March Top Stories

» World Trade Center Security Breach Number Two: Freindly Fire’s last
column detailed how a 16-year old thrill seeker bypassed security at
the new World Trade Center, roaming the building for hours. Turns out
that infiltration wasn’t even the first breach of the Freedom Tower. Six
months ago, a group of parachutists did the same thing before jumping
from the top. In both cases, the trespassers had unfettered access to
what was supposed to be, for obvious reasons, one of the nation’s most
secure structures.

But here’s the best part. Despite all the reports this week
highlighting the inexcusable security lapses, yet another guard was
caught sleeping on the job. Even more bizarre, he was the only guard at
the ground floor security desk, yet he “could barely see half the lobby”
(his own words) because he is blind in one eye and has limited vision
in the other. And to top it off, ABC News reported that he was named
Security Officer Of The Year.

So that we don’t have to revisit this, is there anyone out there who hasn’t sneaked into the Freedom Tower?

» TSA “Theatre” Now Playing — again: The Transportation Security
Administration just released a report recommending that armed police be
present at security checkpoints and ticket counters, as well as in
places where many people gather. Gee, that narrows it down. Well, except
for anyone watching a 76ers game.

They’re good ideas. But it begs the question: Why aren’t police there
now? That’s easy. Because we A) much prefer window dressings to real
solutions, have extremely short memories, C) don’t want to “offend”
anyone by instituting policies that would actually make flying safer,
and D) lack even basic common sense.

The debate, like always, will revolve around either irrelevant issues
or no-brainer solutions that could be implemented in five minutes, yet
the government still refuses to do its job of actually protecting us.
Consider:

1. A frequent traveler with no criminal record can be granted TSA
PreCheck status, a screening initiative that supposedly enhances
aviation security and expedites the process. There’s another, much more
apt label: American stupidity.

Once enrolled, you breeze through your own airport security line
while enjoying benefits of not removing shoes, belts or jackets. And
neither laptops nor clear bags holding liquids are required to be
removed from carry-ons.

Which means one of two things. Either the
show-us-your-shoes/belts/laptops mandate for all other security lines is
completely bogus, since TSA machines are capable of scanning those
items whether or not they are removed, or, more likely and much more
terrifying, the TSA is admitting it isn’t screening PreCheck travelers
with the scrutiny employed on everyone else. There is no third option.

Are they serious? Do they not think a terrorist, especially a
homegrown one, isn’t smart enough to game the system? Keep a clean
record, become a member of TSA PreCheck, and then — showtime. Oklahoma
City bomber Tim McVeigh is a prime example: U.S. citizen, Bronze medal
winner, Gulf War veteran — yet still a murderous terrorist. Time to end
all special privileges for flyers. If they don’t like it — take the bus
to Europe.

2. A passenger flying on America’s biggest airline recently went
through security (TSA PreCheck, of course), and, upon arriving at his
gate, was informed that his meeting had been canceled in his destination
city. Informing airline personnel that he had canceled his flight, he
asked where he could retrieve his checked bags. Their response? They
don’t take bags off domestic flights.

Isn’t that a big no-no? Most terrorists aren’t suicidal, preferring
to watch their target explode while sipping a latte instead of going
down with the ship — or plane. Since a passenger checking in but not
flying is rare, it should be standard procedure to get his bags off the
plane ASAP. No exceptions. Yet complacency still rules the day at our
airports.

» Boston bomber should never have bombed: Once again, a simple lack
of common sense came back to haunt us. A report being released by the
House Homeland Security Committee documents the missed opportunities to
detain Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev before he acted.

Russian intelligence, starting in March 2011 (more than two years
prior to the bombing), warned both the FBI and CIA that Tsarnaev had
ties to violent Muslim militants. The CIA in turn notified the National
Counterterrorism Center, Homeland Security, and the State Department.
Yet Tsarnaev passed right through our grasp at JFK Airport twice — first
flying to Russia, and then returning six months later after his
terrorist training.

The reason for this foul-up? His name was spelled “Tsarnayev,” with
an extra “y,” in a database. Honestly, you can’t make this stuff up.

Google any subject and the computer knows what you are trying to
find, even if you are misspelling the word or phrase. Yet the most
powerful, and certainly the most important, computers in our government
can’t figure out whom we are attempting to access in a database, or at
least bring up a list of people with similar names?

The president just stated his fear of a nuclear bomb exploding in New
York. Based on the above, he, and we, should be afraid. Very afraid.

» Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett’s unpopularity goes global: It’s bad
enough Corbett’s popularity is in the toilet at home, but he just
suffered a blow of global proportions, this time courtesy of Pope
Francis. Corbett’s much-ballyhooed trip to Rome — together with
Archbishop Chaput and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter — had made big
headlines, since the purpose was to convince the pontiff to attend World
Conference on Families in Philadelphia next year. All that was needed
was the guv to work his oratory magic and seal the deal during a private
audience with the Holy Father in his papal apartment.

One small problem: The pope changed the plans, opting instead to meet
Corbett and the Pennsylvania delegation in public after his weekly
general audience in St. Peter’s Square instead. All involved insist it
was not a snub, merely a change of schedule.

While atoning for his sins might’ve actually done the governor some good, why the last-minute change of plans?

Did the world’s most popular man simply not want to break bread with
America’s least popular governor? Or did the pope become wise to
Corbett’s Jerry Sandusky Sins — an issue that hits close to home for the
church?

Whatever the reason, Corbett’s response that “with the church, you
never know what’s going to happen” probably didn’t endear him to the
pontiff. Given the pope’s change of plans, Corbett is now the Rodney
Dangerfield of politics — he truly gets “no respect.”

With all these sins of commission and omission, maybe we should call
the pope and beg for absolution to get America back on track.

Since Tom Corbett will soon have a lot of time on his hands, maybe we
could ask him to ring Pope Francis for us. On second thought, maybe
not.