AIR SAFETY - Muscle yields results

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USAToday

12/04/2001 - Updated 10:46 PM ET Muscle yields results

It's amazing what a little leverage can do.

Last week the U.S. Customs Service gave 58 foreign and domestic airlines an ultimatum: Provide computerized lists of overseas passengers flying to the USA — data needed to identify potential terrorists. Passengers on airlines refusing to provide the data during flights would face rigorous and time-consuming baggage searches upon arrival.

Customs meant business, as carriers soon learned. International passengers arriving in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Phoenix on balky airlines waited in long lines for intense searches in recent days. Then, magically, two-thirds of the recalcitrant airlines quickly found a way to comply.

This small victory teaches a deeper lesson. When the U.S. government exercises even a fraction of its vast power to force compliance with security laws, it gets results. Yet for years transportation officials failed to get tough, and security suffered.

Before a new aviation security law was signed last month, the program to get passenger lists was voluntary, forcing U.S. officials to beg airlines to cooperate.

Most airlines did, recognizing the importance of giving law enforcement a head start on checking passenger passports against databases of suspected terrorists and criminals. But many key exceptions persisted, including Russia's Aeroflot, Royal Jordanian Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines.

About 21 airlines remain obstinate. Tuesday, Saudi airline officials said they'd sent a letter promising to make changes. Customs officials said they've yet to receive it, and passengers from airlines not complying will continue to be scrutinized heavily.

That's as it should be. According to U.S. officials, 15 of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers applied for visas at consulates in Saudi Arabia and claimed to be Saudi citizens.

Sept. 11 showed the weakness of voluntary security measures.

This time, U.S. officials seem to have the right mindset, pushing compliance even before the new law took effect.

Strict laws, fast follow-through and tough enforcement are in order. Also, a little attitude can't hurt.

-- Anonymous, December 05, 2001


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