The Transportation Security Administration exists. The TSA has a blog at blog.tsa.gov. The stated purpose of the blog is to “facilitate an ongoing dialogue on innovations in security, technology and the checkpoint screening process.”
The demonstrated purpose of said blog is for the TSA to congratulate itself on its detection of contraband, and belittle or ignore those who criticize it. Dialogue requires two parties. A blog is a dialogue when both parties engage in a back-and-forth regarding an issue. Not when one dispenses their point of view and does not respond to criticism of it. At least the TSA allows comments on their blog.
In their latest, “Alleged Mistreatment of Passenger who is Deaf at Louisville,” they once again insist that they have zero tolerance for discrimination and they allegedly take allegations of misconduct seriously.
Police departments have internal affairs divisions, which go by a variety of names. Several law enforcement agencies have civilian review boards. The TSA has an Office of Inspection, and there is the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security. However, the Inspector General‘s office is under its own investigation by the FBI and DOJ over allegations of allegedly falsified reports. The TSA’s internal office has been accused of allegedly failing to investigate these issues.
Finally, even if these organizations are investigating, the results are not for public use, as to show the TSA’s faults would allegedly violate national security, and any evidence thereof is allegedly designated as Sensitive Security Information.
So, what do we end up with…an organization that has an incentive to lie to the public, can deflect any criticism under national security grounds, and seems untouchable. It frustrates us to no end, which is why we keep writing about it. It seems like nothing short of Congress might be able to unravel the TSA and make it accountable to someone for its own actions.
By the way, the TSA found some weapons and stuff…and once again, not a single item that couldn’t have been discovered under pre-9/11 standards. Blogger Bob, where are those innovations you want to talk about?
Related articles
TSA fires Newark workers, says some slept on job(travel.usatoday.com)
TSA to fire 7 workers in bribery probe(travel.usatoday.com)
Backlash Against TSA for Strip-Searching an 85-Year Old Grandmother(blogs.lawyers.com)
A year after court order, TSA still fails to comply with airport body scanner ruling(theverge.com)
Petition Calls On White House To Require TSA To Seek Public Comment On Full-Body Scanners(consumerist.com)
Op-ed: TSA should follow the law(arstechnica.com)
