Airport Security in the Decade Since 9/11

(Dive Travel Business News - Sept 8, 2011)  --  On the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, a new TSA video is being played for airline passengers waiting to go through security checkpoints at many U.S. airports. The video appeals to the traveling public's cooperation and patience in response to the continuing threat of terrorists bringing aboard explosives to blow up airliners. 

But travelers are losing patience and confidence in the Transportation Safety Administration's ability to protect them. Passengers don't argue that there remains a potential terrorism threat, but are seriously questioning some of the TSA methods being used to deter terrorists.

Passengers witnessing the least risky individuals, such as children and the elderly being pulled out of line and searched by TSA screeners are becoming far less tolerant of such ineffective airport security measures. Experienced travelers say they know firsthand that prohibited items often get through and the quality of screening varies from airport to airport, another weak link that sophisticated terrorists or criminals would know about too.

Remarked one passenger, ""Taking my tweezers away from me is not going to win the war on terrorism."

In the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks the TSA has had time and money to create a viable security apparatus.  However major vulnerabilities persist in the decade since air travelers sacrificed convenience and privacy for the promise of heightened security.  A new report released last week by the former heads of the 9/11 Commission cites the TSA's ability to detect explosives hidden on passengers boarding planes "lacks reliability," the aviation screening system "still falls short" and the new full-body scanners cannot detect explosives hidden in a body cavity.  

Dissatisfaction with the security apparatus is evident among members of Congress too. The TSA is now under fire, having to defend controversial expenditures, such as on body scanners, that have prompted a flood of complaints about invasion of privacy and possible health risks.  The TSA is promising to perform its job smarter, closing security loopholes and moving towards a risk-based system. How long that will take, nobody knows.

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