Body scanners coming to Canadian airports

[William Ashley]

If it is a waste of money, why should the airlines be forced to waste it?

They shouldn't. The measures are unneeded. Another step down the slipery slope of Canada as a police state. http://www.nationalpost.com/scripts/story.html?id=2422428

Airports are a competitive business just like any other and the economies of cities rely on them. An airport like Pearson is a huge economic engine and airports in large cities are often one of if not their biggest employer. The more expenses we pile on to Canadian carriers the more passengers head down to fly out of BUF or SEATAC rather than YYZ or YVR.

I agree that is why we don't need the scanners. Which actually gives an advantage for people to fly YYZ rather than take a trip across the border where security measures are in place for less of an enjoyed experience.

American carriers and businesses get the benefit at the expense of ours. The port of Vancouver is in direct competition with the port of Seattle for cruise ship and container traffic. The less competitive we are the more business we lose and the whole economy suffers.

I agree so why not be competitive and offer them something they can't get in the US - privacy.

[Wilber]

They shouldn't. The measures are unneeded. Another step down the slipery slope of Canada as a police state. http://www.nationalpost.com/scripts/story.html?id=2422428

I agree that is why we don't need the scanners. Which actually gives an advantage for people to fly YYZ rather than take a trip across the border where security measures are in place for less of an enjoyed experience.

I agree so why not be competitive and offer them something they can't get in the US - privacy.

They fly out of the US for one reason only. Price. It is already less covenient.

[Argus]

If they can't EVER be addressed no matter what I guess we'd have to round up anyone that isn't an atheist send them away and isolate ourselves.

Why isolate ourselves? Why not isolate them?

And are Mormons blowing up airplanes these days? Are the Jehovah's Witnesses cutting people's throats? Are Mennonites commiting terrorist acts? Do we fear the Amish will plant bombs in schools? I don't think we need to consider isolating everyone not an atheist. That's not logical.

[eyeball]

Why isolate ourselves? Why not isolate them?

There's fewer of us than them.

And are Mormons blowing up airplanes these days? Are the Jehovah's Witnesses cutting people's throats? Are Mennonites commiting terrorist acts? Do we fear the Amish will plant bombs in schools? I don't think we need to consider isolating everyone not an atheist. That's not logical.

Not yet so far. I meant us atheists should probably isolate ourselves.

Maybe atheists should just do the equivalent of sewing a Canadian flag on a backpack. You know keep a burka, a cross or other religious symbols close at hand so you can display your non-threatening nature.

[Argus]

There's fewer of us than them.

Not yet so far. I meant us atheists should probably isolate ourselves.

Maybe atheists should just do the equivalent of sewing a Canadian flag on a backpack. You know keep a burka, a cross or other religious symbols close at hand so you can display your non-threatening nature.

Except that to most of us in the West Atheists are simply quaint. To most of the world's Muslims Atheists are godless, and thus, have no rights whatsoever and are to be treated accordingly.

[Guest American Woman]

So again we have to "harmonize" with the US or not fly into the US, at a cost of 1.1Bil.

Right. You do have the choice of not flying into the U.S. The U.S. has requirements regarding who/what gets into the U.S. just as Canada has requirements regarding who/what gets into Canada. You have to abide by our standards, just as we have to abide by yours.

I'm just wondering how invasive this could be for women, especially when its "that time of the month" so to speak. Since the bomber had stuff hidden in his groin area, this could become embarrassing for the airport and the women.

Since the scanners see through clothing, I'm guessing they will see right through any "that time of the month" protection. Breast implants, however, will show up.

I think if it is for protecting US, US should pay for it.

As has already been pointed out, Canada has the option of not flying planes into the U.S. If Canada doesn't choose that option, Canada will have to bear the expense of its decision as it will have to meet U.S. entry requirements same as any other country/same as any other country expects regarding entry into their country. Furthermore, if the flight is leaving from Canada, I'd say there are likely some Canadians on board every flight, so it would be protecting the Canadians on board, too.

There is also the radiation that pregnant women and people who have had radiation treatments must be carefully about. Even though these machine emit low radiation, the same is said about the dental x-rays, but there you have the protection of a lead vest.

I've never had any protection from dental x-rays. My daughter, while pregnant, did get singled out for the scanners, and from what I've read, we're exposed to more radiation on a daily basis than these machines emit.

But seriously, yes i see the concern for women. How about women only being scanned/analyzed by women security workers?

I've never been patted down by men; from what I understand, women workers deal with women, men with men.

Also how are these effective if some person can put bombs on little tommy and not be scanned.

as children under 18 won't be subject to the search

or why not send a 17 year old operative or other child soilder in?

This is a really good point. It only proves what I've said before, that an occasional 'threat' will get through. I have to wonder, though, how calm a 'child' would be going through security; if they'd be able to pull it off.

[William Ashley]

Why isolate ourselves? Why not isolate them?

And are Mormons blowing up airplanes these days? Are the Jehovah's Witnesses cutting people's throats? Are Mennonites commiting terrorist acts? Do we fear the Amish will plant bombs in schools? I don't think we need to consider isolating everyone not an atheist. That's not logical.

Fact is people are all over the middle east occupying the area - killing civilians and jihadists on a daily basis. Why is that? Why is that? Why is that? Why is that? Why is that? Why is that? Ir was in the name of religion in those days for NATO.

[eyeball]

Except that to most of us in the West Atheists are simply quaint.

You're pretty sure about that are you? From where I'm sitting the opposite is true. One poor little church where I live is down to about 6 members and facing demolition.

To most of the world's Muslims Atheists are godless, and thus, have no rights whatsoever and are to be treated accordingly.

Most? I really doubt that.

[Argus]

George Jonas has some pithy comments regarding the new airport security nonsense today.

If the same authorities that confiscate toiletry from matrons in Miami had bothered to profile Abdulmutallab, his scorched private parts would be in better shape today. The “system” Napolitano thought worked just tickety-boo had cheerfully waved aboard an Airbus a 23-year-old Muslim male from Nigeria travelling without luggage, who had purchased a one-way ticket with cash at the airport, was already on a terrorist watch-list, and had been denounced by his own father for being a radical. What could a $100,000 full body scanner tell officials about a man who all but had “suicide bomber” pasted on his forehead? Technology can’t cure stupidity

George Jonas

In addition, he might have added that the new body scanners would not have detected the powder anyway, and that, as always, Canada's airport security and screening is contracted out to minimum wage security guard companies.

[bjre]

Security at Pearson more like harassment, expert says (theStar.com):

Pearson airport is vulnerable to a terrorist attack because its security system does little more than harass travellers, a leading expert says.

"There is only a vague attempt to do aviation security at Pearson," Rafi Sela said. "We're just harassing the public. We're not performing security."

Sela, president of AR Challenges, a global transportation security consultancy, said there is little to stop a terrorist threat from occurring in the airport before the security gate.

"Who said (a terrorist) wants to bring down planes?

If he explodes himself

, God forbid,

in the middle of the crowd that waits for security to be checked ... your whole system is blown to pieces

, because it's based on the premise that you stand in line for three hours to be checked for 10 seconds."

Waiting 3 hours to be checked for 10 seconds? I guess more and more things will be like the emergency room in hospitals or in the waiting room of family doctor's.

Edited January 27, 2010 by bjre

[EyesWideOpen]

As has already been pointed out, Canada has the option of not flying planes into the U.S. If Canada doesn't choose that option, Canada will have to bear the expense of its decision as it will have to meet U.S. entry requirements same as any other country/same as any other country expects regarding entry into their country. Furthermore, if the flight is leaving from Canada, I'd say there are likely some Canadians on board every flight, so it would be protecting the Canadians on board, too.

and it's not as easy as all that...can't find my link, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that 60% of our DOMESTIC flights cross US airspace at some point in time.

[William Ashley]

I've never been patted down by men; from what I understand, women workers deal with women, men with men.

What about lesbians and gays?

[bjre]

Terrorists Could Use Explosives in Breast Implants to Crash Planes, Experts Warn

Female homicide bombers are being fitted with exploding breast implants which are almost impossible to detect, British spies have reportedly discovered.

The shocking new Al Qaeda tactic involves radical doctors inserting the explosives in women's breasts during plastic surgery — making them

"virtually impossible to detect by the usual airport scanning machines."

It is believed the doctors have been trained at some of Britain's leading teaching hospitals before returning to their own countries to perform the surgical procedures.

...

Explosive experts allegedly told MI5 that a sachet containing as little as five ounces of PETN could blow "a considerable hole" in an airline's skin, causing it to crash.

[Smallc]

I volunteer as breast inspector. I'll do it for free, as a service to my country.

[Guest American Woman]

and it's not as easy as all that...can't find my link, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that 60% of our DOMESTIC flights cross US airspace at some point in time.

Do those domestic flights have to abide by the same security measures as international flights landing in the U.S.?

I suppose whether they do or not, Canada would want to have extra security regarding those flights to protect Canadians, in the event that a would-be terrorist would use a Canadian flight to strike in the U.S. if security were more lax.