William Saletan has a new posting up over at Slate.com talking about how the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) has changed the rules again and backpedaled on a prior promise (surprise, surprise). He talks about how the introduction of millimeter wave scanners was accompanied by a promise that it only be used as a voluntary alternative to a pat-down but the machines are now being used in place of metal detectors.
It’s a reasonable article, but Saletan somehow misses the most important point — the erosion of our civil liberties by the TSA doesn’t really improve safety in the long term.
Saletan quotes the TSA:
As the ongoing terror trial in London clearly illustrates, terrorists actively look for ways to manipulate security protocols. Intelligence has also shown for decades, terrorists’ manipulation of societal norms to evade detection or use social engineering techniques to their advantage. Terrorists have successfully hidden explosives in these areas. … TSA developed this pat down as a measure to close the gap on items hidden on sensitive areas of the body.
In other words, the TSA is actually telling us that security protocols are subject to manipulation. If you close one avenue of attack, terrorists will actively look for ways to subvert the system and wreak havoc.
I have a hint for everyone: the solution to this never ending game is not further erosion of civil liberties. The solution to this game is not more power to the thugs at the TSA.
Americans that line up and put up with this are being conditioned to accept further erosion of liberty in exchange for a false sense of security.
The answer to the problems is MORE freedom, FURTHER civil liberties, and a return to the way of life that made America great to begin with.
Nobody could pull a 9-11 today. Nobody. The game has changed. Prior to 9-11 everyone knew that if your plane was hijacked the right thing to do was to keep your head down and do what you were told. Today everyone knows that passivity will likely result in certain death. If your plane was hijacked would you sit silently, or would you grab the nearest fork and try to save your skin?
So in light of that, ask yourself – why do you put up with this? Why do you put up with the insult and debasement of having to remove your shoes to board a flight? Remove the belt that is keeping your pants up? Take off the watch that your father gave you on his deathbed? Show your naked body to some TSA hire at the airport?
I’m no prude – in fact I’m a devoted gymnosophist. The issue I have is that this is theater, and the only thing it’s helping is the development of a police state.
