Post 9/11 Air port security policy
America is a great nation and is well respected for
its high level of security intelligence, and technology. Until after the
September 11, 2001 terrorist attack of the world trade center, commonly known
as 9/11, no one could have ever imagine such an attack on the American soil. An
attack that took away hundreds of live, created huge environmental and health
impact, and the destruction of properties.
This attack brought a big concern about the safety
of the American people. This crisis also triggers the need for an urgent policy
that will improve the security safety of the nation’s aviation system.
In the aftermath of 9/11, the policy that was
created and implemented to avoid another terrorist attack could be summarized
as using screening technology to detect forbidden items prior to boarding the
aircraft. The emphasis was on the use of technology to mitigate the threat. The
other aspect of that policy was to avoid any form of discrimination; as a
result, the search for banned items had to be carried out in a uniform manner. This
policy, however, does not recognize different individual passenger risk levels.
Since the 9/11, two similar failed terrorist
attacked as raised another concerned. The famous “shoe bomber” attack in 2001
and the December 25, 2009 attack. Both were carried on the terrorist’s body to
avoid x-ray screening, Both devices used pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) as
the main explosive material , and Both explosives required some basic skill to
detonate, which is why both terrorists failed.
After the liquid explosives plot, the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) recently introduced another technology system to
improve airline security, Known as Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT), or “body
scanners”. Authorities implemented a demanding policy of limiting quantities of
liquid carried on board the plane, and the forcing of passengers to take off
their shoes and submitting to x-ray screening.
The crisis also led to some unnoticed Enforcement of
old and new laws such as the special registration program from the Department of Justic, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) which required that "certain non-immigrant aliens" (visitors) register with the U.S. immigration authorities, be fingerprinted and photographed, respond to questioning, and submit to routine reporting. Profiling and changes in issuance of visitors' visa are other measures put into place to ensure the security of the nation.
