TSA: Foxes Guarding The Henhouse
As I wrote in my op-ed about the TSA, all you have to do to get a buttload of explosives on a plane (and not in your butt but in a big suitcase) is to bribe one of those TSA workers who got their job off a pizza box ad.
And lo and behold, here we have a few of those people who've fingered our vaginas and groped our balls accused to taking bribes to let suitcases of drugs sail through (while making travelers dump their three and a half ounces of liquid for being an itsy bitsy bit over the ridiculous limit).
At the LA Times, Victoria Kim blogs:
Four current and former Transportation Security Administration screeners have been arrested and face charges of taking bribes and looking the other way while suitcases filled with cocaine, methamphetamine or marijuana passed through X-ray machines at Los Angeles International Airport, federal authorities announced Wednesday.The TSA screeners, who were arrested Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, allegedly received up to $2,400 in cash bribes in exchange for allowing large drug shipments to pass through checkpoints in what the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles called a "significant breakdown" of security.
In addition to the two current and two former screeners, prosecutors also indicted two alleged drug couriers and a third who allegedly tried to smuggle 11 pounds of cocaine but was nabbed when he went through the wrong security checkpoint.
The TSA employees "placed greed above the nation's security needs," Andre Birotte Jr., U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, said in a statement.
The 40-page indictment outlines five alleged smuggling incidents over a six-month period last year. In one incident, screeners schemed to allow for about eight pounds of methamphetamine to pass through security, then went to an airport restroom where he was handed $600, the second half of the payment for that delivery, according to prosecutors.
Briane Grey, acting special agent in charge of the DEA in Los Angeles, said the scheme was particularly reprehensible because it took place at LAX.
Where my vagina was fingered by a TSA worker, entirely sans probable cause, as the condition for allowing me to board a plane and complete normal, ordinary business travel.
The nation's security needs were met at 10:03:11, on September 11, 2011, when United Flight 93 crashed in a field near Johnstown, Pa., 125 miles from Washington, D.C. That answered the question question of whether there will ever be another successful hijacking.
I would love everyone to ask Janet Napolitano why we need the TSA, knowing how bad this has failed to buy security.
Jim P. at April 26, 2012 12:18 AM
Don't forget all the thefts. The latest is the guy who was stealing iPads from people's luggage.
At some point it has to be asked, which was worse? 9/11 or TSA? 9/11 wrecked a few buildings and killed a few thousand people. The TSA is stripping us all of our dignity and rights. And you know, they will only get worse.
Old Guy at April 26, 2012 6:51 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/04/26/tsa_foxes_guard.html#comment-3162274">comment from Old GuyGreat point, Old Guy. Love the name, by the way.
Walter Moore posted on Facebook:
Amy Alkon
at April 26, 2012 7:14 AM
Here's another one. $300 stolen from 95 y/o man.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/apr/25/man-95-says-his-300-was-swiped-at-airport/
Gabi at April 26, 2012 7:18 AM
Wow. Bribing TSA workers is cheap! $2400 is nothing. Imagine what you could do for $5000!
Flighty at April 26, 2012 7:22 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/04/26/tsa_foxes_guard.html#comment-3162289">comment from Gabi@DebWilker wants to know why Pistole still have a job. Unprecedented crimes and wrongs on his "watch": http://news.google.com/news/section?pz=1&cf=all&q=TSA&ict=ln
Amy Alkon
at April 26, 2012 7:23 AM
And here is another one:http://www.thedaily.com/page/2012/04/25/042512-news-tsa-complaint-1-3/
JFK airport aggressively screens a seven year old with cerebral palsy.
Janet C at April 26, 2012 9:17 AM
The most ludicrous statement in the story that Gabi posted is this:
“TSA advises passengers to place any valuable items, such as wallets, jewelry or money, in carry-on bags before entering the checkpoint in order to avoid leaving them behind,” Melendez said.
Uh, hello, you separate me from my belongings, leaving them unattended whereby anyone can grab whatever they want! My head hurts from banging it on my desk everytime I read about this shit.
sara at April 26, 2012 9:24 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/04/26/tsa_foxes_guard.html#comment-3162542">comment from saraThey've told me a number of times that I shouldn't worry if my computer is stolen because they have cameras. Wow, great. That'll be comforting.
Amy Alkon
at April 26, 2012 9:59 AM
"They've told me a number of times that I shouldn't worry if my computer is stolen because they have cameras." Amy
This is the mindset that only police can provide security, and civilians shouldn't worry about that at all...
Because PREVENTING isn't the point or something.
How dangerous is it that an entity that is supposed to PREVENT these acts aboard airliners, doesn't apply that to anything else...
It's almost as though prevention isn't what's on their minds.
It's all a crock. If security was important, all of the BACKEND work [baggage handlers, tarmac people etc.] would be vetted and xrayed as well... AND the background check of EVERYONE incl TSA people.
And while I'm wishing, I wanna pony.
What we need is a congress critter to really get pissed about this stuff. This question should be on the plate this election year.
SwissArmyD at April 26, 2012 10:25 AM
"Wow. Bribing TSA workers is cheap! $2400 is nothing. Imagine what you could do for $5000!"
For $5000 you can probably get $2400 worth of insider illegal access. I assume that's per person. We know what they are. We need no longer haggle over the price, eh?
I find it had to believe these guys go through any background checks.
Bill at April 26, 2012 10:48 AM
So the logic of having "security" cameras that produce blurry images is...?
Conan the Grammarian at April 26, 2012 4:50 PM
How much not to have my kid molested or traumatized? Is there a list of prices somewhere?
Sosij at April 26, 2012 8:36 PM
"Don't tell my mother I work for TSA! She thinks I'm dealing drugs at the airport!"
bluenorther at April 26, 2012 9:57 PM
As a retired FAA employee I can tell you that ramp security sucks. Any clown in a pair of coveralls with a phony badge can get access to any aircraft on the tarmac. Why not put the burger oops TSA clowns on the tarmac and keep them away from our cotches and valuables?
gmiller at April 27, 2012 1:45 PM
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