How To Catch Really, Really Dumb Terrorists
It appears to be the TSA's goal. Great piece by Jeffrey Goldberg in this month's Atlantic on how easy it was for him and security expert Bruce Schneier to fool the TSA:
As we stood at an airport Starbucks, Schneier spread before me a batch of fabricated boarding passes for Northwest Airlines flight 1714, scheduled to depart at 2:20 p.m. and arrive at Reagan National at 5:47 p.m. He had taken the liberty of upgrading us to first class, and had even granted me "Platinum/Elite Plus" status, which was gracious of him. This status would allow us to skip the ranks of hoi-polloi flyers and join the expedited line, which is my preference, because those knotty, teeming security lines are the most dangerous places in airports: terrorists could paralyze U.S. aviation merely by detonating a bomb at any security checkpoint, all of which are, of course, entirely unsecured. (I once asked Michael Chertoff, the secretary of Homeland Security, about this. "We actually ultimately do have a vision of trying to move the security checkpoint away from the gate, deeper into the airport itself, but there's always going to be some place that people congregate. So if you're asking me, is there any way to protect against a person taking a bomb into a crowded location and blowing it up, the answer is no.")Schneier and I walked to the security checkpoint. "Counterterrorism in the airport is a show designed to make people feel better," he said. "Only two things have made flying safer: the reinforcement of cockpit doors, and the fact that passengers know now to resist hijackers." This assumes, of course, that al-Qaeda will target airplanes for hijacking, or target aviation at all. "We defend against what the terrorists did last week," Schneier said. He believes that the country would be just as safe as it is today if airport security were rolled back to pre-9/11 levels. "Spend the rest of your money on intelligence, investigations, and emergency response."
Schneier and I joined the line with our ersatz boarding passes. "Technically we could get arrested for this," he said, but we judged the risk to be acceptable. We handed our boarding passes and IDs to the security officer, who inspected our driver's licenses through a loupe, one of those magnifying-glass devices jewelers use for minute examinations of fine detail. This was the moment of maximum peril, not because the boarding passes were flawed, but because the TSA now trains its officers in the science of behavior detection. The SPOT program -- Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques -- was based in part on the work of a psychologist who believes that involuntary facial-muscle movements, including the most fleeting "micro-expressions," can betray lying or criminality. The training program for behavior-detection officers is one week long. Our facial muscles did not cooperate with the SPOT program, apparently, because the officer chicken-scratched onto our boarding passes what might have been his signature, or the number 4, or the letter y. We took our shoes off and placed our laptops in bins. Schneier took from his bag a 12-ounce container labeled "saline solution."
"It's allowed," he said. Medical supplies, such as saline solution for contact-lens cleaning, don't fall under the TSA's three-ounce rule.
"What's allowed?" I asked. "Saline solution, or bottles labeled saline solution?"
"Bottles labeled saline solution. They won't check what's in it, trust me."
They did not check. As we gathered our belongings, Schneier held up the bottle and said to the nearest security officer, "This is okay, right?" "Yep," the officer said. "Just have to put it in the tray."
"Maybe if you lit it on fire, he'd pay attention," I said, risking arrest for making a joke at airport security. (Later, Schneier would carry two bottles labeled saline solution -- 24 ounces in total -- through security. An officer asked him why he needed two bottles. "Two eyes," he said. He was allowed to keep the bottles.)
More here on Schneier's blog, including a reply from the TSA's Kip Hawley.
When I went through security in Los Angeles, I heard the guy in front of me complaining to a TSA guy, "Those pills are fifteen dollars a pop!" Turned out he'd had his pills taken. They were in his ziplock baggie, and somebody else picked it up and ran off with it. This is why I'm always really careful about how I let my stuff through -- not to let it through until the asshat in front of me has gone through the metal detector.
Oh, is that uncharitable of me? Well, this time, on the way back, my stuff sat there because a man and a woman were apparently completely ignorant of TSA procedure and left their laptop in the bag, and the guy had his cell phone on him, etc. And my stuff sat there like a hen laying an egg for quite some time while they and their stuff went back and forth through security. I commented to Gregg, who travels all the time and could probably remove his shoes, belt, and laptop with great speed in his sleep, that they should have a special line for retarded travelers. He put it in a more P.C. way -- a line for "experienced travelers." Problem is, people like that would probably take that line anyway. UPDATE: Apparently, these lines exist -- just not on airlines we fly.
Back to the guy with the pills, the L.A. TSA people rolled videotape and figured out who it was, found the guy at a gate, and asked him for the baggie, which he pulled out and gave them. Told them he picked it up by accident. No arrest made, the TSA guy I asked told me, because he produced it when asked, and didn't put up a fuss, and because it was about 5:30 a.m., and they thought it was possible he picked up the bag accidentally, and really did believe it was his. Um, yeah, but the guy didn't have a ziplock bag. It's not like he mixed this one up for his.
Oh, and I told the TSA guy I spoke to he should read Schneier's blog. He hadn't heard of it, but he thanked me. Sigh. I just love that the people in charge of security show so little interest in the topic.
P.S. The Atlantic is having a contest based on TSA dude Kip Hawley's remark conceding the point of Goldberg's article, that our aviation security system is not designed to catch smart terrorists, but stupid terrorists. Hawley's comment:
"Clever terrorists can use innovative ways to exploit vulnerabilities. But don't forget that most bombers are not, in fact, clever. Living bomb-makers are usually clever, but the person agreeing to carry it may not be super smart. Even if "all" we do is stop dumb terrorists, we are reducing risk."
And so, the contest: How would the Hawley Principle of Federally-Endorsed Mediocrity apply to other government endeavors? An example:
"FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison said yesterday in a press conference that his agency is well-equipped to cope with the consequences of strong winds and heavy precipitation. `FEMA has been criticized for its performance during Hurricane Katrina, but I would like to point out that Katrina was a very big hurricane,' he said. 'Most storms, in fact, don't become hurricanes, and it is these storms that we will focus our efforts on.' Paulison went on to say that FEMA is also prepared to handle the after-effects of such moderate storms as minor flooding, downed tree branches, and missing cats."
E-mail it to Goldberg.Atlantic@gmail.com, and post it here, too. Funniest wins a subscrip to The Atlantic, one of my monthly must-reads.
And finally, also via Schneier, the TSA is planning to remove the dumbass size restrictions on liquid by Fall 2009. You'll still have to take the stuff out of your bag, however.
I always thought the TSA was making it up as they went along. o.O
Flynne at October 30, 2008 6:00 AM
As soon as Minetta decided all travellers were to be abused equally, it became a joke. I still fly, but only when I have to. I can put up with it once every 3-4 years or so.
Meanwhile, we've got illegals working at the airports. Lovely.
MarkD at October 30, 2008 7:04 AM
I do remember that, on my last airplane trip, I was seated on the first row. When I sat down, the re-enforced cockpit door well in sight, my first thought was: "I have to defend this door". On this point I have to agree with Mr. Schneier; the tragedy of 9/11 really shook us out of our passivity regarding safety on a plane.
What I am scared is the clear intent the TSA have of expecting dumb terrorists. This not only underestimate terrorists but also stupidity itself. Even someone stupid with a stroke of luck can get through the meshes of a net.
Toubrouk at October 30, 2008 7:57 AM
Airport security is a complete joke. I worked part time in a retail place in an international airport one summer and have experienced on a near-daily basis the completely inefficient incompetence that is airport security and the TSA. The TSA, to rashly overgeneralize, is a group of undereducated idiots given a modicum of authority which they are unable to intelligently handle. The ego is unreal; to quote, "I think this is the smallest amount of power I've ever seen go to someone's head." I've seen pilots (PILOTS) having their nail clippers and tweezers taken away from them. Because their own two hands and technical knowledge aren't weapon enough. It's ridiculous.
It's all a big play, anyway. Was traveling with a friend of mine recently; she had her boarding pass marked with the 'special' security every single time, for whatever reason. When we arrived home, after about four trips through various security checkpoints at various airports, I was dropping her off at her car and she looked at her keys and gasped. Her keychain-sized mace had been on her keys in her purse the ENTIRE trip. She had gone through elevated security every time and, though they had seen fit to dispose of the single lipgloss at the bottom of her purse (and scold her thoroughly), she had unknowingly walked through with an expressly prohibited substance no less than four separate times.
maire at October 30, 2008 8:54 AM
When I went through security in Los Angeles...somebody else picked it up and ran off with it. This is why I'm always really careful about how I let my stuff through -- not to let it through until the asshat in front of me has gone through the metal detector.
I don't blame you. I'm the same way.
When I'm traveling with my wife, we tag team our belongings. I don't let anything go down the conveyor into the x-ray machine until she has made it past the metal detector and is at the pick up end of the line.
When I'm traveling alone, I don't release my things until the person ahead of me has cleared the metal detector. I'm always concerned that he is running interference for someone at the pick-up end of the conveyor and will intentionally delay my going through the metal detector so his buddy can grab my laptop.
On a side note, I took Amtrak recently. I could have walked onto the train loaded down with bandoliers of ammunition slung across my shoulders and a nuclear bomb in my luggage without so much as causing the conductor to blink.
This trip was to a destination with few air travel options that didn't involve long layovers and changing planes at LAX (my vision of hell looks like LAX). When I looked into taking the train on a trip to Denver instead of flying I found my three-and-a-half hour flight would have taken three and a half days by rail.
Conan the Grammarian at October 30, 2008 9:16 AM
Re: the contest. Can I just send a picture to the Dept. of Agriculture of a vast, plowed corn field, with one stalk left, and sign that says "Corn Maze for USDA"? o.O
(there actually is such a picture but the sign says "Corn Maze for Blondes")
Flynne at October 30, 2008 10:25 AM
Amy,
I was involved with the contract that hired the initial group of screeners. I can tell you from first hand experience that the applicants were not the brightest lights on the tree in many cases.
For one the TSA really wasnt paying that great considering the stress of the job and the hours. They have had massive turnover since they took over. The company that did the hiring NCS Pearson was investigated by the GAO (General Accouting Office) and the Attorney General for wasteful spending among other violations. When I worked at a site in New York they were offering $36,000/yr for screeners with an area bonus which still didnt add up to much when you consider what it costs to live in NYC.
The whole process was actually pretty lame IMHO. I worked for the company that did the medical screening and our criteria were very rigid but we had NCSP folks trying myriad ways to waiver some of the people who failed medically. The only insurmountable medical flaw was color-blindness.
It doesnt surprise me that the authors of this story were able to get the fluids thru. I had a multi-tool in the bottom of my laptop bag for 4 months and took 9 different flights and they never caught it.
Boy but my lighters sure got hell :-P~
The Other Mike D at October 30, 2008 10:31 AM
Its a damn shame Conan that we don't have a better rail system here. Everytime I go to Europe I wish we had the same options here. At least on the coasts where it makes the most sense to have high speed trains between metro areas.
As for the TSA, I too always watch my stuff go through and make sure I'm waiting past the metal detector for my gear to come out of the scanner. My parents lost a bag that had a pricey music box in it years ago in London (and a bottle of duty free vodka lol). They got it back after making a fuss (the bag must've gotten pulled of the line or something... yeah right) but it was delievered the next day by the airlines, soaked in absolute, music box just fine. I got hell for that from my semi-drunk at the time father (he was feeling real good on the plane ride back too). How dare I not watch all the bags while they went to the bar.
I had to laugh going through Heathrow recently. My shoes could stay on and my laptop could stay in its bag just fine. Made things a lot faster. Though they actually made me take my baseball cap off going on the train to Paris. I find it amusing though that some seem surprised when you show up early at check in. They all say 2-3 hours and I'd much rather be sitting in the terminal reading/on the net etc. waiting then rushing through security/check-ins. I'm a bit paranoid after having missed a 645am flight once despite having gotten to the airport parking lot at 430am. Then again, I've had my bags make connecting flights that I haven't. They can get a bag off a 757 and to my puddlejumper connecting plane faster than I can, even when the stews gave me and another guy priority off the plane. Oh wait, thats when they gave up my seat to standbys. "I've been calling your name on the PA for 10 minutes!" Uhh, I was on a plane? In fact, its your partner airline (alaska/horizon)? Your system doesnt show that? Ahh, the joys of flying.
Sio at October 30, 2008 10:44 AM
This is a rather convincing argument against the family and I flying to MI, instead of taking the train. The six year old will enjoy the train much more and we don't have to deal with the hell that is airtravel. Don't care that it is fifty two hours, compared to ten or so - train wins.
DuWayne - water birthing fan at October 30, 2008 11:22 AM
DuWayne, if you're planning on a fairly long trip (more than 24 hrs) on a train, I recommend getting a sleeper car. My girls & I took the train from Sacramento to Podunk, NE when we moved here seven years ago, and I wished I had sprung for the sleeper car. My kids were small enough to curl up in the seats to sleep fairly comfortably, but I didn't sleep much at all. My oldest loved the ride (she was two). Also, pack a cooler or bring snacks, eating on the train was pretty expensive.
Sandy at October 30, 2008 2:23 PM
DuWayne, if you think air travel is "hell" -- it's not; more like purgatory -- you ain't seen train travel in a while. I've flown twice this summer, and while I would never describe the security experience as a hot-stone massage, it wasn't nearly as bad as you guys describe. I've found dressing simply, checking bags and simply going limp at strategic moments works wonders.
While your 52-hour trip may be wonderful -- I'm quite fond of trains myself -- it could just as easily be awful, too. Not only will you spend as much as you would to fly, perhaps more, you will not be sleeping well (unless you spring for a sleeper car, and now you're way over the cost of a plane ticket). And maybe you'll get there in 52 hours, but there's an excellent chance you won't. Amtrak is not the European system; the equipment is failing, they don't go very fast and even Mussolini couldn't make them run on time.
To give you an idea of what I'm talking about: I used to live in northeast Indiana, and would sometimes take the train to Chicago. That train originated in New York, and it wasn't unusual to arrive at the "station" (a bus shelter by the tracks) to discover the train was running HOURS late. Bottom line: You have to be a dedicated train traveler to keep your sunny side up, especially if you've got little kids in tow. And on a long trip, you'll arrive at your destination feeling like you just got off the Trans-Siberian Express. In 1962.
Nance at October 30, 2008 5:33 PM
Ohh, here you go.
"NASA Administrator Mike Griffon said yesterday in a press conference that his agency is well-equipped to cope with the consequences of shuttle launch 'anomalies'. 'NASA has been criticized for its performance in losing Challenger and Columbia, but I would like to point out that Challenger and Columbia were very big events,' he said. 'Most launches, in fact, don't become political nightmares exposing our lack of flight control discipline whenever an important official or a minor holiday approaches, and it is these launches that we will focus our efforts on.' Griffon went on to apologize for ending his sentences with prepositions, and to say that NASA is also prepared to handle the after-effects of such issues as software glitches, cold weather, and missing foam. He added, 'NASA, in fact, is a big part of American life, as you can see from this graph!'"
Radwaste at October 31, 2008 11:47 AM
There's dumb terrorists everywhere. It's the clever ones we need to worry about.
Uniform Dating at November 3, 2008 6:29 AM
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