As an airport executive, this whole thing is a case of irresponsible passing the buck and the appropriate agency not taking responsibiity.

The TSA does not communicate or work well with others within their own department. A recent GAO report that found of all the agencies of the DHS the TSA and one other get the lowest marks in productivity and customer service.

This battle began when TSA, created prior to DHS, became manned by an inordinate number of fired airline employees. These people now considered themselves the cure all for poor airport security, when the fact was that the airline security caused the boxcutter hijackers on board.

Again, Airport Security is not a problem. Prior to 9/11 airline security failed because the carriers did not want to look worse then they were at the checkpoint and let many things go by so the customer would not complain.

If the customer complained, the media blames Airport Security that has been doing a great job protecting every inch of the airport except that last 36″ the passenger passes through the metal detector and X-Ray machines. This process was the responsibility of the air carrier and now is the TSA responsibility.

Further, the TSA is responsible for telling the airport what to do when asked regarding a security question, and local TSA management claims to be the final authority on how to handle an issue such as this.

The record should show that the airport asked the TSA the question and the TSA told them what to do. Also, if the TSA was instructed that the plane was cleared why did they not right the wrong-again they do not accept responsibility for errors they want to always blame someone else.

Thanks for allowing me to vent, and as a 25 year USAF veteran, 20 years in civilian aviation, a PhD in Organizational Leadership, an MBA, and a Masters in Aeronautical Science the fact stated can be referenced by going to the GAO web site and searching the many reports of Homeland Security, especially the TSA

georgej on October 2, 2007 at 6:49 PM

You would think by now that you would mind your own business. You don’t like being called out because you have expressed posts in the past that (a) wish for eradication of muslims, (b) wish for the imprisonment of all democrats and destruction of their headquarters, (c)encourage violent action against newscasters with whom you disagree.

You claim the moral authority card because your son is in uniform, yet want the very constitution he so bravely fights for to be tossed into the toilet like yesterday’s trash so you can fit the new constitution into a mockery of its former self.

Yes George, that is you. A pathetic little man angry at the world because you are a nobody, with only enough guts to man a keyboard and hurl insults and wish for the destruction of our democracy.

Having a moron like quote the founders is as laughable as it is sad.

“By your logic the libs in the towers deserved what they got.”

“…go home and leave us in peace. We seek not your council, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.” Samuel Adams

That’s when the shouting and hugging began…..

Passion is a component of patriotism, my friend. A necessary component.

infidel4life on October 2, 2007 at 1:36 PM

So wishing for the death of hundreds of thousands of fellow American citizens is patriotic. Guess you and I have different definitions.
By your logic the libs in the towers deserved what they got.

Clark AFB in the Pillipines was closed long ago. Back when the Dems wanted to dismantel the CIA when the cpld war ended, no more need, remember?

Alden Pyle on October 2, 2007 at 1:29 PM

Wrong. The Phillipine government wanted the US to pay 1 billion a year for “rent” to keep the Subic bay and Clark bases open. the US balked and then the volcano finished Clark off. Decision not to continue rent was made during Bush 1 admin. Cold war was not an issue.

Sorry, y’all.

:(

READ IT!!!

Remember that Cal-Berkeley is about 10 mins up the road. SF is a mere 20 mins via the Bay Bridge. Former Governor Jerry Brown’s been running Oakland as Mayor for quite some time (although I think they’ve a new fella in there). The Alameda Naval Air Station’s been mothballed. So has Mare Island and a few other military installations. Without the regular presence of men & women in uniform, folks in the Bay Area have clearly forgotten the protections afforded them as US Citizens to be who they want to be and **** who they want to **** are in no small part thanks to these very same men & women in uniform!

I suspect there will be a ‘Position Available’ ad placed in the Oakland Tribune shortly to replace the idiot who pulled this stunt. Probably a Cal grad anyhow, so no great loss.

“…special plans would be made to keep soldiers from setting foot in the airport lest they taint it with war cooties.”

PRICELESS!

And I’m wondering, too, where are the senators and representatives who should be howling voraciously about mistreating our heroic soldiers? Or is it only Rush who can be slandered and libeled on the floor of the senate?

Ok, that wasn’t a good analogy, since Oakland did do wrong, and Rush did not do wrong, but you know what I mean.

Oakland clearly knew what it was doing and was simply following in the tradion of San Francisco’s hatred of the military.

As always, great job Michelle! Nice interview.

Cities can have karma too. The San Francisco area sure has sewn a lot of bad karma against our armed forces lately. I hope they don’t find themselves in need of them any time soon.

But then our men and women in uniform are too professional to worry about how a city “feels” about them. The difference between a lib and a soldier is that a soldier will protect you with his life no matter who you voted for….

I’m another ex-pat, raised in the San Francisco Bay Area….it breaks my heart what’s happened to the quality of life and the pollution of too many people vs. what the environment can support.

Isn’t/Wasn’t your new AG a Jesuit? He prays for you while he screws you.

JiangxiDad on October 2, 2007 at 2:13 PM

Yes and not touching the rest. :-)

baldilocks on October 2, 2007 at 2:00 PM

Isn’t/Wasn’t your new AG a Jesuit? He prays for you while he screws you.

Did you know that Mexico’s PAN party is about to hold it’s political convention in LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA???

JiangxiDad on October 2, 2007 at 11:43 AM

Happened this past weekend.

Is not Jerry Brown an elected representative of the city of Oakland?

oldernslower on October 2, 2007 at 12:17 PM

Oakland’s mayor is now Ron V. Dellums–another noted Leftist.

Clark AFB in the Pillipines was closed long ago. Back when the Dems wanted to dismantel the CIA when the cold war ended, no more need, remember?

Alden Pyle on October 2, 2007 at 1:29 PM

Actually the closing of Clark was mostly due to the extensive damage to the base caused by the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991.

As for soldiers not being allowed in terminals, Alden Pyle, I’ve seen lots of soldiers when I travel out of Seatac; does it depend on the circumstances?

How convenient.

Bradky on October 2, 2007 at 12:35 PM

Passion is a component of patriotism, my friend. A necessary component.