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I’m publishing this video because I want the world to know how much danger the American
Transportation Security Administration is putting all us all in with their haste to
deploy the expensive, invasive nude body scanner program. When the machines came out, we were
told that the invasion on our privacy, doses of radiation, and trashing of our Constitution
were necessary because the old metal detectors weren’t good enough. That “non-metallic
explosives” were a threat, even though no one has boarded a plane in the US with any
type of explosive in nearly 40 years. But while America was testing these devices, Rafi
Sela, who ran security for Ben Gurion airport in Israel, which is known for being one of
the most secure airports in the world, was quoted saying he could “overcome the body
scanners with enough explosives to take down a Boeing 747,” and Ben Gurion therefore
refused to buy scanners. The US ignored this warning, and Mr. Sela never publicly explained
his statement. But it stuck with me.
As a scientist, engineer, and frequent traveler, as well as the first person to sue the TSA
when they rolled out the scanners as primary in Nov. 2010, I studied and learned about
both kinds of scanners currently in use by the TSA. Here are several images produced
by TSA nude body scanners. You’ll see that the search victim is drawn with light colors
and placed on a black background in both images. In these samples, the individuals are concealing
metallic objects that you can see as a black shape on their light figure. Again that’s
light figure, black background, and BLACK threat items. Yes that’s right, if you have
a metallic object on your side, it will be the same color as the background and therefore
completely invisible to both visual and automated inspection.
It can’t possibly be that easy to beat the TSA’s billion dollar fleet of nude body
scanners, right? The TSA can’t be that stupid, can they?
Unfortunately, they can, and they are. To put it to the test, I bought a sewing kit
from the dollar store, broke out my 8th grade home ec skills, and sewed a pocket directly
on the side of a shirt. Then I took a random metallic object, in this case a heavy metal
carrying case that would easily alarm any of the “old” metal detectors, and walked
through a backscatter x-ray at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. On video, of course.
While I’m not about to win any videography awards for my hidden camera footage, you can
watch as I walk through the security line with the metal object in my new side pocket.
My camera gets placed on the conveyer belt and goes through its own x-ray, and when it
comes out, I’m through, and the object never left my pocket.
Maybe a fluke? Ok, let’s try again at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport through one of the TSA’s
newest machines: a millimeter wave scanner with automated threat detection built-in.
With the metallic object in my side pocket, I enter the security line, my device goes
through its own x-ray, I pass through, and exit with the object without any complaints
from the TSA.
While I carried the metal case empty, by one with mal-intent, it could easily have been
filled with razor blades, explosives, or one of Charlie Sheen’s infamous 7 gram rocks
of ***. With a bigger pocket, perhaps sewn on the inside of the shirt, even a firearm
could get through. It’s important to note that any metal object of any size can use
this technique. …and I don’t urge you to try to bring contraband through security,
as the nude body scanners often have false positives: so while the metal on your side
might get through, a button on your shirt or a sweaty armpit might “look suspicious”
and earn you a pat down anyway.
Now, I’m sure the TSA will accuse me of aiding the terrorists by releasing this video,
but it’s beyond belief that the terrorists haven’t already figured this out and are
already plotting to use this against us. It’s also beyond belief that the TSA did not already
know everything I just told you, and arrogantly decided to disregard our safety: anything
to force Americans to give up our liberty to the federal government and our tax dollars
to companies that are in bed with that government. The nude body scanner program is nothing but
a giant fraud, which should come as no surprise after the Fast & Furious scandal that sent
thousands of guns to Mexican drug cartels and cost a Customs and Border Patrol agent
his life. THIS is a disgrace. So let’s fix this problem — now — before the terrorists
take this opportunity to hurt us: the TSA must immediately end the nude body scanner
program, and return to the tried-and-true metal detectors that actually work, and work
without invading our privacy, as well as implement better solutions for non-metallic explosives,
such as bomb-sniffing dogs and trace detection machines.
The TSA is worse than ineffective: they are an epic fail placing us all in danger. Beyond
the scanners, Demand of your legislators and presidential candidates that they get rid
of this $8B a year waste known as the TSA and privatize airport security. Ask for their
commitment to our rights in exchange for your vote. And no matter which party is in the
White House or holds on to Capital Hill, the issue of ending TSA abuse is of interest to
all Americans; it’s NOT a partisan issue. We must all stand together and demand an end
to the organization that molests our families while placing us in danger by directly ignoring
blatant security flaws.
Thank you.