American airport security
Discussion
Those people working for the TSA are REAL smart ...
http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/11/18/another-t...
http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/11/18/another-t...
Website said:
As the Chalk Leader for my flight home from Afghanistan, I witnessed the following:
When we were on our way back from Afghanistan, we flew out of Baghram Air Field. We went through customs at BAF, full body scanners (no groping), had all of our bags searched, the whole nine yards.
Our first stop was Shannon, Ireland to refuel. After that, we had to stop at Indianapolis, Indiana to drop off about 100 folks from the Indiana National Guard. That’s where the stupid started.
First, everyone was forced to get off the plane–even though the plane wasn’t refueling again. All 330 people got off that plane, rather than let the 100 people from the ING get off. We were filed from the plane to a holding area. No vending machines, no means of escape. Only a male/female latrine.
It’s probably important to mention that we were ALL carrying weapons. Everyone was carrying an M4 Carbine (rifle) and some, like me, were also carrying an M9 pistol. Oh, and our gunners had M-240B machine guns. Of course, the weapons weren’t loaded. And we had been cleared of all ammo well before we even got to customs at Baghram, then AGAIN at customs.
The TSA personnel at the airport seriously considered making us unload all of the baggage from the SECURE cargo hold to have it reinspected. Keep in mind, this cargo had been unpacked, inspected piece by piece by U.S. Customs officials, resealed and had bomb-sniffing dogs give it a one-hour run through. After two hours of sitting in this holding area, the TSA decided not to reinspect our Cargo–just to inspect us again: Soldiers on the way home from war, who had already been inspected, reinspected and kept in a SECURE holding area for 2 hours. Ok, whatever. So we lined up to go through security AGAIN.
This is probably another good time to remind you all that all of us were carrying actual assault rifles, and some of us were also carrying pistols.
So we’re in line, going through one at a time. One of our Soldiers had his Gerber multi-tool. TSA confiscated it. Kind of ridiculous, but it gets better. A few minutes later, a guy empties his pockets and has a pair of nail clippers. Nail clippers. TSA informs the Soldier that they’re going to confiscate his nail clippers. The conversation went something like this:
TSA Guy: You can’t take those on the plane.
Soldier: What? I’ve had them since we left country.
TSA Guy: You’re not suppose to have them.
Soldier: Why?
TSA Guy: They can be used as a weapon.
Soldier: [touches butt stock of the rifle] But this actually is a weapon. And I’m allowed to take it on.
TSA Guy: Yeah but you can’t use it to take over the plane. You don’t have bullets.
Soldier: And I can take over the plane with nail clippers?
TSA Guy: [awkward silence]
Me: Dude, just give him your damn nail clippers so we can get the **** out of here. I’ll buy you a new set.
Soldier: [hands nail clippers to TSA guy, makes it through security]
This might be a good time to remind everyone that approximately 233 people re-boarded that plane with assault rifles, pistols, and machine guns–but nothing that could have been used as a weapon.
When we were on our way back from Afghanistan, we flew out of Baghram Air Field. We went through customs at BAF, full body scanners (no groping), had all of our bags searched, the whole nine yards.
Our first stop was Shannon, Ireland to refuel. After that, we had to stop at Indianapolis, Indiana to drop off about 100 folks from the Indiana National Guard. That’s where the stupid started.
First, everyone was forced to get off the plane–even though the plane wasn’t refueling again. All 330 people got off that plane, rather than let the 100 people from the ING get off. We were filed from the plane to a holding area. No vending machines, no means of escape. Only a male/female latrine.
It’s probably important to mention that we were ALL carrying weapons. Everyone was carrying an M4 Carbine (rifle) and some, like me, were also carrying an M9 pistol. Oh, and our gunners had M-240B machine guns. Of course, the weapons weren’t loaded. And we had been cleared of all ammo well before we even got to customs at Baghram, then AGAIN at customs.
The TSA personnel at the airport seriously considered making us unload all of the baggage from the SECURE cargo hold to have it reinspected. Keep in mind, this cargo had been unpacked, inspected piece by piece by U.S. Customs officials, resealed and had bomb-sniffing dogs give it a one-hour run through. After two hours of sitting in this holding area, the TSA decided not to reinspect our Cargo–just to inspect us again: Soldiers on the way home from war, who had already been inspected, reinspected and kept in a SECURE holding area for 2 hours. Ok, whatever. So we lined up to go through security AGAIN.
This is probably another good time to remind you all that all of us were carrying actual assault rifles, and some of us were also carrying pistols.
So we’re in line, going through one at a time. One of our Soldiers had his Gerber multi-tool. TSA confiscated it. Kind of ridiculous, but it gets better. A few minutes later, a guy empties his pockets and has a pair of nail clippers. Nail clippers. TSA informs the Soldier that they’re going to confiscate his nail clippers. The conversation went something like this:
TSA Guy: You can’t take those on the plane.
Soldier: What? I’ve had them since we left country.
TSA Guy: You’re not suppose to have them.
Soldier: Why?
TSA Guy: They can be used as a weapon.
Soldier: [touches butt stock of the rifle] But this actually is a weapon. And I’m allowed to take it on.
TSA Guy: Yeah but you can’t use it to take over the plane. You don’t have bullets.
Soldier: And I can take over the plane with nail clippers?
TSA Guy: [awkward silence]
Me: Dude, just give him your damn nail clippers so we can get the **** out of here. I’ll buy you a new set.
Soldier: [hands nail clippers to TSA guy, makes it through security]
This might be a good time to remind everyone that approximately 233 people re-boarded that plane with assault rifles, pistols, and machine guns–but nothing that could have been used as a weapon.
They think the rules are just as stupid, but they're under massive pressure from the suits above to follow them to the letter. They're just the guys who have to follow silly procedural policies and enforce even sillier ones. No doubt there's a few who love having the power to really mess your travel arrangements up though.
But why are the suits within the TSA introducing such silly rules then?
And some of them are borderline illegal, for instance the new "grope" patdowns (the ones you can opt to have if you don't want to be X-rayed) go the whole 9 yards, have the whole gloved hand into pants and bra part ... this is probably illegal under the American 4th amendment.
Let's not forget that the heads of the TSA are now considering NOT doing those "intrusive" checks for Muslim women (both X-ray or the grope patdowns....
And some of them are borderline illegal, for instance the new "grope" patdowns (the ones you can opt to have if you don't want to be X-rayed) go the whole 9 yards, have the whole gloved hand into pants and bra part ... this is probably illegal under the American 4th amendment.
Let's not forget that the heads of the TSA are now considering NOT doing those "intrusive" checks for Muslim women (both X-ray or the grope patdowns....
rypt said:
But why are the suits within the TSA introducing such silly rules then?
And some of them are borderline illegal, for instance the new "grope" patdowns (the ones you can opt to have if you don't want to be X-rayed) go the whole 9 yards, have the whole gloved hand into pants and bra part ... this is probably illegal under the American 4th amendment.
Let's not forget that the heads of the TSA are now considering NOT doing those "intrusive" checks for Muslim women (both X-ray or the grope patdowns....
Look on the bright side, try being an alien trying to get past an unhappy US border guard. Even before 9/11 it took hours.And some of them are borderline illegal, for instance the new "grope" patdowns (the ones you can opt to have if you don't want to be X-rayed) go the whole 9 yards, have the whole gloved hand into pants and bra part ... this is probably illegal under the American 4th amendment.
Let's not forget that the heads of the TSA are now considering NOT doing those "intrusive" checks for Muslim women (both X-ray or the grope patdowns....
spikeyhead said:
rypt said:
But why are the suits within the TSA introducing such silly rules then?
And some of them are borderline illegal, for instance the new "grope" patdowns (the ones you can opt to have if you don't want to be X-rayed) go the whole 9 yards, have the whole gloved hand into pants and bra part ... this is probably illegal under the American 4th amendment.
Let's not forget that the heads of the TSA are now considering NOT doing those "intrusive" checks for Muslim women (both X-ray or the grope patdowns....
Look on the bright side, try being an alien trying to get past an unhappy US border guard. Even before 9/11 it took hours.And some of them are borderline illegal, for instance the new "grope" patdowns (the ones you can opt to have if you don't want to be X-rayed) go the whole 9 yards, have the whole gloved hand into pants and bra part ... this is probably illegal under the American 4th amendment.
Let's not forget that the heads of the TSA are now considering NOT doing those "intrusive" checks for Muslim women (both X-ray or the grope patdowns....
Pothole said:
spikeyhead said:
rypt said:
But why are the suits within the TSA introducing such silly rules then?
And some of them are borderline illegal, for instance the new "grope" patdowns (the ones you can opt to have if you don't want to be X-rayed) go the whole 9 yards, have the whole gloved hand into pants and bra part ... this is probably illegal under the American 4th amendment.
Let's not forget that the heads of the TSA are now considering NOT doing those "intrusive" checks for Muslim women (both X-ray or the grope patdowns....
Look on the bright side, try being an alien trying to get past an unhappy US border guard. Even before 9/11 it took hours.And some of them are borderline illegal, for instance the new "grope" patdowns (the ones you can opt to have if you don't want to be X-rayed) go the whole 9 yards, have the whole gloved hand into pants and bra part ... this is probably illegal under the American 4th amendment.
Let's not forget that the heads of the TSA are now considering NOT doing those "intrusive" checks for Muslim women (both X-ray or the grope patdowns....
How about this one... A young boy selected for a random pat down, ends up topless:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd...
rypt said:
Vipers said:
Unless its changed, 1st class still get metal cutlery.....
Given the amount of money you pay to fly in the top classes I damn well expect proper cutlery and good food.And all this s
te of off shoes etc at the check in, in Singapore, they have a want, life up feet, zap with want, no indication, carry on, indication take shoes off.When T5 first opened, I went through, off shoes, I asked where the chairs were, why she said, I told her I coudnt stand on one leg and put my shoes back on, and as it was a hacking hot day, asked her why the AC wasnt on, she said, "Whats that"
Last rant, when I asked in Heathrow why there were enormous queus for baggage checks, when there were about 4 x ray units not being manned, I was told, we havnt the staff.
And why when I check in at Seattle for Aberdeen UK, have my baggage searched, no probs with that, land at T5, stay in T5 for Aberdeen flight, but have to have my baggage checked again. Outbound you dont, its checked in Aberdeen and thats it.
End of rant.
Vipers said:
And why when I check in at Seattle for Aberdeen UK, have my baggage searched, no probs with that, land at T5, stay in T5 for Aberdeen flight, but have to have my baggage checked again. Outbound you dont, its checked in Aberdeen and thats it.
The reason I like transiting in Copenhagen - just one big terminal and no further security.Living near Heathrow helps get direct flights though!
I went to New York in March and it was fine... Both ways. To the US lots of forms, when I got there a quick ID thing done and then you can walk out the airport. Took half an hour, about 29 minutes of which was waiting in a queue.
Coming back, no forms but no problems. I don't see what the fuss is about personally, but then again the first time I went on a plane was quite a few years after 9/11
Coming back, no forms but no problems. I don't see what the fuss is about personally, but then again the first time I went on a plane was quite a few years after 9/11
F93 said:
I don't see what the fuss is about personally, but then again the first time I went on a plane was quite a few years after 9/11
Because the Americans are starting to introduce their X-ray body scanners (that you can opt out of and get grope searched) that may give you cancerrypt said:
F93 said:
I don't see what the fuss is about personally, but then again the first time I went on a plane was quite a few years after 9/11
Because the Americans are starting to introduce their X-ray body scanners (that you can opt out of and get grope searched) that may give you cancer
Sonic said:
rypt said:
F93 said:
I don't see what the fuss is about personally, but then again the first time I went on a plane was quite a few years after 9/11
Because the Americans are starting to introduce their X-ray body scanners (that you can opt out of and get grope searched) that may give you cancer
But luckily my brackets are correct, even if the phrasing was a bit awkward
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