Full Body Scans at Airports

[Kathyzhere]

Generally speaking I think that whatever we need to do to help with security ... however, just how MUCH radiation is our body absorbing from this scanner??? If I was a frequent flyer and had to subject to this scan on a regular basis I think I would object.

I'm done having kids and happen to think that if my nuts glowed in the dark I'd be an even bigger hit at parties.

St John Spice Dance Club...after dark.
Call Ruth!

LOL!! Speakin' of nuts ... you're a nutter! What kinda parties you attending that glow in the dark nuts would be a hit??!!! Too funny

[UF Prof]

I'm a 'whatever'. Flying sucks anymore anyway and it is not all due to delays for security. It is charges to check a bag that results in more carryons which results in slower boarding and deboarding. Add to this that some airlines say to be there 3 hrs before boarding; and, for no reason that I have been able to fathom.

Yeah, and those small bags of peanuts!

[shoemak38]

Generally speaking I think that whatever we need to do to help with security ... however, just how MUCH radiation is our body absorbing from this scanner??? If I was a frequent flyer and had to subject to this scan on a regular basis I think I would object.

I'm done having kids and happen to think that if my nuts glowed in the dark I'd be an even bigger hit at parties.

St John Spice Dance Club...after dark.
Call Ruth!

it's done with radio waves can have whole plane do it this way
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27134057@N04/4259797571/" title="jan 8 jokes iii by SHOEMAK38, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2780/425 ... 19c1d0.jpg" width="500" height="379" alt="jan 8 jokes iii"></a>

[Kathyzhere]

Just found this article here that I thought I'd share ... Hopefully the reader's comments will show up as well ...
Like I said "whatever" as I am only on a plane 2-4 x a year.

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.a ... ovider=top

Enjoy your weekend, it is freakin' freezin'
in Florida

[Boston Mike]

Whatever it takes.

[soxfan22]

I am in the do whatever it takes camp as well. The problem I have, and I have had this problem since 9-11, is that I don't believe we are checking the cargo that is shipped daily on commercial flights - that cargo is stowed right under our butts.

So, while the rest of us are stripping down in front of the cameras, there is cargo being put on the plane without the level of scrutiny that we undergo.

If this has changed in the past 3-4 years, I stand corrected. I just think that we are barking up the wrong tree with some of this stuff. I think we have more vulnerable targets.

And let us not forget that the last three planes that have been hijacked or there was an attempted bombing, it wasn't a new government measure that saved the day. Instead, it was an informed, alert, and brave citizen or five that jumped in and stopped the effort (Flight 93 on 9-11, The Shoebomber, and now the Fruit of Kaboom bomber.

I also think, and this will not surprise many of you, that we really need to start profiling people. The next time a white guy or an old lady tries to blow up an airliner, well then we can end the profiling. Where did you come from? What type of ticket do you have? Do you have any luggage (reports are that the Fruit of Kaboom bomber was traveling from Amsterdam to Detroit, in the middle of winter, with no luggage)...

I think the scanners are window-dressing...This guy wouldn't have been caught by improved scanners I don't believe...Early reports were that he evaded security as someone helped him onto the plane...Haven't heard much about that recently though.

Obama said one thing that I agree with the other day...We can't possibly completely secure every inbound and domestic flight...There is no silver bullet to securing the skies. Government can only do so much, and in most cases, these plots are stopped by vigilant citizens if they have reached the point of 'action'.

Oh, and no, the system did not "work", Brownie.

[pipanale]

Good points, Sox, on the cargo. Who knows how well that stuff is screened.

As for people stopping attempts, I think you're also on to something. These days, if someone wants to blow up a plane, they'd better do it fast because, otherwise, people seem ready to beat the hell out of them. Sky Marshals or not, passengers seem very reluctant to be hijacked or blown up. I can't see 3 people easily taking a plane anymore (inside the US). They'd literally have to kill 120+ people first in order to do it.

But, as I said, whatever screening they want to do on the ground; do it or don't. No half-assing around. Don't go and make part of EWR all super-secure and then leave Terminal A with Bozo the Clown checking IDs. Don't skip RDU just because it's a smaller airport. Do it or don't. Just do it "right" whatever it is that you do

[Boston Mike]

But, as I said, whatever screening they want to do on the ground; do it or don't. No half-assing around. Don't go and make part of EWR all super-secure and then leave Terminal A with Bozo the Clown checking IDs. Don't skip RDU just because it's a smaller airport. Do it or don't. Just do it "right" whatever it is that you do

I am with you on this. You either do it or you don't.

I also hear people whining that we are violating certain rights. It is travel, it is part of the process. If you don't like it find another way of transportation.

[soxfan22]

I heard someone on TV (some talking head) saying that we should privatize airport security. His point was that airlines, being in business to be profitable, have more to gain and more to lose when it comes to airport security.

It seems to be a good time to at least ask the question, has the TSA been effective? Could private security companies employed by the airlines and regulated to some degree by the feds do a better job?

Nobody has more to lose in the event of another airline related attack than the airlines themselves.

And on the subject of inter-agency communication...Wasn't that the point post 9-11? Haven't we already been down the road and made the changes necessary to ensure that the CIA, the FBI, the TSA, etc are all working in concert, off the same sheet of music? That was one of the big enablers on 9-11...Much of that work has been done, and now Obama is out there saying he is doing it? I don't get it.

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[lprof]

Why is it that there are no Israli El Al jets being hyjacked or Knicker Bombers on them. Copy thier security.

This comment reminded me of an email that was being circulated through the wonder of the "forward" in October last year. Mine came from a very trusted, conservative thinking, mature friend; at the time I paused to consider the title "scary", and for some reason I did not delete it. I looked back tonight to see what I was thinking of after SJfrom NJ's post.

This is it
"2) He talked about how some idiot tried to light his shoe on fire. Because of that, now everyone has to take off their shoes. A group of idiots tried to bring aboard liquid explosives. Now we can't bring liquids on board. He says he's waiting for some suicidal maniac to pour liquid explosive on his underwear; at which point, security will have us all traveling naked! Every strategy we have is reactionary."

and
"3) We only focus on security when people are heading to the gates. Aviv says that if a terrorist attack targets airports in the future, they will target busy times on the front end of the airport when/where people are checking in. It would be easy for someone to take two suitcases of explosives, walk up to a busy check-in line, ask a person next to them to watch their bags for a minute while they run to the restroom or get a drink and then detonate the bags BEFORE security even gets involved. In Israel , security checks bags BEFORE people can even ENTER the airport."

My husband and I seem to have traveled at times relative to increased airline security in the past.
We won free trips to England on British Air because of fears following the Lockerbie bombing. From other trips I can remember long lines and infinite searching of carry-ons at Gatwick, as well as the armed military and barbed wire at Heathrow.
We flew to Mexico one month after 9/11. I do not recall security going to Mexico except that no knives, scissors, etc were to be carried on board. Returning to the US, I do remember that our bags were completely searched on the ground outside the Cancun airport, again inside, and carry-ons, again, just as we boarded... not just us but all passengers. In November 2009, we once again left Cancun under greater security than we encountered in the US. Random passengers may still have carry-on searched or the wand passed over them just before boarding. This trip my carry-on backpack was hand searched at the main security point, and I was repeatedly asked to show my "keys" - I had no keys. It was my husbands bag that contained the keys that had shown on the scanner, but the wrong bag was pulled. He was never questioned or searched. My point is that other countries have seemed to be more diligent about security for years, yet mistakes are made. I will continue to fly.

Thanks for listening...

For some info on Ben Gurion International Airport security - which I assume to be true
scroll down
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Gurion ... al_Airport


The entire "Scary" email which Snopes has deemded FALSE can be found here
http://www.snopes.com/rumors/soapbox/juvalaviv.asp

[SS in NC]

I'd gladly go through the scan (I just did at DFW). I flew on one of the first flights out after 9/11 (FLL - Vegas) and not knowing what to expect I experienced an enlightening moment. While standing in the security line, I could see people visually scanning each other (dare I say profiling) and forming subconscious allegiances with others just by looking into their eyes. It was truly amazing. Anyway...I personally couldn't care less about the method I get screened or what they can see on my body. If there is nothing to hide, there is no reason to get upset about screening (IMHO). Better to do a good job on the ground than to find out there was a mistake and vaporize at 30000 feet and 540 mph (assuming I couldn't get to the person first and break their neck).