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The TSA wants to be everywhere in 2013 - here's why we shouldn't let it

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Re: The TSA wants to be everywhere in 2013 - here's why we shouldn't let it

#5
After an event I was at was targeted to be blown up, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Portland_car_bomb_plot) I have changed my views on anti-terrorist teams at events and mass-gatherings.

I do find it silly, however, that these teams are supposedly a devision of the "Transit Security Administration".

Re: The TSA wants to be everywhere in 2013 - here's why we shouldn't let it

#7

After an event I was at was targeted to be blown up, ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Portland_car_bomb_plot ) I have changed my views on anti-terrorist teams at events and mass-gatherings. I do find it silly, however, that these teams are supposedly a devision of the "Transit Security Administration".

    targeted to be blown up
Mainly by the FBI, based on that wikipedia article.

FBI: Hey, do you want to blow something up?

Terrorist: OK

FBI: Here's a bomb, go blow something up.

Terrorist: OK

[click]

FBI: You're under arrest!

Sure, the guy committed a crime, but was I wouldn't say the event was "targeted to be blown up". It was a sting operation. A small probability threat was amplified by the FBI for the purpose of making a case. Does that justify TSA goons everywhere? The same ones that won't let you bring your bottle of Coke on an airplane?

Governments love to use "larger than life" enemies to justify a disproportionate invasion of liberty. It used to be Communists, now it's Terrorists.

Re: The TSA wants to be everywhere in 2013 - here's why we shouldn't let it

#8

After an event I was at was targeted to be blown up, ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Portland_car_bomb_plot ) I have changed my views on anti-terrorist teams at events and mass-gatherings. I do find it silly, however, that these teams are supposedly a devision of the "Transit Security Administration".

You shouldn't change your assessment of the risks just because you almost got unlucky. It's like suddenly deciding that lottery tickets are a good investment just because you know someone who won.

Re: The TSA wants to be everywhere in 2013 - here's why we shouldn't let it

#9
post #7

After an event I was at was targeted to be blown up, ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Portland_car_bomb_plot ) I have changed my views on anti-terrorist teams at events and mass-gatherings. I do find it silly, however, that these teams are supposedly a devision of the "Transit Security Administration".

targeted to be blown up Mainly by the FBI, based on that wikipedia article. FBI: Hey, do you want to blow something up? Terrorist: OK FBI: Here's a bomb, go blow something up. Terrorist: OK [click] FBI: You're under arrest! Sure, the guy committed a crime, but was I wouldn't say the event was "targeted to be blown up". It was a sting operation. A small probability threat was amplified by the FBI for the purpose of ma…

this happens way more than people (care to?) notice

Re: The TSA wants to be everywhere in 2013 - here's why we shouldn't let it

#10
The broad and vague ruling that enables the TSA to do anything they want in airports[0] can (and will) be applied to just about any public event. It's probably just a matter of a few years or so before the TSA is searching us at virtually all public gatherings. And there isn't a damn thing we can do about it.

[0] http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2010/11/20/how-...

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