TSA takes first step toward 'trusted travel' program

Source: cnn.com

After hinting for months that he would start a "trusted traveler" program to expedite screening at airport checkpoints, Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole took his first step in that direction Thursday, announcing a pilot project for passengers who voluntarily release certain information about themselves.

The pilot project initially will be small, limited to a select group of travelers and to people already enrolled in existing programs run by border officials.

Nonetheless, the travel industry and some politicians hailed it as a major change of philosophy that eventually could have a major impact on airport screening, diverting security from known individuals and focusing attention on unknown travelers and suspected terrorists.

The TSA disclosed few details about the inner workings of the program. But industry officials briefed by the TSA said eligible participants will get to forgo some of the banalities of checkpoint searches -- such as removing shoes and jackets, and taking computers from carry-on bags.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/07/14/tsa.trusted.traveler/index.html

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Some flying pigs are more equal than others.

in the judgement of some Alphabet Agency's database mining computer.

The Police State creeps in on little cat feet. And sometimes it gallops.

A smart and/or well-funded would-be terrorist can get on this whitelist just as easily (if not moreso) than you or I could. Or a not-so-smart or well-funded terrorist could kidnap the family of someone on the list and tell them to carry a package on the plane or they'll start receiving body parts in the mail. This is not at all well thought out. And given that it comes from John Piss-hole at the most odious of the 3-letter abominations, that fact really does not surprise me.

in the legislatures of many states AND in Congress, with a bi-partisan bill there now under discussion, will finally force an end to these abusive practices.

I hope they don't think this will diminish the outrage. I imagine it may only add to it.

They lied last Fall also about changing the rules regarding children, a lie that was exposed on the floor of Congress when Rep. Chaffetz, assuming the rules HAD changed, referred to the TSA's treatment of the 6 year-old girl as a violation of their own rules. The TSA responded that there were no such rules, causing Chaffetz to express even more outrage that Congress had been deceived.

There is no fixing a police state once it gets started, it simply has to be stopped completely.

They are trying to pacify the airlines and the airlines' biggest customers at the expense of the "security" forced on the rest of us. Somehow it's supposed to be impossible to be a terrorist *and* get onto this whitelist? Insanity. But I think you are right it will not diminish outrage at the TSA - it will almost definitely increase it.

of protest...he asks...

open new holes into the system... which is already full of them... once again proving it is theater.

Do they just throw darts at a dartboard of ideas? :dunce:

but they won't... security is NOT the goal of this circus.

Like the old USSR.

worthless departments (might as well add FEMA to that list)? I mean, the ATF not enough? Patriots on the boarder not enough? Do we really need a million redundant law enforcement organizations? We have the CIA, NSA, the Secret Service and the FBI for starters. What? They not up to the task of defending Americans?

The DHS, DEA, TSA, and SWAT Teams are but means to control the population.

meaning wealthy and powerful folks.

Let's just put it out there.