Harvard Researchers Conclude Airport Security Process Pointless
Just in time for the Christmas travel rush comes a report from Harvard researchers that says the airport screening process in the United States is pointless.
The report was published this week in the British Medical Journal and says there's no evidence all the security measures at America's 450 airports have prevented any hijackings or in-flight terror attacks.
When research teams requested such information from the US Transportation Security Administration, they were told that evaluating new screening program might be useful, but it was overshadowed by "time pressures to implement needed security measures quickly."
"Perhaps the evidence we are searching for is strong, but secret," wrote researchers Eleni Linos, Elizabeth Linos, and Graham Colditz. " And of course rigorous airport screening may have other benefits. It certainly deters the transport of any illicit object, such as less dangerous but equally unwanted plants, animals, or drugs. In addition, in the midst of mounting reports of thwarted terrorist attacks on airports, the process is comforting to frequent flyers and their families."
But the researchers say the absence of publicly available evidence to satisfy even the most basic criteria of a good screening program is a major concern.
The Transportation Security Administration defended its measures by reporting that more than 13 million prohibited items were intercepted in one year. Most of these illegal items were lighters.
The report was published this week in the British Medical Journal and says there's no evidence all the security measures at America's 450 airports have prevented any hijackings or in-flight terror attacks.
When research teams requested such information from the US Transportation Security Administration, they were told that evaluating new screening program might be useful, but it was overshadowed by "time pressures to implement needed security measures quickly."
"Perhaps the evidence we are searching for is strong, but secret," wrote researchers Eleni Linos, Elizabeth Linos, and Graham Colditz. " And of course rigorous airport screening may have other benefits. It certainly deters the transport of any illicit object, such as less dangerous but equally unwanted plants, animals, or drugs. In addition, in the midst of mounting reports of thwarted terrorist attacks on airports, the process is comforting to frequent flyers and their families."
But the researchers say the absence of publicly available evidence to satisfy even the most basic criteria of a good screening program is a major concern.
The Transportation Security Administration defended its measures by reporting that more than 13 million prohibited items were intercepted in one year. Most of these illegal items were lighters.
