For those who like to pontificate that seciruty is all *theater*......

[brentm77]

To me, the theater comments are always directed at the stuff that happens in front of us. I'm not sure I've ever read "theater" to describe what happens behind the scenes.

But...if you think about it, the "feel the outside of the bag, poke a stick in it or peer into it" bag check at Disney almost certainly would have found explosives inside of pressure cookers. The number of CMs at Disney who are constantly noticing things would have noticed backpacks sitting, unattended, on the ground.

What we might think of as nonsense actually might very well have caught things even before they entered the area, in regards to what happened in Boston.

I agree with you that the bag check may prevent an explosive type device as used in Boston. But, it leaves the door wide open for alternatives. An explosive vest, for example. Because the alternatives are so open, I still think it is more show than anything else. But, again, that isn't a complaint. It is likely the best balance between invading people's privacy and safety. And as another mentioned, it creates a choke point for screening by less obvious means.

You and others raise great points about there being visible and non-visible parts of security. I was referring to the visible part when I echoed the "theater" adjective used in the original post. Come to think of it, I probably should not have bit at the "theater" issue, as the article cited in the post was not referring to the visible security, but the behind the scenes stuff. I doubt many would claim that the behind the scenes stuff is theater, because there is little or no audience. But I didn't catch the nuance this morning.

I think it does bolster my point that the article does not support the argument that security is not theater, because it isn't even referring to an incident involving a portion of security that most people would criticize as theater or show. But, I have beaten this horse to death now.

As at least one person pointed out, the visible security is ripe for abuse by those carrying it out. I am glad to hear that it isn't the case in Disney's cruise terminal.

 

[truck1]

Having just finished a hazzardous materials technician course that includes terrorist incidents, I can say there are sensors out there that will pick up things that can harm and you would never know the sensors are there. The only way you would know is if
A some one was escorted out of a line to behind the scenes with a firm grasp on at least one arm
B you put the sensors in
C you know what to look for.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Having just finished a hazzardous materials technician course that includes terrorist incidents, I can say there are sensors out there that will pick up things that can harm and you would never know the sensors are there. The only way you would know is if
A some one was escorted out of a line to behind the scenes with a firm grasp on at least one arm
B you put the sensors in
C you know what to look for.

 

[Big Mo]

at an example of a failure as proof that security is "working."

 

[SapphireMind]

Security may have found tons of knives and guns, but most likely, those were not intended to hijack the plane. And guns and knives were illegal prior to the change to no liquids on a plane.

The biggest contributing factor to the "success" of the 9/11 hijackings were that prior to that, airline passengers were taught/conditioned that if they were quiet and didn't do anything, the hijacker would land the plane and negotiations would secure their freedom. Whether someone brought a knife/gun/bomb on the plane these days, the passengers would not sit idly by, because their teaching has changed. They no longer have anything to lose by rushing the hijacker.

You can choose to live a life of fear and put high security on everything, or you can accept that some things are out of your control and go with common sense security. USA seems to go with the former rather than the latter. The best way to stop terrorism is through peace and understanding and time. It's not an easy or clean answer, but you cannot win against terrorism by fighting and you can never end it through war.

 

[Ofinn]

For those who like to think security is all *theater or just a illusion*, here is a incident where is does show a little of the workings behind the scenes:


Suspicious package delays cruise ship at Florida port
Reuters – 15 hrs agoEmail0Share0Share0Print(Reuters) - A suspicious package found at the Port of Tampa, Florida on Thursday on a pallet that was to be loaded onto a cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises, was not a bomb, the sheriff's office said.

Two bomb-sniffing dogs found the parcel during a routine security check, said a spokeswoman for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Explosives experts investigated the package before saying it was harmless.

As a precaution, the sheriff's office evacuated the terminal building being used by Royal Caribbean to check in passengers sailing on its Jewel of the Seas.

(Reporting by Martinne Geller in New York; and David Adams in Miami. Editing by Maureen Bavdek, Kenneth Barry and Leslie Gevirtz)



Yes this incident is involving a cruise ship and it could be any cruise line, or it could be a theme park or sports event, and nothing is 100%, but it shows security measures in place and working!

It could just as easily been a real bomb!


AKK

The package was harmless. So what's your point? Could of been? Should have been?

 

[brianvdb]

Not all security is theatre... But we collectively pay a lot of money for security that IS theatre.

Is it just me, or is this thread getting pretty deep into a political discussion unrelated to DCL?

 

[MND]

Not true I am afraid. A few years ago I read a report that personal inspections and scanners caught 256 hand guns in carry on luggage on planes, not to mention HUNDREDS of knives!

Again like *theater*, saying *worthless is plainly wrong and *snarky* and insulting the folks working at that job.

AKK