Please Remove Your Shoes - New Movie Picks Apart the Transportation Security Administration

[RamboLiberal]

Is it safer to fly today than it was before 9/11? The short answer, according to a new documentary, is no.

Despite spending billions of dollars, creating a new government agency and creating numerous new security procedures, the makers of "Please Remove Your Shoes" argue that the flying public today is no safer from a terrorist attack than it was before Sept. 11, 2001.

"What we've got now is nothing but security theater, meaning all these bells and whistles that you see are only meant to make you feel safe," former federal air marshal P. Jeffrey Black says in the documentary. "I honestly think we were safer before 9/11 than we are now."

The central theme of "Please Remove Your Shoes" is that the Transportation Security Administration has grown into a massive government bureaucracy with too much money. The filmmakers argue it hasn't taken enough preemptive measures in fighting terrorists and that instead of addressing real security concerns, the TSA focuses on herding people through checkpoints as fast as possible and hires poorly-trained workers who dress up in uniforms and play cop.

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/airport-security-post-911-remove-shoes-documentary-evaluates/story?id=10973654

[cloudbase]

1. But, but

they have BADGES now! Real metal ones, not that sewn on stuff. They must know what they're doing!

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. I can't begin to recount all the bullshit I've been through with those idiots

[SheilaT]

3. I was a ticket and gate agent

at National Airport in Washington, DC for ten years. I started before the hijackings that triggered the original security measures. The original security was intended to stop passengers from bringing guns on board and therefore stopping the hijackings. It took a little time, but it was reasonably successful. Beyond that rather limited intention, security was a joke, and we airline employees knew that.

The reality is, someone truly intent on bringing down a plane will figure out the means to do so, although the harder you make it, the less likely it is to happen. I do not feel safer because I have to take off my shoes and walk barefoot on that truly filthy floor surface. I do not feel safer when I see an elderly nun or a six-year old child given more intensive screening. I do not feel safer because I can't bring a nail clipper on board. I do not feel safer because I can't bring a full sized bottle of contact lens solution with me. Or any of the other stupid restrictions they've dreamed up.

And the rules about no knitting needles -- you can tell that the people who make that up truly don't understand knitters. Or crocheters, or embroiderers. Yes, we carry some sharp instruments, but we'd use them to attack any idiot who tries to take over a plane. Also, embroidery scissors, while quite sharp, are really tiny, and you could not harm anyone who didn't hold quite still for you, and even then you'd probably be fifteen or more minutes before you'd do serious damage. Fortunately, several years ago someone figured that out, and since then I've been able to bring my embroidery on board.

[Bert]

4. Had a job where I flew a lot

And I must say I did ponder whether all the new measures were really effective or more window dressing. One instance that seemed strange to me was when I cancelled a flight having been late, but then had my agent(which I used for my company to schedule flights) reschedule that same flight because it was running late and I was therefore on time for it. Well, what do you know but I had them run the bomb detecting equipment over me. I guess they think that suicidal bombers will change their mind at the last minute then change it back again. If their bomb detection equipment is so good why not make everyone go through it, it only takes a few minutes. I would assume probably because of false positives and the cost to do it for everyone would delay flights and make flying even more expensive.

Remember back in the 90's when I was in the Air Force in Europe and how we had absolutely no air security in the States and everyone was waiting for a catastrophe to happen, then we had fbi documents saying bin laden will strike, then they are training to strike buildings with planes. Then bush warned by clinton administration about Al Quaida. Then bush wants to focus on star wars program. Then bin laden strikes. Then condoleeza rice saying no one could have known.

[SheilaT]

6. What exactly do you mean by

"absolutely no air security in the States" in the 90's. As pitiful as it might have been, there was security in place by the early 70's.

[walldude]

5. That's not exactly true...

While the reactionary tactics of the TSA have been no help at all, you can bet that no one will hijack a plane with a box cutter anymore. TSA does nothing but reacts to problems with idiotic solutions. Lighters were bad.. now they are good. Water was good, now it's bad. Liquids were good, now they are ok if they are less than 4 ozs and stored in a quart sized plastic baggie. And don't be bringing a freezer bag or anything bigger than a quart sized baggie.
It's stupid to the point of insanity.