TSA threatens blogger

[FlyBoy2]

What a great month for the TSA. First, the TSA document about "Screening management Standard Operating Procedures" gets posted to the internet. And now the TSA is going after two bloggers that posted info about the new security procedures.

What is going on over there?

The fact that the TSA is going after these bloggers really makes me mad.

Well, I just had to vent.

Happy New Year everyone.

[theprez98]

Re: TSA threatens blogger

What a great month for the TSA. First, the TSA document about "Screening management Standard Operating Procedures" gets posted to the internet. And now the TSA is going after two bloggers that posted info about the new security procedures.

What is going on over there?

The fact that the TSA is going after these bloggers really makes me mad.

Well, I just had to vent.

Happy New Year everyone.

It sounded as if they're more concerned about who leaked the directive to the bloggers, more than the bloggers themselves. Still, the fact that the bloggers were told they weren't journalists is a bit disturbing, especially since Huffington Post and other bloggers have White House press credentials.

[xor]

Re: TSA threatens blogger

It sounded as if they're more concerned about who leaked the directive to the bloggers, more than the bloggers themselves. Still, the fact that the bloggers were told they weren't journalists is a bit disturbing, especially since Huffington Post and other bloggers have White House press credentials.

You mean I to can setup a website, start blogging, and get White House Press Credentials, Anderson Cooper eat your heart out.

Walter Cronkite is rolling over in his grave.

xor

[heisenbug]

Re: TSA threatens blogger

I don't see why some bloggers and even podcasters can't be considered "real" journalists. Who gave the TSA the power to determine who is a journalist and who is not?

[frank^2]

Re: TSA threatens blogger

My biggest concern about the TSA threatening the blogger isn't simply that the TSA actually felt the need to send armed guards to a guy who said things on the internet for chrissakes. It's not even that they apparently trashed his computer afterward. It's the fact that they used the No-Fly List as an intimidation tactic. This is a major red flag that shows the TSA needs to be either completely reformed or dismantled by the sheer fact that they have failed over and over to do their job, even in the wake of ridiculous procedures.

Maybe if we find a way to make the new TSA guidelines say "you are not allowed to hop on one leg while on the airplane at any given time" or something equally silly we can expose the utter absurdity of it all.

[renderman]

Re: TSA threatens blogger

Maybe if we find a way to make the new TSA guidelines say "you are not allowed to hop on one leg while on the airplane at any given time" or something equally silly we can expose the utter absurdity of it all.

as Bruce schnier said recently "why can't the solution to one of these attacks one day be to upgrade everyone to first class and give them free drinks"

[The Dark Tangent]

Re: TSA threatens blogger

Looks like sanity prevailed.

I'm guessing the TSA field guys went out without the upper management realizing what was going on. Once the SHTF the threats evaporated.

I just hope all these incidents trigger a total review of TSA operations and command chain. Oh, and an actual head of TSA would help.. it's been too long with nobody filling the top TSA spot.

[renderman]

Re: TSA threatens blogger

I just hope all these incidents trigger a total review of TSA operations and command chain. Oh, and an actual head of TSA would help.. it's been too long with nobody filling the top TSA spot.

Probably because no one would want it. I'm betting the job comes with a lovely shirt with a bullseye on it should anything go wrong.

I got the impression by the really pisspoor communication with the public immediately after the incident on the 25th that everyone in authority was on holidays (with luck, flying) and when reports came in, decisions fell to some third or fourth level underling who had no idea what to do, nor how to actually tell the public about the changes.

Too bad your influence doesn't go far enough to take a print out of the various recent threads here and beat the right people over the heads with them.

[theprez98]

Re: TSA threatens blogger

Oh, and an actual head of TSA would help.. it's been too long with nobody filling the top TSA spot.

Preferably one who hasn't run background checks to investigate people he knows!

If people haven't been following, the hold up to confirm the President's TSA head is mirred in some controversy.

[renderman]

Re: TSA threatens blogger

Preferably one who hasn't run background checks to investigate people he knows!

If people haven't been following, the hold up to confirm the President's TSA head is mirred in some controversy.

Yeah I read that. Not a comforting thing to have in the past of the potential head of an agency with alot of database access.

I think any head of the TSA should have two things required of them:

1) fly a regular commercial flight with multiple connections once a month as a private citizen. No ID flashing to bypass security or private jets. I want to see them sitting in cattle class with me enduring the same anal probing.

2) have an 'Arabic sounding' name, or a name that is on the no-fly or at least the selective screening list. This way, we can be sure that they understand the effects of their policies.

If either of those was a requirement, some major changes would occur.

[hexjunkie]

Re: TSA threatens blogger

Professional target with a ton of anal probing and the possibility to ride in coach to multiple lay overs... where do i sign up?

Perhaps this should be a policy for all Airline heads, executives, and TSA personnel. Perhaps then we wouldn't have 1 hour tarmac waits, no bathroom breaks for the final 3 hours of a flight, be able to check a bag for free (since we can't carry anything on the plane) and we'd be able to take more than one nights worth of shampoo and conditioner on a flight.

I'd endure it all for the next trip to DC18.. at least I won't have to fly to ShmooCon!