deaths to terrorists; make yourself a hard enough target that they actually can't hit you, and persuade them that they shouldn't even try. For all the zero efforts stopped being unimpressive, zero efforts succeeding is probably the more important stat; it's not for want of trying.
This isn't to say it's worth it, but the suggestion that there is no trade-off goes too far.