Comments on: Walk through an airport with Bruce Schneier http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 08:59:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: odds http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1304509 odds Sun, 25 Dec 2011 22:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1304509 Just remember, Bush did NOT create this monstrosity.  He resisted.  Democrats came up with both the TSA and the Homeland Security Department.  It was only when he realized that Democrats could end up being perceived as the party that protects the homeland that he "embraced" the policy.  Here's just one source showing that the Democrats were the idiots who gave us the money-wasting, time-wasting, privacy-intruding bureaucracy. http://articles.cnn.com/2003-02-28/politics/homeland.security_1_first-responders-homeland-security-new-department?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS  Just remember, Bush did NOT create this monstrosity.  He resisted.  Democrats came up with both the TSA and the Homeland Security Department.  It was only when he realized that Democrats could end up being perceived as the party that protects the homeland that he “embraced” the policy.  Here’s just one source showing that the Democrats were the idiots who gave us the money-wasting, time-wasting, privacy-intruding bureaucracy.

http://articles.cnn.com/2003-02-28/politics/homeland.security_1_first-responders-homeland-security-new-department?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS 

]]> By: Alan Barclay http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1304342 Alan Barclay Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1304342 Terrorists aren't trying to kill people.  I know that's not the common wisdom but think about it for a minute. Terrorist are trying to make everyone's life miserable, so that we do whatever their political goals are. Being too effective at killing people is actually counterproductive, because we will make it that we put in too much resources into hunting them down.  So we will see enough attacks that we remember them, and they are in our mind, but not enough that they actually become a significant effect in our lives. Terrorists aren’t trying to kill people.  I know that’s not the common wisdom but think about it for a minute.

Terrorist are trying to make everyone’s life miserable, so that we do whatever their political goals are. Being too effective at killing people is actually counterproductive, because we will make it that we put in too much resources into hunting them down. 

So we will see enough attacks that we remember them, and they are in our mind, but not enough that they actually become a significant effect in our lives.

]]> By: ocker3 http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1304343 ocker3 Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1304343 Here in Australia, they randomly 'sniff' your entire exterior and carry-on luggage for explosives, not just your hands (and that's for minor domestic flights). Now that we have automated check-in, the boarding pass thing would probably work though. They also scan boarding passes at the gate before you board a flight, however a fake boarding pass could get you into the departure lounge area without having to show ID, lots of evil uses there. Ex-cops and terror experts have been saying for Years that better policing/intel work is the most effective way of preventing terror. Tracking materials and known bomb-makers, patterns of meeting/communication between known terrorists, close ties with moderates in minority groups (people with a vested interest in peace, etc), all work much better than last-mile stuff, as flashy as it is. Here in Australia, they randomly ‘sniff’ your entire exterior and carry-on luggage for explosives, not just your hands (and that’s for minor domestic flights). Now that we have automated check-in, the boarding pass thing would probably work though. They also scan boarding passes at the gate before you board a flight, however a fake boarding pass could get you into the departure lounge area without having to show ID, lots of evil uses there.

Ex-cops and terror experts have been saying for Years that better policing/intel work is the most effective way of preventing terror. Tracking materials and known bomb-makers, patterns of meeting/communication between known terrorists, close ties with moderates in minority groups (people with a vested interest in peace, etc), all work much better than last-mile stuff, as flashy as it is.

]]> By: ocker3 http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1304338 ocker3 Sat, 24 Dec 2011 23:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1304338 My brother in the US armed services used to say that when I said Clinton fought 'terror' more/better than Bush did. (apart from the clothing part...) My brother in the US armed services used to say that when I said Clinton fought ‘terror’ more/better than Bush did. (apart from the clothing part…)

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1304308 Antinous / Moderator Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1304308 <blockquote>Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone, commander of III Corps at Fort Hood, said on the day of the shooting that terrorism was not being ruled out, but preliminary evidence did not suggest that the shooting was terrorism.</blockquote>Oh, we're such wacky leftists here at Boing Boing. Look at the kind of crazy anti-US people that we listen to.

Lt. Gen. Robert W. Cone, commander of III Corps at Fort Hood, said on the day of the shooting that terrorism was not being ruled out, but preliminary evidence did not suggest that the shooting was terrorism.

Oh, we’re such wacky leftists here at Boing Boing. Look at the kind of crazy anti-US people that we listen to.

]]> By: Jonathan Roberts http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1304235 Jonathan Roberts Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1304235 It seems like a better reaction than the opposite to me, that post was made a day after the shooting and a lot was still very unclear about what the real details were. Having read most of the comments it seems to me that there was a good balance of views from people who were mainly trying to make sense of Malik's motives and possibly how they fit into the wider narrative of the war. It's too easy to grab at some obvious pattern when it fits nicely into a story we get told so often. It seems like a better reaction than the opposite to me, that post was made a day after the shooting and a lot was still very unclear about what the real details were. Having read most of the comments it seems to me that there was a good balance of views from people who were mainly trying to make sense of Malik’s motives and possibly how they fit into the wider narrative of the war. It’s too easy to grab at some obvious pattern when it fits nicely into a story we get told so often.

]]> By: alephxero http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1304230 alephxero Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1304230 Yes, how dare those bleeding heart terrorist apologists not immediately jump to a conclusion that had no solid evidence at the time. Yes, how dare those bleeding heart terrorist apologists not immediately jump to a conclusion that had no solid evidence at the time.

]]> By: Felton / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1304218 Felton / Moderator Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1304218 Wally, quit trying to pick a fight. Wally, quit trying to pick a fight.

]]> By: Wally Ballou http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1304212 Wally Ballou Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1304212 http://boingboing.net/2009/11/06/an-insiders-view-of.html has I think the best collection of "let's not jump to the conclusion that Islam had any part in his motivation" comments. http://boingboing.net/2009/11/06/an-insiders-view-of.html

has I think the best collection of “let’s not jump to the conclusion that Islam had any part in his motivation” comments.

]]> By: Jonathan Roberts http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1304198 Jonathan Roberts Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1304198 Let me guess... now I'm either on some government watch list, or anyone who likes the last comment is. Let me guess… now I’m either on some government watch list, or anyone who likes the last comment is.

]]> By: Jonathan Roberts http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1304192 Jonathan Roberts Sat, 24 Dec 2011 15:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1304192 I've always wondered why terrorists aren't more successful if they're always trying to attack us. Why even bother with secure areas when there are plenty of high concentrations of people that you can reach without walking through a scanner? Why put a bomb on a train when you could attack the tracks in some isolated area (like a bridge)? People steal and damage railway infrastructure all the time in the UK, causing delays and wasted money, but most cases can't be traced because of the logistical issues of policing that much space. Is there a good reason why terrorists should want to kill themselves in the process? (although they don't all kill themselves, so presumably there are other reasons). I don't know, maybe I'm the only one who looks at the terrorist plans that succeeded or failed, then first thinks "that is one sick person who planned that" before going on to think "that's a very inefficient way to do things. If I were that way inclined, I would probably...". I’ve always wondered why terrorists aren’t more successful if they’re always trying to attack us. Why even bother with secure areas when there are plenty of high concentrations of people that you can reach without walking through a scanner? Why put a bomb on a train when you could attack the tracks in some isolated area (like a bridge)? People steal and damage railway infrastructure all the time in the UK, causing delays and wasted money, but most cases can’t be traced because of the logistical issues of policing that much space. Is there a good reason why terrorists should want to kill themselves in the process? (although they don’t all kill themselves, so presumably there are other reasons). I don’t know, maybe I’m the only one who looks at the terrorist plans that succeeded or failed, then first thinks “that is one sick person who planned that” before going on to think “that’s a very inefficient way to do things. If I were that way inclined, I would probably…”.

]]> By: DrunkenOrangetree http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1304188 DrunkenOrangetree Sat, 24 Dec 2011 15:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1304188 Boingboing has a search function.  Why don't you provide a link to one of those threads in which this happened? Boingboing has a search function.  Why don’t you provide a link to one of those threads in which this happened?

]]> By: Wally Ballou http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1304186 Wally Ballou Sat, 24 Dec 2011 15:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1304186 <i>Islamic terrorists have killed just 17 people on American soil, all but four of them victims of an army major turned fanatic who shot fellow soldiers in a rampage at Fort Hood.</i> Most boingers would beg to differ.  If you go back and check the coverage here of Fort Hood at the time it happened, you'll find that BB bent so far backward to avoid calling the shooter an "Islamic terrorist" that heads almost dented the floor. Islamic terrorists have killed just 17 people on American soil, all but four of them victims of an army major turned fanatic who shot fellow soldiers in a rampage at Fort Hood.

Most boingers would beg to differ.  If you go back and check the coverage here of Fort Hood at the time it happened, you’ll find that BB bent so far backward to avoid calling the shooter an “Islamic terrorist” that heads almost dented the floor.

]]> By: SedanChair http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1304046 SedanChair Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1304046 Do scanners even function in Bruce Schneier's presence? Do scanners even function in Bruce Schneier’s presence?

]]> By: Ian Whitehouse http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1304013 Ian Whitehouse Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1304013 I applaud Charles Mann's comments. If the intention of the 9/11 bombers was to change and impact everyone's life, then they have succeeded. Without taking anything away from the immediate tragedy and respecting those innocents killed, I've often felt the real 'attack' was in the days following 9/11. Never forget what happened but allowing it to change our lives is giving breath and life to the actions of the terrorist. The attack itself was horrendous, there is no denying that, but, keep it in perspective. Terrorism as a feature of asymmetric warfare which, is a fancy way of saying, your enemy has no resources, weapons and is not perceived as a threat. To provide the terrorist with the profile and fear he demands is their ambition. By all means, instigate plans and methods to deny them the opportunity to repeat their attack but those plans must not change your life to such an extent that you are constantly reminded of the threat of terrorism. The real defeat for a terrorist is to be ignored and forgotten. I applaud Charles Mann’s comments. If the intention of the 9/11 bombers was to change and impact everyone’s life, then they have succeeded. Without taking anything away from the immediate tragedy and respecting those innocents killed, I’ve often felt the real ‘attack’ was in the days following 9/11. Never forget what happened but allowing it to change our lives is giving breath and life to the actions of the terrorist. The attack itself was horrendous, there is no denying that, but, keep it in perspective.
Terrorism as a feature of asymmetric warfare which, is a fancy way of saying, your enemy has no resources, weapons and is not perceived as a threat. To provide the terrorist with the profile and fear he demands is their ambition. By all means, instigate plans and methods to deny them the opportunity to repeat their attack but those plans must not change your life to such an extent that you are constantly reminded of the threat of terrorism. The real defeat for a terrorist is to be ignored and forgotten.

]]> By: Incipient Madness http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1303992 Incipient Madness Sat, 24 Dec 2011 01:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1303992  Not appointing Schneier was my first disappointment with the Obama Administration.  Not appointing Schneier was my first disappointment with the Obama Administration.

]]> By: Ramone http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1303893 Ramone Fri, 23 Dec 2011 23:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1303893 WELL Mr. Schneier, if you're such a smarty pants maybe YOU should be DHS Chief! /no seriously, he should be Chief, the man actually knows WTF he's talking 'bout. WELL Mr. Schneier, if you’re such a smarty pants maybe YOU should be DHS Chief!

/no seriously, he should be Chief, the man actually knows WTF he’s talking ’bout.

]]> By: Noctilucent Studios http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1303703 Noctilucent Studios Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1303703 and his good buddy Michael Chertoff profited handsomely from it. Amongst others. and his good buddy Michael Chertoff profited handsomely from it. Amongst others.

]]> By: The Chemist http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1303675 The Chemist Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1303675 I ♥ Bruce Schneier. That is all. I ♥ Bruce Schneier.

That is all.

]]> By: Guest http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1303658 Guest Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1303658 It's not a security system. It's a very expensive public works program. With nude scanning. It’s not a security system. It’s a very expensive public works program. With nude scanning.

]]> By: nixiebunny http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1303640 nixiebunny Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1303640 My thoughts exactly. After the TSA extensively searched my entire family because I was wearing a video coat with wires on it, they blithely handed back to me my eight big LiPo battery packs with the special Chinese plugs that allow you to plug two of them into each other to create a fine lithium fire. I mean, why bother inspecting us at all if they're going to let us bring incendiary devices on board? My thoughts exactly. After the TSA extensively searched my entire family because I was wearing a video coat with wires on it, they blithely handed back to me my eight big LiPo battery packs with the special Chinese plugs that allow you to plug two of them into each other to create a fine lithium fire.

I mean, why bother inspecting us at all if they’re going to let us bring incendiary devices on board?

]]> By: Mark_Frauenfelder http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1303625 Mark_Frauenfelder Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1303625 The TSA will respond to this by saying, "If you knew what we knew, you wouldn't complain. You have no choice other than to trust us. Now kindly remove your clothing and bend over." The TSA will respond to this by saying, “If you knew what we knew, you wouldn’t complain. You have no choice other than to trust us. Now kindly remove your clothing and bend over.”

]]> By: eyebeam http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1303626 eyebeam Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1303626 The TSA was George W. Bush's jobs program, nothing more. The TSA was George W. Bush’s jobs program, nothing more.

]]> By: Jim Saul http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1303623 Jim Saul Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1303623 Well, someone has to pay for the $100,000 American-flag belt buckle encrusted with rubies, sapphires and diamonds that marks the true patriot. Homeland Security contracting pays well. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/27/nyregion/27fraud.html?ref=us Well, someone has to pay for the $100,000 American-flag belt buckle encrusted with rubies, sapphires and diamonds that marks the true patriot. Homeland Security contracting pays well.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/27/nyregion/27fraud.html?ref=us

]]> By: ǝɔʎoſ ʇʇɐW http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1303604 ǝɔʎoſ ʇʇɐW Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1303604 Yeah, but I still like telling folks my hardware projects have been featured on boingboing AND the TSA blog. Yeah, but I still like telling folks my hardware projects have been featured on boingboing AND the TSA blog.

]]> By: ComradeQuestions http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1303602 ComradeQuestions Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1303602 Who do you think invented text messaging? Who do you think invented text messaging?

]]> By: Roy Trumbull http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1303600 Roy Trumbull Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1303600 Always want to intrust the important stuff like quality control and security to those barely making minimum wage. Recall all the big bucks spent on security at Los Alamos during the WWII A-bomb project only to find 3 Russian spies on the payroll. Makes you wonder how many terrorists are working as baggage handlers. Only screening they received was how little they would be willing to work for. Always want to intrust the important stuff like quality control and security to those barely making minimum wage. Recall all the big bucks spent on security at Los Alamos during the WWII A-bomb project only to find 3 Russian spies on the payroll. Makes you wonder how many terrorists are working as baggage handlers. Only screening they received was how little they would be willing to work for.

]]> By: CLamb http://boingboing.net/2011/12/23/walk-through-an-airport-with-b.html#comment-1303597 CLamb Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=135649#comment-1303597 Sounds like terrorists should be teaching deer to jump through the windshields of strategic vehicles.   Hmmm.   Has there been an increase in deer collisions since 9/11/01? Sounds like terrorists should be teaching deer to jump through the windshields of strategic vehicles.   Hmmm.   Has there been an increase in deer collisions since 9/11/01?

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