Federal Air Marshal Service policies undermine marshals
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I've blogged on this topic before, but it's back in the news after a 2-year probe/investigation has been completed, and a report for congress has been generated that details concrete evidence and points that should be addressed to help correct flaws in the Marshal service.
The sad thing is that many of the flaws that are causing serious issues for Air Marshals -- including serious harm to their ability to protect the passengers on planes -- come from what I would call mismanagement and overly picky rules by higher levels within the service.
The details can be found, somewhat, in the article I'm snipping below. Please see the entire article for the complete story, and feel free to add comments below.
Probe finds air marshals at risk
By Audrey Hudson
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
May 20, 2006
A two-year investigation found that Federal Air Marshal Service policies undermine marshals' anonymity, and it indicates terror groups have done reconnaissance of in-flight security, says a congressional report obtained by The Washington Times.
The House Judiciary Committee report says a dress code endangers marshals by "potentially compromising {their} anonymity," as does allowing them to check in and board in front of passengers.
It also said a policy requiring marshals to identify themselves to hotel clerks should be scrapped.
"Any policy or procedure that potentially compromises the identity of a federal air marshal is a policy or procedure that compromises commercial aviation and national security," said the report, which has yet to be released.
FAMS spokesman Dave Adams declined comment on the report, titled "Lack of Anonymity at the Federal Air Marshal Service Compromises Aviation and National Security."
The committee initiated the investigation in September 2004 into questionable policies and reports by The Times that suspected terrorists were probing security aboard U.S. airlines.
The report includes two new incidents of Middle Eastern-looking men apparently probing security. On Aug. 29, 2002, one man checked the cockpit, flight-deck door and locks, bumped two passengers who may have been the marshals with luggage "and then touched them in the chest with an open hand," checking for a firearm, according to a FAMS incident report included in the report.
The suspect's "activities have all the indications that he was attempting to determine if FAMS were on board the flight," according to the FAMS.
On June 27, 2002, two persons boarded separately, then asked an air marshal to switch seats. The two began to converse in Arabic, took notes of first-class passengers, air crew and marshals, and later followed one marshal through the airport, the incident report says.
.... more at original article (please see complete story)
The sad thing is that many of the flaws that are causing serious issues for Air Marshals -- including serious harm to their ability to protect the passengers on planes -- come from what I would call mismanagement and overly picky rules by higher levels within the service.
The details can be found, somewhat, in the article I'm snipping below. Please see the entire article for the complete story, and feel free to add comments below.
Probe finds air marshals at risk
By Audrey Hudson
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
May 20, 2006
A two-year investigation found that Federal Air Marshal Service policies undermine marshals' anonymity, and it indicates terror groups have done reconnaissance of in-flight security, says a congressional report obtained by The Washington Times.
The House Judiciary Committee report says a dress code endangers marshals by "potentially compromising {their} anonymity," as does allowing them to check in and board in front of passengers.
It also said a policy requiring marshals to identify themselves to hotel clerks should be scrapped.
"Any policy or procedure that potentially compromises the identity of a federal air marshal is a policy or procedure that compromises commercial aviation and national security," said the report, which has yet to be released.
FAMS spokesman Dave Adams declined comment on the report, titled "Lack of Anonymity at the Federal Air Marshal Service Compromises Aviation and National Security."
The committee initiated the investigation in September 2004 into questionable policies and reports by The Times that suspected terrorists were probing security aboard U.S. airlines.
The report includes two new incidents of Middle Eastern-looking men apparently probing security. On Aug. 29, 2002, one man checked the cockpit, flight-deck door and locks, bumped two passengers who may have been the marshals with luggage "and then touched them in the chest with an open hand," checking for a firearm, according to a FAMS incident report included in the report.
The suspect's "activities have all the indications that he was attempting to determine if FAMS were on board the flight," according to the FAMS.
On June 27, 2002, two persons boarded separately, then asked an air marshal to switch seats. The two began to converse in Arabic, took notes of first-class passengers, air crew and marshals, and later followed one marshal through the airport, the incident report says.
.... more at original article (please see complete story)