Government

Update: Is TSA Chief Suddenly Changing Course?

WASHINGTON (AP/The Blaze) — The head of the agency responsible for airport security, facing protests from travelers and pressure from the White House, appeared to give ground Sunday on his position that there would be no change in policies regarding invasive passenger screening procedures.

Transportation Security Administration head John Pistole said in a statement that the agency would work to make screening methods “as minimally invasive as possible,” although he gave no indication that screening changes were imminent.

The statement came just hours after Pistole, in a TV interview, said that while the full-body scans and pat-downs could be intrusive and uncomfortable, the high threat level required their use. “No, we’re not changing the policies,” he told CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Pistole said that, as in all nationwide security programs, “there is a continual process of refinement and adjustment to ensure that best practices are applied.”

Still, he pointed to the alleged attempt by a Nigerian with explosives in his underwear to try to bring down an Amsterdam-to-Detroit flight last Christmas. “We all wish we lived in a world where security procedures at airports weren’t necessary,” Pistole said, “but that just isn’t the case.”

In his earlier TV appearance, Pistole appeared to shrug off statements by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton that the agency would look for ways to alter screening techniques that some passengers say are invasions of privacy.

Obama said in Lisbon on Saturday that he had asked TSA officials whether there’s a less intrusive way to ensure travel safety. “I understand people’s frustrations,” he said, adding that he had told the TSA that “you have to constantly refine and measure whether what we‘re doing is the only way to assure the American people’s safety.”

Clinton, appearing Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,“ said she thought ”everyone, including our security experts, are looking for ways to diminish the impact on the traveling public“ and that ”striking the right balance is what this is about.”

She, for one, wouldn’t like to submit to a security pat-down.

“Not if I could avoid it. No. I mean, who would?” Clinton told CBS’ “Face the Nation” in an interview broadcast Sunday.

“Clearly it’s invasive, it’s not comfortable,” Pistole said of the scans and pat-downs during the TV interview. But, he added, “if we are to detect terrorists, who have again proven innovative and creative in their design and implementation of bombs that are going to blow up airplanes and kill people, then we have to do something that prevents that.”

Rep. John Mica, R-Fla. who is set to become Transportation Committee chairman when Republicans take over the House in January, differed with the approach.

“I don’t think the rollout was good and the application is even worse. This does need to be refined. But he‘s saying it’s the only tool and I believe that’s wrong,” Mica, a longtime critic of the TSA, said separately on the CNN program.

With the peak traveling season nearing, air travelers are protesting new requirements at some U.S. airports that they must pass through full-body scanners that produce a virtually naked image. The screener, who sits in a different location, does not see the face of the person being screened and does not know the traveler’s identity.

Those who refuse to go through the scanners are subject to thorough pat-downs that include agency officials touching the clothed genital areas of passengers.

Pistole was shown videos of people being patted down where the screeners touched the breasts of a woman, felt into the pants of another person and felt the crotch of a man. He said all three cases were proper and that the gloves of the screener who felt inside the pants were then tested for explosive trace residue.

Pistole added that very few people receive the pat-down. People who go through the new advanced imaging machines available at some 70 airports are usually not subject to pat-downs, he said.

Pistole said that while watch lists and other intelligence sources help the TSA pick out travelers who might pose greater risks, rules against profiling mean that some people who are less of a risk, such as the elderly or the disabled, must sometimes undergo pat-downs.

“I want to be sympathetic to each of the negative experiences. We’ve had extensive outreach to a number of different disability community groups, a number of different outreach efforts to try to say, how can we best work with those in your community to effect security while respecting your dignity and privacy,” he said.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., appearing on CBS, said Congress would hold hearings on the “very controversial” issue of how to strike the right balance. Asked how he would feel about submitting to a pat-down, Hoyer said: “I don’t think any of us feel that the discomfort and the delay is something that we like, but most people understand that we’ve got to keep airplanes safe.”

Comments (127)

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  • Minority Retort
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:59pm

    Rest assured folks, the next terrorist attempt on a plane will be initiated by a typical, unassuming individual using a regular cell phone (of any brand or type).

    His co-operatives will have had jobs in the airline industry for some time already. They will place a device in storage under the aircraft cabin. Or maybe in the food cart in the cabin. Or , anywhere a rogue “employee” has access.

    Then “average Ahmed/Alan” will call the device after takeoff (while there is still cell service to reach the “stored device”) and then it’s over.

    There will be nothing about shoes, conveyors, x-rays, scanners, pat-downs, lost rights, invasive touching, marches on the capital, calls to congressmen or anything else that will stop it.

    Remember, IF YOU TAX SOMETHING, YOU’LL GET LESS OF IT…we’re taxing the passenger-bomb part of the threat…it won’t be a passenger carrying the bomb. They’re not stupid, they’re evil.

    Heck, the terrorists can call the darned phone from the loading cart as he watches the flight climb into the sky…or from his hotel room next to the airport…or from his car parked along the fence…or from his apartment in another state/country…get it?

    Watch the left hand (as it does the pat-down), the right hand will be loading the threat onto the plane underneath.

    Do we have to be this predictable?

    Report Post » Minority Retort  
    • mharry860
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 11:15pm

      Exactly, I hate that reply, but you just ended the discussion. There is nothing left to say.

      Report Post » mharry860  
    • Coxcubomon
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 11:22am

      Is anyone checking to see if tea party members work for the airlines or airports?

      Report Post » Coxcubomon  
  • jose wasabi
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:58pm

    Pofile! It works and it makes sense.

    Report Post » jose wasabi  
  • Minority Retort
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:57pm

    Nice. Listen closely. “Some people didn’t know what to expect, so they were simply surprised. It wasn’t inappropriate.”

    Obviously, according to his language. The public is stupid and just needs to learn what inappropriate really is and that unreasonable searching is “definitely not happening.”

    We just need more education (EXPLAINING)….get it?

    Report Post » Minority Retort  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 6:29am

      According to our language, we’re clinging to our guns and religion.

      Report Post »  
    • Decade of Greed
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 10:41am

      The public is stupid? The slogan of the left.
      I hear people on both sides say we should stop bitchin and realize its what we need to do to be safe.
      4th Amendment people. This is the first step to trashing yet another piece of the constitution. Pretty soon we’ll be facing random home searches and being pulled over for police inspections allin the name of public safety. Wake up America.

      Report Post »  
  • Diamondback
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:51pm

    Got PROBABLE CAUSE you communist arsehats?

    What’s it going to be America, further erosion of our constitutionally protected (at least supposed to be protected BY THE GOVERNMENT!!!) civil/human rights or return to the land of the free and home of the brave. Are we really still that place?

    Our children and grandchildren are watching us!

    Are we going to let these communist tyrant wannbes continue to spend our posterity’s future and take away their freedom, independence and pride in America or are we FINALLY GOING TO ACTUALLY RESIST AND INSIST ON INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND RESPONSIBILITY?

    Your move America! Your posterity’s future IS NOW IN YOUR HANDS!

    Report Post »  
  • cheezwhiz
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:39pm

    Pistole said that while watch lists and other intelligence sources help the TSA pick out travelers who might pose greater risks, rules against profiling mean that some people who are less of a risk, such as the elderly or the disabled, must sometimes undergo pat-downs.

    —————————————————
    Translation :

    Although TSA knows who the terrorists are in advance, the elderly and disabled need to be probed because terrorists can’t be profiled .

    Report Post » cheezwhiz  
  • inthebegining111
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:32pm

    Au Patriot
    God be with you and put angels around your child. May invisible hands knock off the evilness that may come. We are asking this in the name of Jesue Christ for with him all is possible..amen

    Report Post »  
  • Anarchy_in_the_USA
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:30pm

    Until we stop the PC garbage, it is only going to to get worse. Muslim “Extremist” blow up planes, not cancer survivors with a prosthetic, not little kids, not the elderly grandmother on her way to see her grand baby’s. Until the “Good” Muslim’s step up and start policing their own, YOU GUYS should have to be the one’s dealing with the pat downs and getting felt up, by the same incompetent employee‘s as the DMV any other nefarious gov’t dept’s

    Report Post »  
  • bertr
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:29pm

    I think TSA is pushing, either the government because they dont know which mindset is in charge and they are asking to be told what to do by forcing vague outlines that get them in trouble either way, or they are trying to make profiling popular.
    If the first is true, they are in trouble, if the second is true, we might be the ones in trouble, but i wouldnt mind profiling if i trusted the government

    Report Post » bertr  
  • rbqueen
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:27pm

    One thing that I would like to know is what this guy’s background is in relations to being qualified to head up a rinky dink security agency much less the TSA. Does this guy truly have any real security experience. The other thing that I wonder is all of these TSA people that “get off” groping adults and children both (BTW: It is a given that NO ONE is above the law, the law describes what these perverts are doing is either sexual attacks or child molestation and if no one is above the law then all of these people are guilty of these crimes and should be convicted accordingly) is doing this because they appear to be the originating perverts or what could appear to be a main pervert hiring others possible perverts to run and use the TSA to satisfy their own perverted urges.

    This guy said that we don’t profile in this country. It is a lot less invasive and intrusive to profile than it is to grope adults and little children and sexually molesting them. Profiling is definitely a lot more acceptable (and less intrusive and more acceptable) than all these other excuses given just so that they have an excuse to molest.

    Report Post »  
  • inthebegining111
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:26pm

    exactly, I am not flying either and hope noone I know has to either.
    It’s like that weird spooky story when we were kids when the evil person says Come into my house sweet little children and I will give you…(whatever) Creepy spooky at work ……..

    Report Post »  
  • Max jones
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:25pm

    As a conspiracy realist, I see this practice as another of this administration’s attempts at disturbing common every day American life. They are hoping some incident takes place that will cause a disruption. Like some disgruntled individual, having a bad day. gets pushed over the edge and some sort of violence ensues.
    The powers that be, keep looking for buttons to push, with the end result being martial law imposed and the confiscation of our firearms. This sort of imposition will become the norm in the near future.
    It is part of the perfect storm that Beck talks about. It may seem minor to some, but to others…maybe someone with a borderline personality, it will eventually result in a foolish and violent manner. Confusion and desperation will play into the hands of those that want to end the American way of life.
    We will be subjected to more and more of these purposeless inconveniences as time goes by, making our everyday life more and more trying and our patience will be pushed to the breaking point. Eventually some nutjob will have enough and the bad guys will have their reason to act, in our “best interest”. Do not put anything past these demonic people. Their goal is the end of our freedom and the imposition of world governance. DESPOTIC GOVERNANCE!!!

    Report Post » Max jones  
    • RLTW
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 1:53am

      Well said MAX, I find it amusing how they create the intrusive environment and all come out acting as if they feel our pain.
      Yes there the good guys (sarcoff)

      Report Post »  
    • TenStrings
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 2:18am

      Than I’d say its time for the airlines and airports to both step up to the plate. If I were them, I wouldn’t want to lose so much money via this political oppression. Time to put their foot down. There can be traveler friendly flights to book in several places, and then the free market can fix this. Sure beats having to pat hillary or pelosi down! Oh yeah, they don’t fly commercial, do they?

      Report Post » TenStrings  
    • bbr48
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 7:29am

      I totally agree with you. The end result will be martial law. Every day it is something else…and while we are totally wrapped up in this assault what are they doing with the other hand?

      Report Post »  
    • Waggedy Wabbit
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 10:58am

      WE are being poked in the eye not just with this TSA crap but all the attacks by this REGIME on a daily basis. IF someone has had a belly-full and REACTS,they are a NUTJOB?? THEY will take our weapons? So what to do? Turn them in at the local pick-up center,take to the CHURCH RUN buy back center for a WAL_MART gift card???? Sorry,turning the other cheek,or waiting untill 2012,trusting the new-hires to do the right thing?? We know what their GOALS are so I think this 63 year old man will keep his weapons,ammo,go-to gear ready!! A little slower,older but if need be I WILL BE THERE—WILL YOU??

      Report Post » Shamokin_CoalCrackers  
  • AU Patriot
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:22pm

    I will be flying Tuesday (trip plans made months ago) and am dreading it. I feel like we are living in a police state. If TSA touches my 7YO son, Mama Grizzly will come out. Do they serve turkey and dressing in jail?

    Report Post »  
  • Ronko
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:21pm

    Common Sense is needed you don‘t need to go to this extreme to keep us safe if the TSA would better train its employees then we wouldn’t need to deal with this Bullcrap

    Report Post »  
  • broker0101
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:20pm

    The TSA solution is simple. Own your own Gulfstream, Falcon, Hawker, Cessna X or Lear. Alternatively, pony up for a Marquis Jet Card. Can’t cut that mustard? Shut up and bend over…. or drive. There is a Greyhound stop near your hovel.

    Report Post » broker0101  
    • Max jones
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:27pm

      Broker 0101 you are an ass.

      Max jones  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 1:18am

      do a google search on broker0101 and you can see how much time he really spends on blogs……….his name is the first one that pops up lol “strike first strike hard ”

      Report Post » Psychosis  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 4:26am

      @Psychosis

      Did as you suggested on Google, and am impressed. Thought my entries list was high, he has outdoen me by almost 3:1.

      The addage “Strike First, Strike Hard” is interesting with only one small flaw though. If you miss, the opponent may be able to reply even harder than you.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 6:10am

      Perv.

      Report Post »  
  • inthebegining111
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:20pm

    Are you nuts?

    Report Post »  
  • robert5635
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:19pm

    Let all of congress and the SC justices go thru them (without warning the TSA) before they say another word yea or nay on the subject. Bottom line is the searches violate the Constitution, most (if not all) terrorists are coming into the U.S., and there are no long-term studies on these scanners (much less the secret recording capabilities).

    Report Post » robert5635  
    • where is JG
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:29pm

      Jason Chaffetz already has, and has expressed his utter discontent. Jason is the Rep for the 3rd Congressional District of Utah. He will soon have Orrin’s Job in the Senate!

      Report Post » where is JG  
    • guatejungledweller
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 11:28am

      Maybe TSA could go to Congress, the Senate and the Supreme Court and demonstrate on each member the assault (pat-down). For the sake of transparency, it could be televised on CSpan.

      Report Post »  
  • kuhl
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:19pm

    The TSA has joined the ranks of terrorists. Patting people down and intimidating them at will. The government should fear the people, not the other way around.

    Report Post »  
  • DJ6ual
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:17pm

    It would be nice if the people in charge could ever make up their minds. I just refuse to fly now. I refuse to be treated like a date rape victim.

    Report Post » DJ6ual  
  • Its Gonna Getcha
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:15pm

    The SNL skit was right on.

    Report Post » Its Gonna Getcha  
  • SGTruth
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:13pm

    I’m just wondering what happened to all the outrage from the left about “show me your papers.” It’s too much to ask for documentation of citizenship from a suspicious person, but not too much to ask someone trying to take a trip to give up all rights to their body.

    Report Post »  
    • TruthLover
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 12:43am

      Exactly. They want no screening or accountability at all in border states when every day people are literally losing their heads. But just in case one in ten million air travelers is a lunatic, we ALL have to go through this? How about we swap the border patrol agents for the TSA agents. If the Mexicans are that desperate to get in here, make THEM get groped and radiated first. I bet they stay home. A buck ten an hour to pluck chickens ain’t worth it.

      Report Post » TruthLover  
    • docvet
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 2:45pm

      Well said! On the other hand, progressives don’t care as long as it is done to everybody – they want to do it to everybody.

      Report Post »  
  • Dale
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:12pm

    Just another example that the elites should not be exempted from the torture they impose on us.

    Report Post » Dale  
  • GoingBeck
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:10pm

    This just the beginning of Obama’s Progressive police state.

    Report Post »  
    • where is JG
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:26pm

      And the unionization of the idiots make a force as large and as dangerous as the brown shirts or the Hitler Youth. Indoctrination of individuals to create the CIVILIAN FORCE The T Error Ist In chief needs to battle the Oath Keepers who will someday stand for our country and its constitution.

      Report Post » where is JG  
    • CatB
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 11:33pm

      That is why the time to make a BIG STINK about this is NOW! Let them know we will not stand for it .. I have friends who are rethinking vacation plans right now .. staying closer to home and driving.

      Report Post »  
  • what4
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:10pm

    Here’s the easy fix….Eliminate the TSA, let the airports handle their own policeing. So here we get better security and a great reduction of our national debt!

    Report Post »  
    • Highland
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 6:55am

      The head of TSA is proving to be as incompetent as his boss in the White House.

      Report Post » Highland  
  • Brooke Lorren
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:10pm

    Well, hopefully this will be the start of change. I’m not holding my breath.

    Report Post »  
  • Fudd the wabbit hunter
    Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:09pm

    Sorry, Mr. Pistole, but your statements don’t hold water…Your fabulous scanning devices don’t detect explosives, and it wouldn’t be that hard for someone to avoid leaving explosives residue on their clothing. The bottom line is this…until you and your agency get off your PC high horse and START profiling, the terrorists will be able to stay one step ahead.

    Report Post » Fudd the wabbit hunter  
    • Big Bob
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 10:41pm

      Profiling is the basis of criminology not hand jobs.

      Report Post »  
    • RLTW
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 11:05pm

      The TSA is a self defeating organization; there miss use of equipment and lack of personal skills is the real problem. Being (Ret) Military, still working for the Army I’m trained on every system they use, I’ve witnessed firsthand the miss use of bomb sniffing tech by TSA, the main issue with the RapidScan system (which a 5yr old could operate) is they are in many cases using the system in supervisor mode rather than operator mode, in this mode not only can images be saved but more detail then is necessary is depicted.
      Not to support the intrusiveness of the full body scan, the system is safe; individuals are subjected to far more radiation during their flight alone then from the system.

      Report Post »  
    • TruthTalker
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 11:27pm

      sorry, but if I see you grope my daugter or wife, I will end you. Period. I am ready to take that bullet.

       
    • CatB
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 11:32pm

      Well said BIG BOB! It is time to stop these molestations and start profiling. Just because you give someone a TSA badge doesn’t mean they illegally search your neither regions without cause.

       
    • CatB
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 11:35pm

      I’m afraid that my natural reaction would be a knee to the groin area ..doesn’t matter if it is a woman groping me or a man …. I understand that they would arrest and fine me .. so I will be forgoing any air travel.

      Report Post »  
    • southerncross
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 3:01am

      Underwear bomber was put on the plnae in ansterdam, where they did have naked body scanners in use..without a passport or visa, and by a CIA operative.

      Witnesses have testified to this fact. Official story changed 3 times before they acknowledged the eyewitnesses. All airport footage of operative has been classified, and held from the public.

      Report Post »  
    • joseph Fawcett
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 3:48am

      Agreed, start profiling, then maybe we will see some changes in the treats. Maybe the “good” Muslims will then stand up and turn in and go after the extreem muslims and then maybe the world will be safer. It is just not right. nor moral, nor just to be sexually assulting men women and children that are not apart of the profile for the sake of not offending the muslims. It is about time we offend the muslims for a change. I bet they are laughing at us and making fun of us because we are allowing our goverment to sexually assult us and /or take nude pictures of us because we are bending over to not offend them. Enough is enough I say!

      http://www.josephfawcettart.com western artist.

      Report Post » joseph Fawcett  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 5:47am

      I will not be flying this season. Not because of this, but if I were flying I could not get to go because I would never give up my 4th ammendment rights.

      No trading my freedoms away to the Government. NEVER NEVER NEVER.

      Start profiling NOW!

      Report Post »  
    • kryptonite
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 6:03am

      Red tactics are so predictable. They said Obamacare would cover all the uninsured. Big fat lie. Now they claim those rape-scanners will detect all explosives. Resist every move from this tyrant, patriots. He is trying to slow-cook us in his commie kettle.

      Report Post »  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 6:42am

      FUDD THE WABBIT HUNTER: this amounts to caravel ticket takers being able to feel up your 13yr old daughter. Profile!!!! And profile when you are checking for green cards too!

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 7:06am

      Sorry, they gave power to the TSA agents and I’m sure they will use it to the best of their ability. It‘s alot easier to give the power than to take it back but we’ll see what happens.

      Report Post »  
    • G.W. Dobbs
      Posted on November 22, 2010 at 7:53am

      The SCAN and PAT DOWN are but another step to training the Sheople to mind and be compliant.
      “DO WHAT WE SAY”!

      Report Post »  
    • Fear The Voices
      Posted on November 23, 2010 at 7:25pm

      There is going to be no changes made; unless you count the ramifications of raising objections as change……

      Read this and you’ll see what I mean. They are prepared to go further in infringing your rights.
      http://homelandsecurityus.com/archives/4254

      Report Post » Fear The Voices  
    • macattack
      Posted on December 23, 2010 at 12:35pm

      Agreed, Imagine falling from the sky in flaming wreckage, which is more uncomfortable I ask?

      Report Post »  
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