Security To Relax At Major Airports

AP via CNN ^ | December 8, 2002 | Associated Press

[John W]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Beginning Monday, the federal government will open parking lots at the country's biggest airports that have been off-limits since September 11 because of worries about car bombs.

Federal officials also will change the way air travelers are screened after they pass through security checkpoints over the next few weeks, checking them only at randomly selected gates, according to Robert Johnson, Transportation Security Administration spokesman.

[crypt2k]

Great, just GREAT...

[shezza]

Who needs hidden messages from Al-Jazeera TV when the fedguv is quite happy to broadcast an all-clear for the bad guys?

[Moonmad27]

Wonder if they're ending the dumb checking of people's shoes (as if that's going to be Al Quaida's modus operandi every time just because Richard Reid tried it once)? Am flying in a couple weeks and am not looking forward to the security hassle.

[CyberAnt]

Geeeeez! Why not just hang out a sign for all the terrorists? I hate CNN

[RCW2001]

Good post. I saw this reported on ABC tonight but couldn't find copy at the time.

[John W]

Your hate may be misdirected in this case.RCW2001 saw it on ABC,I saw it on NBC at 6:30 PM ET.Got online and it was on my EarthLink homepage,linked from CNN where you'll note it is on their "Travel" page.Was suprised it wasn't on FR yet.Anyway,CNN didn't make the decision,the Bush Administration did.

[meyer]

Who needs hidden messages from Al-Jazeera TV when the fedguv is quite happy to broadcast an all-clear for the bad guys?

Psy-ops?

[VRWC For Truth]

Have had 4 flights over the past month or so, the air travel business is hurting. Airports are empty. Hotels empty. At least the Bush gov't ADMITS they aren't helping with all these BS restrictions. Arm the pilots, arm the passengers. I'm conviced that under the 'Toon/Goron we'd be living in a police state.

[clamboat]

Am flying in a couple weeks and am not looking forward to the security hassle.

After a few flights you'll figure out what you can do to make your trip more bearable. My wife and I always wear shoes that have proven to not set off the metal detectors. (a surprising number of shoes have metal shanks in the sole.) We also remove any belt, eyeglasses, watches before going through the security line, as well as the obvious things like change or keys. Just drop them in your carry-on.

It is a REAL hassle of you set off the metal detector these days. If you do, you're going to go through the whole regamarole of putting your shoes on the belt, raising your arms while they wand you, etc., etc. Feh! Who needs that?

Just make sure you don't set off the detector in the first place and you'll have a smooth trip.

[Endeavor]

""We're trying to avoid screening Grandma two or three times as she makes her way home for the holidays," Johnson said."

How about avoiding screening grandma and start screening Mohammed and your friendly Chechans more thoroughly?

"Johnson said the prohibition on unattended vehicles parking within 300 feet of a terminal will be dropped on Monday as long as the terrorist threat level is at code yellow, or "elevated," the middle of a five-point scale of risk developed after the terror attacks. "

Uh, what color was the terror threat at 8:46 AM September 11th, 2001? This is so lame.

"New layers of airport security allow the rules to be eased, Johnson said, listing a better-trained screener work force, federal air marshals, background checks of people who work beyond airport security checkpoints and screening of checked baggage at 252 airports. "

Yup, I'm feeling safer already (not).

I fly several times a month. I don't feel I'm any safer today, except that me and my fellow passengers will definately mount an attack on any hijackers. That will probably result in my death. So no, I don't feel any safer.

ARM THE PILOTS!!!

[doug from upland]

We at SSAF have been disturbed about this since the FAA has issued waivers to allow short term close-in parking across the country. From a distance of 150 feet, if a 400-lb car bomb went off in the Ontario, CA parking lot, the kill zone inside the terminal from lethal shards of glass would be up to about 200 feet. The counters are less than 50 feet from the glass.

Here is the story from the SSAF website -- SSAF URGENT BULLETIN

Subsequent to the article, I made a presentation to the Los Angeles World Airports board of commissioners. They finally took the issue seriously, and we have met with the project coordinator. Until they do something about the glass, however, there is great risk inside the terminal.

[CyberAnt]

Just because the Bush admin made the decision, doesn't mean CNN should be broadcasting those facts.

Besides, I believe this statement gives aid and comfort to the enemy - we're talking treason here!!

Telling terrorist that we are relaxing our restrictions at the airports is NOT A GOOD THING.

And ... for whatever it's worth, I don't "hate" CNN. I just think they are journalistically lazy and will parrot whatever they hear, especially if it will damage the Bush admin. If you don't agree, that's fine ... you're not required to.

[Demidog]

Great, just GREAT...

Really. Freedom must be outlawed so we can all feel safe.

[Moonmad27]

Thanks for the helpful tips, which I will definitely follow! I just re-read the original article and noticed the quote that they were trying to avoid screening Grandma. Why don't they just make it a point not to screen Grandma and instead check on Abu Ali who's in line right behind her?!

[Demidog]

we're talking treason here!!

Actually I think it would make the enemy mad. Rememeber, they hate us because we're free. This must send them into frenzy knowing that we are allowed to park our cars in the short term lots now.

[trussell]

I would much rather deal with the security hassle than to hop on a plane where a terrorist has slipped through the relaxed security measures.

[Jhoffa_]

Now wait a minute, we are going to leave the borders open, try like hell to spy on everyones e-mail and movie rentals but REDUCE security at the nations airports?

[Moonmad27]

Their most recent threat this past week was to attack us on "land, sea and air". I want the airport security to be as good as humanly possible, with a bit of logic used (Abu Ali instead of Grandma). It's clear from the other worldwide attacks lately that they are plotting in every direction. They may never use planes again. The threat is so widespread -- the main thing we can do is to destroy the terrorists first.

[CyberAnt]

LOL!!