Beverages of Mass Distraction: TSA liquid testing INSIDE the terminal
This recent video taken by a passenger at Columbus Ohio Airport shows TSA agents swabbing passenger’s drinks. These drinks are purchased from the airport after going through security checkpoints.
"While waiting in the Columbus OH airport for our flight to Oakland, I couldnt help but notice the two TSA women that were "testing" any and all liquids that people had in their hands.
Now remember that this is inside the terminal, well beyond the security check and purchased inside the terminal...just people waiting to get on the plane. My wife and son came back from a coffee shop just around the corner, then we were approached. I asked them what they were doing. One of the TSA ladies said that they were checking for explosive chemicals (as we are drinking them).
I said "really..inside the terminal? You have got to be kidding me".
I asked them if they wanted to swab us all. She responded with something like, yes sometimes we need to do that. I then asked if she wanted a urine sample...none the less, the TSA is way out of control."
As noted, these ’testing’ procedures are carried out past the security checkpoints. Presumably the checkpoints are to prevent the ’explosive chemicals’ from making it into the airport terminal. But are the businesses inside the terminal being swabbed as they bring in their products to sell?
Which chemicals are the TSA agents trying to detect, exactly? What happens if a passenger’s drink ’fails’ the scientifically-uncontrolled litmus test? How much do these random tests cost? Do all drinks in an area get tested, or just the drinks of ’suspicious looking’ travelers? What is the training involved in these tests? Are records kept? How many personnel are employed to swab beverages?
When pressed, the TSA claimed they were attempting to be "unpredictable".
Is this new security measure protecting travelers? Is it stopping terrorism?
Is this simply more ’security theater ’ to make it appear as if the screening the TSA does is worthwhile and legitimate?
Or is it, as some report, intimidation and ’obedience training’?
In light of other TSA tactics, it’s quite possible:
New TSA Policy: Ordering Travelers To “Freeze” On Command
“Last week, my hubby and I were flying out of ATL to Montreal. As we were going through the “security” checkpoint, one of the supervisors suddenly yelled “FREEZE!!!!” Everyone was forced to just stand there for about a minute. We were not allowed to move, fidget, look around, speak, nothing. They blockaded the checkpoint and no one was allowed to leave or enter. It was one of the strangest, most stupid thing I’ve ever seen at the ATL airport. Then the supervisor walks around and she thanks everyone for their participation in the security drill. It was all my husband and I could do to keep from laughing out loud at this charade. It was ridiculously obvious that the entire purpose of that game was to make people afraid and keep that sense of fear very much alive in the flying public.)
By Elizabeth Leafloor, RedIceCreations.com
