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TSA targets new breed of WMDs: mules
If you are a mule skinner -- that is, someone who drives mules -- then you've got to register for special Transportation Security Administration clearance that amounts to a full background check, the same that other professions like truckers have to obtain.That's the latest ruling from one of our guardians of homeland security, at least.
The TSA is in a little row with the National Canal Museum in Easton, Penn. It's one of those places were park workers dress up in period costumes and offer quaint canal rides on a boat that is pulled -- at a stately 2mph -- by two mules.
Now, I'll hold off on the obvious question -- why would want a mule-pulled canal ride in the first place? -- to get to the heart of this controversy: Technically, the TSA argues, these park workers need to register for a biometric Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), which basically required for anyone who could possibly transport dangerous or deadly materials to be used in an act of terrorism (hence the reason truckers need them, for example).
By doing this, the TSA is essentially equating these mules (or perhaps more accurately, the barge they pull) as a potential terrorist threat -- never mind that the canal along side of which these beasts walk does not pass any militarily or scientifically sensitive areas.
The park's director of operations is lobbying her congressman to get this silly requirement waved. The congressman, Rep. Charles Dent (R-Pa.), has so far been rebuked by the TSA. Rules are rules, the TSA says -- if you're operating on water, you're required to have both a credential from the Coast Guard and a TWIC (funny enough, the workers at this park actually have a Coast Guard credential!)
Now there's a chance that things might work out for the two mules, whose names are Hank and George.
Congressman Dent confronted Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Capitol Hill this week and asked her was it really necessary to perform background checks on two mule drivers in outdated clothing. He showed her a picture of Hank and George.
As quoted by CNN, Dent told Napolitano: "Now Hank and George, while sometimes they are ornery, they are not terrorists." Napolitano said she's look into the matter.
And you thought the TSA only enforced stupid rules at airports...
Check out these other stories from the airport checkpoint!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
nismo334 Feb 26th 2009 3:16PM
This is just another example of big government getting in the way of small business. Next we will hear about this place closing because they couldn't afford to have all of their full time and temporary employees get this credential. Another reason to hate the TSA.
Mahmoud Feb 28th 2009 2:08PM
I applied a couple of times for jobs with the feds, was told "they only hire the best and the brightest." Apparently I don't fall into that category. Now we hear all this rubbish about what the TSA is proposing to do. As I've been told over and over, it's not what you know but who you know that gets you jobs. No wonder I've started to hate this country.
Doug Feb 28th 2009 2:06PM
Get the regulation WAIVED, not WAVED. Besides, there are no waves on the barge canal....
Mahmoud Feb 28th 2009 2:08PM
I applied a couple of times for jobs with the feds, was told "they only hire the best and the brightest." Apparently I don't fall into that category. Now we hear all this rubbish about what the TSA is proposing to do. As I've been told over and over, it's not what you know but who you know that gets you jobs. No wonder I've started to hate this country.
Brian Feb 28th 2009 2:23PM
TWIC), which basically required for anyone who could possibly transport dangerous or deadly materials to be used in an act of terrorism (hence the reason truckers need them, for example).
Only if you have Haz-Mat indorsement and you drive truck. Other then that you do not need the back round check. Some companies do the checks anyway.
tojo Feb 28th 2009 2:33PM
This country gets more like Nazi Germany or the North Korea, everyday.
doc Feb 28th 2009 2:37PM
so when will that stinking skank nancy piglosi be required to register?
peterfurlan Feb 28th 2009 2:39PM
GOD BLESS THE USA.
sad to say Feb 28th 2009 2:53PM
I think while this may seem farfetched to the regular public,but the TSA may be right. Is it unfair to small businesses, absolutely- but how would any of us react if the powers that be didn't take this precaution and someone else managed to realize there's a gap in the fence where a bomb could fit through.And succeeded. We would blame them for not doing their job. Unfortunately, we are still at a time of war and even those of us who live the most unobtrusive lives-say, Hank and George and their owner, are reminded of it in moments like these when have to wonder whether or not we are going to be the next victims of a terrorist threat or the accessory that leads to one.
Oh yeah, i have a lot of family and friends in the military and strange as this may seem to some of you, maybe it's not the boat. IEDs and roadside bombs that have been attacking and killing our soldiers and innocent people overseas are sometimes found sewn inside the bellies of goats (and people). Now, we may not be able to imagine something ass odd as as bomb strapped/rigged mule in the middle of a US city as easily as we'd worry about a boat, but its possible. Aside from US intelligence agencies, can any of you regular, average, everyday American tell me you expected to see two planes blow up a bunch of buildings in NY or the pentagon!Of the many casualties that have been lost since these wars have started our national sense of security was definitely one of them. In doing so it did create a looming sense of paranoia.
I don't know about any of you but even after all the times i've had to stop at checkpoints, take off my shoes at airports, and experienced others things that most of us would consider the government's gross intrusion our privacy---If something like 9/11 or anything near it ever happened on our soil anytime soon we would ALL BE MADDER THAN HELL AND BLAME THE TSA AND ALL THE OTHER AGENCIES IN PLACE FOR NOT DOING THEIR JOB.
So, which is worse? Being subjugated to all of these measures that are supposed to be in place for our national security OR THE ONE MOMENT WHEN WHEN SOMETHING BIGGER AND WORSE SLIPS THOUGH ONE OF THE GAPS IN THE FENCE?!? And yes, our fences do have gaps. Its impossible to police all of them. Sad to say but we have reached the day when we all have to worry about mules that pull a canal ride, and the canal ride itself.
LemmingsMakeMeSick Feb 28th 2009 4:08PM
Firstly, it is sad that you think this way, sad to say, that this ridiculous TSA requirement is anything less than another erosion of our rights. A terrorist who would waste time stitching up explosives inside of two mules towing a barge in a theme park is hardly the threat to our national security you seem to think it is, and far worse 'acts of terror' are caused by our troops raping and murdering civilians for no reason in an illegal and insane war that HAS NO EXCUSE, and this is merely one of THOUSANDS of things more worrisome than Hank and George. This is yet another example of 'fear sells', trading in your rights for a false sense of security.
Our government are the terrorists. They start the wars (ALWAYS for profit, you BETTER know your history!). They blew up the towers. No plane hit the pentagon. They killed us, and blamed the muslims... Those IEDs in Iraq are primarily composed of OUR munitions, that somehow, we 'lost'... Those who subjugate us to all of this fear are the ones in control, and they enact legislation to protect THEM from US as they lie to us, steal from us, enslave us and kill us and our children, poisoning our air, our water, our food, selling our country to the highest bidder. These mules are not the threat. Your BELIEVING that they are or could be, is the threat. Being deceived because of willful ignorance of the TRUTH behind their lies is just as much a crime as what those who have deceived you have done. This little story about two old mules being WMD is yet another example of the Hegelian Dialectic.
You can worry about your little mule ride all you want. True Americans will worry about what our government is trying to do to us all, with or without our consent.
THIS is what you should worry about, THESE are the words of the TRUE terrorists:
http://www.federalobserver.com/archive.php?aid=7124
Lloyd Tacko Mar 1st 2009 8:50PM
I think you are very no naive and thougroughly confuse
Go live in Somalia or Iran, they will treat you kindly
and wont lie to you.
Jim Mar 13th 2009 9:41PM
"Aside from US intelligence agencies, can any of you regular, average, everyday American tell me you expected to see two planes blow up a bunch of buildings in NY or the pentagon!". Why yes, I did, as soon as I read it in a Tom Clancy novel. The first thing that came to mind was that this method was way too good for terrorists to pass up. As to the IEDs you mention being sewn into the belly of a goat or person, thos are dead bodies, not live mules pulling a barge. In order to get enough space to fit a device with enough yield to do serious damage, you have to remove the internal organs, and I think someone might get suspicious if they were trying to pull this barge with dead mules.