Scanning for Terrorists

Following the Christmas Day terrorist bombing attempt on an airliner over Detroit, the government invoked “tougher” security measures.

The item that received the most publicity was a new requirement that all passengers had to remain seated, with nothing on their laps, during the last hour of the flight.

Did anyone on those planes actually feel safer because of this new rule? If so, why? If a bomb is detonated immediately after takeoff, the passengers will be just as dead.

Another major topic of discussion is the mandatory use of full body scanners. The apparatus most often promoted is called a millimetre-wave scanner. This device is considered safe because it does not emit radiation like x-ray based machines, which are not safe for pregnant women or those with some other conditions.

Most of the talk in this country has revolved around privacy issues since the scanner does display an image of the body under the clothing.

What’s been missing is a discussion of the advantages of using the scanners.

In testing performed in England, metal objects, dense plastic, such as the common C4 explosive, and even heavy wax showed up on the displayed image.

The problem is with less dense items like powders, liquids, and thin plastics, just like with clothing, the millimetre-waves pass through leaving those items undetected.

The explosive used in the underpants bomb was three ounces of PETN, a chemical powder. To detonate the bomb, the terrorist also carried a liquid accelerant in a plastic syringe.

All of the experts recently questioned by a British newspaper agreed that most likely the underpants bomb would not have been caught by a full body scan, using either millimetre-wave or x-ray machines.

Similarly, the experts said the bomb would have probably been missed if the terrorist had been subjected to a “pat-down.” Under current rules certain “sensitive” areas are not included in the “pat-down” process. The terrorists are obviously familiar with these rules.

Here in the U.S., the Transportation Security Administration has announced that starting January 4, 2010, U.S. bound air passengers traveling from or through fourteen “countries of interest” will be subject to enhanced screening. This may include full-body pat-downs, full-body scanning, explosive detection technologies, and carry-on luggage searches.

This sounds like a step in the right direction, however, is it?

It is already known that the scanners can be beaten. So can existing explosive detection equipment. Unless full strip and cavity searches are authorized, when warranted, the “pat-downs” will prove to be equally useless.

There has also been some talk about changing the application process for an entry visa, making the rules stricter. Again, another positive sounding step that may be of some help, but ID’s can be faked and solid citizens can be radicalized.

Enacting these changes may make some travelers feel safer. That is the primary intent, and our government knows it. The politicians need to look as if they have the answers and are taking action.

In realty, all these measures will do is make it a little more difficult for a terrorist to board a plane, while making traveling more of a hassle for the innocent.

The only way to get back to truly friendly skies is to eliminate the terrorist threat, by eliminating the terrorists.

This will not be possible until we decide political correctness has run its course.

A good start would be treating captives like the underpants bomber as terrorists, not criminals.

This man deserves none of the rights of an American citizen. He should be held in isolation, without benefit of council. He should be interrogated non-stop, using all legal means, until we know everything he knows about the terrorist group that trained him, provided him with the bomb, and ordered him on the plane.

The information gleaned should be used to track down, kill or capture all of those involved, quickly. Whatever this man knows, its value will diminish rapidly.

Hesitation, “fair treatment” of captives, and clinging to political correct polices will only be seen as signs of weakness by our enemies, and a much stronger recruitment tool than any prison.

Think about it the next time you get on a plane. Will knowing the terrorist has been given all the rights of a citizen make you all warm and fuzzy?