TSA Chief: Resisting Scanners Just Means Delays

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Transportation Security Administration (TSA) chief John Pistole is calling on holiday travelers not to participate in National Opt-Out Day, a protest against the full-body scanners that have raised privacy concerns because they produce detailed images of airline passengers’ naked bodies. The organizers of the protest are calling on airline passengers to opt out of being scanned on Wednesday and instead submit to a more time consuming pat down search, in the hopes that forcing TSA agents to conduct a large number of pat downs will create significant delays. Pistole has acknowledged that the protest has the potential to snarl airline travel on what is the busiest travel day of the year, which in turn would only hurt those “who want to go home and see their loved ones.” So far there is little if any indication that passengers are protesting against the scanners by choosing to be patted down by TSA agents. However, Paul Ruden a spokesman for the American Society of Travel Agents, said just one or two airline passengers protesting the scanners would be enough to cause “huge” delays.

By :  Armour National Security Group, LLC

TSA: Airport Security Pat-Downs Are Here to Stay

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Transportation Security Administration (TSA) chief John Pistole made an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday to discuss the controversy surrounding the security measures that are in place at airports across the country. Under those security measures, airline passengers at some airports must go through full-body scanners, which are capable of seeing through passengers’ clothing. The TSA plans to have 500 scanners installed at airports across the country by the end of this year, with plans to install an additional 500 scanners by the end of 2011. Although passengers can opt out of the scans, those who choose to do so–as well as those who require a secondary screening–must be go through a pat-down, which involves a TSA agent checking the passenger’s breasts and/or groin. While Pistole acknowledged that some passengers were concerned about the images produced by the scanners, and that some felt that the pat-downs were “demeaning,” he noted that the TSA’s security policies are not going to change. However, the TSA has relaxed some of its security procedures for airline pilots. The TSA announced Friday that pilots would no longer be required to go through the full-body scans or endure the pat-downs–a move that came after pilots criticized the security measures as being unnecessary. Nevertheless, pilots will still be required to present ID and go through metal detectors at airport security checkpoints.

By: Armour National Security Group, LLC,  http://www.armournationalsecurity.com