33 Minutes

The amount of time the TSA agent was left to bleed out before emergency medical help arrived – waiting for the all clear.

There was time in America’s history where the first responders would rush in, regardless of danger.  And while the risks were higher, it was beautifully noble.  I fear 9-11 changed us….and in a bad way.

http://news.yahoo.com/tsa-officer-bled-33-minutes-lax-shooting-082237704.html

This is a good reason why every gun owner should know first aid and how to treat a gunshot wound.  Knowing so might save your life or that of another person.

LAX Shooting -the Day America Civil War began…

UPDATE: Gerardo Hernandez, who would have turned 40 next week. He is the first TSA officer killed in the line of duty. While I greatly despise the TSA.  It is good remember that those working are really just average Joe’s.  The policies are set in DC. That is where we need to enact change. VOTE ‘EM OUT!!!!

***

LAX Shooting, the TSA, and broken security….that was the original title upon hearing about the shooting. I wrote the entirety of the article below the link based on that topic. But part of me wondered, was this shooting directed at the TSA itself?  Was this the first person to say that they were willing to give up their life to stand up against the TSA/NSA/etc.

We didn’t know…

But the latest report is that the shooter went around asking “”Hey, are you TSA?” and — if a person answered “no” — he would move on, according to the official”. 

If true, this wasn’t a mad man nor was this a terrorist (he wasn’t attacking civilians). This was out and out rebellion against the government.   I wager the NSA had just as much influence in the shooter’s decision, they likely just found the TSA a much more available target. Today most American’s may not realize it. But this may date, 11-1, may be more monumental that 9-11. What, I’m crazy you say….how could a couple of TSA agents being shot equate to the worst attack in modern history on America? Can’t I see the Twin Towers are gone, GONE!!!

Yes, but one needs to remember history.  Powder kegs are often preceded by several matches.  When did the American revolution begin? Did it begin on July 4, 1776?  Did it begin in December 16, 1773 at the Boston Tea Party?  Or did it begin March 5, 1770 when Crispus Attucks was killed at the Boston Massacre?

What becomes the measuring point?   Is it when one man stands in opposition? 10?  100?

We can debate the morality of this shooting.  But I do not look at this event as an act of terrorism, nor some deranged lunatic. Had it been those, the targets would have been anyone near by. This was an act of war, declared by one individual against a government which is increasingly becoming invasive and tyrannical. 

And that is why, some ways, today, 11-1 is scarier than 9-11. My point is THIS shooting is DIFFERENT

*** 

THE FOLLOWING WAS WRITTEN BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE SHOOTER WAS SPECIFICALLY TARGETING THE TSA

http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/01/us/lax-gunfire/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
 
The CNN report is that the shooter drew an assault rifle from out of a bag and began to fire. The result is one TSA officer killed, and two individuals injured. (Are the other injuries TSA officers as well or just civilians? The reason I ask is because it could point to a motive.)
 
Having just flown from the West to the East Coast on Wednesday. This stirs up a lot of feelings.  First off, while a tragedy. TSA is security, that is who WE WANT to have be killed in these type of situations. So in thise case, it appears at least one TSA officer did their job.
 
That said, it does show just how ineffective security at airports really is.  First off, TSA has always been “responsive” rather than “proactive”.  Considering that there are almost no two terrorist attacks that are the same, this seems to pose a significant failing.
 
Second, most of the policies are focused on reaction, and usually with little intelligence or insight.  We have to take off our shoes because Mr Reid tried to blow his up. By this same logic, why do we not have to take off our underwear after the Underwear bomber’s attempt?
 
It pretty much confirms that the checks imposed upon us by the TSA are mainly security theater. They give the perception of safety and effectiveness but really do not accomplish much.
 
 
The article states
 
“A gunman concealing an assault rifle walked up to a Los Angeles International Airport checkpoint and opened fire on a TSA agent Friday morning”
 
If this is the case, it almost appears that TSA itself was the intended target. And having seen some of the videos of TSA abuse, I wonder if we are going to identify this individual as one of the victims of TSA abuse. And suddenly have a case where not a single camera in the area will have the video of the prior incident.
 
 
Is this incident part of a brewing backlash against the TSA?
 
I don’t know…

TSA, terrorizing more than the terrorists…

Once again, the TSA demonstrates their ability to out terrorize the terrorists in terrifying our children.

A special needs child who must be fed a nutrient formula once again falls prey to TSA.

http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/tsa-harasses-sick-kid–family-misses-flight-154956391.html

Seriously, can these guys follow their own policies? stop harassing and harming children?

Everytime I read one of these stories I get so depressed because I realize Al-Quaeda won.  We lost…we are so scared we’ll risk harming our own children.  Al Quaeda can sit back and laugh. And exclaim “Now America spends its own money to terrorize its own children.”

 

😥

Off-Topic: Is this truly the America you want to live in?

Read this man’s ordeal with the TSA and traveling.  Read and ask yourself, is this the AMERICA you want to live in?

Cause I sure as hell don’t…

http://varnull.adityamukerjee.net/post/59021412512/dont-fly-during-ramadan

***

And for those unfamiliar as to how easy it is to set off one of those detectors. I took a trip to San Diego with my mother and she set one of the bomb detectors off. The trigger? 

Possible TNT.  The culprit? She set her bag on some bird guano at the beach. 

I do not want to live in an America that terrorizes it’s populace. That listens to all our phone calls, reads all our mail, tracks all of our movements. Sorry, I’d rather have the terrorists back than this.  It is clear to me Al Quaeda won the war, and that is so sad….but they got America to change, to deprive its citizens of liberty, and to harm itself in the name of fear.

***

Interesting that the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) finally got their freedom of information request which basically showed that the “secret court” even felt the NSA’s actions were unconstitutional. And even when they put implementations in to lessen those concerns. That the judge felt their was a repeated habit of mis-representing (lying) about their activities.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/22/us/2011-ruling-found-an-nsa-program-unconstitutional.html?_r=0

Sorry Ma’am, but the heels gotta go…

TSA doesn’t like guns, not even replicas, not even high heel replicas…. *CONFISCATED*

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/tsa-heels-wont-fly-164113995.html

 

TSA: Keeping you safe, one toy and corkscrew at a time…

Touching Sensitive Areas apparently has liquidation stores. In fact, from the article there is one in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (I might have to make a trip up.)

But this article presents photos upon photos of deadly corkscrews and swiss army knives (along with some gaudy prop swords, and other toys).  But the insightful part is all the things you DID NOT THINK were banned items.

• Bowling balls
• Exercise weights
• Pouch of Playdough
• Wiffle bats
• Toy guns and swords
• and more….

Essentially, anything that could be used as a blunt object (hmm, does my old 17″ Toshiba notebook count) or appears to look like a weapon is confiscated.

 http://money.cnn.com/gallery/pf/2012/12/11/tsa-weapons/index.html

“You got to ask yourself one question: do you feel safer? Well do ya, punk?'”
(Yes, that about sums up the TSA.)

We Are Losing the War on Terror

The 11th anniversary of 9-11 passed this month. It was further bittered by another attack on Americans. I did not blog about 9-11 because I am very torn with regards to it.

Essentially, 10 years later I am more sorrowful. Not as much as I was 11 years ago when 9-11 transpired just an hour or so from my home. But I will say that I am far more discouraged at the 11th anniversary than I was at the 1st anniversary.

This recent article is part of why. The article details the growing influence that Iran has in Iraq. And from a quick read you can gather fairly easily that Iraq is likely to become another Iranian puppet state like Syria and Libya.

All that money, and all those precious lives, expended on the war in Iraq – for what?

We failed to bring real stability, we failed to rebuild a thriving infrastructure like with did in Germany, Japan and Korea. And I believe in part that is due to the fact that we balked on spending $$$ to build and wound up spending even more on a prolonged conflict.

Now we read about our troops in Afghanistan going on needless patrols only to be blown to bits. Gaining no terroritory, accomplishing nothing…

I wager any Vietnam veterans reading these recent accounts of futile patrols in Afghanistan are crying. Because they know how painful it is to lose a friend, but how much more painful it is to lose that friend needlessly and without purpose.

But even if Aghanistan and Iraq are chalked in history as failures. That’s not the true proof that we lost this war. The real proof we lost the war on terror is the TSA.

Everyday thousands of Americans and their children are subjected to invasive searches and seizures. Checkpoints in which bodies are groped, fondled, and handled in ways that’d land a priest in jail. And this is tolerated…along with the trampling of numerous other civil liberties. All in the name of freedom safety. A safety most will affirm is merely theater.

Are we REALLY afraid that a passenger plane will be hijacked and used as a bomb again? I’m not. I know if anyone attempted to hijack an American passenger plane, those Americans on board would rise up and subdue their hijackers; dying if necessary, to keep us safe.

If it ever happens again, it will not be a passenger plane. Rather, it will be a cargo plane such as those used by UPS or FedEx. A plane with nothing but a 2-3 man crew to be overcomed. And even that I believe is unlikely.

Meanwhile, what scares the crap out of me is how easy it would be to sail a 25 ft boat from West Africa or Indonesia into Baltimore, NY, Miami, San Francisco or San Diego harbor and go BOOM!!!

The lack of a nuke or dirty bomb is pretty much the only thing preventing America’s enemies from accomplishing such a strategy. So while we waste billions on security theater in our airports. The real threat and danger lurks. If there is anywhere that needs money, it’s the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Border Patrol.

The Coast Guard with it’s aging ships is in desperate need of new tools to do their job and keep us safe. I’d argue they’re more important than the U.S. Navy at the moment. A 25 ft sailboat with a dirty bomb is a far greater threat than a surface engagement with another superpower like Russia or China.

Frankly, I would like to see Congress to authorized a new light drone carrier for the Coast Guard so they can run drones up and down the coast line monitoring for suspicious activity or radiological signals. Equip their vessels with anti-submarine warfare equipment. As recent articles have pointed to increased use of such equipment by drug cartels to smuggle contraband into our nation.

These simple actions are “no brainers”, that Congress apparently is unable to contemplate. And why I fear that one day, we may see a tragedy that makes 9-11 pale in comparison unless we wise up.

But so far, it sure looks like we’re losing the “War on Terror”. Yes, we got Saddam. Yes we got Osama bin Laden. But we’re losing Afghanistan, Iraq, and American Liberty.

***

I know that some will be offended by my accusation that we are losing the war on terror. Please, do not take that as a desire on my part to do so. But rather calling into question the failed strategies and implementations. And the fact that we are paying an exceedingly high price in liberty to gain a miniscule amount of safety.

TSA #FAIL

Hours after being released from prison, former convict by-passes TSA completely and boards a passenger plane.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/30/travel/security-bypassed/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

The TSA loves to tout the various fake grenades, knives, air pistols, and occasional firearms it finds in baggage checks.  And hail the dangers of terrorized 4 year olds clinging to their grandmothers. But whenever there is a “real” test, TSA seems to fall flat on it’s face.

Flying… #nraam

I enjoyed it much more, before we lost the war on terror.

*scan*

*irradiate*

*grope*

Security Threat Level: HOT!!!

Complaints regarding TSA screening practices are proving that everyone’s fears and concerns were justified.

Wired Article

Basically, male screeners given the opportunity to view semi-naked women will when provided the means of selection:

a) select a higher number of women

b) select attractive women

c) repeatedly ask said attractive women to go through the scanner due to “blurriness” or other imaginary criteria.

Gee, I recall numerous citizens stating exactly this would occur under the TSA system. In fact, nearly everything predicted about the TSA procedures has manifested itself as true – except perhaps the claim that they would keep us safer.

It was stated in the article that the scanners had been modified to show a reduced detail image that just exposed the outlines.

The question is whether they can degrade the image enough to stop degrading women while keeping the scanners functionally viable. I don’t believe they can (not while using Human agents).

The scanners should be automated. And the pat downs should only be triggered by anomalies detected by the scanning system. Humans shouldn’t even see the images unless an anomaly is detected. Scratch that… the scanners should simply not exist.