Air marshals nervous at `undercover' dress rules

[dArKeR]

NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE , WASHINGTON

Beards are out. So are jeans and athletic shoes. Suit coats are in, even on the steamiest summer days.

That dress code, imposed by the US Department of Homeland Security, makes federal air marshals uneasy -- and not just because casual clothes would be more comfortable in cramped airline seats. The marshals fear that their appearance makes it easier for terrorists to identify them, according to a professional group representing more than 1,300 air marshals.

"If a 12-year-old can pick them out, a trained terrorist has no problem picking them out," said John Amat, a spokesman for the group, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/07/18/2003179449

[truthisfreedom]

1. what is the purpose of this?

who is behind this nonsense?

[lottie244]

2. Hush! The 'adults' are in charge.

Don't you remember?

[Norquist Nemesis]

14. ROFL!!!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

That gave me the laugh of the night!

[OneBlueSky]

3. stupid is as stupid does . . . n/t

.

[glitch]

4. dress codes for undercover officers - they define 'moron' for us nt

[Bo]

5. An undercover dress code?

IDIOTS!

[madrchsod]

7. moran

is the correct spelling at du..just kidding..nothing like a cheap suit to stand out in a crowd on their way to mexico or hawaii in the middle of summer...

[glitch]

9. You're right! I missed a chance to use moran and give myself a chuckle!

I hate it when I do that. I'll try to do better next time, thanks for the reminder. ;-)

[rooboy]

6. It's pure republican logic...

if an air marshall isn't easy to spot, you won't notice him. If you don't notice him, you won't be reminded that George Bush is protecting America. If you aren't reminded that * is protecting you, you might not vote republican.

So to get the republicans re-elected for making America safer, you have to make America less safe.

Ok?

[0007]

18. A South Park okay

[lapfog_1]

8. Reminds me of the IDIOT general in charge of

special forces in Afghanistan, like maybe a year ago.

When he showed up, the special forces guys were growing long beards,
getting deep tans, and adopting the dress of Afghan warlords...
because the Taliban and other fighters were specifically targeting
the US advisor's with each warlord group (we only had 12,000 troops
there, many are tasked as advisor's to the warlords)...
Anyway, this asshole shows up and his first order is for EVERYONE
to be "military" in appearance, so shave and wear US utilities and
crap... couple of the soldiers wanted to see him fragged.

Some people have NO concept of "blending in" or "undercover". Not to
mention some real power trip issues.

[allalone]

10. but I thought

we are supposed to spy on people who aren't dressed weather appropriate.

[Khephra]

11. Does this administration purposely pick the worst answer to every problem?

Don't answer. Sadly, I know the answer.

[SuffragetteSal]

12. why not a uniform and visible weapon?

for gawd's sake...what next. Have you seen the casual attire of modern day travelers these days?

[Divernan]

13. I fly once a month & did see ONE guy in a suit & tie - on a Sunday

Every other person on the plane was in jeans, sweats, or other similar casual clothing. I was standing next to the guy as we boarded the plane and he made it a point to say he had just attended a funeral. Maybe he was a marshal. I sometimes get upgraded to first class because of my frequent flyer status, and the people there are just as casual - only they're wearing top of the line designer jeans and sweats. Wait, there was one guy in a black suit coat - a Catholic priest.
Of course this order comes from Ridge, and while he was Governor of PA, the Republican leadership in the House and Senate issued a dress code to all their employees - very detailed, including NO clothing made of denim. (That's so working class! NOKD - not our kind dear)

[Jack_DeLeon]

15. No Jeans?

What the fuck is wrong with Bush, thats so un-Texan of him.

What a fucktard.

[Mike Niendorff]

16. What a great idea!

Next, how about we get them all spiffy new windbreakers with the phrase "NOT an Air Marshall" silkscreened across the back. Then, when a hijacker accuses them of being federal agents, they can simply point to the backs of their jackets. "Whoops," says the hijacker, "my mistake!" And off he goes to look elsewhere.

</BushThink>


MDN

[FormerOstrich]

17. This is about the tenth time

I have read this same article (different sources) since the beginning of 2002. Okay, there is typically some variation. One spoke of the Marshall's having special boarding procedures to compound the problem. This one says they discontinued signing log books.

So :wtf: is up with that? It keeps re-surfacing, typically in lbn. It always appears to qualify as lbn.

Here is my theory. I'm convinced they really don't have any air Marshall's anymore. Every flight typically has a handful of well dressed sorts (or at least one). Read about the "dress code" you can be convinced a Marshall is on board. You can cut costs significantly that way, after all who will be the wiser.

Are there an DU members that are Air Marshall's? Know an Air Marshall? How about suspected that one guy to be an Air Marshall? You know....the one in the business attire with the laptop. Had to be one he was dressed the part.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

20. You know, your post sounds like something the NeoCons would pull.

[InkAddict]

23. They only have 19 of them

they can't identify the 20th they thought they hired.

[colonel odis]

19. perhaps they want them identified easily so they can become martyrs

next time there's a hijacking.

if "hijackers" crash a plane into a building again, people will probably go to the white house and drag bush through the streets.

however, if there's a "hijacking" and the only people killed are a couple of air marshals, bush can use that to show that there are still evildoers out there.

could be the poor air marshals are having their deaths orchestrated by the very people they work for.

[Don_G]

21. What Good Will That Do?

Those retards need to stop yelling across the asiles at each other letting the passengers know that they're on a mission from God/Asskrap.

[InkAddict]

22. Quit their beefin'

It could be worse - bare chests, heavy trenchcoats belted and tied provocatively loose at all times, shiny, shiny black boots, and shades as they fly from one stalag to the other, oops my bad, meant from state to the other. The matching dirty briefcases, fashion accessories, would also be pretty good cover. Oh, Joannnnn...want to critique the best dressed sky marshalls?

[wolfgirl]

24. Those in charge

have no clue!:dunce:

they gotta go!

[Tracer]

25. Maybe part of the problem is ...

... that the majority of Americans dress like slobs. So to "blend in", the air marshalls ought to dress like slobs too.

And don't give me that "but it's soooo comfortable" crap.

[wickerwoman]

30. On planes, I'll give almost anything a pass.

My uncle nearly died from a blood clot in his leg while he was on an airplane.

Human beings were not designed to sit in a cramped position for 9 hours at a time. Your legs and feet swell from the change in air pressure. On one flight, my ankles and calves still looked like sausages ready to pop two days later. I never get on an airplane unless I'm wearing sandals that are easy to get off and my loosest pants.

Oh, but I guess we should still all wear tight restrictive clothing to appease your sense of fashion.

[htuttle]

26. Shiny black shoes are now mandatory for US undercover officers

Fabulous.

[Tight_rope]

33. Boy...I'm sure the terrorist won't notice those shiny black shoes.....

especially since they wear sandles, which are more suitable for that hot sandy climate. But I'm sure that the shiny black shoes should look good after walk in all that dirty and sand.

[struggle4progress]

27. kick

:kick:

[struggle4progress]

31. kick again

:kick:

[Columbia]

28. Why does this story keep coming up?

The air marshals have been complaining about this for 3 years and still these articles keep getting written as if this is some new revelation.

[depakid]

29. maybe because it's profoundly stupid policy or because

it's disinformation....

[Judi Lynn]

32. Now there's a thought!

Dinsinformtion to throw them off, causing them to feel they're safe to act if they don't see any suits.