Feeling Secure? Well Don't Redux II

Need to transport bomb-making supplies? Just take an airplane. Homeland Security won't stop you.

Security screeners at 21 U.S. airports failed to find bomb-making materials during recent government tests, NBC Nightly News reported on Thursday.

Federal agents carrying materials that could be used to make bombs escaped detection in airport screening during tests conducted between October and January, NBC said, citing government sources.

"In all 21 airports tested, no machine, no swab, no screener anywhere stopped the bomb materials from getting through. Even when investigators deliberately triggered extra screening of bags, no one stopped these materials," the report said.

...

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had no comment on the report but said in a statement that detecting explosive materials and IEDs (improvised explosive devices) at the checkpoint was the agency's top priority. [emphasis mine]

It seems detection is their top priority. So how lousy are they performing on their lesser priorities? Wait, I think I have that info.

Two billion tons of cargo move through U.S. ports every year, mostly in containers. Before 9/11, only 2 percent of those containers entering the U.S. were inspected. Today, that number has increased to 5 percent.

But this means that, 41/2 years after we were attacked, 95 percent of all containers entering U.S. ports go without inspection.

There ya go. They're falling on their collective asses.

(read more - TSA)

(read more - ports)