Discussion Responses 2

• A substantive comment should be approximately 300 words or more.
• Cite sources within your comment to support your statements.
• Include at least one reference, properly formatted, not just a link.

Response 1

Aviation Security

Lucas

Each airport has their security measures in place to meet current regulations and guidelines. While they all must meet the same standard of security there are inherent limitations due to facility, personnel, or infrastructure. This does not mean that certain airports are unsecure, just maybe less secure than others. Like a car must meet highway safety standards the size of the vehicle, personnel in the vehicle, and layout of the safety features, can make one car safer than another but still meet the minimum standards. I do a lot of traveling (maybe 250 days a year from “home”) and have since 2000. I have been to large international airports with tons of identifiable safety infrastructure in place, and many small private airfields with only a single visible security officer at a desk. I work in a profession that promotes concealment and sometimes you forget which clothes have what in them and the next thing you know, you are traveling in them. I have had the large airports who see tons of passengers every day and tons of tech miss ceramic blades because the scanner was more focused on a bobby pin or hair beret in the pocket closest to it. In the same instance at a small airfield I have had that sole security guard that had only seen 5 passengers that day wand and pat us down like prom dates, finding everything we forgot we even had.

checkpoints are some of the most controlled and secure points in airports now. Where I often see vulnerability is at the exit of terminals were there is one agent sitting at a podium as debarked passengers walk by in herds. I have my self-forgot items on planes only to get sympathy from that agent to allow me to walk right back the way I came. The other point would be in terminals where doors lead to tarmac. Many times, I have seen agents not letting the door close behind them fully before walking away leaving it open for the duration that the door hinge closes it. While these simple observances may expose security risks there are other factors like mentioned above that would have to line up. Think electronic surveillance all over the airport as well as that agent or employee or even passenger in the terminal that sees some one dash for a slowly closing door leading to tarmac.

Before the tragic events of 9/11 there was less screening for passengers and their luggage. There were less extensive criminal background checks of TSA employees and far less robust airport police presence (Trainer, 2017). Currently airport and aviation security are higher than ever across the nation. This is largely due to the fear of corona virus’ enforced quarantine measures, blacklists of travelers from certain nations, and the slower methodic, and spaced out distance between travelers. While this may be inconvenient to us, it negatively impacted foreign terrorist fighters highlighting their dedication, and resourcefulness (Mines, 2020). The heightened security and the pace at which it is now conducted also has brought in record numbers of firearms and weapons found in checked baggage at a rate of 2.68 times greater for the same period (March 22-April22) last year (TSA news 2020).

The security of the aviation industry is relative to the times we live in and the level of threats we face. Back in the day smoking on the plane was the biggest risk, and security was appropriately conducted. After decades of hijackings and attacks, our security has evolved to meet it with escalation of force. No one likes inconvenience but if it’s that or our security I’ll take a little inconvenience.

Reference

Mines, A. How the Coronavirus Is Affecting American Jihadist Travelers. (2020, September 06). Retrieved September 08, 2020, from https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/airpor…

TSA in Review Feb 24 – April 22. (2020, April 27). Retrieved September 08, 2020, from https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2020/04/27/tsa-review-feb…

Trainer, P. (2017, March 21). How airport security has changed since 9/11: Skyscanner 2017. Retrieved September 08, 2020, from https://www.skyscanner.com/tips-and-inspiration/gu…

Response 2

AIRPORT SECURITY

Mark

This is a subject that I can discuss; however, I have to be careful about what I can and cannot say. I have worked for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP, since 2003, and for the past 15 years, in the airline community. People used to think that flying was safe, until the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001. On that day, the world, and especially the United States (U.S.), learned that airlines are very vulnerable to terrorism. Since that day, the U.S. has made drastic changes to airport security and the airline industry.

We all have heard of the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) because it became part of our travel history. Before the TSA, many of the airports had their security and had different policies that fell under the Department of Transportation (DOT), (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2018). Their job was to make sure that people did not bring weapons onto the plane, mainly firearms, using metal detectors. Remember the days when we could go to the gate to meet or say good-bye to our family? You could pass with barely being inspected. On September 11, that all changed, because airports hired and trained personnel differently, the hijackers were able to use those weaknesses to smuggle box cutters in their shoes. The TSA was created to consolidate all airport security inspections under one standard operating procedure, (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2018).

Why are you not allowed to bring water bottles past TSA? Its because in 2006, a terrorist named “Abdulla Ahmed Ali, a British citizen who had known affiliations with radical Islamists and terrorists” was planning to smuggle a bomb in a soda can (Rossen,2018). The intelligence agency was able to stop him prior to his actually smuggling the bomb. I remember that day because I was on leave from work, visiting my family in New Mexico, and I was called back to Houston, TX. As a CBP officer, I was part of the Anti-Terrorism Cargo Enforcement Team (AT-CET. It was our job to inspect the planes upon arrival and before departure.

Then in on November 02, 2015, a Russia bound passenger jetliner, Metrojet Flight 9268, was destroyed while in flight over Egypt, by a “can of pineapple soda was converted into the bomb… killing all 224 people on board,” (Schram and Sophia Rosenbaum, 2015). The ISIS terrorist had even taken a photo of it on October 31, 2015, and later sent the photo claiming responsibility, (Schram and Sophia Rosenbaum, 2015). The bomb was smuggled onto the plane, by an airline food service employee. He drove the food supply truck as part of his normal employment. Also, because the food trucks enter the tarmac so frequently, they are rarely inspected. Because of these two incidents, we as passengers can no longer take items larger than 4oz past TSA.

So back to the question, are we any safer? For the most part, yes, but let me ask you a few questions. I have always wondered how many of you use those elite super heavy pens? They are usually gifts and very expensive. Why can you take one of those on a flight, but not a pocketknife? Most people are law-abiding citizens. Pens like that are hollow stabbing devices. Airport security is not perfect, and they do their best; however, if a terrorist wanted to smuggle a bomb or a weapon, they will find a way to do it on the plane.

As to the second part of the discussion, where would I think are the weak points of the security in airports? That is easy, the front drop-off and pick-up areas and the check-in areas before TSA. Look at our SLP 1 assignment; we had to pick a location of a terrorist attack. I should have decided on the airport. Its the same concept. Put suicide bombers at various airline check areas, a few car bombs in the drop-off area, and a few in the pick-up area, and then have a few cars blocking the roads to the airport. Its instant chaos. The Toronto Pearson airport is a stacked airport, which means there are levels. Level 1 is the bus and hotel pick-up & drop-off area, level 2 is the passenger car pick area, and level 3 is the drop off location. If a large car bomb was placed in the bus area, it would take out all three levels.

Reference:

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2018, December 17). Transportation Security Administration. Retrieved September 04, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Transportation-Se…

Rossen, J. (2018, November 30). The Real Reason You Can’t Bring Water Bottles Through Airport Security. Retrieved September 04, 2020, from https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/565368/tsa-air…

Schram, J., & Rosenbaum, S. (2015, November 19). Bomb in soda can took down plane over Egypt, ISIS claims. Retrieved September 04, 2020, from https://nypost.com/2015/11/18/bomb-in-soda-can-too…

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Module 2 – Background

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS)

Required Reading

Bomb threat standoff card (2017). DHS. Retrieved from

Burkett, J. W. (2009). Command and control: Command and control of military forces in the homeland, Center for Army Lessons Learned Newsletter, 10(16). Retrieved from: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/rep… [Review Parallel Command and Duel-Status Command]

Department of Defense support to domestic incidents (2009). Center for Army Lessons Learned Newsletter,10(16), Retrieved from: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/rep…

Improvised explosive device (IED) safe standoff distance cheat sheet (N. D.). Homeland Security Digital Library. Retrieved from https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=440775

Mission of Department of Homeland Security (2013). Retrieved from: http://www.dhs.gov/our-mission

Summary of terrorism threat to the US Homeland (2019). National Terrorism Advisory System, DHS. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/ntas/alert…

Required Websites

Airport and Aviation Security, Homeland Security Today. https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/airpor…

Department of Homeland Security. http://www.dhs.gov/

National Counterterrorism Center. https://www.dni.gov/index.php/nctc-home

U. S. Northern Command. http://www.northcom.mil/Home.aspx

Required Video

Homeland Security Mobile Terrorist Screening Center (2010). Retrieved from