[90409] in Cypherpunks
Re: Flight 007 and our Civil Liberties
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Steve Schear)
Tue Nov 18 22:48:35 1997
In-Reply-To: <v03102802b09795d84b18@[207.167.93.63]>
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 1997 19:10:48 -0800
To: Tim May <tcmay@got.net>, cypherpunks@cyberpass.net
From: Steve Schear <schear@lvdi.net>
Cc: John Gilmore <gnu@toad.com>
Reply-To: Steve Schear <schear@lvdi.net>
>The FBI has just completed a long press conference in which it reported its
>"no terrorist activity suspected" conclusions. Having watched most of it,
>and having seen the CIA animation shown at the press conference, I agree
>with their conclusions.
>
>(Cypherpunks arch-enemy James Kallstrom, Assistant Director of the FBI,
>nevertheless did a fine job, both in the investigation and in the
>reporting. Credit where credit is due.)
>
>However, now that the Flight 007 explosion has been ruled a non-terrorist
>event, will we get our freedoms back?
>
>The other big "terrorist event" of that summer of 1996 was the bomb in a
>crowd at the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. The "fits the profile" perp,
>Richard Jewell, was finally cleared of all charges.
>
>So, these were the two big events which stimulated the FAA, under higher
>orders, to require mandatory ID of all travelling passengers. And more
>multimillion dollar sniffers to be installed in airports.
>
>It seems that each such event ratchets down certain civil liberties, and
>even the later repudiation of terrorists and other Horsemen in these events
>never results in the liberties coming back....
Actually, even when their knee-jerk security measures are relaxed it isn't=
publicized, probably for concern it might encourage would be mules and=
terrorists to take advantage of 'relaxed' security measures. Case in point=
profiling and John Gilmore's run-in with airport security last year. As I=
recall, John purchased his ticket with cash within 24-hour of departure and=
had only carry-on items. He was subjected to what he felt were requests=
for an unnecessary search of his carry-on and person. =20
At the beginning of November and unannounced to the public, and seemingly=
unknown to most airline employees, such searches are now unnecessary under=
FAA regulation (don't have the particular citing). Although notice of this=
change should have been posted in most airline employee break areas, few if=
any airlines offer regular rule update training to their ground personnel. =
As a result many airline service agents continue the practice since its=
better to be safe... If a passenger objects and asks for a supervisor and=
assuming the sup is up to date on the regulations, they should not now be=
required to undergo this ordeal.
--Steve=20
