TSA Chief Admits He Withheld Information on Pat-Downs
Monday 22 November 2010
by: Tony Pugh | McClatchy Newspapers | Report
An airline passenger receives a full pat-down by a TSA employee. (Photo: ralphbod)
Washington - Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole said on Monday that he disregarded internal advice to the contrary and decided not to tell the public in advance about aggressive new screening and pat-down procedures for airline passengers, fearing terrorists could try to exploit the information.
In an hour-long discussion with reporters, Pistole said media officials at the Department of Homeland Security had urged him to “get out ahead” of the potential controversy by formally announcing plans for enhanced body searches and the use of new x-ray and radio-wave imaging devices at 70 airports beginning in November.
But doing so would have provided a “roadmap or blueprint for terrorists” to avoid detection by using other airports where the new technology wasn’t in place, Pistole said.
Rather than publicize the changes, Pistole said he made a “risk-based” decision to roll it out first and “try to educate the public after we did that.”
The result has been a firestorm of criticism from lawmakers and passengers who claim the technology and aggressive searches are unnecessary, intrusive and a violation of their privacy rights.
With the Thanksgiving travel crush beginning on Wednesday, several groups are urging fliers to boycott the new procedures on that day, when millions of people will jam airports to travel for the holiday weekend.
The controversy prompted Pistole on Sunday to pledge to make security checks “as minimally invasive as possible.” But today, Pistole noted any modifications would come over the long-term and not in time to affect holiday travelers this week.
On the prospect of a protest Wednesday, Pistole said he doesn’t know what to expect of the protest, but that he worries for passengers who could “miss a flight because a group of people are blocking access or because they’re taking extended periods of time,” with the protest.
“I feel bad for those people who would not be protesting and just want to get home to have time with loved ones for the holidays,” Pistole said.
Because many passengers haven’t yet experienced the new measures, TSA will air public service announcements at the airports that explain the new procedures. They’ve also posted a new website video that outlines the security measures and options for passengers who chose a pat-down search instead of the screening devices.
While the busiest travel day of the year could be “potentially complicated by the protest,” Pistole said the TSA would be fully staffed and prepared to handle all complaints.
“We’ll see what happens,” Pistole added.
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Comments
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Then, it's time for Pistole
Mon, 11/22/2010 - 14:29 — Vic Anderson (not verified)Then, it's time for Pistole to be put down by Obama!
Why don't you guys at
Mon, 11/22/2010 - 15:59 — FugginSuggin.com (not verified)Why don't you guys at Truthout utilize your resources to really get to the bottom of who is making money off this TSA scandal.
There are only two companies set to prosper, but there have to be many individuals with their hands in the pot. Check it out.
http://www.fugginsuggin.com/2010/11/microwave-or-grope.html
Earlier implementation or
Mon, 11/22/2010 - 17:41 — Anonymous (not verified)Earlier implementation or discussion may have also brought these issues into the election campaign where voters may have been able to have a say.
But what exactly does he mean by saying that an announcement ahead of time would have provided a “roadmap or blueprint for terrorists” to avoid detection by using other airports where the new technology wasn’t in place"? They've been openly publishing lists for a week describing which airports have what, aren't those also roadmaps? These reporters at these press conferences do a terrible job.
Well, the terrorists have a
Mon, 11/22/2010 - 18:07 — KP Stoller, MD (not verified)Well, the terrorists have a road-map now... they know that the only way to get C-4 past TSA is to put it in condoms and stick it up their butts or if female the vaginal cavity.
This is a tired an true method being used everyday for cocaine and heroin. So, explosives will be next.
Are TSA proctoscopic exams or pelvic exams next?
This is all about making money and justifying security theater. There was always an infrared scan that was non-invasive. There was never any need to hit people with xrays and see through their clothes. Bu the right people didn't own the infrared machines.
If the intention is to slowly choke of the public's use of aviation as a mode of travel this is a good start.
Looking forward to the next false-flag event.
Wake up people!.
"...passengers who claim the
Mon, 11/22/2010 - 18:19 — Rowland (not verified)"...passengers who claim the technology and aggressive searches are unnecessary, intrusive and a violation of their privacy rights." They also should include dangerous: X Rays in heavy doses are a known cancer risk. Chertoff, whose machines these are, never had them checked for safety. Rather, he checked, then soft pedalled the results. He, I believe, is the one making money from this idiotic and ineffectual exercise.
I feel more sorry for
Mon, 11/22/2010 - 21:44 — Cath (not verified)I feel more sorry for American citizens now than when they were running around buying up duct tape, planning to seal themselves in their houses.
Boycotts should e ongoing.
No-one should have to put up with this - little kids, grannies, the disabled, rape victims will be potentially much more disturbed than others, but no-one deserves this.
Cancer or sexual molestation - take your pick.
There is a simple solution
Tue, 11/23/2010 - 10:32 — Larry Glick (not verified)There is a simple solution which will not involve radiation or touching of the body by TSA agents. Each passenger will go into a bathroom with two TSA agents of the same sex. In the presence of the agents, the passenger will spread his/her cheeks exposing the anus and males will lift their testicles and females hold open their labia to insure that contraband or potential weapons are not being concealed.
Women's nightmare! The
Tue, 11/23/2010 - 16:18 — Afterburner (not verified)Women's nightmare!
The following is by Heather Mallick Star Columnis I think it is a Canadian publication.
"It isn’t just that these will show up on a scanner — which some will find
utterly humiliating — it’s that passengers will then get a grope while
explaining their bodily failings to the guard. How do guards know if a pad
or bag doesn’t contain Semtex or liquid explosives? They don’t, they’ll
want a look, and then we’re into a fresh hell entirely."
Americans have a problem with being screened to board an airliner with
cosmetic security by a reactive
T otaly
S tupid
A gency
Israeli security experts have refused to install these scanners at Ben
Gurion International Airport, which is widely hailed as the safest airport
in the world. Rafi Sela, the former Chief Security Officer of the Israel
Airport Authority, explained he could “overcome the body scanners with
enough explosives to take down a Boeing 747.
Any idiot can thwart both the x-ray strip search and the "Enhanced
pat-down" simply by internal body packing!
6 months later...CNN SPECIAL REPORT>>>>>>>"The new single use sterile
rectum cam probes are being utilized as a process to make sure the
traveling public is safe," she said, adding that the probes did not pose
health risks and that privacy safeguards have been adopted".
What is my answer?
Who do the terrorists hate the most?
The Israelis.
Who has a perfect airline security record?
The Israelis.
Who does no routine groping and x-ray strip searches?
The Israelis.
Who profiles more than anyone in the world and has the best intelligence
data base?
The Israelis.
Fire Ms. Napolitano and hire Israeli Mossad to manage our airport security.
Fire Pistole for stupidity.
Wed, 11/24/2010 - 11:35 — Mike Strong (not verified)Fire Pistole for stupidity. Just how well and how long did he think the "enemy" would take to find out anyway, where the machines are, once they go into operation? Even assuming this is a problem, holding out information because he is afraid of someone finding out? Cripes. EVERYone finds out as soon as passengers show up anyway.
There are enough other points as well, but if Pistole is that much of an idiot about evaluating what to fear, he is a hazard.