Why the TSA Searches Grandmothers and Toddlers

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I am suspicious of all of the "attempted terrorists" who do get through airport security and result in "close calls". It all smacks of set up to me. I am wondering if that Irish bride was set up by more than her fiance.

Mary of FL 8:43AM October 08, 2012

I would rather risk the chance that the plane blow up (which is a very very small chance) than have to endure the intrusive "enhanced pat-downs" that has ended my use of air travel.
The TSA has not caught any terrorists with their draconian measures, they have merely terrorized children and the elderly.
The general public traveling by airplane have foiled more terrorist attempts than the TSA.

Viivia of UT 1:45PM July 12, 2012

Your own argument is shot by your own example. If El Al employees can detect this sans pat downs and X-rays, then surely, the US can do the same?
Instead the land of the free opts for sexually harassing fliers or X-raying them. Which may I add is illegal according to your own constitution, but hey, who is noticing.
>>And just like Anne-Marie Murphy, a sweet Irish girl from the countryside, anyone can be duped by a false friend, or might be carrying something they do not know they have. Even grandmothers and war heroes. Even Jesse Ventura.
That is your own paranoia talking.

Genie Woolley 7:39PM April 19, 2012

If there are so many terrorists out there, why don't we see them blowing up airports (outside the security zone), or trains or malls or... anything. Answer? The number is miniscule, and test after test shows the TSA would likely let them through anyway.
You are more likely to be struck by lightning than ve killed on a plane by a terrorist. You are literally many thousands of times more likely to be killed by some random motorist who isn't paying attention in your daily commute than on an airplane.
If you are so scared of some boogieman that you want to molest toddlers to make yourself feel safe, do us all a favor and stay in your house and let the rest of us live our lives in a civilized world. Because if you're afraid of dying, air travel is the least thing to worry about.

Bob of AL 3:14PM April 19, 2012

As someone who flies around the world, regardless of the "fear" status published, I am very happy to allow the extra time and the "inconveniece" of searches and probing questions just to help me feel safer. The question is, though, are we safer? Is all this just PR and a way to lull us to feel safer? I have seen TSA agents do really dumb stuff, like dump my unopened yogurt and toss my tiny jar of unopened peanut butter - meeting all the criteria of size limits - but impacting my ability to have any food during my flight, even though covered by both a doctor's note and an inability to open my jaw! I even offered to open the containers and show them that I would eat it. That kind of decision-making does NOT make me feel saver, especially when once on board I saw a man with his thermos - carrying alcohol on board and offering me some!!

Emily Mereness of CA 11:12AM April 17, 2012

Israel did locate and identify the potential bomber but the TSA is only building an incompetent abusive government agency without direction or common sense. Israel did not use x-rays or patdowns but good common logic in behavior science. A BIG difference.

daniel of WA 9:06AM April 07, 2012

a great big smile and a huge "thank you" is all the TSA agents need once in a while! I even say this at our Canadian-USA border crossings...we're all human and they are paid to help to keep us safe & free.

Gerry Lewy 12:42PM April 06, 2012

EXCUSE? What an idiot you are. You are fine with being abused and having innocents abused so MAYBE that ONE person who is being used (and how likely is this to happen today. . this story was almost 30 years ago and even pre-9/11 security would have caught this) by some foreign operative can be caught.
You, sir, are a moron.

Gwenny of CO 10:56AM April 06, 2012

So, Mark, you're saying that you actually don't mind a stranger grabbing your crotch if it keeps you safe. You neglected to mentuion whether you were okay with strangers grabbing your children's crotches if it "keeps you safe". Are you okay with strangers grabbing your children's crotches before you can get on a plane? Are you okay with people seeing naked pictures of your wife before you get on a plane? Are you okay with strip searches or cavity searches?
You might say, "Sure, as long as it keeps us safe, anything goes!"
But what if it doesn't keep us safe? Is it okay to do all of those things if they are worthless and don't actually keep us safe at all?
Oh, and another thing - if YOU want to give up all of your rights and freedoms, fine. You can live your life however fearfully you want. But you have absolutely no right, nor does anyone else, to demand that the rest of society give up those rights and freedoms, which have cost so many lives to secure and defend over the last 200 years. Giving up those rights because you are afraid of terrorists is spitting on the graves of all of those citizen soldiers who gave their lives to protect your freedom.
Keep thanking TSA and the others in America who are perpretuating a state of fear and cowardice. They're benefiting from it in the form of increased governmental authority, and huge amounts of money spent on useless or semi-useless security procedures.
I prefer to curse those who are attempting to perpetuate the paranoia and turn a once free nation into a police state.
Of course, for the moment, we still have freedoms of speech and of the press, so you're free to express your opinions. But give it a few years.

WillCAD of MD 10:53AM April 06, 2012

What a maroon... Mark, are you willing to have Homeland agents go through your house and your neighbors' houses if it will possibly (not really, but it's in the realm of possibility) make your life safer? I'm not.
If you've seen "nothing but professional", you haven't flown through LAX, PDX, or PHX.
Instead of "THANK YOU", the correct phrase is "SHAME ON YOU" -- for trading your dignity and the rights of Americans for a taxpayer paycheck.

Jules of WA 12:33AM April 05, 2012