“The Path To 9/11″ Part 2
By: Pam On: Sep/11/06 - 9 Comments
After watching it and taking some calls, the concensus was that we need to get tougher at the airports and we need to start screening people and bags. I guess it’s time to risk litigation rather than lives. We also need to tear the walls down that were built over the years, within the intelligence communities. Somewhere along the way, they became competitors rather than team mates! Overall, It was very distressing to know that we enabled this to happen.
September 12, 2006 - 10:04 AM on September 12th, 2006
I think American technology will be the weapon that ultimately “defeats” the global terror threat.
I mean, there will always be terrorism – we can never fully “get rid” of it -but I’m hoping for the day when our bags and our bodies are scanned at airports and public transportation sites with “Total Recall”-like x-ray machines that scan for hidden and explosive objects.
When we have the technology to scan cars and their occupants, scan cargo holds and the like, we’ll be able to prevent attacks before they occur.
September 12, 2006 - 11:03 AM on September 12th, 2006
1- Agreed, but don’t forget that there has only ever been one hijacking of an El-Al aircraft (the Israeli state airline) and that was in 1968. In 1970 they implemented some very practical common sense screening procedures and it’s never happened again.
As an engineer, you’d think I’d be all up into the “Total Recall” like security measures. If anything, I think being this close to technology has taught me how incredibly fallible it is. There is nothing, and I truly mean NOTHING built by human hands that cannot fail in a way that we never would have expected. I’ve seen it happen first hand.
A corollary to that: Anything built by human hands can be used in a way that the designer never even imagined, both for profound good and for unimaginable evil.
September 12, 2006 - 11:27 AM on September 12th, 2006
Fascinating screening procedures!
I agree that there are issues with technology, but I don’t think that should stop the advancement and placement of super-screening machines (were they to be invented). The current status quo is unacceptable, and I think that passengers would be open to less invasive, but more “reliable” pre-flight/pub.transportation screening if it helped lay to rest some of their fears.
September 12, 2006 - 11:44 AM on September 12th, 2006
Notice that El Al’s screening procedures include (gasp!) PROFILING!!!
September 12, 2006 - 11:46 AM on September 12th, 2006
#3 problems with the technology. Kind of like the missile defense system. But that shouldn’t stop it either, right?
September 12, 2006 - 12:11 PM on September 12th, 2006
Risk management, Robert.
The odds of an ICBM missile attack on the mainland are so small, or at least much smaller than a plane being hijacked.
We’d be better off directing our efforts and funding at a problem that is much more likely to occur than not. A missle defense system is a waste of money. Better airport screening is NOT a waste of money.
——
Regarding profiling, I would not agree with that in airports here in the states. I merely said that El Al’s screening procedures were interesting; I didn’t say whether or not I support each and every one of them…
September 12, 2006 - 01:57 PM on September 12th, 2006
It only takes one missile to ruin your whole day. A missile defense system likely couldn’t catch every missile in a massive attack, but one or two rogues (which is what the terrorists will eventually acquire). Yup.
Neglecting that reality is national suicide.
September 12, 2006 - 02:15 PM on September 12th, 2006
I totally understand what you’re saying Robert, and I don’t oppose a defense system per se, I just think it’s a relatively low priority when compared to other risks our nation faces…like hijackings, car bombings and port security.
We only have so much money to spend on these things, let’s keep our feet on the ground and our heads out of the clouds as best as possible…