Massive TSA Security Breach As Agency Gives Away Its Secrets

ABC ^ | Dec 8, 2009 | Brian Ross and Matt Hosford

[RDTF]

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.

In a massive security breach, the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) inadvertently posted online its entire 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 were apparently redacted in a way that computer savvy individuals easily overcame.

-snip-

[Moe Tzadik]

"and there are always TSA uniforms standing around doing nothing."

In stark contrast to all other federal jobs..."

[Rome2000]

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.

[gathersnomoss]

Why thank you very much. You are a scholar and a gentleman.

[americanophile]

Don’t worry, they’ll do better with your health care.

[Rome2000]

4.1. DIPLOMATIC POUCHES

A. Diplomatic pouches are exempt from any form of screening. A diplomatic pouch can be a bag, pouch, or
container holding diplomatic correspondence, documents, or articles. Although an individual
transporting a diplomatic pouch may have diplomatic immunity, that individual and his or her nondiplomatic
accessible property and checked baggage must undergo screening and all alarms must be
resolved.

B. The diplomatic pouch must have visible external markings in English that state “Diplomatic Pouch” or
“Diplomatic Bag”. The pouch must bear an official seal of the sending government or international
organization. For example, a seal could be a lead seal attached to a tie that closes the pouch, a printed
seal on the fabric of the pouch, or an ink seal impressed on a detachable tag. The pouch must be
addressed to an office of the government or international organization whose seal the pouch bears. For
unaccompanied pouches tendered as checked baggage, a detachable certificate will be affixed to the
outside of the pouch that describes the pouch and certifies the contents as diplomatic materials. The
Department of State (DOS) encourages diplomatic couriers to notify the aircraft operator that they are
carrying a diplomatic pouch.

C. When a diplomatic pouch is presented by a diplomatic courier to TSA at a screening checkpoint or
screening location, the STSO must check that the diplomatic courier is carrying an official or diplomatic
passport and a courier document or letter on their person for identification. A courier letter must be on
appropriate letterhead stationary and must bear a seal of the sending state, embassy, consulate, or
international organization. The courier letter must be signed by the relevant Ambassador or Chief of
Mission serving in the United States. The courier document must clearly identify the bearer and his or
her status as a diplomatic courier and must contain information sufficient to identify the pouch(es), to
include the number of pouches being escorted.

[JenB987]

Color me shocked the gubermint is irresponsible with our security.

[Star Traveler]

You were saying ...

Why thank you very much. You are a scholar and a gentleman.

Thanks... I figure "Why should the terrorists be the only ones who know? We Americans should know, too." :-)

[SunkenCiv]

EPA Declares Carbon Dioxide Dangerous; Tiahrt Says Airbus Budgets for Bribery
HumanEvents.com | 12/8/2009 | Connie Hair
Posted on 12/08/2009 3:43:32 PM PST by 2nd amendment mama
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2403264/posts

[Star Traveler]

It just goes to show you that a whole bunch of words like that are worth nothing, once it gets on the Internet... :-)

[Hulka]

>>That’s 40,000 federal employees, the TSA.<<

Actually. . . .

“That’s 40,000 democrat federal employees, the TSA.”

Fixed it. . .

;-)

[Liberty1970]

RE; Diplomatic pouches

OK, I'm going to say a prayer that someone, ASAP, works out a 100% solution to the fact that it is now ridiculously easy for someone to get a bomb on board a plane based on the above information, before said event actually happens. Egads.

[Polynikes]

Just went over the manual. Its like I remember it. I worked for those clowns for a couple of years before becoming generally disgusted with their incompetence and arbitrary enforcement of regulations etc. We were required to be tested on it for re-qualification but were not allowed to study it at any length lest we walked off with it. It was made clear the employee (TSO) was not to be trusted. I stayed after work on my own time and was reading a copy in our break area around the corner from the checkpoint. One of the supervisors noticed a copy missing and when told I was studying it for the test he immediately panicked and called my home and woke my wife up and proceeded to play 20 questions with her on the phone. Where was I? Does he have any manuals from work in his possesion? etc. She was not pleased. When I returned the copy I was told I could only read it when I was directly observable by management. What a clown fest.

[JrsyJack]

“”This shocking breach undercuts the public’s confidence in the security procedures at our airports,” said Senator Susan Collins, R-Me””

What confidence

[exit82]

Deliberate.

Predictable.

Not the last time.

[XenaLee]

So all the terrorist have to do now is figure out how to, with their newfound security info, smuggle a small nuke aboard a jetliner...wait until it lands and set it off...probably in multiple cities around the country. And our illustrious government has laid out the plans for them. How nice of the Zero administration to be so helpful...

to America’s enemies.

[logician2u]

“That’s 40,000 democrat federal employees, the TSA.”

So now it's only 39,999?

That's progress, although it will take a few years.

[B-Chan]

[editor-surveyor]

Bump!

[Knute]

TSA policy is to single out elderly people with medical problems. That is the demographic of who I see receiving the “special scrutiny” Granny in her wheelchair and Uncle Chrlie with his replacement hip... Watching these poor people trying to get their shoes back on and bags repacked is a sad commentary on American compassion for our elderly