Perpetual Threat - "Threat Level Orange!" and "The War on Terror"

Perpetual Threat - "Threat Level Orange!" and "The War on Terror"
Dateline:  June 18 2007

San Jose (California) police today, with SJC airport private security contractors, continue to work to justify their increased budgets by inconveniencing, intimidating, and harassing customers simply attempting to fly domestically.

With no real known or credible danger, a perpetual state of "high threat", or "level orange", is in effect at the San Jose airport and airports across the US. By making the public feel a sense of tension, and making a show of pointless security exercises like making people take off their shoes, and making people throw away their water, regional managers ensure a continued and steady flow of funding. Like the non-specific and never ending "war on terror", the continued marketing of never-ending states of emergency and war means that Americans can expect to continue to see their tax dollars wasted for years to come.


Watch out! That Baby Formula might be a bomb! Oh my god, that old grey-haired lady has a bottle of water! Let's strip-search 'em!
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TSA Announces Changes to Security Rules: Liquid Ban Partially Lifted

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced a targeted raise in the threat level in light of the August 10, 2006 arrests in the United Kingdom relating to possible planned acts of terrorism that raised our threat level to red.

On September 26, 2006 the threat level was lowered from "red" to "orange", and some of the security measures were refined.

What to do you need to know for your next flight?

The current threat level is Orange or high and will not change at this time. [or, indeed, ever - Editor]

Travelers will be allowed to carry travel-size toiletries (3 ounce or less) that fit comfortably in ONE quart-size, clear plastic, zip-top bag through security checkpoints. [Because if they didn't fit comfortably, that would clearly constitute a threat. -Editor] Travelers may also bring items, including beverages, purchased in the secure, boarding area on-board the aircraft. [Hmmm... a policy change stemming from complaints from airport vendors? A policy change with economic benefits (i.e. more purchases of overpriced items)? How convenient. -Editor ]

"After the initial, total ban, we have learned enough from the UK investigation to say with confidence that small, travel size liquids are safe to bring through security checkpoints in limited numbers," said Assistant Secretary for TSA Kip Hawley.  "We have also taken additional security measures throughout the airport that make us comfortable allowing passengers to bring beverages and other items purchased in the secure area onboard."

Threat Levels:

• The U.S. threat level is raised to High, or Orange, for all commercial aviation operating in the United States, including international flights. Flights from the United States to the United Kingdom are also Orange.

Increased Aviation Screening Procedures:

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is implementing a series of security measures, some visible and some not visible, to ensure the security of the traveling public and the nation's transportation system. These include more random screening of employees, additional canine patrols, stronger air cargo security measures, more rigorous identity verification standards and deploying more trained security officers in bomb appraisal and screening by observation techniques. It is unlikely that further adjustments to the ban on liquids, gels and aerosols will be made in the near future.

[Note that any 'unseen' security measures ARE quite likely to change "in the near future", as these type of changes, which are actually better at "ensuring security", are an inconvenience to _commerce_, and will therefore be dropped due to pressure from businesses and employees. -Editor ]

TSA ban adjustments include the following:

• Travelers will be allowed to carry travel-size toiletries (3 ounce or less) that fit comfortably in ONE quart-size, clear plastic, zip-top bag through security checkpoints. Exceptions: Baby formula and medicines, which must be presented for inspection at the checkpoint. [Funny how they use a theoretical plot in England to justify  opening  your prescription medicines, isn't it? -Editor]

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