Leader of TSA offers pat-downs to senators

The head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) offered on Wednesday to have airport screeners come to Capitol Hill to give senators a pat-down so they could fully understand the mechanics of the newly deployed, controversial technique.

“Honestly, any member who has not experienced that pat-down [and] who would like to do that — I would not offer it — but an experienced qualified security officer would be glad to do that,” Pistole said.

Pistole told a separate panel of senators yesterday that the pat-down technique is so thorough that, had it been used, it would have thwarted the suspected Christmas Day bomber, who allegedly hid an explosive device in his underwear.

Under new TSA rules, passengers are required to go through whole-body imaging systems. But because some people believe that the technology is too invasive, TSA officials give people the option of passing through a metal detector or receiving a pat-down, which some have said makes them feel like they’re being groped.

Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) said he went through the whole-body imaging system and then received a pat-down before a recent flight. Pistole said he wasn’t sure how that would have happened under the current security guidelines in place at airports.

Pistole said he hopes that new screening technology will soon be available that will depict images of passengers that are more like stick-figures than the life-like representation currently produced by whole-body imaging systems, which have spurred privacy concerns.

Two things about this article:

1)When I refused to enter the machine, I was not given the choise of going through the metal detector, but the TSA goons started sreaming 'opt-out, opt-out' very louded and had me follow them to a sqared off area in public view, where there they porceeded their 'enhanced pat-down' procedure. Next time I fly, and if directed into the naked body scanner, I will request the metal detector, and see if they will let me go there. Has anyone refuse the scanner and been allowed to go through the metal detector?

2) The stick-like figures on the new scanning technology he mentioned, might make me reconsider going through these machines. Just saying I would reconsider?

The very fact that they could logically go to the stick figure model, absolutely destroys the justification for these in the first place.

Either you need to make a full visual assessment or you don’t.

If you don’t, then this machine is worthless.

Stick figure? Really? O.M.G. Larry, Moe, and Curly couldn’t improve on the comedy factor here.

This is jaw-dropping stuff here.

Duncan Blasts TSA Pat-Downs, Body Scanners

November 17, 2010 11:01 AM
VIDEO

WASHINGTON – Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-Tenn.) blasted the Transportation Security Administration Wednesday during a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives for invasive “pat-downs” of U.S. citizens and the role lucrative government contracts played in the use of body scanning machines at airport checkpoints.

Duncan, former Chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee and the current top Republican on the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, said: “Unfortunately, for the traveling public, big brother never makes a mistake, so I am not surprised they are trying to defend the purchase of these scanners.”

The text of Rep. Duncan’s speech is copied below:
Mr. Speaker:

A nationwide revolt is developing over the body scanners at the airports, and it should.

Hundreds of thousands of frequent fliers who fly each week are upset about getting these frequent doses of radiation.

Parents are upset about being forced to have their children radiated or being touched inappropriately by an unrelated adult.

There is already plenty of security at the airport, but now we are going to spend up to $300 million to install 1,000 scanners.

This is much more about money than it is about security.

The former Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, represents Rapiscan, the company which is selling these scanners to his former department.

Far too many federal contracts are sweetheart, insider deals.
Companies hire former high ranking federal officials, and then magically, those companies get hugely profitable federal contracts.

The American people should not have to choose between having full-body radiation or a very embarrassing, intrusive pat-down every time they fly, as if they were criminals.

We need a little more balance and common sense on this.

http://duncan.house.gov/2010/11/duncan-blasts-tsa-pat-downs-body-scanners.shtml

#1, did the pat down being offered to Senators include hands down the pants which some passengers are being subjected to? No...../crickets

#2, the notion this pat down would have caught the undie bomber has already been debunked. The undie bomber had explosives stashed up his rectum which these machines can't detect.

#3, was there any mention of adopting the greater security techniques used by Israeli's such as, oh I dunno, PROFILING?!?

#4, I suppose yes a stick figure as opposed to the current porno scans would be an improvement but still doesn't address the radiation concerns and still doesn't address the reality that these scans cannot detect rectum bombs!

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