What a load of shit. "Security guys" should be fucking competent or they shouldn't be "security guys" at all. And who cares about some "keep the sheep fearful and in line" propoganda shit the US government puts out about supposed threats to embassies or whatever? The "opt-out" he elected is explicitly defined as a valid procedure by the TSA, so citing that as "suspicious" is bullshit. And "behavioural red flag?" Are you shitting me? What do you think somebody is supposed to do when they are detained against their will, subject to multiple interrogations, denied food and water, and otherwise accosted by a gang of jack-booted thugs?
The only part of this story that makes it anything less than a total clusterfuck on the part of the TSA is that their so-called "explosive detector" alerted on something. Fine, it should take about 3 minutes after that to manually pat down / search the individual and find (or not) any explosives they are carrying. If you don't find any (and seemingly they didn't) that's what we call a "false positive". They happen, but that does not justify all the follow-on bullshit.
Seriously, FUCK the TSA. Those assholes are the terrorists as far as I'm concerned.
> "Security guys" should be fucking competent or they shouldn't be "security guys" at all.
I'd say the same of Java programmers, but we know that's not true, and Java coders get much better salaries.
> And "behavioural red flag?" Are you shitting me?
In Britain for many years the main security measure at Heathrow was for security people to simply interview passengers on check in and ask them about their bags, where they were traveling, etc. -- the main purpose was to look for behavioral cues and not so much obtain answers to the questions. I believe this is one of the things TSA officers are supposed to receive training in.
So maybe he was low blood sugar and this triggered some kind of tic that also caused a false positive.
So you've got a bunch of things that all put you on the wrong side of checklist, voluntarily pick another one, and then add another couple from pure bad luck, and it sucks. I speak as someone who has been randomly detained for no stated reason at customs in Australia long before 9/11, and who since, having dark hair and complexion, is frequently on the wrong end of TSA profiling.
> Seriously, FUCK the TSA. Those assholes are the terrorists as far as I'm concerned.
In Britain for many years the main security measure at Heathrow was for security people to simply interview passengers on check in and ask them about their bags, where they were traveling, etc. -- the main purpose was to look for behavioral cues and not so much obtain answers to the questions. I believe this is one of the things TSA officers are supposed to receive training in.
I took the earlier post as referring to the events that happened after he was detained. I'm not arguing against the idea of "behavioural indicators", I meant to say that someone becoming upset at being detained, grilled, denied water, etc., isn't such an indicator.
As for TSA officers in particular - these are people who would be asking "Would you like a hot apple pie with that?" if it weren't for the existence of the TSA. Not exactly America's "best and brightest". I have serious questions about their qualification to make any kind of valid assessment based on subtle psychological / behavioural clues.
Says the guy who thinks someone traveling alone and carrying bug spray residue and being Hindu should set off the TSA's terrorism alarm. Perhaps you could move that bar a scorch higher?
> In Britain for many years the main security measure at Heathrow was for security people to simply interview passengers on check in and ask them about their bags, where they were traveling, etc. -- the main purpose was to look for behavioral cues and not so much obtain answers to the questions. I believe this is one of the things TSA officers are supposed to receive training in.
This is the case in US airports as well. I recently flew back to Belgium from JFK in NYC. Before you go through screening you get asked those questions by someone, who then writes something on your boarding pass.
That one comment just undermined 100% of any credibility I had placed in the remainder of your comments in this thread.
I'm sorry you feel that way. We probably have some fundamental differences in our worldviews and fundamental principles. Nonetheless, I respect your opinion, even if it makes me sad.
Right, I think it's that last sentence that bothers me too. Up to that point I pretty much agree with you (despite the fact you were responding so rudely to what I said). The TSA are a bunch of not very smart people doing a stupid, boring, ineffective job, but they aren't terrorists.
The only part of this story that makes it anything less than a total clusterfuck on the part of the TSA is that their so-called "explosive detector" alerted on something. Fine, it should take about 3 minutes after that to manually pat down / search the individual and find (or not) any explosives they are carrying. If you don't find any (and seemingly they didn't) that's what we call a "false positive". They happen, but that does not justify all the follow-on bullshit.
Seriously, FUCK the TSA. Those assholes are the terrorists as far as I'm concerned.