Joho the Blog
|
|
|
April 07, 2005
I have been pulled aside for special searches four out of the previous four times I've flown. Yesterday I asked the supervisor at the US Air desk at Logan Airport about it. He said that if you test positive for any two of the following three tests, the computer marks you for searching: A one way ticket, a ticket purchased in the past 24 hours, or paying by cash. On this particular trip, I met the first two criteria. Thus, I am a likely terrorist. So, here's a word of advice to today's would-be terrorist: Splurge on the round-trip. Sure, it's going to cost an extra couple of hundred, but at the end of the trip, you're not going to care. Also, try to plan your murderous attack well in advance. Sigh. Posted
by D. Weinberger at April 7, 2005 07:57 AM
TrackBackListed below are links to weblogs that reference Advice to young terrorists:
» You wanna come back don't you? from Curiouser and curiouser! Tracked on April 19, 2005 04:07 AM |
Comments
Sometimes I think all the new security pantomimes we are forced to perform, before walking through the metal-detector arches, are designed for our inconvenience, and provide no extra security. Richard Reed wasn't even successful... yet still I'm forced to catch a waft of feetsmell from the guy in front of me.
Note: On a recent trip to Europe where I visited three separate countries, I never had to take my shoes off or take my laptop out of the bag to go through security. Oh joy!
Posted by: dykstraNet | April 7, 2005 09:50 AM
I love the logic behind these rules.
= "A one way ticket" terrorists are thrifty.
= "a ticket purchased in the past 24 hours" terrorist are spontaneous and unlikely unlike their betters incapable of long term planning.
= "paying by cash" terrorists are so responsible they can't even respond to one of the dozens of credit card offers that come thru the mail slot every day.
Posted by: Ben Hyde | April 7, 2005 11:36 AM
David, I thank God for you and wish I had a tenth of your wit. Thank you for this wonderful post.
Posted by: Terry Heaton | April 7, 2005 11:51 AM
There was a posting about a year ago or so about the algorithm that potential airplane hijackers could use to defeat the system by probing its predictability. Essentially, the algorithm sent, say, 100 potential hijackers through the security process several times with reasonable flight arrangements. The ones that made it through without special notice repeatedly over a period of a few years were the ones who were the best potential perpetrators.
Security protocols themselves are supposed to be secret, thereby demonstrating, once more, that "security through obscurity" creates increased risk. Those who are inconvenienced (and infringed upon) the most are those who are least likely and able to perpetrate the crime.
Posted by: Mark Federman | April 7, 2005 12:05 PM
Oddly, I had the dreaded SSSS coming home this morning from Toronto, and the round-trip ticket was purchased by credit card, a week or so before the beginning of the trip. I wonder if the system gets pinged if you're not the buyer (Joey bought it)?
Posted by: Wendy | April 11, 2005 10:00 AM
Yes, I think the system can get pinged if you're not the buyer. I'm pretty sure that's happened to me.
Posted by: ck | July 21, 2005 01:41 PM