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 NuggzTheNinja wrote:
This doesn't surprise me at all. If you hire low quality personnel, you get low quality results. Have you traveled recently? Have you gotten a good look a TSA agents? They aren't what I would call "motivated thinkers."

Just got back from a week's domestic vacation... i'll say this, the TSA at Tampa international were really good. Bomb / Drug sniffing dogs (yes, plural), and they were professional and courteous but no nonsense. Orlando... not so much. I landed at almost prime-time, but I can't even recall seeing a TSA agent.

And don't even get me started on Providence. My entire traveling party went into the pre-screen TSA line when we were not pre-screened (honest accident on our part). No one said gak.

The new report is disturbing as hell.

Each airport is different. You have some that are real professional and gives off the "competent" feel while some are "I'm just here to breathe and get a paycheck"

 Jihadin wrote:
Each airport is different. You have some that are real professional and gives off the "competent" feel while some are "I'm just here to breathe and get a paycheck"

Go to the McAllen airport. ICE in tacticool gear is walking around randomly grabbing "those people" for inspection. Its positively 3rd world.

I think it's important to remember that the people that managed to smuggle contraband through the TSA checkpoints had been specifically trained to do so, meaning they knew the ins and outs of each system they were trying to beat and had greater I knowledge of the entire security apparatus. Some dude in a hut in the Middle East with Predator drones circle over him is going to have a much more difficult time trying to replicate the agent's success.

That being said, this does not excuse the TSA for their security shortcomings one bit.

 ScootyPuffJunior wrote:
I think it's important to remember that the people that managed to smuggle contraband through the TSA checkpoints had been specifically trained to do so, meaning they knew the ins and outs of each system they were trying to beat and had greater I knowledge of the entire security apparatus. Some dude in a hut in the Middle East with Predator drones circle over him is going to have a much more difficult time trying to replicate the agent's success.

That being said, this does not excuse the TSA for their security shortcomings one bit.

Worst mistake we could possibly make would be to underestimate our enemy.

 Frazzled wrote:

 DarkLink wrote:
I've even accidentally smuggled pocketknives onto planes before. TSA is only at about a 50% success rate for finding the knives I forgot I left in a pocket of a pair of pants I stuffed in my carry-on.

I once accidentally carried a camping multi tool through security at IAH. This had a six blade, screwdriver SAW BLADE etc. yea...

I had a 4" folding knife that was still in my backpack that I got through the same airport.

All TSA does is create a 1 to 2 hour delay at busy airports, pissed off passengers, and create security jobs. Seriously, it's a jobs program.

And if we're going to pay for the fethers, then god damn it, open up all of the fething scanners at IAH and O'Hare. There is no reason that only 2 of the 4 scanners in terminal 1 are running on a god damn holiday weekend. fethers.

Kronk has the way of it.

 NuggzTheNinja wrote:

 ScootyPuffJunior wrote:
I think it's important to remember that the people that managed to smuggle contraband through the TSA checkpoints had been specifically trained to do so, meaning they knew the ins and outs of each system they were trying to beat and had greater I knowledge of the entire security apparatus. Some dude in a hut in the Middle East with Predator drones circle over him is going to have a much more difficult time trying to replicate the agent's success.

That being said, this does not excuse the TSA for their security shortcomings one bit.

Worst mistake we could possibly make would be to underestimate our enemy.

Notice how I said "more difficult time" and not "couldn't." The DHS also relies on an extensive network of intelligence, something the agents trying to beat the system they knew everything about didn't have to worry about.

Lately some of them have been on the take to

What this isn't necessarily pointing out is that this 95% figure includes everything - if a red team member goes through a scanner with a detonator in his pocket and the machine doesn't pick it up... that's a fail included in the report. If a TSO exactly follows the SOP they are handed, it can still be a fail - because the red team are also testing the SOP and management directives, not just individual employees.

I actually took that Xray test for TSA as I was (WTF was thinking at the time) trying to join them. Serious serious and I mean SERIOUS attention to detail.
Cellphones
combs
batteries
calculators
flashlights
kitchen utensils
tools
knives
etc etc etc

is in the X-ray picture you have to flag for search.
If you apply for TSA my word of advice
"When in doubt hit the flag button"

I always get random searched if I wear an alkaline trio shirt, a black polo shirt...basically, any black clothing and I get random searched. Wonder what they'll do when I wear my Venom shirt flying out of Savannah GA Sunday? Hahahahaha.

The last time I was searched was when I left my nail clippers in my bag and there was a 1.5" (maybe) blade on them. The scanner picked it up and they pulled me aside. All they did was go through my carry-on. No pat-down.

Had to buy a new one as they tossed that one. No biggie.

But, again, open up the damn scanners! I wouldn't mind the 5% effectiveness if it only took 5% of the fething time.