The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

[Strelnikov]

From today’s news…


THE GOOD: “…reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the Naval Service.”

U.S. News & World Report: April 1, 2002 (current issue)
“Washington Whispers” by Paul Bedard

Roberts Ridge

The death of Navy SEAL Neil Roberts during Operation Anaconda isn't being forgotten. As sketchy details come forth, we learn that Roberts, who fell from a Chinook helicopter that had been clipped by a rocket, fought for about an hour, even storming a machine gun nest. SEALs now call the area "Roberts Ridge." And there's talk that those who braved a firefight to recover Roberts are being considered for the Medal of Honor.



THE BAD: Fly with confidence. The Federal Anti Terrorist Airport Security Service (FATASS) is on guard.

USA Today: March 25, 2002
“Weapons Slip Past Airport Security” by Blake Morrison

Screeners at 32 U.S. airports failed to detect hundreds of knives, guns or simulated explosives in tests by government investigators in the months after Sept. 11, USA TODAY has learned.

The undercover tests show widespread failures in most areas of airport security, despite increased vigilance and higher staffing levels after the terrorist attacks. The tests, ordered by President Bush, were conducted by the Transportation Department's inspector general from November through early February, when airports were on their highest alert.

According to a confidential memo dated Feb. 19 and obtained by USA TODAY, investigators conducted 783 tests at airport screening checkpoints and hundreds of tests in other areas of airport security. The memo, sent by the inspector general to top Transportation Department officials including Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, says investigators tried to carry guns past screeners in some of the tests. In others, they wore knives or tried to slip simulated explosives through checkpoints.

The results:
Investigators carried knives past screeners in more than 70% of tests.
Screeners failed to spot guns in 30% of tests.
Screeners failed to detect simulated explosive devices in 60% of tests.
Overall, screeners failed to stop prohibited items in 48% of tests.
Investigators either secretly boarded an aircraft or gained access to the airport tarmac in 48% of tests.



THE UGLY: Another reason to hate Law Professors – as if we needed one.

Wall Street Journal: March 25, 2002
“Asides”

Military Excluded

Like many law schools, the one at Washington University in St. Louis wants to encourage its graduates to go into public service, so it has a Loan Repayment Assistance Program that helps graduates pay off their debts if they take government jobs. Excluded from the program, however, are graduates who go into the military. Why? Because the faculty objects to the ban on homosexual servicemen and women. Rather than writing their congressmen and urging a change in the law, they're punishing their own students who wish to serve their country.


Strelnikov

 

[shark]

According to the O'Reily factor,over 80% of the security screeners at Dulles airport in DC are foreign born,which can cause a security problem.What is worse is that nobody can answer how many of them are illegals,and nobody asked about finding out is forthcoming.Makes you wonder................

 

[Shem the Penman]

Just wanted to point out that the tests mentioned were conducted before the federal government took control of airport security, on February 17. In other words, they're further evidence that leaving airport security in the hands of the airlines and the private contractors they hire is not the way to go.

 

[Strelnikov]

But if the Feds just hire the same rent-a-cops we have at the airports now, we won't gain a thing. Instead, all we will have are $10.00 per hour Federal employees who aren't worth the $5.25 per hour the guard companies were paying.

Strelnikov

 

[Shem the Penman]

The government is still in the process of training supervisors and deciding who to hire. That's why these tests were done -- to show them what needs to be improved and how. (Here in New York, there's talk about recruiting retired cops as screeners, which I think is an excellent idea.)

And if you think it's possible to attract brighter, more dedicated people to the profession without paying them more than they'd earn selling fast food, I'd love to hear how.

The mess the private companies have made won't be fixed overnight, but as the results of those tests show, there's nowhere to go but up.

 

[Strelnikov]

Non-supervisory police officers in this state top out at about $15.00 to $20.00 per hour, with the better pay at the larger departments. Starting pay is in the $10.00 to $12.00 range. That's probably the pay scale we should be looking at. However, we also need to be at least as selective as the average police department. Furthermore, we can't let quotas and set-asides create a two-tier system (trust me, the USG does this.)

What we DON'T want is the same people who are working as airport rent-a-cops now. I worked for a guard company when I was in college. Employees fit one of the following categories:
1) Students or retirees looking for easy part-time work and a little folding money.
2) Guys working a second-front job to pay off a car note.
3) Guys whose unemployment benefits have run out, and who will leave as soon as they find a real job.
4) High school dropouts who can't find anything better.
5) Drunks and other losers who can't keep a regular job.

The public will support paying to get the job done. The challenge will be to find and keep good people, while excluding the losers. From what I've seen of other USG operations, that won't be easy.

Strelnikov

 

[Strelnikov]

The Ugly - Revisited

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: March 26, 2002
Law Dean At WU Reverses Loan Vote
By Matthew Franck and Greg Jonsson

The dean of the Washington University School of Law reversed course Monday, saying that graduates who enter military service will qualify for help in paying back student loans. The decision nullifies a 2-week-old policy that would have kept military-bound graduates from receiving loan relief because of the military's stance on gays and lesbians.

The law school's policy had become a lightning rod for criticism since it was approved by faculty this month. Many called the move unpatriotic and anti-military. Supporters said the policy simply affirms the university's opposition to all forms of discrimination.

Ultimately, School of Law Dean Joel Seligman said he could not support a plan that would treat the school's students unequally.
"At the end of the day, the most important consideration is that I wasn't comfortable with a policy that favors one student over another," he said.

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Academic administrators are conflict averse - they'll follow the path of least resistance, as this guy did. They're also squishy soft - and as Spiro Agnew once said, the best way to put a hard shell on a marshmallow is to roast it. Keep those cards and letters coming, boys and girls.

Strelnikov