75% of bombs not detected at airports

[cannon_fodder]

In a test 75% of bombs were able to be smuggled onto airplanes at LAX.  60% in Chicago.  The failure rate before the Feds took it over and new draconian measures were put in place was 40%.

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20071018/1a_lede18_dom.art.htm

Read that again, at LAX you have a 75% chance of success in smuggling guns, drugs or bombs onto an airplane.    60% in Chicago.   That's ~50% WORSE than when it was private, less intrusive, less expensive, less delayed, and generally less paid attention to.

All hail government effectiveness.  All hail the illusion of safety!  Now get in line and take your shoes off, and off course you can't bring that shampoo on board.

[Townsend]

I feel much safer now.  The new security measures have made me fly less.

[Hometown]

We have wasted so much money in the hysteria that has followed 9/11.  In the Bay Area they kept National Guard posted on the bridges for months and I would drive past and think, "now what are these guys going to be able see with thousands of cars constantly rushing past them."  It was all for show, and unfortunately show cost a lot of money and didn't accomplish much.  

Clearly the answer is technology and if the wasted money had been put into technology from the get go we would be much further along than we are.

I am still haunted by the image of that nice, middle-class woman being held down by fat airport guards in Phoenix and her screaming to anyone that would listen; "I am not a terrorist," shortly before she was found dead in the holding cell.

We've all heard stories of grandmothers being strip searched at airports, et cetera.

Our Republican leadership has created a lot of fear and unfortunately not the kind of security we really need.

[cannon_fodder]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown


Our Republican leadership has created a lot of fear and unfortunately not the kind of security we really need.

and our republican leadership has thus far done nothing to roll back the arbitrary "security" measures.  I don't think this is one party or the other (though I give it to you on fear mongering on the Repubs side on Terror, though I counter with Climate Change on the Dems side).  Basically, playing off of fear is the oldest political trick in the book.

It works best with the stupid, naive, and trusting.  Apparently most Americans are in there somewhere.   [xx(]

[NellieBly]

I have always felt much safer flying knowing that the person sitting next to me doesn't have toothpaste in their carry-on.

[Conan71]

This is one example of where the terrorists DID win...

[PonderInc]

On the bright side, 98% of cologne and deodorant was identified and successfully confiscated!

100% of Dr. Scholl's arch supports were inspected and found to be harmless.

[waterboy]

The airports probably aren't even their number one target now. This is guerilla type stuff. You don't attack where they're looking for you.

I would be more worried about hospitals, festivals, stadiums, dams, refineries and harbors. Stuff that no one really expects but are easy as hell to do and cause tremendous emotional damage.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

The airports probably aren't even their number one target now. This is guerilla type stuff. You don't attack where they're looking for you.

I would be more worried about hospitals, festivals, stadiums, dams, refineries and harbors. Stuff that no one really expects but are easy as hell to do and cause tremendous emotional damage.

I don't know about other major dam projects, but when we drove over Hoover Dam last year, they had check points several miles before you cross the dam.

The only two large sporting events I've been to other than the Jenks/Union game since 9/11 have been a pair of NASCAR races.  All the gate security does there is make it a minor PITA to get in and causes longer lines.

[Wilbur]

The article says:

Screeners at Los Angeles International Airport missed about 75% of simulated explosives and bomb parts that Transportation Security Administration testers hid under their clothes or in carry-on bags at checkpoints, the TSA report shows.

Not sure where we got GUNS and DRUGS out of that little article.  The guns are easy to find.  Drugs are not (by x-ray) and explosive compounds are not.  Bomb parts can be difficult because most look like any other electronic parts people carry on planes.

[guido911]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

quote:Originally posted by Hometown


Our Republican leadership has created a lot of fear and unfortunately not the kind of security we really need.

and our republican leadership has thus far done nothing to roll back the arbitrary "security" measures.  I don't think this is one party or the other (though I give it to you on fear mongering on the Repubs side on Terror, though I counter with Climate Change on the Dems side).  Basically, playing off of fear is the oldest political trick in the book.

It works best with the stupid, naive, and trusting.  Apparently most Americans are in there somewhere.   [xx(]

Wrong CF, it's the republicans and Bush's fault--always. The sooner you acknowledge this, the better off you will be.

[waterboy]

Smaller dams are better targets. The Keystone would be ideal, with a large metro downstream. Many of those kinds of flood control dams across the midwest. Look at what the levees failing did to New Orleans. Those are examples of thoughtful targets that are poorly defended and fairly easy to bring down. You need look no farther than OU's exploding student to realize how much damage could have been done had he and a few buddies been sitting in the stands.

But a hospital would be ideal. Simply put on scrubs, walk into key areas like ICU, Pediatrics, cafeteria, lab, or the parking garages and detonate. Refineries? Put on a hard hat and a jumpsuit and walk right in. So many targets, so little defense.

Out of curiosity...did they ever arrest anyone for the expressway shootings here in Tulsa last summer? The ones where they camped behind bridge abutments and sniped at random drivers?

[Breadburner]

I wonder if the Hoover Dam bypass has been completed....

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by Breadburner

I wonder if the Hoover Dam bypass has been completed....

They had columns up early last Nov. No decking at that time.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

Smaller dams are better targets. The Keystone would be ideal, with a large metro downstream. Many of those kinds of flood control dams across the midwest. Look at what the levees failing did to New Orleans. Those are examples of thoughtful targets that are poorly defended and fairly easy to bring down. You need look no farther than OU's exploding student to realize how much damage could have been done had he and a few buddies been sitting in the stands.

But a hospital would be ideal. Simply put on scrubs, walk into key areas like ICU, Pediatrics, cafeteria, lab, or the parking garages and detonate. Refineries? Put on a hard hat and a jumpsuit and walk right in. So many targets, so little defense.

Out of curiosity...did they ever arrest anyone for the expressway shootings here in Tulsa last summer? The ones where they camped behind bridge abutments and sniped at random drivers?

That's the spirit Waterboy, give 'em a few ideas!
[8D]