Recently, members of Al Qaeda in Yemen have been discussing plans to get around the TSA’s new full-body scans so that they can continue to plot terrorist attacks on American airports. Among several different ideas, the one which sticks out both to the organization’s leader and to United States intelligence agencies: Surgically sewing explosives under the skin of suicide bombers. If this sounds deranged, ridiculous, and a little terrifying, that’s because it is. And if you think this will affect you the next time you get onto an airplane, then you’re two for two.
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| Plan B |
The history of airline security begins in 1969, where a steady increase in hijackings peaks at an all-time record of 82 hijackings in a single year. This is followed closely by the infamous D.B. Cooper hijacking in 1971, and the government begins to take notice. President Nixon places sky marshals on major flights and the Federal Aviation Administration begins to require that passengers and baggage go through metal detectors. These bulky tunnels brought the FAA to court over the 4th Amendment, which provides protection against unwarranted search and seizure. While the courts eventually decided that this did in fact violate the 4th Amendment, such searches were permissible as long as everybody was subject to them and only weapons and explosives were being searched for. The reason this was possible is that, in the 70’s, air travel was still very much a luxury item. Airlines would hire private security firms to conduct screenings, and since it was a luxury, the courts did not feel that anyone’s rights were being infringed upon since they were choosing to play by the airline’s rules, so to speak. This continued until the 80’s, when the famously unsuccessful “War on Drugs” brought new screening techniques, x-ray machines, and drug-sniffing dogs into airports. Other than that, airport security remained fairly static for almost thirty years. And then, you know…
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| Too soon? |
The events of September 11th changed the course of global and domestic history drastically. But let’s stick to air travel. Two days after the attacks, blades and knives of all sizes (from Swiss Army to nail clippers) are banned. By November, the Transportation Security Administration is established and private security firms are replaced by TSA agents at airports across the country. By December, passengers have to remove their shoes while going through security. 2004 prevents visitors and family from accompanying travelers to the gate, and in 2006 liquids over three ounces are banned. Finally, on Christmas Day, 2009, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempts to smuggle explosives in his underwear, directly leading to the shiny new full-body scanners and every bit of controversy which comes with them. On the surface, this might appear to be a series of logical and necessary escalations in response to some very real threats. Of course, in 2005 the Department of Homeland Security (parent to the TSA) reported to Congress that there was no evidence whatsoever that the TSA had in any way improved the protection of airplanes from dangerous objects, despite the fact that the TSA spends nearly $3 Billion each year screening passengers and baggage, several times more than the private groups ever did. To date, there remains no evidence that the TSA is doing any better; despite everything they’ve done to improve our security experience.
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| If we don't search her, the terrorists win. |
The simple facts are that the security loopholes exploited on 9/11 (insecure cockpit doors and the fact that you were allowed to bring box cutters on board, mostly) were closed almost immediately by the private firms, and that air travel was and is very safe. Over the last twenty years, fewer than 1700 people have died while on an airplane in the US. Of those, only 265 deaths occurred as a result of acts of terror, and most attempts at terror have been woefully unsuccessful. To date, the TSA has yet to report on a single terrorist being caught at a security checkpoint, though it is not necessarily their policy to do so should they catch one. The widely reported “shoe bomber” and the “underwear bomber” each boarded their flights outside of the country (and outside of TSA screenings) and the majority of attempts are foiled by intelligence rather than screenings. So, why put in all the effort? Some say screenings act as a deterrent. If somebody knows that their shoes will be x-rayed, they’re not likely to try smuggling something illicit in them. While there is undoubtedly some truth to this, the real reason probably has much less to do with passenger security and much more to do with another kind of security.
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| Shown here: the slightly harder to catch "Bra Bomber" |
The United States air transportation industry is among the most important pieces of our nation’s infrastructure. Every day, hundreds of flights take off and land from each of this country’s over 450 airports. These mostly domestic flights, crisscrossing over the wide expanses of land separating our metropolises, have become absolutely critical for the continued growth and competitiveness of business in America. By the late 90’s, air travel had already drastically changed from a thing of luxury to one of the most difficult industries in the world. Profit margins on airlines are razor thin, forcing competition by any means necessary (which usually means worse food and less leg room). Pan Am and TWA, two of the largest and most successful airlines in America went bankrupt in the 90’s. Airlines at this time were very fragile companies, and the entire country more or less depended on them. By mid-afternoon on 9/11, the stock for every single major airline in the United States plummeted to record lows. For months afterwards, people all over the country (especially on the East Coast) are terrified of flying and ticket sales continue to drop. Companies like United nearly go under. Then, the TSA is formed, and new screening procedures go into effect, and increased airport security is all over the news, and in 2002 stocks begin to climb again.
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| Note: There is a slight margin of error |
The United States Government needs airlines and the airlines need the United States Government. Both realized that there was only so much more secure that they could make airports. Both also realized that what kept people from flying was not danger, but simply the fear of danger, and that convincing people that they were safe was the only way to keep the airlines safe. So the TSA begins to go overboard with regulation after regulation which reports have shown did little more than waste a lot of money and inconvenience and lot of people. Why? Because if you give somebody two inner tubes, a snorkel, water wings, and a life jacket, they’re not going to be afraid of drowning, even if they’re only standing in water up to their ankles. Someone frustrated with too much security isn’t going to be afraid that flying isn’t safe. Richard Reid was able to smuggle explosives onto a plane in his shoes because he wore one of a few specific kinds of shoes which could fool a metal detector. Forcing everybody to remove their shoes, then, is less of an actual necessary security measure and more of a symbolic response to a perceived failure and a way to make people feel safe by making them think security is going too far. In fact, despite every annoying thing the TSA makes us go through, close to 80% of Americans still support increased security measures like the backscatter full body scans we have today. People think, despite what government experts say, that airport security is absolutely necessary. Why is that?
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| Heck if I know |
The singular problem with the TSA’s method is that, eventually, it gets out of hand. The TSA can’t ever realistically scale back their security, even their unnecessary or redundant security, without scaring passengers. They also can’t slow down, because they’ve become part of a narrative involving an imminent and growing threat to this country (thanks mostly to certain news agencies whose names will not be mentioned here). Their only option now is to respond to every potential or broadcasted threat with excessive effort or risk hurting the nation’s transportation industry. It’s a classic, almost McCarthyistic example of why fear is such a terribly dangerous social and political motivator. What can we do about it? Very little, actually. The air industry is without real competition, since the United States lacks a sophisticated passenger train system (again, a blog for another day) and driving takes forever. Security is going to increase and it’s going to get more annoying. Even airports like Kansas City International who opt out of using TSA agents are only permitted to use private security firms which the TSA has approved. We’re as safe as we’ve ever been and about as safe as we ever will be. So far, it has cost the TSA $40 Billion, and it’s only going to get worse, because Al Qaeda might start sewing bombs into terrorists, and full-body scans can’t see under skin. The TSA is already working on its response, and we’ll find out about it soon enough.
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| I just thought this was funny. But seriously, whatever they come up with, you're not going to like it. |
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