Posted on 11/18/2010 5:41:28 PM PST by American Dream 246
A friend of mine sent me this about his TSA experience. He, unlike most of us, was coming back into the country from Afghanistan on a military charter.
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As the Chalk Leader for my flight home from Afghanistan, I witnessed the following:
When we were on our way back from Afghanistan, we flew out of Baghram Air Field. We went through customs at BAF, full body scanners (no groping), had all of our bags searched, the whole nine yards.
Our first stop was Shannon, Ireland to refuel. After that, we had to stop at Indianapolis, Indiana to drop off about 100 folks from the Indiana National Guard. That’s where the stupid started.
First, everyone was forced to get off the plane–even though the plane wasn’t refueling again. All 330 people got off that plane, rather than let the 100 people from the ING get off. We were filed from the plane to a holding area. No vending machines, no means of escape. Only a male/female latrine.
It’s probably important to mention that we were ALL carrying weapons. Everyone was carrying an M4 Carbine (rifle) and some, like me, were also carrying an M9 pistol. Oh, and our gunners had M-240B machine guns. Of course, the weapons weren’t loaded. And we had been cleared of all ammo well before we even got to customs at Baghram, then AGAIN at customs.
The TSA personnel at the airport seriously considered making us unload all of the baggage from the SECURE cargo hold to have it reinspected. Keep in mind, this cargo had been unpacked, inspected piece by piece by U.S. Customs officials, resealed and had bomb-sniffing dogs give it a one-hour run through. After two hours of sitting in this holding area, the TSA decided not to reinspect our Cargo–just to inspect us again: Soldiers on the way home from war, who had already been inspected, reinspected and kept in a SECURE holding area for 2 hours. Ok, whatever. So we lined up to go through security AGAIN.
This is probably another good time to remind you all that all of us were carrying actual assault rifles, and some of us were also carrying pistols.
So we’re in line, going through one at a time. One of our Soldiers had his Gerber multi-tool. TSA confiscated it. Kind of ridiculous, but it gets better. A few minutes later, a guy empties his pockets and has a pair of nail clippers. Nail clippers. TSA informs the Soldier that they’re going to confiscate his nail clippers. The conversation went something like this:
TSA Guy: You can’t take those on the plane.
Soldier: What? I’ve had them since we left country.
TSA Guy: You’re not suppose to have them.
Soldier: Why?
TSA Guy: They can be used as a weapon.
Soldier: [touches butt stock of the rifle] But this actually is a weapon. And I’m allowed to take it on.
TSA Guy: Yeah but you can’t use it to take over the plane. You don’t have bullets.
Soldier: And I can take over the plane with nail clippers?
TSA Guy: [awkward silence]
Me: Dude, just give him your damn nail clippers so we can get the f**k out of here. I’ll buy you a new set.
Soldier: [hands nail clippers to TSA guy, makes it through security]
This might be a good time to remind everyone that approximately 233 people re-boarded that plane with assault rifles, pistols, and machine guns–but nothing that could have been used as a weapon.
I went on a trip shortly after 9/11 and saw someone get something confiscated every next step. Tweezers, travel size hand lotion, nail clippers. Every bloody step, and there were several stopovers.
I’m going to have to call BS on this.
Military charters with armed troops generally don’t go through security, just customs. Been there done that via Shannon on a decrepit 727 that was barely able to make it across the pond.
The Government protecting us from its soldiers! Priceless.
I would have suggested that the TSA line up and kiss the feet of those brave soldiers who actually put their lives on the line for us.
I heard a promotional event for the TSA where they (TSA) were on the front line protecting our nation. My butt!
Anybody who knows what a ‘MORDT and Go’ is will laugh at this.
Glad I’m not in anymore. I’m just not that patient these days.
Great story.
And I especially like the phrase “This is where the stupid started.”
Back when my husband traveled the world with the Air Force, this screwed up airline stuff wasn’t going on. It’s truly ridiculous.
Those at the airports should thank the military and get them on their flights home, not treat them as suspects.
God bless all our military members!
And, apparently, the TSA decided he needed lots and lots of extra scrutiny. (We both went through the full body scanners, by the way.) THEN my wonderful DH got a rather intimate pat-search on top of the full-body scan ... and then they decided to x-ray his boots (which were off) two EXTRA times (for a total of three x-rays.)
While he was going through this, the TSA people waved at least 3-4 adult males (casually dressed young men, civilians) through ... they went through the standard metal detector, but not the full body scan or the intimate pat down.
Hmmm... This took 33 minutes. I can only imagine what it will be like closer to Thanksgiving!
Especially since the TSA has never banned nail clippers.
They were banned right after 9/11, but were allowed by the time TSA was created.
Soldiers coming back thru Houston were not allowed to get on new planes for their destinations because the TSA decided that there were ‘explosive & Ammunition particles’ detected on their uniforms—which they had been wearing for a couple of days coming directly from the Afghanistan & Pakistan & Iraq theatres of conflict.
The were grounded in Houston.
Don’t know if they got to go get showers & change to civvies to get home.
This insanity has to stop.
It’s clear that the TSA have some sort of juvenile ‘gold star’ reward system in place for agents who confiscate even the smallest/least threatening item. In their tiny, small minds this is their interpretation of their job description and reinforces the ‘we’re doing something about the problem’ groupthink that permeates the whole sordid mess.
Easy defeat for a determined terrorist wanna-be — just pack a couple of rounds in your a— and pull them out in the lav when the time comes.
Looks like it's going to have to get that ridiculous before this is over.
Freepers, this must go to Drudge, Hannity, Savage, Rush, Jim DeMint, Michele Bachmann, Mike Pence; and the few rational ones left in DC. IMO, this treatament of American patriots was an outrage and an insult beyond words. My God, these heroes were coming back from war and treated like criminals!
Want to bet with me that Hussein himself has directed the thugs at TSA to harrass our military more than anyone else?
I am embarrassed to be from Indianapolis :( They need to remake Airplane 2 or make Airplane 3 or something and make this a skit in the movie. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry!
This is getting silly.
You know I’m not much of a fan of unions but it sure would be great to see the airline pilots union refuse to fly the day before Thanksgving until the rules are changed. Get rid of the scanner and no fondling or the planes don’t leave the ground.
So whaddaya say now Big Sis?
LMAO.....Oh, this is rich! Thank you, I needed a good laugh tonight. This typifies the mentality of this administration. Maybe you guys should have taken over the TSA instead without the nail clippers.
My experience is that they break off and confiscate the nail file, which is lethal part of the instrument.
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