U.S. to require armed officers on some international flights over U.S.

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON (AP) --Amid a heightened state of alert for terrorists, the U.S. government said Monday it will require international air carriers in certain cases to place armed law enforcement officers on flights over the United States.

The Homeland Security Department said the directive, which is effective immediately, will further enhance security on commercial and cargo aircraft flying to, from and over the United States.

"We are asking international air carriers to take this protective action as part of our ongoing effort to make air travel safe for Americans and visitors alike," Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said in a statement.

"I have said that we will take specific steps to increase security whenever necessary, and with this action we are doing just that," he added.

The move comes just after Britain said it tightened security for trans-Atlantic flights and suggested it might put armed sky marshals on some planes. The United States already places armed security officers on certain flights. (Full story.)
~snip~

more : http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/12/29/airline.security.ap/index.html


More scare tactic by bushco?

[BiggJawn]

1. I heard this included some freight flights, too.

"So....You're my TSA-mandated security officer, huh? OK, find yourself a spot back amongst the cargo, and no, there is no heat back there...No lights, either..."

[yellowcanine]

2. So the sky marshals have to disguise themselves as FedEx Packages?

When the bad guys see a package walking out of the bathroom they might get a little suspicious.

[Flubadubya]

3. Remember when "sky marshals" was proposed for domestic flights?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't BushCo. fight that tooth and nail and make a big fuss about whether it was necessary or not? When their hand was finally forced and they had to give in, they then wanted it to be just on "some" flights, and, of course the "sky marshals" would be incognito so no one would know whether they were ever even put on any flights at all, etc.

Now they are DEMANDING that foreign countries be made to put them on their international flights coming to America. I wish these countries could just tell Junior, et. al. where to stick their frickin' sky marshals. However, the playground bully will more than likely win again. :(

[FormerOstrich]

4. I'm kicking this...

I saw this in the paper today and couldn't wait to get home to read the DU comments. I was shocked when it was difficult to find.

The AZ Republic has some information that wasn't included in the CNN version.

The system goes into effect immediately for an estimated 800 to 1,000 passenger flights a day that could be required to use air marshals. Ridge warned that carriers that refuse to comply could be prevented from using U.S. air space.

....snip

Mexico will arrange for its own armed agents to travel on certain flights over the United States, Mexican Interior Secretary Santiago Creel said.

....snip

Ridge said armed law enforcement officers would be placed only on flights where intelligence causes concerns about a particular plane.

...snip

The directive, issued in the form of three emergency amendments to air security regulations, takes effect immediately. It requires that armed law enforcement officers from the home nations of the airlines be placed aboard passenger and cargo flights. The marshals must be able to prevent an intruder from reaching the cockpit. The cost would be borne by the airlines.

Private analysts suggested that only a small proportion of foreign flights may be required to post armed marshals, but the U.S. announcement, and the forcefulness with which it was delivered, received a mixed and sometimes frosty reception from allies and foreign airlines.

....snip

The British Air Line Pilots Association said it does not believe arms belong on aircraft, and British Airways, the country's biggest airline, said it reserves the right not to fly if it is forced to add air marshals.

...more

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/1230armedmarshals30.html

:kick: