TSA / "security theatre"

Remember the color-coded "terror alerts"?

It was like a weather forecast for terrorism:

"Today we're in Orange, which means a 66% chance of scattered terrorism in the North East with rising terror temperatures over the weekend. Looking at our map, we can see a high pressure system of moderate Islam will be coming in from the West pushing that uncomfortable damp radicalism out into the Atlantic. So we should be in Green at the start of next week with sunny skies, mild temperatures and perhaps only a slight chance of terrorism, hi-jackings or dirty bomobs toward the rush hour of humpday next week!"

reply share

add reply

formatting help

The Iraq invasion was planned by the neocons in advance. They thought they could democratize the Middle East and they would use any excuse they could get to start it.

The airport security efforts are mostly politically correct theater. By not targeting the security efforts on Muslims a lot of money is wasted.

DHS has been successful in preventing many terror plots in the US and abroad. There is a low level civil war in Europe between Muslims and anyone else, and in the Middle East the war is also between Muslim factions.

reply share

add reply

formatting help

But, odd to say, I think it bears pointing out that the TSA does actually confiscate quite a few guns each month.

to be fair, in testing (which the gov't is stupid enough to tell everyone about!), they also miss a lot of (fake) guns, and simulated bombs designed to test them, but...
that being said, so, what's his solution? I agree about putting money into intelligence, and trying to stop threats before they even get to the airport (and he didn't even touch things like trains and buses, and those stations), but, does he think we just shouldn't have any security checking passengers' persons and baggage? does he think the terrorists will just see all that disappear, and think, 'too easy,' and not even try? (this is the same type of thinking that says that legalizing drugs won't lead to more drug use...yeah, tell that to the Netherlands, and Colorado!)

also, neither he, nor we, nor the government, can know how many terrorists the TSA's presence at airports have stopped from even trying, it's a negative, you can't prove it, it could be zero, it could be thousands

he also notes that the TSA didn't stop the underwear bomber, or the shoe bomber....those flights did not originate in the US, they were flying into the US from abroad, and, as far as I know, the TSA is only in the US, and we can't do more than strongly suggest (and probably give them US taxpayer money to implement...which probably goes into some corrupt officials' pockets) security techniques to other countries, or try to ban flights from those countries from entering the US, if they don't match up to our level of security

he mentioned the TSA confiscating 'fake' or 'replica' weapons....he didn't mention whether those 'replicas', in the case of knives or swords, are, though not actual/original (something that only matters to collectors, in regards to their value), are metal and sharp...now, if we're talking Nerf 'swords' or bright pink guns, which are clearly plastic, with, say, a solid barrel, then yes, that's the TSA being overbearing, useless dicks, but, guess what, a replica sword made in 2005, that's heavy, and sharpened, can stab you just as well as the ancient original

reply share

add reply

formatting help

about the security seals on pills -
you know who probably wishes there had been seals on pills sooner? the families of the people who were killed by the Tylenol guy, and the people who were sickened, but survived...what an idiotic mindset, that, because only one crazy guy (and some copycats) did something once, that's no reason to do a logical step to aid in food/medicine security? because, it could, like, totally never happen again, especially since we caught the guy and executed him, so he can't ever do it again, oh, wait, we didn't, so, had precautions not been created and implemented, who knows, maybe he would've done it again, and again, and again...Adam, how many times and dead people are enough for you to believe that it's time to secure the food, drinks, and medicine we ingest?

the 'crazy guy' in the ep also suggested he could just use a syringe to pierce the safety seal...um, I'd hope most people would notice the hole

there have only been a few attempted and successful presidential assassinations, out of over 40 presidents, should we just chuck their Secret Service details?

yes, I know we're usually playing 'catch up' as far as security goes, doing things to counter methods of attack that have already happened, but, a) that doesn't mean they won't be tried again, and, b) yeah, sorry, we're not psychic, and most people don't think like evil killers, so we can't always anticipate how someone's going to try to harm or kill others, so 'fighting the last war' is often the best we can do, and it's better than nothing

his final conclusion seemed to be that, overall, chances are, you life is safe & great, so just trust people & chill....well, Adam, con artists, criminals, and terrorists depend on that trust and willing obliviousness to accomplish their missions, so, thanks, but I'll stay vigilant, you can thank me later

and, hey, Adam, if you really think safety seals are useless, eat Turkey Hill ice cream, they have some belief that there's a 'bond' created between the ice cream, and the inside of the paper lid, and that, once you open it, it would be noticeable as having been opened, if anyone was trying to tamper with it...and if you think that's good enough, then, bon appetit!

reply share

add reply

formatting help

My cousin works in a classified position with the NSA. She says: "We're not safe. No one is. It's all basically just BS".

-----

Shooting has started on my latest movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5531336/

reply share

add reply

formatting help