Investigation Finds Bomb Parts Bypassed Security Screeners
EmailABC News’ David Kerley and Tom Shine Report: Despite increased screening measures at airport security checkpoints, undercover government agents were able to get past screeners with materials that could be used to make a bomb for the second year in a row.
According to a new Government Accountability Office report, government investigators were able to pass through 19 Transportation Security Administration checkpoints, carrying potential bomb components bought at local stores and on the internet for less than $150.
Two of the investigators were able to pass through security and onto planes with components that could be used to make an improvised explosive device, or IED, or an improvised incendiary device or fire bomb, known as an IID, the investigation found.
The devices were strong enough, the investigators say, to cause serious damage to an airliner in flight.
"We’ve got to fix this and it can be fixed," said House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif. "We’ve got to make sure that we protect people who fly. Not just them but all those who could be vulnerable if a terrorist gets through the screening process."
The GAO investigators say they found publicly available instructions to make their bombs, and then devised a way to conceal those liquids, and other materials, from TSA screeners.
The findings do not fault the screeners, saying, "in most cases, transportation security officers appeared to follow TSA procedures and used technology appropriately."
Investigators say the real problem is that the technology and practices now in use fail to detect bomb making materials like those the agents were able to carry on to the planes.
"TSA has been getting funds, billions of dollars and they’ve had six years to do the job," Waxman said.
The investigators shared their conclusions with TSA back in September, and TSA administrator Kip Hawley will appear on Capitol Hill tomorrow at a hearing before Waxman’s committee.
Hawley is expected to say that there is nothing new in the report, and that technology is not a silver bullet.
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Typical Federal Government agency. Big, Bloated, Stupid, and totally incompetent. Hey, so what’s the big deal.????..FBI and CIA are hiring illegal aliens so they can have access to our nations secrets.
Posted by: Sparky | November 14, 2007, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
Typical blunder of a top-heavy buracracy called Homeland Security. Bush took all these seperate agencies, which each had their own budget and procedures, dismantled them, and put them under a huge umbrella. Look at FEMA. Used to be a seperate entity. Bush puts in a bunch of idiots without experience to manage sections of Homeland Security. FEMA went down the tubes. And people die. Good job BUSHIE, you C-student moron!!!
Posted by: m | November 14, 2007, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
Well, I think this stuff slipped by while the TSA agents were tearing the tape off my WET OIL PAINTINGS that were pulled apart even though I secured them face to face with pens and foam strips that allowed you to view the enire space between the paintings! See, they slid the wet paintings against each other, ruining them, and getting black, red and yellow paint all over the place – themselves included. Effectively destroying my work from a workshop that cost me almost $2000 to attend out of state. See? They were BUSY protecting us from exploding paintings – THAT’s why they missed the bomb parts. Nevermind that I left a huge note explaining what they were…. I feel so much safer now…
Posted by: kcareymac | November 14, 2007, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
kcareymac – I’m sorry but I can’t help but get a chuckle out of that. I doubt you found it funny. Can’t you fix them since it was oil? Not getting how they couldn’t have done it with more care at least.
Posted by: Sandra | November 14, 2007, 8:21 pm 8:21 pm
doesn’t surprise me. we flew to hawaii a couple weeks ago, and my daughter had a pair of scissors in the front pocket of her backpack- went thru the security check like nothin’. they didn’t even notice- this was at the san diego airport. THAT made me feel a lot better- they were more concerned w/my husbands dvd player than those.. scary…
Posted by: tlei | November 14, 2007, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm
newsjunky: You are absolutely right. Mr. Bush: I sincerely apologize for giving you more credit than you deserve. I know Daddy bought your way into Yale and Harvard and you tried your best, but C’s were too difficult to strive for.
Posted by: m | November 14, 2007, 8:47 pm 8:47 pm
I am really happy that our news networks are dutifully reporting our vulnerabilities to terrorist organizations.
Posted by: Rob | November 14, 2007, 9:15 pm 9:15 pm
TSA cares a lot more about enforcing the rules relating to liquids and quart-size ziplocs, removal of shoes, retaining the boarding pass in your hand, etc. than actually doing the job for which they were established…
Posted by: Andy | November 14, 2007, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
This is trivial.
People need to wake up. A potential damage / havok causing device can be made of things ALLOWED in your carry on luggage.
Doesn’t anyone recall the exploding Sony laptop batteries?
Most charged LI-ON batteries from consumer devices, cell phones, laptops, video players contain a high energy density. They could very easily be used to create fires and other panick causing reactions.
There will always be risk when flying, its sad to read an artical like the one above because we depend on the security screeners to keep us safe. The only way thats possible is to virtually stop short of flying naked, or at least without any luggage.
Posted by: Eric | November 14, 2007, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
Also – for the Bush Bashers above, if you did your research, you would very quickly find that Bush received higher grades than Kerry.
Read up -
-e
Posted by: Eric | November 14, 2007, 9:25 pm 9:25 pm
Eric: First, I highly doubt that Bush’s intelligence is higher than Kerry’s. Second, Bush is the prez, so his intelligence is the question here, and it’s not that high. His Daddy bought his way into Harvard. No way a student like that would get in otherwise.
Second, the whole Homeland Security debacle is a mess, and only the 24% or so still supporters of this administration’s policies refuse to see that.
Bush deserves his bashing. He is incompetant, stubborn, a religious nut, and has caused more damage to our world reputation, civil liberties, economy, education, supreme court, medical research, etc. than you can ever imagine with your neocon blinders on.
Posted by: m | November 14, 2007, 9:36 pm 9:36 pm
we can discuss any one or all of the above issues if you’d like. I can give details reasons why each is so, backed up by facts.
Posted by: m | November 14, 2007, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
I’m just wondering why Americans are exposing in media it’s own vulnerability. Terrorists are also reading newspapers and news in Internet, you made them laughing.
Why huge amount of budget for an Agency which is ineffective?
Posted by: Boy Hudas | November 14, 2007, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm
Our security is a joke. All one has to do to see how real security works is to check out how Israel screens people wanting to fly on their airlines. They have no problem asking tough questions and profiling terrorist suspects because they understand that they are hated and targetted for who they are. We aren’t that smart, yet. Before checking in, people are grilled by “screeners”, usually young people, often two at a time. If passengers appear suspicious a superior is called to determine whether they or their baggage should be searched. Plain-clothes security officials also watch quietly from the side-lines as people come and go, pulling aside any who seem nervous for questioning. They have stronger-than-average cockpit doors and air marshals that travel on every flight. Ben Gurion security measures may be effective but they are also discriminatory and sometimes unpleasant. Palestinians and their friends are subject to much stricter procedures, including body searches.
Many travellers who match set categories of suspicious persons also have tales of missed flights and harsh interrogations to tell. Rightfully so!
Posted by: John | November 14, 2007, 10:20 pm 10:20 pm
Right! – El Al has excellent airport security and it is in fact that the US takes ‘lessons’ from the Israeli’s on this subject matter. I have flown El Al and yes, i was questioned alot (just short of bend over, grab your ankles and cough), but it works.
Posted by: eric | November 14, 2007, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm
Bush’s GPA was a full point above Kerry’s…and even though Bush wasn’t in Vietnam, he didn’t give testimony to Congress that our guys were taking torture for in the Hanoi Hilton.
Posted by: parkerknoll | November 14, 2007, 11:00 pm 11:00 pm
Airlines should stop allowing carry-ons on the flights. This would help a lot
Posted by: Kevin | November 14, 2007, 11:17 pm 11:17 pm
parkerknoll: Bush is a C student and there is no way in hell that he could have gotten into Harvard on those grades unless Daddy paid his way in.
Posted by: m | November 15, 2007, 12:06 am 12:06 am
Clinton on the other hand was a Rhoades Scholar. Bush failed every business he tried to run. Look at the record.
Posted by: m | November 15, 2007, 12:08 am 12:08 am
Although it does not amaze me that people are upset with bush jr; it amazes me that people are so blind and cannot see in that the whole bunch in white house and congress are the same on both parties and by the way bush is not a christian but an interfaith freak and Clinton’s Rhodes scholarship is something one would like to hide way deep in the ground.. All are betraying the USA and are elitest traitors that gladly destroys the USA for Global totalitarian governance. ddh
Posted by: niki | November 15, 2007, 4:54 am 4:54 am
“m”: Why don’t you remind “Eric”, that Kerry received TWO PURPLE HEARTS in VIETNAM, while Bush “found” A WAY OUT OF serving his country!!!
Posted by: mod rit | November 15, 2007, 7:02 am 7:02 am
Granted, the Bush Kerry subject is off topic, BUT, Bush didn’t fake his injuries to get home. I think this is a well known FACT at this point. Those purple hearts a bogus.
Posted by: John | November 15, 2007, 8:10 am 8:10 am
Kerry lost to the doofus. It’s all water under the bridge now.
Posted by: Bob | November 15, 2007, 8:29 am 8:29 am
Back to the story:
The last 4 times I flew (once to Phoenix and back, Flagstaff and back, LA and back and Chicago and back)I was able to leave my lighter in my jacket pocket or purse and no one caught it. I wasn’t trying to get away with it either, I just forgot it was in there. They did however confiscate my deadly water bottle.
Posted by: Whitney | November 15, 2007, 9:10 am 9:10 am
I’m not surprised that bomb parts weren’t found, the way we publicize our every method of searching, what to bring/what not to take, the terriorist know exactly what and how they can smugggle anything onto a plane. Why do we need to broadcast our every move? Does it not occur to anyone that they watch TV as well?
Posted by: atticusjo | November 15, 2007, 11:37 am 11:37 am
Lighters are no longer a prohibited item.
Posted by: Tom | November 15, 2007, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm
I’m surpised and not surpised, airport security is kind of tight. For instance when I went to flordia from maine they checked everything of mine. But its when they get lazy that they start to miss some important objects. They tend to dwell on non-important objects like dvd players inside of scissors! I guess they should just have body x-rays maybe that would solve something!
Posted by: nequa | November 15, 2007, 4:29 pm 4:29 pm
yet another place the govt fails americans…………
Posted by: dk | November 16, 2007, 1:53 am 1:53 am