Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over?
Jan. 13th, 2004 08:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lagilman(thanks ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
isabeau, for the above line!)
So I'm barely awake this morning, the news is on, and I hear this guy doing a Q&A about the new airport screening set-up they're about to bring online, which is apparently called "Yellow light Red Light." Or something else suitably brilliant. And it's this:
If you're all in the clear, green light, you get to go through airport security. Yellow light means there's something in your past that, when your name is checked against A List, you get pulled aside for further questioning.
If your name clicks on the red light, apparently, you're detained.
All well and fine, in theory. Because I've always been for airport security, even before I was emotionally and psychologically scarred by the events of 9/11. I've flown El Al. Nice people, know their job. Very safe.
But...
The guy who was doing the Q of the A asked some very good questions. You know -- what is your right of appeal if you're tagged red or yellow? What sort of "triggers" in your past are they looking at (Parole violations? Murder convictions? Overdue library books? Your name is an anagram of someone on their most wanted list?)? How long does such a 'tag' hold if, say, you're yellow and fly fifteen times without an incident? When is the tag removed from your name so you don't have to go through all that? How long can they hold you before you get to see a lawyer?
And without fail, in answer to these questions the representative they sent onto a national news program to discuss this security plan said a variant of "I don't know."
Which does not fill me with warm fuzzies, because either a) they haven't really thought/told their spokesperson about the practical execution of this security plan (Bad! When will you people learn that not having a clue is BAD?) or b) they really don't want us to know what, if any, our rights are if the government decides to screw with us.
(and before anyone starts trying to Explain all this to me, be warned that I have both a brain and a temper and if you don't know by now that I dislike being patronized you'll learn when you draw back a bleeding stump. I understand the fear and pragmatism that is driving a lot of recent smudging of our Constitution. That doesn't mean I think it's either wise or appropriate. Or, damn it, acceptable. And yes, I do believe in freedom before security. That's the kind of American I am. And I think forefathers George and Tom and Ben and etc would be pleased.)
isabeau, for the above line!)So I'm barely awake this morning, the news is on, and I hear this guy doing a Q&A about the new airport screening set-up they're about to bring online, which is apparently called "Yellow light Red Light." Or something else suitably brilliant. And it's this:
If you're all in the clear, green light, you get to go through airport security. Yellow light means there's something in your past that, when your name is checked against A List, you get pulled aside for further questioning.
If your name clicks on the red light, apparently, you're detained.
All well and fine, in theory. Because I've always been for airport security, even before I was emotionally and psychologically scarred by the events of 9/11. I've flown El Al. Nice people, know their job. Very safe.
But...
The guy who was doing the Q of the A asked some very good questions. You know -- what is your right of appeal if you're tagged red or yellow? What sort of "triggers" in your past are they looking at (Parole violations? Murder convictions? Overdue library books? Your name is an anagram of someone on their most wanted list?)? How long does such a 'tag' hold if, say, you're yellow and fly fifteen times without an incident? When is the tag removed from your name so you don't have to go through all that? How long can they hold you before you get to see a lawyer?
And without fail, in answer to these questions the representative they sent onto a national news program to discuss this security plan said a variant of "I don't know."
Which does not fill me with warm fuzzies, because either a) they haven't really thought/told their spokesperson about the practical execution of this security plan (Bad! When will you people learn that not having a clue is BAD?) or b) they really don't want us to know what, if any, our rights are if the government decides to screw with us.
(and before anyone starts trying to Explain all this to me, be warned that I have both a brain and a temper and if you don't know by now that I dislike being patronized you'll learn when you draw back a bleeding stump. I understand the fear and pragmatism that is driving a lot of recent smudging of our Constitution. That doesn't mean I think it's either wise or appropriate. Or, damn it, acceptable. And yes, I do believe in freedom before security. That's the kind of American I am. And I think forefathers George and Tom and Ben and etc would be pleased.)
A Call to Action
Date: 2004-01-13 08:12 pm (UTC)To: ACLU Action Network Members
Date: January 13, 2003
Despite strong opposition from airlines, privacy advocates and Members of Congress, the Bush Administration is pushing ahead with plans to implement a computerized airline passenger profiling program that would -- without making us any safer -- create secret blacklists of innocent people prevented from flying.
This new profiling system would use giant databases of personal information and secret intelligence information to perform a background check on any person who wishes to fly. Innocent people misidentified as terrorists could be barred from flying with no way of clearing their names.
This system will not only create a false sense of security since terrorists will easily circumvent its basic protections, it will also compile private information about you and your family. Airlines have refused to participate in the program, but the Bush Administration is planning to mandate their involvement.
Take Action! Urge your Members of Congress to oppose this dangerous program.
Click here to get more information and to send free faxes to your Members of Congress:
http://www.aclu.org/Privacy/Privacy.cfm?ID=12108&c=39
2) Send us feedback you receive from Members of Congress
Finally, please remember to send us any letters you receive from your Members of Congress in response to ACLU action alerts. These can often help our lobbying efforts by providing important intelligence about the positions being taken by Members of
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ACLU Field Department
1333 H Street NW, 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
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Re: A Call to Action
Date: 2004-01-14 06:18 pm (UTC)