Official Surveillance Video of Rand Paul Detained by TSA at Nashville Airport

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When US Sen. Rand Paul (R) of Kentucky set off the scanner at Nashville airport and refused to submit to a more intimate pat-down by Transportation Safety Administration officers, he set off a minor debate about the efficacy of security at US airports.

After the Sept. 11 attacks, American support for aggressive security checks was strong, but in the past decade, bipartisan complaints about the TSA have begun to mount. But while Americans may be getting annoyed at all that wanding, patting, and scanning, there have been very few security incidents at US airports over the past decade. And compared with the intense scrutiny other countries give travelers at their own airports -- in India or England, Israel or Indonesia -- it's fair to ask how the US methods compare.

In a recent congressional report, "A Decade Later: A Call for TSA Reform," Congress noted that the TSA has grown into a massive agency, spending $57 billion over the past decade, with a workforce of 65,000 employees. But there have been more than 25,000 security breaches at US airports, and 17 "known terrorists" have managed to travel on 24 different occasions through airports monitored by TSA. Fewer than half of the US's 35 largest airports have complete in-line explosive detection systems to screen baggage.

For Senator Paul, the TSA's increasing invasiveness is a problem.

"Is it too much to ask to have a little dignity when we are traveling?" Senator Paul told CNN's Wolf Blitzer yesterday. "I feel that our dignity is being compromised, but I don't feel more safe." He urged the TSA to be more selective, with fewer pat-downs of babies and the infirm elderly, and more pat-downs of international travelers, for instance.

So what do airport security people do in other countries?

In Israel, airport security personnel are famous for focusing on the "human factor," using racial profiling to single out those who seem to have Arabic names or features for extra attention. All passengers are asked their purpose for traveling to Israel, and extensive and repeated questions about their travel agenda to trip up those who might be lying.

Israel has reason to be cautious, of course. Numerous terrorist groups within the region, and even a few countries, have made it part of their mission statement to wipe Israel off the face of the planet. Israeli security may be repressive, but it is effective. The last hijacking of Israel's state airline, El Al, occurred in July 1969; the last successful airline related attack was in 1986, when a bomb-laden suitcase exploded at the airport terminal, injuring 13.

In Britain, airports follow many of the same security measures that US airport security personnel use, mostly because Britain is a major transit route for air traveling leaving from and entering the US. As a result, British airports require passengers to place all metal items in a tray for scanning; remove all liquids more than 100 milliliters; remove laptops from briefcases for scanning; remove shoes and belts; and require all pre-flight passenger information to be passed along to US airport security officials.

This has started to become a little annoying, British airport officials say, and it doesn't do much to deter terrorists.

"It is clear that the terrorist is not deterred from planning and carrying out these types of attack," Ian Hutcheson, British Airport Authority's head of security, was quoted as saying by the Guardian. "This is partly due to the fact that some of the things we do are predictable and our challenge now is to identify different ways of delivering security."

European airports, by contrast, rely on national militaries and private security companies to maintain security. Countries such as France and Spain, which have had lengthy experience with violent terrorist groups, focus on extensive ID checks and screenings to sort through possible terrorist threats on airlines, and rather less on pat-downs.

As a reporter traveling throughout Africa and South Asia over the past decade, I found there was often an inverse relationship between airport security methods and the actual conditions of risk. There was no pat-down for my flight from Kabul to Mazar-e Sharif, for instance, during a trip to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Security was a be-turbaned Taliban fighter with a Kalashnikov, sitting in aisle 10. (He did not wear a seatbelt, but given the age of the Russian-made aircraft, it's possible that he didn't have one.)

It probably bears mentioning that the people charged with keeping US airports safe are among the poorest paid of all US federal employees, with an entry level salary starting at about $25,000 a year. If they appear to be grumpy, there might be a reason.

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  News & Politics

[SHEEPLEwhisperer]

Pussies are the little bitches that submit to molestation pat-downs, cancer scanners, and taking off their belts, and shoes, because a fucking Terrorist might get ya.

Fucking grow a sack and stop giving the country up to these Authoritarian assholes.

[SHEEPLEwhisperer]

Fuck the TSA and the growing Police State.

Bunch of pussies are the ones that think there's a Terrorist hiding behind every bush.

[JMarieS261]

Rand Paul, I believe is gay and wanted to be patted down, this poor excuse of a human likes to stir shit up just so his pathetic self can make the news. Now for something news worthy.... go to wsmv.com watch the I-Team report where a TSA agent "outed" the FSD for not doing his job, then TSA threaten to fine the former agent $55,000!!! Spread the word, wsmv.com Jeremy Finley I-Team report. Lets shut TSA down!!!

[Linda Brugman]

they failed to protect so many in nine eleven but the'll protect you in the airport.Are we dumb Americans???does anyone read anymore or are we taken for a ride watching the Kardashians??

[SHEEPLEwhisperer]

Sure, and Led, Tobacco, Asbestos, and Cell Phone Radiation are also good for you.

But you just keep burying your head in the sand and pretend everything is sunshine and rainbows if that's what it takes to get you through the day.

[admielke]

I don't know what airport you went to, but the ones I go through pat down my legs, arms, and torso.  I think you may have been to that one place called "The Happy Pilot" down on 5th street. The cancer scanners or what I like to call them the "scancers" are actually giving off less radiation what you get from standing outside by about ten fold. But then again, you probably have not seen the sun since you are living in your own bubble. If you think it sucks do something about it.

[SyringeCycle]

Further more nothing would make me happier than to see the libertarians spoil every election for the fake right. Republicans are worse on spending than the democrats and for far worse reasons not to mention the majority of them support the patriot act and the NDAA which is unforgivable.

We do nothing? Perhaps you never heard of the campaign for liberty.....we do plenty more than you hear about within government.

[SyringeCycle]

Its hard to organize when you have a media that misrepresents you, a government that targets you as if you are a terrorist, a population that passivity accepts drone attacks on children and American citizens, and a Party which does nothing when one of its candidates is caught rigging the primary(Dead people voting for Mitt Romney/ districts being counted as 0)

All this yet we still had way larger numbers at our rallies and way more donations from individuals than the other GOP candidates.

[Brian Savage]

As a former pre-board screener I can tell you that these pat downs are not a voilation of the 4th amendment. Before the "constitutionalists" (I am one who swore to defend it) get all upset there are a few rules that have been in place long before and after the constitution was ratified. No warrant is required if you give your consent or knowledge that searches will take place. Your ticket is your consent and just walking into the airport shows your approval of the placards noting such searches

[UCEBuster]

I agree the system is absurd, but until things change, if you want to actually get on the plane, you are going to have to go through some of that. Do YOU refuse all of those "security" procedures and still manage to get on any non-private planes, or are you trying to change the system by talking tough but never flying?