Precautions

Controversy within Traveling! Transport Security Administration /Discrimination  

What comes in mind for me with traveling that would be controversial is yupp what we all fear TERRORISM. The decision to let fear get in the way of traveling. After 9/11 (may all the victims rest in peace) airport security got real serious. Do I blame them no. We have all seen the damage that was caused by that attack and no one wants to go through that ever again. To never go through that again many steps have been taken by the TSA to stop future attacks. In articles I found from years after the 9/11 terrorist attack they speak of issues that have to do with discrimination or airport security. Do people think all these precautions are useless or do they remember why these precautions were put in place and are ok with them? 

Slate Magazine says in their Racial Profiling at the Airport: Discrimination we are afraid to be Against Article that singling out Arab-looking men at an airport because its rational compared to a thug doing it. It later says that it doesn't make it ok but it can be justified.  

Discovery News mentions what to expect when you go to the airport. 
Things like

1. Behavior detection officers: Known as the Screening Passengers by Observation Technique (SPOT) program, the idea is to use facial expression, body language and appearance (rather than racial profiling) to determine whether a passenger fears detection or is concealing something. TSA spotters "walk the line" and start random conversations with passengers to elicit responses. The officers have about 30 seconds to make an assessment whether the person needs to be pulled out of line and given a more rigorous screening. A TSA spokesman wouldn't discuss the SPOT program or say whether it's caught any law-breakers or terrorists

2. Enhanced pat-downs: This controversial measure was unveiled earlier this month for passengers who don't like the enhanced X-ray scanners or who trigger the alarm. They can involve touching of breasts and genitals, which has upset some passengers, but still has the backing of the Obama administration and TSA officials.

3. Swabbing for explosives: This technology has been around for several years for carry-on and checked bags, but now TSA officers will be using it on passenger's hands. The cotton swabs are placed in a portable detection machine to check for explosive residue. "It just takes a few seconds," said TSA spokesman Jon Allen.

4. "Puff portals:" The explosive trace-detection portal devices use a mass spectrometer to analyze tiny bits of drugs or explosives that are blown off the passenger's clothing. At their peak a few years ago, the TSA had these devices at nearly 100 U.S. airports, but they broke down easily and are being phased out, TSA officials said. "It's not likely that passengers will encounter them," TSA's Allen said.

5. More personal data: The TSA also reminds travelers that they will have to give their full name and date of birth when checking in, which the agency hopes will cut down on the number of people incorrectly matched to the infamous "no-fly list."
(all taken from the Discovery News article, click link to go to article)  


A blog called Foreign Policy talks more about the ludicrous steps the TSA has gone to prevent disasters. 
The blog quotes "The WSJ today revealed that TSA officials have been testing an Israeli-developed biometric machine that can detect travelers with "hostile intent". The machine, called "Cogito", asks travelers questions and measures their biometric responses. FP ran a story back in March about similar voice-analysis screening at a Moscow airport. With Cogito, the machine's software draws on Israeli interrogation data and field experience with terrorists to identify suspicious response patterns". This machine is suppose to helps them steer away from racial profiling. 

We see all the steps TSA and our country as well as other countries have done to protect their
citizens from attacks like 9/11. Is all this money and time going into these new systems really working will it slow down those who are out to do bad? Has the attempt to stop terrorist attacksmade it ok to discriminate against people? Now a days people get so annoyed when they speak about what they have to do to go on a flight.