When it comes to airport (and national) security, no one does it better than the Israelis. And yet, because of the liberal mantra that screams, "it's not FAIR!", our leaders will not even take a look at Israeli style security for American airports. Why? Here's what Janet Napolitano said "what is effective in Israel, a nation of 7.3 million, wouldn't necessarily work for 310 million Americans."
In another article here, we're told we don't have the manpower or the training to do it effectively.
Wrong on both counts.
So what is the model? Here it is:
1. Inappropriate clothing: bulking clothing helps hide the explosive vest. If someone is wearing a
heavy coat in spring or summer, that could be a hint. If you're living in the sections of the planet where
you have never seen real snow, that's less of a hint, and more like a neon sign.
2. A robotic walk: Bombers walk like a robot for a very simple reason: they're carrying approximately
40 pounds of additional weight. Also, many suicide bombers tend to be high before they go towards
their target—raw opium is standard, usually tucked between the gum and the cheek. So, either take the
added weight or being high, or both, a suicide bomber walks funny
3-6. Variations on a theme: irritability, sweating, tics, nervous behavior. These people are in the last
moments of their lives: scared of the pain, drugged out of their mind. Motivation doesn't matter, nor
does sincerity of one's beliefs—they are about to die, they see it coming, and they haven't exactly had
to do this before. The stress becomes visible.
7. Breathing. Breaths come low, and controlled. It's more or less a matter of the bomber trying to
control their breath so they don't hyperventilate.
8. Staring. No one is 100% sure why, but suicide bombers stare straight ahead, fixed on a target.
Perhaps it's tunnel vision, perhaps it's blocking out everything but the thought of being about to meet
ones maker. Every image of bombers before they blow up shows them with the exact same stare.
9. Mumbled prayers. To date, everyone who blows themselves up in a suicide bombing has done so
for religious reasons. Surviving eyewitnesses have all seen continuous, formulaic incantations on
visibly moving lips, usually before all hell breaks loose.
10. A large bag. Fresh dynamite is a stable explosive that needs to be set off by specially prepared
blasting caps. These caps are wired with cord to an electricity supply and a switch. A nine-volt battery
will do, or a large square battery—these are too heavy for a pocket, usually, therefore, a bag.
11. The most recent point: You can't see the person's hands. If the person's hands are in the bag
consistently, it could be resting on a button. In the earlier days of suicide bombings, a good bearhug
would pin the bomber's arms to their sides, preventing them from reaching the button. The bombers
learned, leading to....hands in the bag.
12. Male bombers only: Recently shaved beards. Usually, this is done so the bomber can blend in.
Lee Childs, in his Jack Reacher novel, "Gone Tomorrow" spells it out nicely in the first chapter.
Could we adopt this in the United States? Sure. Should we have done so soon after 9/11? Absolutely. Have we known about this system for a while? Yes. We, as American's, need to get over the fact that there are people out there who want to kill us for no other reason than we exist. Utilizing these measures at airports, whether it's your local Muni or the big International in the big city, will keep America and Americans safer in the air than any "enhanced pat-down procedure", shoe removal or full-body scanner will.
Eric Lancaster
