Air travel security is retarded - why? - Page 2

raju · #1 08-08-2007, 07:35 AM

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While this sounds good in theory, the second a group of people are segmented like this, the terrorists will be using this demographic of people to do their work.

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Its a big ask for a terrorist group to convert the middle aged white guy to their religion and convince him to martyr himself, his kids, wife and grandparents for the cause.

It is much more likely that this would never happen.

Bit different but hooliganism was eradicated from football grounds in England by concentrating on those that fitted the hooligan demographic, subjecting them to searches and close attention.
If that demographic had included "Asian in appearance" it would never have happened.

Does anyone remember how the Irish were treated when entering the UK in the 70`s and 80`s? during the troubles?
I`m not totally certain but i think they were subjected to scrutiny that the indigenous population were not and i don't remember the Irish terrorists ever convincing any British people to carry any bombs for them

Josem · #2 08-08-2007, 07:44 AM

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Its a big ask for a terrorist group to convert the middle aged white guy to their religion and convince him to martyr himself, his kids, wife and grandparents for the cause.

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I think this assumption is false - while taking the whole family would be difficult, there are certainly a number of "white" anglo-looking folks who are involved in al-qaeda and other extremist groups.

raju · #3 08-08-2007, 07:51 AM

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there are certainly a number of "white" anglo-looking folks who are involved in al-qaeda and other extremist groups.

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I cant disagree with this but whilst we are talking about minimising disruption and solving a problem, using a much more accurate demographic than simply " everybody getting on a plane" would help to do this.

grando · #4 08-08-2007, 04:42 PM

I never understood why IDing people is so important on domestic flights within Canada/US/etc. - does this really do anything?

I mean, if someone wanted to blow up a [censored] of stuff and cause a huge ruckus there are a million things easier and more effective than tossing a plane into a building

edit: my 2 paragraphs don't seem to correlate at all...

NewTeaBag · #5 08-08-2007, 04:55 PM

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I never understood why IDing people is so important on domestic flights within Canada/US/etc. - does this really do anything?

I mean, if someone wanted to blow up a [censored] of stuff and cause a huge ruckus there are a million things easier and more effective than tossing a plane into a building

edit: my 2 paragraphs don't seem to correlate at all...

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"Hello Mr Grando. I'll be glad to show you to your seat. Oh! And what a nice turban you are wearing today. Jeez! Is that semtex you've brought to share with us on today's flight? Hey, and your 5 checked pieces of luggage seem to be making some noises but, hey, that's cool. We e flyin the friendly skies today"

Later that day:

"And in breaking news. A 747 just flew into Coors Field. The estimates of the dead are in the thousands including the passengers onboard the flight. Of course, we have no idea who was actually on the flight but I guess they'll figure it out by counting up the millions of people who flew today and are still alive and work backwards."

NewTeaBag · #6 08-08-2007, 04:57 PM

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I never understood why IDing people is so important on domestic flights within Canada/US/etc. - does this really do anything?

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On a serious reply note. Passenger manifests are required to be correct for several reasons. The most basic ones are "bag to passenger matching" for secuirty purposes AND knowing who just died when the plane crashes for insurance/family notification purposes.

Can you propose another way to assure the passenger manifests are accurate without ID checks?

xxThe_Lebowskixx · #7 08-08-2007, 05:17 PM

TWP,
i cant believe you missed a flight. usually, if your baggage is already loaded, they wait FOREVER for you to show up because they don't want to have to take it out of the plane. it was pretty depressing the last flight i took when we were delayed for 30 minutes waiting for this retarded family who boarded the plane with a bunch of shopping bags from the airport.

TheWorstPlayer · #8 08-08-2007, 08:58 PM

that's actually closer to what happened in the most recent instance. security took so long that the flight was delayed and i missed a connection. in any case, NTB, fantastic post - thank you. that's basically what i've been looking for. i will now once again go back to my constant flying in peace.

renodoc · #9 08-08-2007, 09:31 PM

how bout the puffer machine you sometimes have to go through in Vegas? ion scanner. total crap. wtf they looking for that they cant find otherwise?

if they really turned it up, half of 2+2 would be busted for weed at the airport.

PokrLikeItsProse · #10 08-09-2007, 12:08 AM

You should look up Ramzi Yousef and the Bojinka plot. Yousef, who was behind the first WTC bombing, successfully detonated a bomb using batteries hidden in his shoes and an explosive hidden in contact lens fluid bottles on a 1994 Philippine Airlines flight.

What's shocking is that it doesn't seem like any measures were taken to watch out for this kind of activity in the years following.