Random Threat Assessment....

Random threat assessment seems like a contradiction in terms, and it is. There are random examinations conducted with no level of suspicion and there are those examinations that are based on threat assessment. On the many occasions that I have flown recently, even when in status, I have been asked to remove my footwear, undo my belt and roll down the waistline of my pants. I have been pat-down and had magnetomic wands shoved, well you know where. I have seen women touched inappropriately with hands and wands and of course seen cuticle scissors seized (with no due process or even a receipt) while Swiss army knives proceed. Aside from the fact that there has not been a revolt over TSA's methods (which I find amazing), what is incredible is that the agency thinks that it makes it all better by saying it was just a random exam.

When I am told that the exam was entirely random, what they are really saying is that they have no idea what they are doing, they are guessing. Today, we will exam everyone with red shirts, oh wait, we can't do that, it isn't random. We really don't know who the bad guys are so we will stick a wand up granny's skirt, just in case. Ineptitude at it best.

When a law enforcement agency stops somebody, it should be based on a reason, for some reason the words "Terry Stop", come to mind. TSA should have the integrity, as stated in their mission statement, to make stops for a reason. Based on a threat assessment, where ever that threat assessment derives. It might be behavioral analysis as is utilized by other law enforcement agencies here and abroad. It could be based on intelligence derived from the many agencies now working together to fight terrorism. It could be based on previous enforcement actions taken by the agency, but it should be based on something. Can you imagine if every one coming across the borders was subjected to this kind of treatment, the economy would stop and the lawyers would have a field day. TSA has to have the courage to base their examination on threat assessment, be able to articulate the suspicion, and be able to live with their assessments. If they lack this resolve, they will never garner any respect, nor will they safeguard the traveling public.