Two US government agencies disagree about whether the devices known as "full-body airport scan" would have detected or not detected the "Christmas Bomber." The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have recently given contradictory information regarding the controversial body scans.
TSA Acting Administrator Gale Rossides Can't Guarantee Reliability of Body Scans
In a March 5, 2010 CNN story, the TSA Acting Administrator met with a congressional sub-committee to defend the use of the scanners. Gale Rossides testified, "… our officers are identifying objects on the body that are comparable to what that (Christmas Day bomb) threat was."
When asked by U.S. Representative Harold Rogers (R-Kentucky) if the scans worked every time, Rossides at first avoided Rogers question. She instead began discussing what a good job TSA was doing.
When Rogers again asked Rossides to directly answer the question, Rossides was unable to say yes.
Instead, Rossides answered, “I’d have to get back to you, but, you know, we don’t -- we have very, very good measures in place for evaluating our officers."
Thus, the TSA is promoting technology that it admits might not work.
GAO Director of Homeland Security and Justice Casts Doubt on Scanner Abilities
On March 17, 2010, the GAO issued its own report on the scanners. In the report, the GAO states that the body scanners, also known as advanced imaging technology (AIT), might not have the capability to detect the type of explosive that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab allegedly had sewn in his underpants.
Steve Lord, Director of Homeland Security and Justice Issues. Government Accountability Office, explains:
"While officials said AITs (Advanced Imaging Technology devices) performed as well as physical pat down in operational tests, it remains unclear whether the AIT would have detected the weapon used in the December 2009 incident based on the preliminary information the GAO has received."
The GAO joins the growing list of organizations, people, and countries questioning the reliability and validity of the devices commonly called "full-body scanners," airport body scanners," or "government body scanners." While the TSA continues to use economic stimulus funds to purchase scanners for US airports, the question remains if the scanners will keep passengers safe.
References
Lord, Steve. Director Homeland Security and Justice Issues. Government Accountability Office (GAO). "Aviation Security - TSA Is IncreasingProcurement and Deployment of the Advanced Imaging Technology, but Challenges to This Effort and Other Areas of Aviation SecurityRemain." http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10484t.pdf
Neefus, Christopher. "Full-Body Airport Scanners May Not Have Thwarted Alleged Christmas Day Bomber, GAO Says." Monday, April 05, 2010 CNSNEWS.COM http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/63747
Teresa Knudsen - Teresa's writing appears in the British Library, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. Online she has written for USA Today and E How.
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