I Fooled You!

USA Today reports that Department of Homeland Security agents tested 450 airports' security checkpoints over 20,000 times between 2002 and 2007, but in cases where they were able to sneak contraband past the screeners, didn't investigate the breach:

A government program to find gaps in airport screening is "a waste of money" because it doesn't follow up on why screeners failed to spot guns, knives and bombs on undercover agents, the head of the House Homeland Security Committee says….

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., plans a hearing next month to press the TSA on making better use of covert tests.

"You have a system that's supposed to strengthen airport security, but you don't use the results of the tests to do exactly what you're doing the tests for," Thompson said. "It's obviously a waste of money."

The TSA (which is under the purview of DHS) fired back that it has too "adopted many new screening practices and technologies to close holes revealed by testing." And just how did the TSA do this without anyone investigating or taking notes? Well, that's a secret, and they crossed their hearts that they wouldn't tell. 

More TSA invective here.

Comments

[Elemenope]

Bennie Thompson sounds like a fellow with a decent head on his shoulders.

Clearly he shall not be re-elected.

[Jim McDish]

Wow, what a complete joke.

http://www.FireMe.to/udi

[aging artist]

Clearly, this program needs to be expanded, TSA needs a much bigger budget and more personnel so these gaps don't result. Besides, the airport kiosks would sell lots more doughnuts.

[Warren]

I for one am getting annoyed with Mr. Ultimate Anonymity

[Homer Simpson]

You couldn't fool your mother on the foolingest day of your life if you had an electrified fooling machine!

[Episiarch]

You weren't already, Warren? I'd like to throw him into a pit of live starving rats like they did (for real!) with two cats in Men Behind the Sun.

[bigbigslacker]

Slightly off topic, but I was at the Grand American trap shoot at the World Shooting and Recreation Complex last weekend in Sparta, IL one hour from St. Louis (Tourny runs through August 16). There was an RV with "Homeland Security Region 19" and "Emergency Services and Disaster Agency, City of Du Quoin, IL" on it - I took a picture. The thing had 3 AC units and a pole-mounted camera. I think the AC units on top are for torturing them Islams. Anyway, it was just amusing that at an event with about 3,000 people carrying guns, uncle Sam stopped by to keep us safe. I have little doubt Osama Bin Laden was hiding in the bushes and would have launched a full-scale assualt had that RV not been there.

If anyone is looking to buy a $65,000 shotgun, I suggest you visit the vendor "booths" (buildings) tomorrow or Saturday before the event is over. I also saw a set of 4 shotguns for $440,000 if you are looking for something basic to put some food on the table.

[Yogi]

Problem: A government program shows how wasteful, ineffectual, and overall crappy another government program is, and nothing is being done about the latter program.

Solution: Cancel the former program because its being wasteful AND embarrassing.

Yeah, that sounds about like Washington.

[R C Dean]

slacker - When I read your post, I just assumed that the Homeland Security folks were there to compete, and were using the official RV to hang out in between rounds - you know, maybe pick up some chicks.

[four o\'clock shadow]

I keep forgetting about the over 3 oz aerosol/gel size ban on carry on luggage. Last two trips they confiscated my shaving gel, the bastids never miss that. Razor blades, A-OK, no problemo.

[Johnny Nowhere]

the TSA blog (http://www.tsa.gov/blog/index.shtm) is a never-ending source if hilarity.

[Citizen Nothing]

I tried scraping off the "4.1 ounces" off the label of some sunblock and writing on "3 oz." in indelible marker. I was caught and my sunblock confiscated. Fortunately I escaped a cavity search. That was my stab at civil disobedience. (True story.)

[Citizen Nothing]

That was in the early days, though. Now they never open my 1-quart ziplock for a closer check of the contents.

[SugarFree]

I always seem to fly out either really early or really late. The TSA is too sleepy to give much of a shit.

Of course, my wife's paranoia about being late for a plane gets us at the airport two to four hours early. You do not need to get to the airport at 4:30am for a 6:00am flight in Lexington, KY.

[Tym]

Who cares if they don't find bombs, guns etc; as long as we are all protected from the fearsome menace of liquids over 3 oz and not in 1 qt plastic ziploc bags! I feel safer already.

[T]

TSA = Security Kabuki

We've established this beyond any reasonable doubt. Wake me up when it changes. Until then, I'm avoiding airports.

[Tym]

I tried scraping off the "4.1 ounces" off the label of some sunblock and writing on "3 oz." in indelible marker. I was caught and my sunblock confiscated. Fortunately I escaped a cavity search. That was my stab at civil disobedience. (True story.)

Last time I flew I had a 6 oz water bottle in my carry on. They didn't find it. The horror.

[SugarFree]

Last time I flew I had a 6 oz water bottle in my carry on.

Don't they knew you could have HYDRATED somebody with that thing!?!

I'll be on my fainting couch.

[creech]

Gee, and the guy who headed up all this, Tom Ridge, is reported to be on McCain's short list of VP choices.

[P Brooks]

I bet they didn't get any sweatshirts with flashing LEDs past the TSA.

[zig zag man]

Maybe the TSA would catch more terrorists and deadly weapons if they didn't pay so much attention to a few grams of cannabis or cocaine.

//IMHO, the security ritual citizens are forced to undergo in airports and courthouses are nothing more than a rehersal for when citizens are rounded up for the prison camps.

[TrickyVic]

"""Maybe the TSA would catch more terrorists and deadly weapons if they didn't pay so much attention to a few grams of cannabis or cocaine."""

Maybe they would catch more if there were more. It seem like they are looking for a needle in a haystack, while demanding that every piece of hay be treated like a potental needle

[Adidas Originals Superstaron]

You have a system that's supposed to strengthen airport security, but you don't use the results of the tests to do exactly what you're doing the tests for.