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December 10, 2009
TSA (Transportation Security Administration) Leaves Online Love Note For al-Qaeda
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TSA leaves online love note for al-Qaeda
Rick Moran
Please put down any beverage you may be consuming and lock up all sharp objects in the house before reading this.
The Transportation Security Administration "inadvertently" released a document on its website that gives a blueprint for terrorists on how to beat our airport security measures.
This document doesn't hint around. It spills the beans on exactly what terrorists might do to circumvent TSA airport security to bring bombs on board or other weapons.
Brian Ross and Matt Hosford broke the story for ABC News:
Massive TSA Security Breach As Agency Gives Away Its Secrets
Online Posting Reveals a "How To" for Terrorists to Get Through Airport Security
By BRIAN ROSS and MATT HOSFORD
Dec. 8, 2009
In a massive security breach, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inadvertently posted online its airport screening procedures manual, including some of the most closely guarded secrets regarding special rules for diplomats and CIA and law enforcement officers.
The most sensitive parts of the 93-page Standard Operating Procedures manual were apparently redacted in a way that computer savvy individuals easily overcame.
The document shows sample CIA, Congressional and law enforcement credentials which experts say would make it easy for terrorists to duplicate.
The improperly redacted areas indicate that only 20 percent of checked bags are to be hand searched for explosives and reveal in detail the limitations of x-ray screening machines.
~snipet~
"This manual provides a road map to those who would do us harm," said Collins. "The detailed information could help terrorists evade airport security measures." Collins said she intended to ask the Department of Homeland Security how the breach happened, and "how it will remedy the damage that has already been done."
~snipet~
The document contains a list of items for which screening is not required including wheelchairs, footwear of disabled individuals, casts and orthopedic shoes.
The redacted portions also indicate which law enforcement personnel are specially screened or exempt from some screening procedures, and indicate what requirements they must meet to be eligible for special screening.
The only words that come to mind at the moment that describe this incredible stupidity can be found in old Anglo Saxon dictionaries and are unprintable on our family friendly website.
As you know, the Obama administration has determined that we are not at war. Good thing for whoever is responsible. Do you think that "inadvertent treason" would be an affirmative defense?
Maybe TSA believed that al-Qaeda was at too much of a disadvantage and wanted to "level the playing field." This seems to be a favorite pastime of this administration when it comes to the economy and everything else. Why not try a little affirmative action with our enemies?
It would be very difficult to overhype this story. This isn't just a disaster. It has the potential to absolutely destroy domestic air travel - if the MSM bothered to cover it. We'll see what the spin will be as the day goes on.
Exit question; If you've made travel plans for Christmas, do you still feel confident enough to fly the friendly skies?
The site below has some interesting reading in the “Criticisms and scandals” section:
Transportation Security Administration
Criticisms and scandals
Criticisms
The TSA has faced a high level of criticism since its inception. These criticisms include:
Failure of TSA screeners to detect fake bombs brought through security by undercover TSA agents, with detection levels much lower than private security agents on the same tests. In the most recent tests, conducted in 2006, security screeners at LAX failed to identify 75% of fake bombs, while Chicago O'Hare screeners missed 60% of the bomb components. Private screeners in San Francisco missed only 20% of the prospective bomb parts.[15]
Invasive screening procedures, mistreatment of passengers, and sexual harassment by TSA officers[16][17][18][19]
Engaging in security theater.[20][21]
Theft by TSA employees.[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]
Lavish spending by the TSA on events unrelated to airport security.[30]
Sales of banned items collected from passengers.[31]
TSA employees bypassing security checks.[32]
Allegations of wasteful spending in its hiring practices.[33]
Employees sleeping on the job.[34][35][36][37]
Failure to use good judgment and common sense.[38][39][40]
The "Terror Watch List" is currently criticized for having over one million names listed, including the name of a CNN reporter who claims he was added to the terror list within the time frame of the release of his critical reports of the Federal Air Marshal Service. According to the TSA, the watch list, which is maintained by the Department of Justice, contains approximately 400,000 people[citation needed], most of whom are not US persons. The TSA denies Drew Griffin's claim that he is on the list.[41][42] The TSA reacted to complaints of misidentification by announcing its intent to penalize airlines with $25,000 fines for wrongfully informing travelers of their being on a government watchlist.[43]
Security checkpoint problems at the 2009 Presidential Inauguration viewing areas, which left thousands of ticket holders excluded from the event and in dangerously overcrowded conditions.[44][45]
Scandals
Covert security test failures
Undercover operations to test the effectiveness of the airport screening processes are routinely carried out by the TSA's internal affairs unit and the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General's office.
A report by the Inspector General found that TSA officials had collaborated with Covenant Aviation Security at San Francisco International Airport to alert screeners of undercover tests. From August 2003 until May 2004, precise descriptions of the undercover personnel were provided to the screeners. The handing out of descriptions was then stopped, but until January 2005 screeners were still alerted whenever undercover operations were going on.[46]
A report on undercover operations conducted in October 2006 at Newark Liberty International Airport was leaked to the press. The screeners had failed 20 of 22 undercover security tests, missing numerous guns and bombs. The Government Accountability Office had previously pointed to repeated covert test failures by TSA personnel.[47][48] Revealing the results of covert tests is against TSA policy, and the agency responded by initiating an internal probe to discover the source of the leak.[49]
In July 2007, The Times Union of Albany, New York reported that TSA screeners at Albany International Airport failed multiple covert security tests conducted by the TSA, including the failure to detect a fake bomb.[50]
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Wild Thing's comment.......
Our government geniuses at work. Again. ......And they want to manage our health care...
I’m betting it was not inadvertent or an "accident ".
“Inadvertant” - eh ......No muslim 5th column inside the TSA- none at all????
TSA is a view into the future of Obamacare.
Look at this, they didn't bother with passwords:
http://www.wanderingaramean.com/2009/12/tsa-makes-another-stupid-move.html
The document is marked SSI and includes this footnote on every page:
SENSITIVE SECURITY INFORMATION
WARNING: THIS RECORD CONTAINS SENSITIVE SECURITY INFORMATION THAT IS CONTROLLED UNDER 49 CFR PARTS 15 AND 1520. NO PART OF THIS RECORD MAY BE DISCLOSED TO PERSONS WITHOUT A “NEED TO KNOW,” AS DEFINED IN 49 CFR PARTS 15 AND 1520, EXCEPT WITH THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION OR THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION. UNAUTHORIZED RELEASE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL PENALTIES OR OTHER ACTION. FOR U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PUBLIC DISCLOSURE GOVERNED BY 5 U.S.C. 552 AND 49 CFR PARTS 15 AND 1520.
So the decision to publish it on the Internet is probably a questionable one. On top of that, however, is where the real idiocy shines. They chose to publish a redacted version of the document, hiding all the super-important stuff from the public. But they apparently don’t understand how redaction works in the electronic document world. See, rather than actually removing the offending text from the document they just drew a black box on top of it. Turns out that PDF documents don’t really care about the black box like that and the actual content of the document is still in the file.
Yup, their crack legal staff managed to screw this one up pretty badly. Want to know which twelve passports will instantly get you shunted over for secondary screening, simply by showing them to the ID-checking agent? Check out Section 2A-2 (C) (1) (b) (iv). Want to know the procedure for CIA-escorted passengers to be processed through the checkpoint? That’s in the document, too. Details on the calibration process of the metal detectors is in there. So is the procedure for screening foreign dignitaries.
It is pretty pathetic that the folks supposedly responsible for administering this “security” program cannot even be bothered to do the simplest parts of their job correctly. Then again, passing through the checkpoint every time I fly it is pretty clear that they do a lot of things incorrectly. Just chalk this one up to more of the same idiocy.
......Thank you RAC for sending this to me.
RAC has a website that is awesome. 336th Assault Helicopter Company
13th Combat Aviation Battalion - 1st Aviation Brigade - Soc Trang, Republic of Vietnam
Posted by Wild Thing at December 10, 2009 05:55 AM
Comments
I know someone who has said for a number of years we should post new recruits out of basic training to replace current TSA workers. Give them the rules and they WOULD be followed without hesitation. Military personnel with an M-16 at ready would not be easily intimidated by anyone.
Posted by: Texas Barb at December 10, 2009 08:08 AM
Unbelievable. And yet, I believe it. Given the current state of our government, the person who posted this online will probably get a promotion, or at least a job working in the Justice Department.
Posted by: Pete at December 10, 2009 10:58 AM
Why don't obama send Al Queida a message that we are now ready for your attack. I mean why screw around with this petty bullshit, just let 'em know go ahead and hit us. We deserve it. This is what he's doing. He spent 2 months running to moslem countries apologizing for America, now we are ready for another attack, payback to the muzzzies. Obama is one sick individual.
What else is he doing but encouraging an attack. Terrorists on Trial where they did their most damage, the AG and obama are putting American on trial. The ROEs in Afghanistan have been downgraded to the point that the NYPD has more aggresive rules of engagement. obama is giving credence to that phony Indian Ward Churchill, and any other malcontent who hates this country.
Wake up America.
Posted by: Mark at December 10, 2009 11:24 AM
I am glad I never fly anywhere. It may be that we are just lucky so far that the muslims have not hijacked any more aircraft in the US. These reports of incompetance on the part of TSA seem to come on a regular basis.
Posted by: TomR at December 10, 2009 11:32 AM
What.....a......surprise. "Just tip the skycap a couple hundred, and he'll get ANYTHING through for you. Right this way sir, please stow your explosives in the overhead bin. We've placed a complimentary copy of the Koran in the seatback, and prayer rugs are available by request at no charge..."
Posted by: pontiff alex at December 10, 2009 04:01 PM
TSA is no different than FOX, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC(MSLSD), etc. when they broadcast DAILY and NIGHTLY who and what and when USMC and Army units are deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan! This is a travesty and the bozos in the Pentagon know this... My God, like Packers coach Lombardi used to yell, "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON OUT THERE?!"
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at December 10, 2009 06:02 PM
And these are the people some want to run(ruin) our health care system. What caliber of people do we have in Washington, sorry I asked such a dumb question!!!
Posted by: Ron Russell at December 10, 2009 07:04 PM
TSA drank the Kool-Aid of Islam!!!
Say No To Islam!!!
"Never Forget 9/11."
Posted by: Anon at December 10, 2009 09:23 PM
They have got to stop making excuses for things
like this from the top down. One day it wil
cost lives and then, maybe the ones in charge
will wise up.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 11, 2009 12:23 AM
People! Why are you criticizing barack HIMSELF obummers TSA? They are just doing like he does- Let the enemy know your plans, your strategy, and all. Just like obummer told the Taliban; that we'll be out of their hair in a year or so. TSA is just trying to keep up with the new national policy.
Sheesh!
"Never Forget Ft. Hood Texas 11/5/09!">/strong> because
http://www.cafepress.com/frankopinions/6950541
Posted by: Frankly Opinionated at December 11, 2009 08:50 AM
