TSA's Nude Scanners, Former Homeland Security Head Chertoff, and How Our Government Works
How our government works:
1) Get a position in the government.
2) Hype up some scare and advocate a solution to it
3) Sell/convince the government on your proposed solution, leave your government position, and partner up with the company that provides that same solution.
4) Sit back and enjoy your new money.
Michael Chertoff, while he was the Head of Homeland Security under Bush, advocated and pushed for installation and implementation of these new full-body scanners at our airports. Once he was out of "public service", Chertoff's consulting company (Read: Lobbying Company) landed as a client (Surprise!), Rapiscan, the company that makes the scanners. He is now a much richer person, I'm sure. There are multiple links to info about Chertoff and the scanner company. Below is a bit from rightpundits:
And finally, like most government scandals, follow the money. Guess which company owns a large manufacturer of backscatter x-ray devices? Give up? The Chertoff Group which is a security consulting agency run by former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. That’s right, in the wake of the Christmas Day bomber Chertoff has been pushing for more and more of these full body image scanners and it’s no wonder considering that this is going to put a large chunk of money in his pocket. Go figure!And a bit from Boston.com
Since the attempted bombing of a US airliner on Christmas Day, former Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff has given dozens of media interviews touting the need for the federal government to buy more full-body scanners for airports.And what's this about a no-bid contract using money from the Stimulus Bill?
What he has made little mention of is that the Chertoff Group, his security consulting agency, includes a client that manufactures the machines…
In the summer, TSA purchased 150 more machines from Rapiscan with $25 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. Rapiscan was the only company that qualified for the contract because it had developed technology that performs the screening using a less-graphic body imaging system, which is also less controversial. (Since then, another company, L-3 Communications, has qualified for future contracts, but no new contracts have been awarded.)It also turns out that none other than George Soros himself is profiting from the Nude Scanners. And the CEO of the company that owns Rapiscan, OSI, was "selected to accompany" President Obama on his trip to India last week (insert Nude Scanner Tech-Support outsourcing joke here).
UPDATE: Welcome Reddit readers! Please check out the latest TSA round-up from the San Diego Local Order of Bloggers (SLOBs).
Comments
Unfortunately, genital pat downs are not new. It has been done frequently for many years now. Ever see a curtain off area next to the security area. That's where it happens. My father who traveled internationally and domestically on business were frequently subject to genital pat downs. It was blood-boiling to hear how he was somehow "randomly chosen" again from his business trips. If you were wondering, my father is 100% Asian. (korean)
I never believed that the back scattering images can be secure. all it takes is a TSA agent with a cell phone camera. Or a eager person with a mirror and a zoom capable camcorder. How do you safe guard against that ?
I want to see members of congress and their families, all the TSA agents and their families get pat down and/or get their naked picture taken my the scanners. But I am naive to believe that they travel on via commercial airlines, huh ?
Speaking of children, do they pat down the children too? They Have to. what if a bomb is attached to a child? It is government sanctioned groping of children or production of child pornography. When every child in all the airports get genital patted down by grown men or women. Or get their naked picture taken. Of course, the parents will have to watch all this happening or face a $10,000 fine per refusal. This may sound extreme but think about it.
It is wrong when my father had to go through it all those years. And it is wrong now.
As for the bits scanner, I've had it done, to some amusement. The way I look at it, better to stand on the yellow footprints and keep the junk-touching where it belongs.
My 81 year old Grandpa was joking about smuggling in a bologna. You know, just to see if they dare try to touch his bits.
No system is perfectly secure. Any audit that finds no vulnerabilities is false and a waste of money.
His last book?
2010 Muhammad: A Story of the Last Prophet.
EF THESE GUYS-they need to go to JAIL NOW.
www.privacy-tools.edu.tc
PLEASE PAT DOWN MY SHAVED BALLS YOU TSA MORONS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-N5adYM7Kw
"How our government works:
1) Get a position in the government.
2) Hype up some scare and advocate a solution to it
3) Sell/convince the government on your proposed solution, leave your government position, and partner up with the company that provides that same solution.
4) Sit back and enjoy your new money."
..and you expect us to believe that this security theater is for our own safety? You're a very funny man, Mr. President.
I particularly liked the fellow who suggested we act like it's a date, which has always been my take. Just handle the family jewels with care, boy....
Jeez, can you imagine the amount of psychic energy the agents must devote to expunging the memories of fondling a slew of us comedians? HAH!
Anyone catch Louis Blacks' comments on the Daily Show?
Holy smokes!! A trip cross-country AND a genital massage??? Wanna bet the airlines are angling for the massage revenues when it becomes an add-on travel option???
Too rich.....
What if I were to have a 5 day diet of broccoli and garlic and soy milk and all the other things that make you gassy... Then I could wear an adult diaper (just in case, you know.) for when I go through security. And when the blue glove of love comes at me, I relax everything from tonsils to toenails and whatever happens during my government sanctioned 'Gate Rape', well, it's just meant to be.
Just sayin'.