TSA Adopts Intelligence-Based Racial-Profiling

As if conducting extra inspections and chemical tests on the palms of our hands was not enough, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced new airport security measures for international flights to the United States, including advanced X-ray technology that can see through clothing. If you are running low on your porn stash, now would be a good time to apply for a job with TSA and selectively discriminate. Heck, maybe after the Jeopardy series, TSA can start playing “Hot or Not?”

Instead of focusing on profiling and running full-body scans on passengers from all 14 designated countries (Afghanistan, Algeria, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen), TSA agents have been asked to be a little more intelligent while discriminating, such as targeting men between the ages of 25 to 35 traveling from Yemen through France. Along with zeroing in on family names, they would need to focus on family histories and comb through recent purchases and travel histories. In effect, racial profiling is now going to be “intelligence-based.” And based on the level of intelligence displayed by TSA agents, this is quite unsettling.

Don’t worry. It doesn’t stop there. While no-fly lists shall remain in place, all passengers, including citizens of the United States who have been to certain countries or fit in certain stereotype, can expect to be harassed more than ever with behavioral analysis, explosives trace detection, advanced imaging technology, canine teams, and pat-downs, cherry-topped with longer waiting lines. Am I the only one wondering why people continue to visit the United States?

With all the hype around aviation security, it turns out that subways and commuter rails are attacked 20 times more often than airplanes. Happy flying.

Photo Credit: dground