Sunday, November 21, 2010

The Sins of the TSA

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Security is important. Americans are concerned. After the shoe bomber they began checking our shoes at the airports. After the underwear bomber, they began to grope us. If ever a terrorist is caught with an explosive inserted into their body. . . well, let's just say it would not be very pleasant.

The politicians think they understand the need for security, yet, like usual, don't have a clue and have taken measures to the extreme. While chasing items, always remaining one step behind the terrorists, the Democrats are now realizing with their mass unpopularity, they must do something to stop the free fall of their approval ratings. The truth is that there is in fact a danger out there. Terrorism has used the airline industry before, and continue to, therefore security at our airports is important. Recognizing this truth, the liberal government officials have determined they must try to capitalize on that unfortunate reality. The Democrats have determined that in order to salvage what little popularity they have left they ought to get tough at the airports. As a result, they have overstepped, and have actually given a victory to the terrorists.

The whole point of terrorism is to frighten the target into changing societal behavior, and possibly in a manner that is favorable to the Jihadists. With the recent TSA measures that have been violating law-abiding American citizens, while allowing Muslims to walk on by exempt from such measures because of their "religion," we are literally giving the enemy what they want.

Rather than act like everyone in the world, except adherents to Islam, are capable of being a terrorist, let's be realistic and search the people we know are more likely to be terrorists. In other words, we need to use common sense and profile Muslims. Most Muslims may not be terrorists, but most terrorists are Muslims. This does not mean we need to be stopping and searching every Muslim that comes through the airport gate, but when it comes to Muslims, we should be using heightened common sense and discretion. We need to be using human judgment, looking for any probable cause, be it a person acting shifty and nervous, or any other sign that may clue the agent in that the passenger may pose a danger. Profiling, after all, is a sign of good police work. Profiling is used daily in law enforcement, so why is it not an important part of national security?

Instead, we are seeing a rash of bad decisions by the TSA as they grope and violate American citizens in an attempt to look like they are providing security:

- Report: Napolitano considering Hamas-linked CAIR's demands for Muslim women in airports, including the "self-pat-down"

- Woman says her Lambert security screening was sexual assault

- Body-Searching Children: No for the US Army, Yes for the TSA

- Freedom or Security?

- TSA pat-down leaves traveler covered in urine

- TSO saying "heads up, got a cutie for you"

- Is the TSA allowing convicted rapists to perform pat-down searches?

- TSA airport screener arrested for child porn also worked at Catholic school; Questions remain

- TSA responds to complaints about kids being patted down at airports

- Picture of the Day - TSA Computer Humor: My First Cavity Search

- Federal VIP Penn

- Muslim TSA agent frisks a Catholic nun at Detroit Metro airport

- TSA screener terrorizes 3-year-old girl

- The TSA Debacle

- Passengers rebelling against airport security measures

- Napolitano considering allowing Muslim women to pat themselves down at Airports!

Thank you to Call Me Mom for most of the links.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

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