"US Airport Security Checked for Liquid Explosives, But Told to Stop"

Monday, August 14, 2006

US Airport Security Checked for Liquid Explosives, But Told to Stop
By Jim Kouri, CPP
The Millinocket (ME) Magic City Morning Star

 
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is underfire from Democrats and
the news media for his "lack of imagination" by not having airport security
officers check liquids being brought onto planes by passengers.
 
In the aftermath of the British arrests of suspected terrorists who were
plotting to use liquid explosives to bring down a number of passenger
flights leaving Heathrow International Airport for destinations in the
United States, American lawmakers and the news media have been critical of
the Transportation Security Agency for not screening liquids being brought
onto passenger flights.

However, airport security personnel in 2002 were ridiculed and condemned for
doing just that -- checking bottles that may have contained explosives or
biological and chemical weapons. And as a result of the negative press
coverage, the TSA abandoned the procedure for screening liquids.

In one case in 2002, a mother was asked to taste the contents of her baby's
milk bottles. The incident occurred at JFK International Airport in New
York. The mother said she refused to drink the baby bottle contents because
it was breast milk. When asked about the incident, the screeners said the
bottles could have contained explosives or a toxic chemical. The story was
used to ridicule the security screeners at the airport and the TSA ordered
officers to cease checking bottle contents.

In another case, also in 2002, a Saudi Arabian student had a bottle of
cologne in his carry-on bag at Philadelphia International Airport. The
security screeners questioned the young man about the bottle's contents.
Then, according to news reports, the agitated student sprayed himself with
the bottle and then sprayed the airport security officers. Everyone involved
was rushed to a hospital emergency room to be decontaminated in case the
cologne was actually a bio-chemical weapon.

As with the breast milk incident, the security screeners came underfire for
overreacting to a simple bottle of cologne. They were also criticized for
singling out a Saudi man and were accused of racial profiling, in spite of
the fact that attackers on 9-11 were Saudis.

The security screeners were reprimanded and told to stop checking liquids.

"It's a perfect example of damned if you do and damned if you don't," says
Sid Francis, a former New York police detective and former intelligence
officer.

"There's nothing like being a Monday morning quarterback when it comes to
airport security. You get to have it both ways," he said.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association
of Chiefs of Police.

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