Still yet another neglected problem from the Republicans and the Bush/Cheney Regime.
FBI Terror Watch List 'Out of Control' (click here)
June 13, 2007
8:55 AM
A terrorist watch list compiled by the FBI has apparently swelled to include more than half a million names.Privacy and civil liberties advocates say the list is growing uncontrollably, threatening its usefulness in the war on terror.
The bureau says the number of names on its terrorist watch list is classified.
A portion of the FBI's unclassified 2008 budget request posted to the Department of Justice Web site, however, refers to "the entire watch list of 509,000 names," which is utilized by its Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force....
If Terror Watch Lists worked the people on them would most likely belong in prison and as soon as they presented to flights to civilized societies they should be arrested.
Terror Watch Lists are a 'convenience' and not a tool. They can probably intercept the most likely to try to carry out violence, but, once the list makes its way to al Qaeda or otherwise, those folks will be retired from any attempts. This man was a prime example of those that can 'slip through.'
The best and only methodology to 'airplane security' is to have 'airport security.' Heck, use the same time of measures Homeland Security uses in ports and sensitive border crossings with trucks if that helps, but, then one is talking about huge capital outlays. It doesn't make sense to do it.
The best and only methodology for airplanes is security from the time people enter the terminal passing through metal detectors, right up to being scrutinized at the ticket counter, finger prints detectors, retinal scans and then again before boarding.
What does that mean?
That means every bag, not every other, goes through scans before loading, that means no more knitting needles, scissors or liquids, unless perscription medications REQUIRED during flight. That means there are over the counter meds available from flight attendants, including, baby formula. In the case of 'special formulas' the airline should be notified ahead of time to stock same while in flight.
What it boils down to is 'the passenger gets on the plane without ANY potential for causing harm.' The needs of passengers have to be met by the airlines and all available articles that are considered dangerous 'at boarding' need to be supplied during flight.
RIGHT NOW, Terror Lists of any kind are in the hands of al Qaeda and other networks of violence and it would be foolish to believe otherwise. They are used BY COMPUTERS to pull out potential problems and that is a cost saving measure. They are 'substituted' for 'real provisions' of security when boarding airplanes and the is the long and short of it. We don't need more beaurcratic measure to 'attempt' to secure flights, we need flesh and blood people that are dedicated to securing their passengers safety to be working and ON THE GROUND to be sure everyone is as safe as they can be.
The BEST way to defeat this entire mess? Is to rid any country on Earth of the networks of violence that plague them, but, there are always going to be 'Lone Wolves." It is the human condition.
