MIA gets black Lab Retrievers to help screen passengers - Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com

MIA gets black Lab Retrievers to help screen passengers - Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.comhttp://www.miamiherald.com/2013/05/03/3379700/mia-gets-black-lab-retrievers.html

The use of dogs adds another layer in security - it is random and is a factor that terrorists have to include in their penetration plans - The basic question they have to ask themselves is: "Do we feel lucky today about this target?" 

Yuletide Secure and Safe Flying in the USA

      As you wait in line at crowded US airports remember the reason you are getting screened by the TSA.  Evil people try to hijack and blow up airliners, and the bad guys like to try their attempts around Christmas and New Year.  Think of Pan Am Flight 103 and the notorious "Underwear Bomber."   Those TSA screeners are working under great pressure as screening is no easy task.

       You may wonder and be frustrated  by how many children, grandmothers, invalids and holiday pies are subjected to pat-downs or frisking.  "What jerks, Grandma can't be a terrorist!"  Actually, Grandmas could be an unknowing dupe for a terrorist plot; and many terrorist groups gladly use children.  There was one case in on April 17, 1986 when a Palestinian terrorist Nezar Hindawi packed a bomb into the carry-on bag of his pregnant Irish fiance, Anne Mary Murphy. The bomb was found by a very alert El Al security agent at London Heathrow.

        Then again, even supposedly knowledgeable and skilled journalists will carry on and incite rants on travel blogs and the like about the TSA infringing on rights against unreasonable searches.  Those types are being irresponsible.  Whether they are searched by government personnel or by airline personnel a host of US laws, international conventions, ICAO standards and airline security management systems - not to mention common sense - require that reasonable measures be taken to keep weapons and explosives off of aircraft.  That is why US courts have consistently upheld that such searches - applied to everybody - are "reasonable." Of course the current whine and nonsensical assertion that the TSA "has never stopped a terrorist" is ludicrous and maintained by those unschooled in aviation security and intelligence and law enforcement tradecraft.  (Sort of like saying the NYPD has never stopped a burglary. Think about it.) Of course, you can't prove that the TSA never stopped an act that didn't happen...yet in a recent week TSA screeners discovered 32 loaded firearms that passengers "forgot" were in their hand luggage.  (As a Canadian Customs Officer once remarked to me, only somebody from the US would "forget" they had a weapon in their baggage or trunk of their vehicle.)

         These TSA screeners are doing their best to handle lots of people and make flight secure and safe.  Speaking of safety, with the nasty weather we're experiencing over the Twelve Days of Christmas, don't get too upset at your airline for canceling your flight or flights.  If you are traveling in the Northern USA in Winter you need to plan and be prepared for adverse weather....Fact of life:   Prudent and competent pilots know the limitations of their aircraft and themselves and do not fly in severe weather.  Of course, a big portion of this problem is the system of hubs and spokes resulting from airline deregulation and "consolidation" (mergers, less point to point flights and fewer choices --- and higher fares in many markets) that gets totally paralyzed by bad weather.  Just as is the case with TSA screening, your airline is having you endure delays or cancellations for safety reasons.

          Of course, if you'd like to travel without the screening hassle or the snow cancellations, I'd say take the train, like those of us in the Snow Belt used to do.  Unfortunately, we Americans created Amtrak and then have lost the political and economic will to make it more than a Third World system - when we need a system of systems as Germany, Italy, Japan and China have.  That is the subject of another blog entry. Stay tuned and Happy Yuletide and New Year.

Terrorism Tradecraft: Basic Knowledge for doing a Terrorism Threat Assessment

"Terrorism Tradecraft is republished with permission of Stratfor."   This item from the on-line strategic subscription-based intelligence group Stratfor is a digest of information that I used to teach in several courses on Homeland Security and Terrorism.  In the Aviation Security or AVSEC  realm, some of this theory, case studies and history are also treated in the excellent Aviation Security Courses that I am privileged to facilitate and instruct through the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Training and Development Institute. 

According to International Civil Aviation Law, threat assessments and risk analysis and aviation security measures in general are outlined in Annex 17 of the UN Agency International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).  National governments of signatory nations are required to provide security standards and governments share implementation of these standards through various authorities and organizations with airports and airlines - ultimately, however the airline is responsible for the safety and security of its passengers.   This fact on ultimate responsibility is the main reason on board jokes about security, hijacking or verbal disputes on rules with cabin crew are likely to have adverse consequences for unwary, ignorant or arrogant passengers.

Knowledge of Terrorism Tradecraft is also essential for those charged with protecting railroad systems - booth passenger and freight, cruise ships, public mass transit, ports, and increasingly hotels and resorts.   Part of my consulting is based on collaborating those so charged so that our means of travel will be safe,secure, and yes - comfortable.  Of course, you are part of that equation - you need to be aware of your surroundings and where you are going. 

I will be going over some of these issues in this blog, and of course, as a former travel agent, air charter employee, and government aviation, maritime and rail analyst will be offering my opinions on how to travel and fly right and how airlines especially can improve their customer service and their bottom line.  Stay tuned.

 

Read more: Terrorism Tradecraft | Stratfor

Flying Lessons: Mayday on Air France Flight to Israel

Flying Lessons: Mayday on Air France Flight to Israel: It is easy to imagine the terror of the 130 people on board Air France Flight 2240 on Wednesday when flying at 28,000 feet, some passengers...