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| Agents Find Boston Airport Security Lapses | |
| 2003-10-16 | |
| Five federal agents posing as passengers succeeded in sneaking weapons through security checkpoints at Logan international Airport last week, officials said. Hmm.. no suprise there.... The Homeland Security agents smuggled certain "prohibited items" past federal screeners, said George Naccara, the airport’s federal security director. He did not specify what the items were. The two jetliners that were flown into the World Trade Center towers originated in Boston. Federal screeners were hired at airports nationwide to tighten security after the attacks. You would think Boston at least would be a little more careful. "I am always disturbed if we miss anything," Naccara told the Boston Globe. "We’re not perfect. I admit that. It was a learning experience." A number of screeners were pulled aside on the spot and told they had failed to find illicit items, Naccara said. OOps! I guess I missed one... again... "In individual cases (undercover agents) spoke to the screeners," he said. The tests at Logan were part of a federal investigation at about 15 major airports around the country, he said, adding that security at Logan is "no better or worse" than at other airports. This is *not* a good sign folks. The security lapses will help the airport improve safety, according to Jose Juves, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Port Authority, the agency that operates the airport but has no security responsibility. Logan was visited as part of Homeland Security’s program of "penetration testing" said Tamara Faulkner, a spokeswoman for the inspector general’s office. She refused to confirm the results of the tests, saying they are expected to be presented to Congress within several months. On a positive note it is nice to know that they are testing the screening process at least. I think the results of the test would be interesting to see.
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| Posted by:CrazyFool |
| #8 ...treatment that much different from other federal employees. Unless, of course, a few people visibly start losing their jobs... Unfortunately it might take a lot of people visibly losing their lives. When are people going to realise that we are in a farking WAR. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2003-10-16 9:14:09 PM |
| #7 I think the firing rules for TSA employees are different than for the gerneral civil servants... Didn't part of the bill which created Homeland Security allow for firing? As I recall the Unions and Dems had their panties all in a knot because the bill specifically allowed for firing and removal of workers for not doing their job. They were all bitching because the jobs were not 'protected'. I don't remember. But when it comes to federal employees, I'm not convinced that these screeners are going to receive treatment that much different from other federal employees. Unless, of course, a few people visibly start losing their jobs... |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-10-16 3:14:38 PM |
| #6 On the "up" side, a friend of mine, whose daughter has been taking Karate for six years, says enrollment in martial arts courses has tripled since 9/11, and more people who enroll are completing the course. OBL may have to become triple-jointed to step on it as much as he has... |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-10-16 1:02:54 PM |
| #5 Bomb, Didn't part of the bill which created Homeland Security allow for firing? As I recall the Unions and Dems had their panties all in a knot because the bill specifically allowed for firing and removal of workers for not doing their job. They were all bitching because the jobs were not 'protected'. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2003-10-16 11:53:40 AM |
| #4 TSA has been advertising like crazy on the radio in the DC area for "part-time, temporary" screeners. B-a-R, I think the firing rules for TSA employees are different than for the gerneral civil servants... |
| Posted by: seafarious 2003-10-16 10:56:04 AM |
| #3 Logan's the worst airport in the US and Massport's the biggest hack government agency in the US. If you aren't a terrorist when you get there, you may be by the time you leave. The smart folks up here fly out of Providence or Manchester, NH if at all possible. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-10-16 10:11:52 AM |
| #2 What's worth noting here is that the screeners are now federal employees. Fire a screener for not doing their job? Good luck. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-10-16 10:04:59 AM |
| #1 Not a good sign...but I must say not unexpected. This article reflects the average effectiveness of any federal employee, I don't know why DHS would be any different. Until we allow the price of air travel to reflect the higher costs of security, and empower airlines themselves to handle security (as, I believe El Al does), I don't expect it to get any better. |
| Posted by: mjh 2003-10-16 9:58:29 AM |