A SOLDIER'S PERSPECTIVE
THE WEB'S LEADING MILITARY BLOG SINCE 2004
I’m sure all of you are aware of what happened over the Christmas holiday where another Islamic extremist attempted to blow up a passenger plane prior to landing. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab allegedly hid explosives in his skid-marked underwear but bumbled the ignition. Because of this attempt, the government is again talking about mandatory full body scans in US airports.
According to NBC, only 19 airports currently have the technology. However, some “experts” think that we need more.
Dallas-based aviation security consultant Clive Miskin said whole-body scanners may be the best technology to prevent the terrorists from personally carrying explosives onto planes.
“That’s one piece of technology that can help and it will help apprehend bad people with bad intentions,” said Miskin, managing director of International Security Defense Systems LLC.
Tell you what, Miskin, I have a much more surefire and inexpensive way to “prevent the terrorists from personally carrying explosives onto planes.” Why not just make ALL passengers strip completely naked or wear cellophane clothing on flights? Why not have OBGYN docs on hand to probe their fingers in all possible hiding spots? Just because there is a great technology out there that could possibly find terrorists and their tools doesn’t mean it should be used. Hell, there’s a thing called a bullet that could prevent people from EVER committing crimes again too, but we don’t use it like we should.
We send people to the moon. We’ve had robots roving around the Martian surface. We’ve cured diseases and been to the depths of the earth. Yet, we can’t find a way to detect explosives without violating civil rights and dignity? I find that hard to believe.
When the American people buy into this thought that to be safer we need to surrender our rights voluntarily, soon we won’t have any rights to surrender. It’s easy to say, in the interest of counter-terrorism why not? Or, to save lives we should allow the government to have greater authority. It’s a false and lazy argument and we should oppose these efforts with every bit of effort we can muster.
[Author's Note: The OPINIONS expressed here are solely those of the author and do not represent those of any agency of the United States Government, expressly including, but not limited to, the Department of Defense or the United States Army. This site is not designed, authorized, sanctioned, or affiliated, by or with, any agency of the United States Government, expressly including, but not limited to, the Department of Defense or the United States Army. This post is in accordance with DODD 1344.10, which expressly permits me to "express a personal opinion on political candidates and issues, but not as a representative of the Armed Forces." Therefore, I hereby declare that I do not write this post as a representative of the Armed Forces. Since I no longer own this site, consider this post also in compliance with the provisions of paragraph 4.1.1.6 of DODD 1344.10.]
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Lisa: I also met him on Are You Interested... and got the poems :-) If
RyAZVet
Before we roll out some supercomputer that will put more people out of a job, crash any time someone sneezes and aids in the violation of more American rights why don’t me do what I was taught by my first NCOIC. Problem: 1. Step back 2. Analyze 3. Make situation simpler 4. Repeat. What will create more jobs, cost less money, be as efficient as possible and not violate our rights. K9 security inspection. They have a nose more powerful than any computer (efficiency), require a handler (jobs) and are much cheaper than some new technology while utilizing a system within our LE and military that is proven and already there. Any dog can do this. So we can utilize a large supply of dogs already to be euthanized and out of work vets and (if the economic situation continues) out of work cops. Hell prisoners are training service dogs for vets. They will have to change one thing, show up early, no liquids over 8 oz. and make sure you don’t smell like pepperoni.
Karen Teeter
I believe it was Rahm E. that said “never waste a crisis.” THIS administration more than any in our history will seize upon this to strip and chip us, if they can. In fact, they are so in danger of losing the next election for their party that I wonder what type of false flag event, or crisis they may cook up to cause chaos and fear so that they can stay in power.
God grants us freedom and our Precious Constitution puts legs on this reality. The time is overdue for our government to Obey us, not the other way around. We are not their cattle, to be prodded, branded and cornered where they wish.
This is still a govt. “of, by and for” WE, the people. I’m standing on that and my life is committed to it.
Find your inner-sanctum of CALM and self-control. Look the crazy DC crowd right into the eyes, be of good cheer and don’t give them an inch or they’ll take the whole pie. Don’t let them make you RESENT them, watch those emotions trying to arise, and own your soul and your next move within your calm. No wonder the bible says “in patience, possess ye your soul.” Makes more sense to me than ever, before.
God bless this Republic AS founded, forever.
Miss Ladybug
Amen, CJ.
NY-David
I’m not a fan of this as it still won’t prevent what happened. There were many flags that should have been caught that weren’t that I don’t want my government to spend another dime on another program that doens’t work. Eight years after the creation of DHS and specific organizations to maks sure intel-sharing should happen and it doesn’t.
NY-David
Riverrunner
It struck me as sad and worrying the number of people on the radio this morning that were calling in just clamoring to give up more rights for a perception of safety.
More technology isn’t the answer – never has been never will be. Come on – the full scan is being advocated by the same idiots that came up with nothing on your lap during the last hour of flight. Really? You’re serious? Now the terrorist will just blow up the plane 1 hour and 10 minutes before landing. Yes, yes, yes – I know it was a temporary five-day ruling (aka temporary insanity), but the fact that it made it past the “does this make sense?” check and was implemented is a real statement.
The Israeli’s have a holistic approach that looks at everyone and then focuses in on people based on actions and other indicators. For example, when was the ticket bought, where has the passenger been traveling, is he nervous, confused, have a pound of PETN stuffed in his under-roos, did he say “Duh, I don’t have my passport, but can I still fly to the Great Satan?†Right now profiling is a four-letter word because American’s generally equate profiling with skin color – that’s not true profiling. Skin/appearance profiling wouldn’t work anyway – there are people from the Middle-East with blond hair and blue eyes too. Indicators people IN-DA-CA-TORS..
Marcop
As a Canadian, I remember deploying to Afghanistan in Agust 2006. That I would have to fly over Europe, London subway bombings the month before, that we could not carry more than a bottle of water. I also remember that we had 150 asault rifles in the belly of the airplane, somehow they were not concerned about them.
IN a few days, 4000 Canadians are deploying to the NTC at Fort Irwin in California, they are all bringing there asault rifles with them again.
The Canadian assault rifle is a version of the M-16, we call it C7A2, is is actualy much closer to the AR-15 than the M-16 of old.
It might be funny to see what hapens if we have to put down somewhere along the way.
dad29
You’re doing exactly what the Statists want.
Instead of screaming bloody murder for profiling, which DOES work, you’re being ‘a naysayer’ about full-body screens.
Obama & Co. must be forced to begin PROFILING (as GWB should have, damn the torpedos…).
Ask Israel how it works.
Karen Teeter
Dad29, you are so right about profiling. It is mere common sense and if not everyone, almost every thinking person does it in their/our minds even if not admitting so.
Janet Napolitano PROFILED US! troops returning from war, we that oppose abortion, tea party supporters, we that profess our christianity & conservative views, etc. She WRONGLY profiled us as potential terrorists, but then to Communist supporters I suppose anyone that rightly opposes them deserves that definition in their deluded minds.
Lee(langoley)
would it not make more sense to use the 90 “puffer” explosive detectors that they already have,and have not installed/maintained?Oh I forgot,that would not violate civil rights!!
ps,sorry about my ramble the other night!!