More TSA Genius: Treating Returning Soldiers as Terrorists

[AZGrizFan]

Received this email from Col Hogan, who confirmed it's validity, regarding treatment of soldiers returning from the battlefield in Afghanistan.

This ones for you, KY Jelly:

When we were on our way back from Afghanistan, we flew out of Baghram Air Field. We went through customs at BAF, full body scanners (no groping), had all of our bags searched, the whole nine yards. Our first stop was Shannon, Ireland to refuel. After that, we had to stop at Indianapolis, Indiana to drop off about 100 folks from the Indiana National Guard. That's where the stupid started.

First, everyone was forced to get off the plane-even though the plane wasn't refueling again. All 330 people got off that plane, rather than let the 100 people from the ING get off. We were filed from the plane to a holding area. No vending machines, no means of escape. Only a male/female latrine.

It's probably important to mention that we were ALL carrying weapons. Everyone was carrying an M4 Carbine (rifle) and some, like me, were also carrying an M9 pistol. Oh, and our gunners had M-240B machine guns. Of course, the weapons weren't loaded. And we had been cleared of all ammo well before we even got to customs at Baghram, then AGAIN at customs.

The TSA personnel at the airport seriously considered making us unload all of the baggage from the SECURE cargo hold to have it reinspected. Keep in mind, this cargo had been unpacked, inspected piece by piece by U.S. Customs officials, resealed and had bomb-sniffing dogs give it a one-hour run through. After two hours of sitting in this holding area, the TSA decided not to reinspect our Cargo-just to inspect us again: Soldiers on the way home from war, who had already been inspected, reinspected and kept in a SECURE holding area for 2 hours. Ok, whatever. So we lined up to go through security AGAIN.

This is probably another good time to remind you all that all of us were carrying actual assault rifles, and some of us were also carrying pistols.

So we're in line, going through one at a time. One of our Soldiers had his Gerber multi-tool. TSA confiscated it. Kind of ridiculous, but it gets better. A few minutes later, a guy empties his pockets and has a pair of nail clippers. Nail clippers. TSA informs the Soldier that they're going to confiscate his nail clippers. The conversation went something like this:

TSA Guy: You can't take those on the plane.

Soldier: What? I've had them since we left country.

TSA Guy: You're not suppose to have them.

Soldier: Why?

TSA Guy: They can be used as a weapon.

Soldier: [touches butt stock of the rifle] But this actually is a weapon. And I'm allowed to take it on.

TSA Guy: Yeah but you can't use it to take over the plane. You don't have bullets.

Soldier: And I can take over the plane with nail clippers?

TSA Guy: [awkward silence]

Me: Dude, just give him your damn nail clippers so we can get the f**k out of here. I'll buy you a new set.

Soldier: [hands nail clippers to TSA guy, makes it through security] To top it off, the tsa demanded we all be swabbed for "explosive residue" detection. Everyone failed, [go figure, we just came home from a war zone], because we tested positive for "Gun Powder Residue". Who the F**K is hiring these people?

This might be a good time to remind everyone that approximately 233 people re-boarded that plane with assault rifles, pistols, and machine guns-but nothing that could have been used as a weapon. Can someone please tell me What the F**K happened to OUR country while we were gone?

Discuss.

[SeattleGriz]

Well obviously, someone could have slipped a terrorist into one of their carry on's without them knowing it.

[GrizFanStuckInUtah]

I have just 5 words that should have been used in this instance:

"Butt stroke to the groin"

I am going to go watch the movie idocracy again, seems like we really are headed that way.

[Skjellyfetti]

Sounds like they're trying to counter military personnel that have smuggled thousands upon thousands of dollars of weapons into the US from Iraq and Afghanistan...

A Coronado-based Navy SEAL faces federal weapons charges following his arrest this week on suspicion of conspiring to sell machine guns and other firearms smuggled into the country from Iraq and Afghanistan, authorities said.

Nicholas Bickle, 33, a member of the Navy's specialized Sea, Air and Land unit, was taken into custody in San Diego on Wednesday following a five-month investigation, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nevada, one of the lead agencies in the case.

Also arrested as part of the probe were Andrew Kaufman, 36, of Las Vegas; and Richard Paul, 34, of Durango, Colo., officials said.

A criminal complaint charges Bickle and the two civilians with conspiracy to commit weapons offenses, including possessing and selling an unregistered machine gun, between June 22 and Oct. 28 of this year.

During the investigation, an undercover officer with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives allegedly bought 18 automatic weapons and 14 other guns from the defendants in Las Vegas, Durango and Bayfield, Colo.

Some of the firearms bore a mark used by the Iraqi military to identify its equipment, according to federal officials.

According to the criminal complaint, a "cooperating individual'' tipped off authorities that the machine guns had been smuggled into the United States by American special-forces military personnel returning from deployments to the Middle East.

http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-n ... 8566.story" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[AZGrizFan]

Sounds like they're trying to counter military personnel that have smuggled thousands upon thousands of dollars of weapons into the US from Iraq and Afghanistan...

A Coronado-based Navy SEAL faces federal weapons charges following his arrest this week on suspicion of conspiring to sell machine guns and other firearms smuggled into the country from Iraq and Afghanistan, authorities said.

Nicholas Bickle, 33, a member of the Navy's specialized Sea, Air and Land unit, was taken into custody in San Diego on Wednesday following a five-month investigation, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nevada, one of the lead agencies in the case.

Also arrested as part of the probe were Andrew Kaufman, 36, of Las Vegas; and Richard Paul, 34, of Durango, Colo., officials said.

A criminal complaint charges Bickle and the two civilians with conspiracy to commit weapons offenses, including possessing and selling an unregistered machine gun, between June 22 and Oct. 28 of this year.

During the investigation, an undercover officer with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives allegedly bought 18 automatic weapons and 14 other guns from the defendants in Las Vegas, Durango and Bayfield, Colo.

Some of the firearms bore a mark used by the Iraqi military to identify its equipment, according to federal officials.

According to the criminal complaint, a "cooperating individual'' tipped off authorities that the machine guns had been smuggled into the United States by American special-forces military personnel returning from deployments to the Middle East.

http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-n ... 8566.story" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

None of that explains the actions of the TSA in this case. Nice red herring though.

Unless of course that SEAL smuggled those weapons in under his tunic or up his ass, or had them disguised as fingernail clippers.

[houndawg]

Received this email from Col Hogan, who confirmed it's validity, regarding treatment of soldiers returning from the battlefield in Afghanistan.

This ones for you, KY Jelly:

When we were on our way back from Afghanistan, we flew out of Baghram Air Field. We went through customs at BAF, full body scanners (no groping), had all of our bags searched, the whole nine yards. Our first stop was Shannon, Ireland to refuel. After that, we had to stop at Indianapolis, Indiana to drop off about 100 folks from the Indiana National Guard. That's where the stupid started.

First, everyone was forced to get off the plane-even though the plane wasn't refueling again. All 330 people got off that plane, rather than let the 100 people from the ING get off. We were filed from the plane to a holding area. No vending machines, no means of escape. Only a male/female latrine.

It's probably important to mention that we were ALL carrying weapons. Everyone was carrying an M4 Carbine (rifle) and some, like me, were also carrying an M9 pistol. Oh, and our gunners had M-240B machine guns. Of course, the weapons weren't loaded. And we had been cleared of all ammo well before we even got to customs at Baghram, then AGAIN at customs.

The TSA personnel at the airport seriously considered making us unload all of the baggage from the SECURE cargo hold to have it reinspected. Keep in mind, this cargo had been unpacked, inspected piece by piece by U.S. Customs officials, resealed and had bomb-sniffing dogs give it a one-hour run through. After two hours of sitting in this holding area, the TSA decided not to reinspect our Cargo-just to inspect us again: Soldiers on the way home from war, who had already been inspected, reinspected and kept in a SECURE holding area for 2 hours. Ok, whatever. So we lined up to go through security AGAIN.

This is probably another good time to remind you all that all of us were carrying actual assault rifles, and some of us were also carrying pistols.

So we're in line, going through one at a time. One of our Soldiers had his Gerber multi-tool. TSA confiscated it. Kind of ridiculous, but it gets better. A few minutes later, a guy empties his pockets and has a pair of nail clippers. Nail clippers. TSA informs the Soldier that they're going to confiscate his nail clippers. The conversation went something like this:

TSA Guy: You can't take those on the plane.

Soldier: What? I've had them since we left country.

TSA Guy: You're not suppose to have them.

Soldier: Why?

TSA Guy: They can be used as a weapon.

Soldier: [touches butt stock of the rifle] But this actually is a weapon. And I'm allowed to take it on.

TSA Guy: Yeah but you can't use it to take over the plane. You don't have bullets.

Soldier: And I can take over the plane with nail clippers?

TSA Guy: [awkward silence]

Me: Dude, just give him your damn nail clippers so we can get the f**k out of here. I'll buy you a new set.

Soldier: [hands nail clippers to TSA guy, makes it through security] To top it off, the tsa demanded we all be swabbed for "explosive residue" detection. Everyone failed, [go figure, we just came home from a war zone], because we tested positive for "Gun Powder Residue". Who the F**K is hiring these people?

This might be a good time to remind everyone that approximately 233 people re-boarded that plane with assault rifles, pistols, and machine guns-but nothing that could have been used as a weapon. Can someone please tell me What the F**K happened to OUR country while we were gone?

Discuss.

Thanks for the extra bureaucracy, George. I feel so much safer now.

[D1B]

Hogan's 2nd email to Z:



Here's a pic of us at Stuckey's. Enjoy.

Z, I love you. Oh, BTW, I have genital Herpes and Hep C.

Yours Faithfully,

Col Hogan

[GrizFanStuckInUtah]

Sounds like they're trying to counter military personnel that have smuggled thousands upon thousands of dollars of weapons into the US from Iraq and Afghanistan...

A Coronado-based Navy SEAL faces federal weapons charges following his arrest this week on suspicion of conspiring to sell machine guns and other firearms smuggled into the country from Iraq and Afghanistan, authorities said.

Nicholas Bickle, 33, a member of the Navy's specialized Sea, Air and Land unit, was taken into custody in San Diego on Wednesday following a five-month investigation, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nevada, one of the lead agencies in the case.

Also arrested as part of the probe were Andrew Kaufman, 36, of Las Vegas; and Richard Paul, 34, of Durango, Colo., officials said.

A criminal complaint charges Bickle and the two civilians with conspiracy to commit weapons offenses, including possessing and selling an unregistered machine gun, between June 22 and Oct. 28 of this year.

During the investigation, an undercover officer with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives allegedly bought 18 automatic weapons and 14 other guns from the defendants in Las Vegas, Durango and Bayfield, Colo.

Some of the firearms bore a mark used by the Iraqi military to identify its equipment, according to federal officials.

According to the criminal complaint, a "cooperating individual'' tipped off authorities that the machine guns had been smuggled into the United States by American special-forces military personnel returning from deployments to the Middle East.

http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-n ... 8566.story" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They certainly were not smuggling them onto the airplane with them. You barely have enough room to sit in the seat with all the bullshit you have to carry, it's like traveling with 2 women and a kid with what they made us carry on. And does anyone see them trying to carry 32 weapons between the two of them? If you think the TSA sucks to get past, try going through the checks the Army will put you through to leave those god forsaken places. The way those people got the weapons out were via air cargo or other means, it certainly wasn't in plain site and on their personal flight home.

[Ibanez]

The TSA are Mall Cops with Groping Privelages.

[danefan]

The TSA are Mall Cops with Groping Privelages.

They also deal with a lot of complete and utter jackasses, who for the most part make their job pretty shitty.

No excuse on the above story if true though. A little common sense would go a very long way with most people in a position of arbitrary authority.

[Ibanez]

The TSA are Mall Cops with Groping Privelages.

They also deal with a lot of complete and utter jackasses, who for the most part make their job pretty shitty.

No excuse on the above story if true though. A little common sense would go a very long way with most people in a position of arbitrary authority.

All jokes aside, your TSA agent at Newark Airport has no impact on TSA policy. He/she are trying to do their job and get paid. The anger needs to be vented towards the policy makers. THey are the only ones that can create change.

[AZGrizFan]

Hogan's 2nd email to Z:



Here's a pic of us at Stuckey's. Enjoy.

Z, I love you. Oh, BTW, I have genital Herpes and Hep C.

Yours Faithfully,

Col Hogan

That's about as deep as I'd expect from you on a subject with merit like this.

[CID1990]

They also deal with a lot of complete and utter jackasses, who for the most part make their job pretty shitty.

No excuse on the above story if true though. A little common sense would go a very long way with most people in a position of arbitrary authority.

All jokes aside, your TSA agent at Newark Airport has no impact on TSA policy. He/she are trying to do their job and get paid. The anger needs to be vented towards the policy makers. THey are the only ones that can create change.

+1

[AZGrizFan]

All jokes aside, your TSA agent at Newark Airport has no impact on TSA policy. He/she are trying to do their job and get paid. The anger needs to be vented towards the policy makers. THey are the only ones that can create change.

+1

If you listen real hard you can hear them creating hope too.

[D1B]

Hogan's 2nd email to Z:



Here's a pic of us at Stuckey's. Enjoy.

Z, I love you. Oh, BTW, I have genital Herpes and Hep C.

Yours Faithfully,

Col Hogan

That's about as deep as I'd expect from you on a subject with merit like this.

Yeah, real deep subject, William F. Buckley, Jr. They were discussin it on Oprah and Rachel Ray today.

Who gives a fuck?

*Oh, and I know you chuckled.