Outside the Beltway

Gate Rape: Sexual groping of one’s genitalia at airport security by agents after a traveler refuses full body x-ray search.

If some security “experts” get their way, the security procedures we encounter at airports could start showing up elsewhere. Will Americans stand for it?

Looking to avoid airport body scanners? You might not be able to do it on any form of public transit if Janet Napolitano gets her way.

Top administration and congressional officials can skip the indignities of airport screening, even when they fly commercial.

Gel shoe inserts are not permitted on airplanes, so save yourself the hassle and put your inserts in your checked baggage — that’s right, inserts are not even allowed in your carry-on. Shoes constructed with gel heels are allowed but like all other shoes, must be removed and screened.

Despite the recent media outrage over TSA search procedures, public attitudes on the subject remain largely supportive.

It’s not hypocritical or racist to support an aggressive pursuit of terrorists while getting outraged over abuses of Americans’ liberties.

Thomas Ricks laments that the combination of the all-volunteer military and lower top marginal rates mean that the wealthy have “checked out of America and moved into physical and mental gated communities.” To solve this problem, he proposed bringing back the draft.

President Obama’s response to the outrage that has accompanied new TSA screening procedures at America’s airports is incredibly non-responsive.

North Korea has unveiled to the world a new nuclear processing facility that puts back on the table the question of just what we should, or can, do about the fact that a rogue state possesses nuclear weapons and wants to build more.

A retired special education teacher was left humiliated, crying and covered with his own urine after an enhanced pat-down by TSA officers.

“It is not comfortable to come to work knowing full well that my hands will be feeling another man’s private parts, their butt, their inner thigh. Even worse is having to try and feel inside the flab rolls of obese passengers and we seem to get a lot of obese passengers!”

Conservative Republicans who are typically deferential to the military are ignoring the advice of the military leadership on the new START Treaty.

Ron Paul has introduced a law (the “American Traveler Dignity Act”) that would punish TSA agents for groping and x-raying Americans.

Cathy Bossi, a U.S. Airways stewardess and cancer survivor, was forced to show her breast implants to TSA agents when her prosthetic implants triggered alarm during a pat-down.

The long awaited new strategic concept, launching what has been termed “NATO 3.0,” has been published under the banner “Active Engagement, Modern Defense.”

Democrats are now confident that they have the votes in the Senate to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, but do they have enough time?

Afghans in two crucial southern provinces are almost completely unaware of the September 11 attacks on the United States and don’t know they precipitated the foreign intervention now in its 10th year, a new report showed on Friday.

Is the TSA groping passengers to force them into using intrusive scanners for which they’ve committed $173 million?

Are the American people finally waking up to the absurdity of TSA security theater? One can only hope they are.

The Denver Post’s Craig Walker has captured this image of a TSA agent performing an “enhanced pat down.”

The first civilian trial of a Guantanamo detainee ends with the Defendant being acquitted on all but one charge, and shows us why the entire process is little more than a show trial.

Terrorism risk assessment: Russia at “Extreme Risk”, Greece at “High Risk”, U. S. at “Medium Risk”, Canada and Germany at “Low Risk”.

A Florida courthouse illegally saved 35,000 images from security scanners.

So will there be an efficacious backlash against TSA policies? I am guessing no.

Hamid Karazi says that the United States needs to reduce it’s military presence in his country. Perhaps we should listen to him.

It appears that full body scanners, operated by leering yahoos under the cover of government authority, may finally be rousing the sheep who have meekly submitted to the absurd delays and indignities that have been piled on since 9/11 and sundry botched attempts.

New details are out about the upcoming Defense Department report on repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

According to reports, the Obama Administration is set to abandon the July 2011 withdrawal deadline that was set earlier this year.

The odds that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell will be repealed anytime in the near future are fairly close to zero thanks to the results of last Tuesday’s elections.

Will the incoming “Tea Party” caucus in the House and Senate force the GOP to reconsider its views on foreign policy? Don’t count on it.

We’re probably just one big scare away from mandatory full-body scans.