EPIC Uncovers: Mobile Scanners Not 'Certified People Scanners' 154
OverTheGeicoE writes "The Electronic Privacy Information Center received more FOIA documents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regarding mobile x-ray scanners (a.k.a. Z Backscatter Vans). We've discussed these devices before. Perhaps the most interesting part is slide #11 ('Disclaimer About Scanning People') on page 6 of this PDF explaining that the radiation output of these devices is too high to comply with ANSI N43.17. In other words, they output too much radiation even by TSA's questionable standards for airport body scanners. Regardless, the slide ends with the author stating that the ANSI standard 'is not applicable to covert operations.' What might that assertion have meant to the presentation's intended audience?"
Gee, what a shock (Score:5, Interesting)
Here's a better question to ask: which official is going to wind up taking the fall for these wastes of tax dollars? So far, we know the following about these machines:
This was an obvious sweetheart deal, and someone is going to have to get in trouble for it. Obama or his successor will probably pardon that person, since it will just be a fall guy and nobody wants to start an investigation that would keep expanding until half of capitol hill was implicated.
ZBV at the border (Score:5, Interesting)
Comments so far are missing a salient feature of these things: they are in use at the U.S. border.
Trucks drive past them at the border (oh, they're just mezkins...)
They are located north of the border, by approx. 30 miles (DHS calls it "defense in depth"). See them in my neck of the woods in Arizona on: northbound I/19, eastbound Hwy 82, northbound Hwy 83, northbound Hwy 90
To the assholes who have no problem with this: how many checkpoints do you drive through on your way to work?
You can see a picture of these vans via the earlier /. link
Re:Oh, please (Score:3, Interesting)
Wrong, on the Gibson front. Their problems have nothing to do with the wood, itself, being illegal; it has to do with the relatively recent changes to the Lacey Act(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacey_Act_of_1900), and how the US Government is enforcing Indian law. The wood that was taken, on two different occasion, mind you, was completely legal.
Prior to commenting on a subject, make sure you know what you are talking about. Your post just perpetuates blatantly false information, because you "heard/read it somewhere". As far as the raid that occurred this year(2011), it has to do with the wood that Gibson obtained was not finished by Indian workers, which is a violation of Indian law, not US law. As far as the 2009 raid is concerned, Gibson states that it obtained an affidavit that the exported wood was within the law that Madagascar had in place, at the time of the export(http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech-mainmenu-30/environment/8780-feds-raid-gibson-guitar-to-save-endangered-foreign-trees)
The Lacey Act, as it currently stands, is extremely unconstitutional. The US has no business, or authority, to enforce foreign law. Gibson's only fault is that it attempted to provide jobs to workers in the United States, and the United States has a law that bans such jobs, in this instance. We have too many restrictions on manufacturing, well, really, business as a whole, in this country.
The biggest problem I have with this, which is really equal to the whole illegal seizure issue, is the fact that the law enforcement agents were dressed in tactical gear and presented themselves as a unit going after a well armed foe. This only gives credence to the people that continue to shout about how the United States is become more of a "Police State" everyday. As an ex-law enforcement officer myself, I disagree with the way the "raid" was handled.
If Gibson had been made states to the tune of, "Fuck the police, we will kill any that attempt to seize our property", then I would say that the armed and tactical response would be warranted. As I doubt that occurred, or anything similar to that, the response by the engaging agents was unprofessional and unwarranted.
Re:Oh, please (Score:3, Interesting)
How about you listen to this short radio episode [schiffradio.com], the guest is Henry Juszkiewicz, CEO of Gibson Guitars. You will find out how a classic American company became an enemy of the state by providing 1200 jobs IN USA, that's right. The reasons? Who knows. The government doesn't have to tell the reasons, you peons, not even peons in the sense that you do work. You are just a number in the line up that they can use for displaying the meat mass, how much there is there to "count the votes" or whatever they need you for, and you aren't too good for organs anymore, being on FDA approved drugs and department of Agriculture subsidized foods.
I have been following the Gibson Guitar story for a few days now. At this point, it appears that there is one of two reasons why Gibson is under this investigation. The first is because Gibson employed Americans to finish the wood rather than workers in either India or Madagascar. The second possible reason is because the CEO of Gibson is a Republican contributor.
Martin Guitars imports the same sorts of woods from the same locations, but they are not being investigated. Martin Guitars CEO is a Democratic Party contributor.