One of the first and most obvious steps that the government took in the wake of 9/11 was to professionalize security at airports with the creation of the
Transportation Security Administration. Prior to and on 9/11,
airport screeners were low-paid rent-a-cops, many of whom barely spoke English, and a good number of whom scraped by on minimum wage. It's no wonder that not a single one of the almost 20 9/11 murderers wasn't caught by airport security -- they simply weren't being screened by anyone resembling law enforcement officers.
So in the wake of the tragedy, Congress quickly turned its attention to eradicating low-bid "security" companies and replacing them with a modern, cohesive law enforcement agency. By ensuring that airport security screeners were law enforcement professionals with serious background checks, comprehensive training, and rigorous public oversight, the government created a corps that was ready to handle the most high-profile front of the War on Terror. Of course, it wasn't easy, as
many high-profile Republicans vigorously opposed elimination of fat government contracts for their friends at security firms like Argenbright, ITS, and Pinkerton. But at the end of the day, even the almighty dollar had to give way to the power of common sense -- the security threat at airports demanded skilled law enforcement.
Three years later, though, the GOP sees a chance to give back to their pals in the security biz.
It's time to party like it's September 10:
Officials at Dulles International and Baltimore-Washington International airports said they are considering the replacement of federal airport screeners at security checkpoints with workers employed by private contractors.
The Transportation Security Administration this week invited airports to apply to leave the federal security screener system and return to private screeners. The government took over airport screening after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and is planning a transition for approved airports by spring or summer 2005.
Several airports have said private contractors might provide more staffing flexibility . . . "The issue of the long lines -- that's probably where we're most concerned about customer service issues," said Tara Hamilton, spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
Does their mania for doing
everything wrong have no end? After spending umpteen millions of dollars to professionalize airport security, we're now going to let airports piss it all away by returning to a low-bid system where airport brass can force patently unqualified screeners to rush potential terrorists through checkpoints in the interest of
shorter lines? And they accuse
us of "having a September 10 mindset?"
Seriously -- if you live in the DC area, join me in expressing your fear and disgust to the
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. This nonsense is akin to Congress disbanding the Capitol Police and hiring a few Pinkertons in their stead. The fact that two of the three airports closest to the Pentagon are even considering it is scary and twisted.
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