The program delves into the minutiae of air travel, including “whether passengers fidget, use a computer, have a ‘jump’ in their Adam’s apple or a ‘cold penetrating stare,’ among other behaviors.”
They’ll do this to Americans who haven’t committed any crime at all, but they wouldn’t dream of devoting any resources to trying to figure out how to identify those who are actually likely to commit an act of terror on an airplane. Why not? Because to do so would be “Islamophobic.”
“Boston Globe: TSA’s ‘Quiet Skies’ Tracks US Citizens Like Terrorists,” by Eric Mack, Newsmax, July 29, 2018:
The Transportation Security Administration, in a previously undisclosed program call “Quiet Skies,” is gathering information on U.S. citizens who are neither under any investigation nor in the terrorist screening database, which is costly, time consuming, and raises potential privacy concerns, according to The Boston Globe.
“Beyond the legalities, some air marshals believe ‘Quiet Skies’ is not a sound use of limited agency resources,” the Globe reported. “Several air marshals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly, told the Globe the program wastes taxpayer dollars and makes the country less safe because attention and resources are diverted away from legitimate, potential threats.”
The program delves into the minutiae of air travel, including “whether passengers fidget, use a computer, have a ‘jump’ in their Adam’s apple or a ‘cold penetrating stare,’ among other behaviors,” according to government documents reviewed by the Globe.
“What we are doing [in Quiet Skies] is troubling and raising some serious questions as to the validity and legality of what we are doing and how we are doing it,” an air marshal texted colleagues, according to the Globe.
A TSA bulletin in March stated the program specifically targets travelers who “are not under investigation by any agency and are not in the Terrorist Screening Data Base” with the intent of thwarting airline threats “posed by unknown or partially known terrorists,” allowing “the agency broad discretion over which air travelers to focus on and how closely they are tracked,” per the Globe.
While the program has solid intent, but “it is a time-consuming and costly assignment, they say, which saps their ability to do more vital law enforcement work,” according to the report.
“These revelations raise profound concerns about whether TSA is conducting pervasive surveillance of travelers without any suspicion of actual wrongdoing,” senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Security Project Hugh Handeyside told the Globe.
“If TSA is using proxies for race or religion to single out travelers for surveillance, that could violate the travelers’ constitutional rights. These concerns are all the more acute because of TSA’s track record of using unreliable and unscientific techniques to screen and monitor travelers who have done nothing wrong.”…
PATRICIA FRANCES KOENIG says
Too bad “profiling” was deemed illegal. “Profiling” was the best crime preventation measure for police and the TSA.
Elisha says
Some people are more equal than others …
Kessler says
Common sense is not the priority – with the world on fire due to rampant islamophobia, the priority should be not to make muslims feel singled out. Regardless of how overrepresented they may be in terror statistics.
Not doing so would make us racist and fuel more terrorism. You see, Muslims are sensitive beings and unlike adherents to other religions, even the most peaceful, moderate muslim can become radicalised if the feeling of racism and prejudice becomes to strong. /sarc off
underbed cat says
Who knew of the muslim brotherhood in 2011, not many. However the courts knew who they were and analysts who studied the doctrine of sharia law and the Quran knew who they were and the information could be damaging to the steadfast success of gaining influence in the Pentagon, White House, halls of Congress, the Senate, the FBI, the CIA and in and around communities of muslims with the task of building mosques. Nothing would last long with HLS as small strikes would surely be recognized as Islamic and the whole project of islamizing America would come to a abrupt halt. Never fear however an ally was in the White House, the CIA and all that was needed was a letter written to purge words and description of terror cells and persons, a charming President with a great smile and degree’s to boot and a CIA director with power to purge. The gig was on, the road blocks disappearing and the tolerance and abhorrent declarations of terror where now never part of the doctrine except it was the method so the public heard very little facts and lots of CVE human rights talk, and to the ears of muslims they knew that the civil rights of tolerance would clear the roadblocks, so the violent extremists could be religious nuns, far right supremacists with wings, , KKK, Nazi’s and mentally ill could fill the gaps especially the evil russian strong men, not exactly accurate for terror groups but a diversion away from reality and messy consequences. In a way it was the start of a constitutional coupe and mass migration would follow to bring in the army to finish it off. Not sure we can get out of the woods of this deception but as I see Europe waking up….more will follow and I know who I will thank for speaking out to protect our nation against jihad on infidels. This is my opinion of why nuns get scrutiny they are representatives of tolerance Christians.
mortimer says
The UK customs police observes air travellers on CCTV as they walk towards customs, and according to their demeanor, they will pull certain people aside for an in depth interview.
t says
A thoroughly f*cked up world we’re living in, today!
Buraq says
The Israeli airline, El Al, uses profiling. When was the last time El Al had a “terrorist” problem? Why can’t the TSA just copy a successful template?
James Lincoln says
At some point, the US and the rest of the West, may be forced to go the way of EL AL.
Ashley says
+1
JAR says
Right out of “1984.” Orwell wrote about this all very well back in 1949.
Lynne says
Political correctness and hurt feelings gone mad!
somehistory says
What if a regular, law-abiding person has never ridden on an airplane before and is nervous? What if one is traveling due to a medical emergency and has to use their phone or computer frequently in order to stay informed?
These innocent things will cause them to be the target of extra focus, while the most likely to be a terrorist will slide past the scrutiny.
On another note, banks, esp a certain large one, are blocking access to accounts until the account holders answer personal questions and saying that “government regulations” require the information. Experts in banking say the information the bank is “requiring” is not a government regulation.
The bank says they are doing this for “security” regarding money laundering and terrorism.
How many account holders are being asked if they have “dual citizenship” in order to use their accounts and have access to their money? Or even just to check their account balance and transactions online/
While the terrorists are sending huge amounts of money outside the country or getting on planes with huge amounts of money to leave the country for terrorism, little old ladies are having to prove who they are in order to use their social security money to pay bills.
Ashley says
+1
elee says
What Buraq said, above. Or how about what the Dutch do at Schiphol, they just ask lots of detailed questions, very civil, very detailed. Unobtrusive & effective.
I commend the TSA. They’re professional, courteous, and do a high-volume difficult job every day. Same with air marshalls, with whom frequent fliers have probably unknowingly shared a few flights.
Lydia Church says
Another reason I’m glad my traveling days are over!
Walter Sieruk says
Concerning the topic of Airport Security before September 11, 2001, During the 1990’s which seemed be sadly nothing but a hoax of show for the public. For a year of that decade I had a job as a security screener. As a type of airport security guard all of us, the security personal, had to follow the rules which allowed and non- serrated knifes and box cutter on the airplane as long as the sharp objects where under two inches long .So during a visited from one of the top person of the security company I told her “Those non-serrated knifes and box cutters can still be very dangerous and harmful in the hands of the wrong person.” Her response to me for saying that was only silence and an angry look that gave the message “Don’t you dare ever say such a thing as that again.” As for the security supervisors said to be “In my opinion this is just a set of as a [empty] show for the traveling public to make them feel safe.” One time a man walked through the metal detector and the alarm, buzzer, didn’t go off when he was wearing a rather large metal belt buckle. So he informed me about it. So I replied “Standing over there next to each other is the security manager and security supervisor its best if you inform them about that.” After he informed them they thanked him and said that they would look in that, they didn’t. Other time a supervisor said to me that “This security set up is bull S….” He even berated me for ,a number of times, when I called for bag check saying “Does that look like a test item ?” He really didn’t want to bother to get off his seat for make a bag check. I said to him “ I can’t see through the item maybe something dangerous is hidden being it .” On hearing that and he threw his head back and went through his eye rolling routine as to say “Don’t start getting ridiculous on me, nothing awful will ever happen.” This might be somewhat related to a news report in the year 2005 about another airport ,the Pittsburg airport, which the news crew had a hidden counting devise and a hidden camera. They had counted one thousand bags went through the airport security and not even once was a call for a bag check. Went that confronted the security supervisor about that he said “There was nothing suspicious to call a check about” The news crew said “Still after a thousand bags, and not one need for a bag check call” That supervisor just restated “There was not a need for a bag check call.” Of course he wouldn’t change his story. If that airport was like the one of works at the call was not made because the security supervisor would “tell off” that security screener for making a call for a bag check.
gravenimage says
Walter, I flew to NYC to see book publishers on one trip in the late 1990s. I had had a busy week and had not been able to make up my art promotional materials before the trip. Since I had an interview first thing in the morning after arriving before any art supply stores would be open, I did not want to check my mounting supplies, in case my luggage got lost in flight
So I took a *full set of X-acto knives and blades* in my carry-on. I had briefly wondered if this might be a problem, then decided it wouldn’t be, because I could explain why I needed them and had the art work with me to prove it.
I needn’t have worried even to that extent–my bag was x-rayed, and neither of the security personnel said a thing.
Three years later, box cutters–closely related to X-acto knives–would be used to hijack the planes on 9/11.
somehistory says
On one of the few times I had reason to ride in an airplane, back in the late 90’s, two of my children and I had our luggage searched because we each had a tube of toothpaste.
Everything was removed and we didn’t know why until one of the guys searching held up the tubes and asked us why we had three.
We explained the reasons. There were no smiles, no apologies, just stuffing our belongings back in the bags and saying we could go.
Walter Sieruk says
To some history says, I’m very glad that the security personal at that specific airport alert to anything that seems “odd” or “out of place.” Sadly ,not all airport checkpoints check points are that good. Furthermore,some of the wisdom of Thomas Jefferson does apply to our current times, even more than in his own time.. For Mr. Jefferson had written
“Let the eye of vigilance never be closed.”
gravenimage says
Somehistory, our two very different experiences just shows how random a lot of security is.
eduardo odraude says
To the extent that security, due to political correctness, is not permitted to efficiently use resources to watch for jihad terrorists, that’s crazy.
But what we think of as ridiculous — like checking a nun, say — is not necessarily crazy. After all, if we don’t ever check certain categories of people, then perhaps that is precisely how terrorists will disguise themselves. So security MUST to some extent check all categories of people somewhat unpredictably. That said, such checks, quantitatively, should be no more than the minimum necessary to dissuade jihadis from disguising themselves as those categories of people or using those categories of people.
None of this is to deny that we should stop the PC stuff preventing more efficient use of resources to watch out for jihadis.
Also, TSA, if possible should be trained to notice how would-be terrorists behave — do they fidget more, tend to have cold penetrating stares, other characteristics? TSA agents should be able to use a mix of things — including gut feeling — to decide whom to check. Gut feeling can be balanced by an effort not to act on one’s own prejudices, but gut feeling can’t be excluded.
gravenimage says
TSA is placing passengers who aren’t on terror database under close surveillance
The program delves into the minutiae of air travel, including “whether passengers fidget, use a computer, have a ‘jump’ in their Adam’s apple or a ‘cold penetrating stare,’ among other behaviors.”
……………………….
Just insane. Firstly, every other flyer uses a computer these days. Then, not only do many people fidget naturally, especially in enclosed spaces, but there are articles actually *encouraging* people to fidget on airplanes to maintain good circulation:
“Sitting Is Bad for Your Health—But Fidgeting Can Help”
https://www.realsimple.com/health/fidgeting-benefits
This article specifically mentions the health benefits of fidgeting on flights. I’ve read at least half a dozen similar articles myself, and I haven’t really been looking for them.
I also have a friend who gets dry mouth on flights, and is constantly swallowing and taking drinks to stay hydrated, with the resultant trips to the restroom. I could see him getting jacked up every time he gets on an airplane.
Even the “cold penetrating stare”–subjective, in any case–may in a lot of cases be innocent. People with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome tend to expressionlessly stare, but they are very seldom dangerous.
Meanwhile, those in skullcaps and Burqas will doubtless remain unmolested.
More:
“Beyond the legalities, some air marshals believe ‘Quiet Skies’ is not a sound use of limited agency resources,” the Globe reported.
……………………….
*Ya think*? Good for them for speaking up.
Hugh Fitgerald says
I’ve been trying my best, but just can’t get rid of my cold, penetrating stare. My grandson, two months old, has the same problem.
gravenimage says
Ha ha
Laura says
The picture sums up how low we have sunk in our submission to Islam, a hijab muslim conducting an intimate search on a NUN!