The TSA’s Christmas Day security directive, following the Northwest flight 253 terrorism incident, with its prohibitions against passengers roaming aircraft aisles or placing blankets in their laps during a flight’s approach, was a short-term response to an emergency situation and some of its elements were widely criticized.
But, starting Jan. 4, the TSA has dug in with “long-term, sustainable security measures,” which alter the flavor of the air-traveler experience for flights inbound to the U.S. for the forseeable future.
Some of the Christmas Day mandates about in-flight prohibitions, which drew such scorn, are dropped, but remain optional prohibitions at the discretion of the airlines and pilots.
Under the new rules for U.S. and international airlines in-bound to the U.S., the most rigorous focus is reserved for travelers who are flying from or through countries such as Yemen, Nigeria, Pakistan, Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria. Namely countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism or “countries of interest.”
All of these travelers are slated to undergo “enhanced screening,” which means full body pat-downs, physical inspection of their property, and vetting by advanced explosive detection or advanced imaging technologies [such as whole-body imaging] in airports where they are available.
The stringent screening of these travelers who traverse so-called terrorist states or countries of interest applies only to current itineraries. In other words, if a traveler has Pakistan stamped in his or her passport from a 2006 trip, in theory there is no mandate that this traveler be subject to the most rigorous screening.
But, in contast to the period from Christmas until now, when all travelers on flights inbound to the U.S. were supposed to get pat-downs and have their property and carry-ons inspected, under the new rules only a majority of travelers — not all — will be subject to “enhanced screening” techniques.
However, for the majority of travelers, it appears that high-tech screening devices, when available, will be much more part of the norm.
In sum, it appears that risk-management is at the heart of the new TSA rules.
The most stringent focus is on travelers from countries that the U.S. views as the highest risk.
And, what this all amounts to is that the new rules appear to be somewhat less all-encompassing than those imposed Christmas Day, but are much more imposing than the rules in effect before suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab boarded the Northwest flight in Schiphol Airport.
Without a doubt, the travel experience has once again changed for the forseeable future.
It remains to be seen how the U.S. will beef up security on domestic or outbound flights as these new rules apply only to in-bound flights.
On the domestic front, travelers may see increased law enforcement presence, but there aren’t major security changes as yet in place for U.S. originating flights.
On a side note, the TSA has indeed updated its website, in contast to the lack of information there about the new rules earlier today, with this statement. Still, not much detail there.
TSA’s list looks more like a simple minded political statement than a serious effort to assure our security. Just where did the latest threat originate from?
Most absurd is the inclusion of Cuba. The Cubans have as much aversion to airborne terrorism as we do.
They lost a plane containing their fencing team. The terrorist responsible for planting the bomb, Posada Cariles, has never been punished and is lionized by politicians in Miami.
John McAuliff
Fund for Reconciliation and Development
John: Yes, putting Cuba on the list may be questionable. Is China on the list? I’m not sure. China deals with Iran, which is on the list as a state sponsor of terrorism. etc. etc.
Dennis/John: China has billions of dollars of trade with the US, unlike the old Axis of Evil, which did not. Would the US seek some diplomatic frisson with China over this? Hummmm…
The principal terrorist threats to Cuba have long been, and still are, based in and protected by the USA. And the USA has arrested and imprisoned for life Cuban counter-terrorist investigators who tried to monitor USA-based terrorists plotting against Cuban targets:
http://www.freethefive.org/whoarethefive.htm
Kevin: Good point. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia is on the list. They have a few shekels, a few barrels of oil that captures the U.S.’s attention, and Saudi Arabia is a key U.S. ally in the region. One of the previous security directives, the one issued Dec. 25, exempted heads of state and their families from the screening procedures. I wonder if the entire royal family in Saudi Arabia gets a pass this time:)