The TSA Posts Its ‘Top Good Catches of 2011’ List, Not One of Which Is an Actual Terrorist
11th January 2012
“Good” is very much a sliding scale when you’re a government agency that combines the incompetent brusqueness of classic security theater with the thoroughness of an overenthusiastic gynecological exam.
So, what sort of “epic gets” made the TSA’s list? Well, there’s a variety of weapons, ranging from normal loaded handguns in carry-on bags to something called a “Tactical Spike” to throwing knives to a taser disguised as a cellphone. There’s also a science project, some wildlife, inert landmines, some chunks of C4 explosive and a flare gun. There’s a lot of items that sound dangerous, but Bruce Schneier points out what’s missing from the TSA’s collection:
That’s right; not a single terrorist on the list. Mostly forgetful, and entirely innocent, people. Note that they fail to point out that the firearms and knives would have been just as easily caught by pre-9/11 screening procedures. And that the C4 — their #1 “good catch” — was on the return flight; they missed it the first time. So only 1 for 2 on that one.
January 12th, 2012 at 09:39
Although I take a backseat to few in my criticism of the TSA, I do think it is useful to remember that prior to the 9/11 attacks many test flights were taken with different weapons by people with no previous record so that the weaknesses in our systems could be discovered.
January 12th, 2012 at 17:22
I don’t like the current system. I favor a seax to the thorax sytem.