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As
a frequent traveler who is also a travel journalist, I'm constantly
on the lookout for a good story. And there are plenty. However,
among the wide range of tales to be told, the one that has remained
paramount is airport security.
9/11
was able to happen, in large part, to the poor security that was
in place at our airports. Or rather, wasn't in place. Sadly,
it took an event as enormous as the Twin Towers and 3,000 human
beings to be blown into oblivion before we woke up and smelled
the jet fuel. This was our new reality.
Since
then, tighter security measures have been installed at airports
across America. The FBI spent hundreds of hours interviewing thousands
of applicants for the new Transportation Security Administration
(TSA) positions. Only the sharpest and most alert would make the
cut. Homeland security was born.
These
are the men and woman you now see at airport security, overseeing
counter agents, and checking your government-issued ID at every
turn. They wear white shirts that proudly boast the TSA insignia.
In
their first year, airport security was very tight. And while a
nuisance for those of us who travel frequently, we were happy
to oblige because 9/11 was a dose of reality that didn't need
repeating in order to learn our lesson. Or so we thought.
The
two-year anniversary of 9/11 is upon us. There will be TV specials
and memorials honoring those who paid the ultimate price for America's
complacency. But memorials are not enough. Consistency and persistence
will keep us safe, not TV specials. After all, wasn't it Al Qaeda's
consistency and persistence that gave them victory on our soil
in the first place?
Over
this summer, I began to notice a change in TSA agents at airports
across the nation. There has been more smiling, chatter, joking,
idle gossip, flirting, and lots of inattention. Let me be clear.
It's not all TSA agents, not even the majority, but enough
to give terrorists the weak links they seek for their next plan
of action.
History
has shown that terrorists wait patiently until our guard is down
before launching a strike. During that time they canvas our airports,
seaports, and other venues for weak spots. Forgive the cliché,
but aren't we only as strong as our weakest link? If I were a
terrorist I'd find delight in what is beginning to happen at some
American airports.
On
a recent trip through the new $2.3 billion McNamara Terminal of
the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, I was shocked to find Northwest
counter agents laughing it up with TSA agents, barely noticing
the customers they were serving. At the TSA-secured luggage check-in,
four agents were gabbing and laughing in a group while a line
of passengers waited. And finally, as I walked through security
I found three TSA agents huddled at the end of the conveyer belt
cajoling and backslapping. I slipped by with barely a notice.
This
complacency scared the hell out of me. Have we learned nothing?
How quickly we forget. How many terrorist attacks do we need on
American soil to keep Americans vigilant?
While
TSA agents are not expected to be superhuman, it is their responsibility
to keep their links in the chain of protection strong.
I
reported my observations to the nearby TSA supervisors on duty.
One quickly ran over to the small group to address the problem.
Is this too little too late? Why aren't TSA supervisors noticing
this loosening of lips before passengers do?
Familiarity
and comfort levels amongst TSA agents seem to be replacing their
first obligation to protect the public with forging relationships
in the public arena. Are we back to square one? Wasn't it this
lackadaisical attitude that let terrorists onto our planes in
the first place?
We're
all in this together. We are all willing to jump out of our seat
at 35,000 feet to subdue some seedy character with sinister intentions.
Let's not wait until it gets that far. Vigilance must start on
the ground.
As
you travel through airports, observe the security protocols to
ensure your safety is protected. Watch those who are watching
you. If you see a problem, report it. TSA supervisors are usually
nearby and are very receptive to your help. Just ask for a TSA
supervisor and report the issue. They'll handle the discipline.
As
you walk to your gate, ponder the reality that your few minutes
of involvement strengthened the chain and conceivably saved thousands
of lives.
The
tool on which terrorists breed and succeed is our complacency.
If they have their way they'll see to it that every one of us
dies. Please, remain vigilant.
To
report a problem to TSA or get more information,call 1-866-289-9673
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