Unanimity
We’ve all experienced the hassle of lost baggage on flights. Well not even world leaders are exempt … or at least their security details.
It seems that some Glock semi-automatic guns got lost in transit when Prime Minister Netanyahu visited the States recently.
Here’s the story from today’s Wall Street Journal:
Members of the prime minister’s security team flew on Israeli airline El Al Sunday into John F. Kennedy airport in New York, in advance of Mr. Netanyahu’s visit with President Barack Obama, according to officials with knowledge of the incident. After passing through customs, the Israeli security officers checked two hard carrying cases—one containing four .40-caliber Glock handguns and the other containing three Glocks—before boarding an American Airlines flight to Washington, the officials said.
The officials said Transportation Security Administration agents made sure the security officers had permits for the weapons and affixed stickers to the cases indicating clearance for the guns and their transport. The TSA agents then forwarded the cases to American Airlines baggage handlers to be loaded onto the plane, according to the officials.
The security officers arrived in Washington Sunday evening, but the case with the four guns didn’t, the officials said. American Airlines personnel found the case, with its Washington destination tag still on it, at a Los Angeles Airport terminal at around 4 p.m. on Tuesday in L.A., about two hours after Messrs. Obama and Netanyahu met at the White House to discuss U.S.-Israel relations.
The locked case—which wasn’t checked by the American personnel who found it in L.A. to see if it still had the weapons—was put on an American flight to Chicago and then to Washington, the officials said. When the security officers opened the case, they discovered that the four Glocks were missing, the officials said.
The denouement is predictable:
American spokesman Tim Wagner declined to comment on what he called “a potential security incident.” The TSA declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation. Officials at the Israeli Embassy in Washington deferred comment to U.S. law-enforcement agencies investigating the incident and to American. A spokesman for the Port Authority police declined to comment.
Any comments?
We are in serious trouble if we do not realize that this is a major breach of security by the TSA and not a “potential security incident”.
The same criminal gang apparently steals my toothbrush every time I travel, because invariably when I unpack my toiletries in the hotel, there is no toothbrush.
“The officials said Transportation Security Administration agents made sure the security officers had permits for the weapons and affixed stickers to the cases indicating clearance for the guns and their transport. The TSA agents then forwarded the cases to American Airlines baggage handlers to be loaded onto the plane, according to the officials.”
I think it likely that an investigation will pinpoint when and where the guns were removed from the cases, and who did the removing. It’s unclear from the news story, however, whether the Israeli carrying cases were locked (I’m assuming they were), what sort of locks may have been on the cases, and whether the TSA clearance stickers identified the cases as containing weapons. However, whether the clearance stickers did or didn’t specify the contents of the cases, I don’t understand why firearms surrendered by foreign security officials would have been forwarded to AA baggage handlers for storing in the plane. Surely there must (or should) be a procedure for such instances that ensures secure storage of such potentially dangerous items. If it turns out that the carrying cases were stored in the general baggage hold during the routine uploading of passengers’ suitcases, etc., then I think AA needs to reassess its policies.
One would think that there would be a different policy in place for handling weapons in checked luggage than for handling toothbrushes but I am beginning to think I no longer know what to think because one would think that the Prime Minister’s security team would have some clue about how to make sure the weapons were secure.
That’s a devious and widespread criminal gang, Jim. After I return home from a missing-toothbush business trip, I invariably find my tooth-cleaning implement exactly where I left it. Forensic analysis always reveals my fingerprints and DNA only. As I said, they are a devious, devious bunch of felons.
forgettaboutit.. we will send more aid to buy more weapons for Israel.
As might be expected, the TSA does have policies and regulations for “special items,” which include firearms and ammunition:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:xQS-I3tj_YkJ:www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1666.shtm+tsa+regulations+weapons&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
No firearms in carry-on luggage, and firearms’ carrying cases must be locked–I can see the rationale in those rules–but cleared carrying cases apparently go into the plane’s hold during routine loading. Is that because there are a significant number of passengers who travel with firearms and segregation and special handling of such items would be cumbersome and costly? Even if that is so (and I’m not convinced that that would be a sound policy), why wouldn’t the firearms of law enforcement officials, foreign and domestic, receive special attention beyond the routine loading of passengers’ luggage?
I think it’s a plot by Hamas, myself. Or Al Qaeda. Or the Weather Underground. Or the Red Brigade. Or the Tea Party.
William – exactly! They even nab it from my carry-on luggage. They’re nefarious
Jim said: “The same criminal gang apparently steals my toothbrush every time I travel, because invariably when I unpack my toiletries in the hotel, there is no toothbrush.”
You have only yourself to blame. You should either pack your toothbrush in a TSA approved locked toothbrush carrying case or you should buy it its own seat on the plane.
Are they sure the guns were in the carrying cases in the first place?
Ann,
I referred your question to the Israeli Embassy. They dismissed it with a snarly “no comment!”
Jim,
What color was the toothbrush? I found an extra on my return from Rome.
Watch your back, Fr. Imbelli. Shabak doesn’t appreciate impertinent questions.
No comments.
Perhaps the lost weapons can be found at the Unclaimed Baggage Center — “Lost Treasures From Around The World”: http://www.unclaimedbaggage.com