Statement by Secretary Napolitano on Increased Security Measures

Release Date: November 8, 2010

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

DHS: Statement by Secretary Napolitano on Increased Security Measures

"Following the thwarted terrorist plot last week to conceal and ship explosive devices on board aircraft bound for the U.S., the Administration took a number of immediate steps to increase security by tightening existing measures related to cargo bound for the United States.

Some of the steps that have been taken by the Department of Homeland Security included adapting inbound cargo targeting rules to reflect the latest intelligence and ordering a ground halt on all cargo coming from Yemen. In addition, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John S. Pistole and a team of TSA inspectors visited Yemen to meet with government security officials and to assist in enhancing Yemen’s security procedures, which are necessary to eventually lift the ground halt on cargo.

Late last week, TSA directed industry carriers to begin implementing additional precautionary security measures for international flights inbound to the United States. These measures take effect today. Specifically, the ban on air cargo from Yemen will continue and has been extended to all air cargo from Somalia as well. In addition, no high risk cargo will be allowed on passenger aircraft. Toner and ink cartridges over 16 ounces will be prohibited on passenger aircraft in both carry-on bags and checked bags on domestic and international flights in-bound to the United States. This ban will also apply to certain inbound international air cargo shipments as well.

and the bearded men in the cave get another laugh at our expense!

Further, all cargo identified as high risk will go through additional and enhanced screening. These measures also impact inbound international mail packages, which must be screened individually and certified to have come from an established postal shipper.

The Administration is also working closely with industry and our international partners to expedite the receipt of cargo manifests for international flights to the United States prior to departure in order to identify and screen items based on risk and current intelligence. We are also working with our international and private sector partners on the expansion of layered detections system including technology and other measures.

As always, the safety and security of the American public is our highest priority. The threats of terrorism we face are serious and evolving, and these security measures reflect our commitment to using current intelligence to stay ahead of adversaries—working closely with our international, federal, state, local and private sector partners every step of the way. We encourage our partners, as well as our citizens, to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement authorities."

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Talk about reactionary knee jerk bullshit!

F

__________________
"Patriotism means being loyal to your country all the time and to its government when it deserves it."-- Mark Twain

"Inter arma silent Musae"--when the weapons speak, the muses fall silent.

An't nanum hearm deth, doth hwaet ye willath.

It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished
unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets. -Voltaire

Economic Left/Right: -3.88
Authoritarian/Libertarian: -4.36

Brilliant tactics by Al Qaeda. At modest expense they are able to inflict billions of additional cost on the US through its Department of Homeland Security.

Salon blogger, international airline pilot Patrick Smith reports that the Homeland Security Agency is doing pretty well without Al Qaeda prompts (emphasis added):

Truly I had no intention of devoting yet another post to the sad, silly foibles of the Transportation Security Administration, but I'm risking heart attack or a nervous breakdown if I don't get this latest one out of my system.

I was at the airport yesterday, on duty, headed through a TSA checkpoint in my full uniform and with all of my applicable credentials. I hoisted my bags onto the belt, deposited my MacBook in a plastic tray, and approached the metal detector.

"Sir," said a guard.

And I knew. I just knew this was going to be something stupid.

"I need you to remove your belt."

"Huh? My belt? Why?"

"All passengers need to remove their belts."

"I'm not a passenger."

"All pilots have to remove their belts."

"We do? Why?"

"Sir, remove your belt."

"Why?"

"Because that's the rule."

"What rule? I never have to remove my belt. The buckle is nonmetallic."

"It's the new rule. All belts have to come off."

"What new rule? I don't understand."

"Sir, you need to take it off."

"But ... What if I don't?"

"Then you'll have to go through secondary screening and a full pat-down."

And so I opted for the secondary screening. Not that a pat-down is reasonable, either, but I did not want to submit to something that I felt was excessive and ridiculous without a reason or explanation.

I was asked to stand in a cordoned-off area, where I waited for several minutes as guards stood around looking at me. Finally a supervisor came over, wearing disposable blue gloves, to administer my secondary screening.

"Sir," he said, "um, you still need to remove your belt."

"What do you mean? I chose this so I could leave the belt on."

"No, either way the belt has to come off."

"What? And if it doesn't come off?"

"Then I cannot let you through."

So, it would seem, secondary screening isn't really "secondary" at all. Instead of simply taking off my belt, I get a full, blue-glove groping and I have to take off my belt. Either that or I'm not allowed to fly the plane.

"Really?" I asked.

"Really."

And with that I started laughing.

Much to his credit, the supervisor also laughed. He smiled, nodded and proceeded to explain this "new rule."

Before getting to that explanation, I will note, for what it's worth, that this particular supervisor, who asked that I not reveal his name or location, was perhaps the most decent and reasonable TSA employee I've ever interacted with. He was courteous and professional, not to mention sympathetic. He acknowledged that much of what flight crews are forced to endure does not make sense from a security standpoint. He does not enact policy; he enforces it. Further, he seemed fully aware of the ridiculousness of the new belts procedure.

Belts, it has been determined, can interfere with the images procured by the new full-body scanners being deployed at checkpoints around the country. And so, from now on, passengers need to remove them.

Now, although we can debate the body scanners from an effectiveness point of view, or from a privacy-rights point of view, separately, this at least makes sense.

Fair enough, except for one thing. As I looked around me, I noticed that there weren't any body scanners anywhere at the checkpoint.

"But sir," I said, motioning to the left and right, "there are no scanners here."

"I know," he replied. "I know. But to keep things consistent, across the board, everybody has to do it."

"Really?"

"Really."

He looked at me. He shrugged and sighed.

It's not his fault, I know.

I took off my belt...

Hahahaha

__________________
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Awesome!

F

__________________
"Patriotism means being loyal to your country all the time and to its government when it deserves it."-- Mark Twain

"Inter arma silent Musae"--when the weapons speak, the muses fall silent.

An't nanum hearm deth, doth hwaet ye willath.

It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished
unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets. -Voltaire

Economic Left/Right: -3.88
Authoritarian/Libertarian: -4.36