Patterico's Pontifications

4/1/2008

Airport Security Methods Work in Orlando

Filed under: Air Security — DRJ @ 6:03 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

Today at the Orlando FL airport, airport security detained a passenger based on suspicious behavior and discovered bomb materials in his bags:

“A man behavior specialists spotted acting suspiciously was detained after components used to make pipe bombs were found in his luggage at Orlando International Airport.

Officials said agents noticed something about the man’s body language that prompted officers to move in near the Virgin Atlantic and Jamaica Airlines ticket counters.”

A witness described his behavior as “crazy” and “wacko,” and that he was rocking.

Video from Orlando’s Local6.com is here and there are several related reports at the links.

— DRJ

15 Responses to “Airport Security Methods Work in Orlando”

  1. A witness described his behavior as “crazy” and “wacko,” and that he was rocking.

    Good thing those “behavior specialists” were on the ball if all the witness saw were those perfectly normal, non-suspicious behaviors we all routinely engage in while waiting to board an airline flight. Seriously, how hard is it to single out a guy like that for a little extra attention? I particularly love the, “…something about the man’s body language…” part where they try to give the impression of roving FBI profilers conducting terminal-wide security sweeps, ready to pounce if the left eyebrow twitches as the man looks to the right.

    Sorry for the rant, but aren’t what they really saying is that if the man had been able to “look normal” he would have been able to board with his luggage? This is supposed to reassure travelers? I’m glad I’ll never have to board another airplane in my life.

    Stashiu3 (c8e98a)

  2. I agree with Stashiu3. Most of this security crap is just song-and-dance. Airlines know they can’t make an airline completely safe because too many people have access, so we just wait in line and give up our nail clippers to feel safe.

    Still, at least they’re capable of catching the random obviously-insane pipe-bomber. Tax dollars hard at work.

    Russell (5ecf4a)

  3. yeah, but what about the nipple rings? inquiring minds want to know more about the incident the other day when tsa agents forced a woman to remove her nipple rings with a pair of pliers, and the specific threat level of the rings and the tits themselves; green, yellow, orange or red?

    assistant devil's advocate (9cb962)

  4. She should have gotten the more expensive non-ferrous rings instead of the cheap, stainless steel ones.

    nk (34c5da)

  5. ada,

    That post is completely worthless… unless you have photos. I mean, how are we supposed to answer your questions without all the “evidence”? Please remember that this audience is all about the rational evaluation of firm (heh) data.
    😉

    Russell,

    It’s not possible to make airplanes completely safe, but they can do much better. The majority of the traveling public doesn’t want the inconvenience and the airlines don’t want to lose the revenue. The Israeli model of security at Ben Gurion is very good, but they use *gasp* profiling as part of their security screening. That just wouldn’t (pun intended) fly here. I would rather be inconvenienced than endangered, so I don’t fly.

    Stashiu3 (c8e98a)

  6. The TSA-Nipple Ring incident was in Lubbock and I did not post on it for two reasons: It was Texas news and everyone gets more then enough of that here already, and the complainant hired Gloria Allred so the case will get its share of attention.

    DRJ (a431ca)

  7. here’s your pic of the woman in question, mandi hamlin, and her, uh, fetching attorney gloria allred (here gloria, fetch, atta girl!)

    assistant devil's advocate (9cb962)

  8. Gloria Allred…
    Yeh, Super-Glo worked most of the L.A. talk-radio stations the last few days.
    A little of her sure goes a long way.

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  9. I had to remove the little leather skinned shoes from my 9 month old this week when I flew from LA to DC to run them through the scanner at the security checkpoint. At what point does this whole charade get called out for what it is, one big joke? El Al does real screening, TSA is welfare for idiots who cant get real security jobs.

    gabriel (180095)

  10. I had to remove the little leather skinned shoes from my 9 month old this week when I flew from LA to DC to run them through the scanner at the security checkpoint.

    Make sure to dress him in the official “Islamic Rage Boy” t-shirt next time… they’ll pass him right through.

    Stashiu3 (c8e98a)

  11. Personally, I cannot imagine attaching anything to my body that would require pliers to remove.

    PatAZ (56a0a8)

  12. “Thousands Standing Around” is the kindest thing I’ve heard them called recently.

    htom (412a17)

  13. A witness described his behavior as “crazy” and “wacko,” and that he was rocking.

    Hey, you know, dude. When the bomber’s a-rockin’…

    PCachu (e072b7)

  14. A man behavior specialists spotted acting suspiciously was detained after components used to make pipe bombs were found in his luggage

    Um, they needed a specialist to make a decision _after_ they found bomb parts?

    Is it me, or does the behavioural specialist seem a mite superfluous in this scenario?

    Perhaps that’s just awkwardly phrased…

    fishbane (5bd9d1)

  15. A witness described his behavior as “crazy” and “wacko,” and that he was rocking.

    It could have been Eddie Vedder!

    L.N. Smithee (e1f2bf)


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