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TSA chief defends knife rule at Congressional hearing

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    Decision said to be based off latest intelligence

  • Duration 3:53
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The -- of a TSA today defending the agency's new policy to allow certain knives on board planes.

But not tubes of toothpaste -- -- now.

You'll recall the TSA recently announced that beginning next month travelers will be allowed to carry aboard some knives under two and a half inches.

And some previously banned sports equipment like your favor that but.

You can still you still can't carry certain tubes of toothpaste and gels and other liquids you know your shampoo four ounces last.

Well to David TSA chief John pistol said they made the decision based on the latest Intel.

It is the judgment of many security experts worldwide which I agree with that -- small pocket knife is simply not going to result in catastrophic failure of an aircraft.

And and and I improvised explosive device will.

And we know from internal Covert testing searching for these items which will not blow open aircraft can distract her security officers from focusing on the components -- Democratic congressman Ed Markey is now pushing a bill that would ban all -- from commercial flights.

After flight attendants criticize that new rule but the TSA does not appear to be budging on this Michael -- money joins us.

He's a former director of Homeland Security for New York State and the current president of Redlands strategies seek security consulting firm good to -- Thank you -- part of band of terrorists use box cutters not knives box cutters to hijack planes on 9/11 and murder.

Roughly 3000.

Innocent people.

Could they do the same with -- pocket -- Well since -- -- -- the cockpit door obviously that becomes less.

-- event it still can play is concerned are right it could still happen like that if they got into the cockpit and that's that's a question but you know Craig you just need the defining moment was on eleven.

That's it that's the threat we all try to prevent with TSA that's what -- congressman -- created the law that's it turned event since 9/11 there have been three events.

The 2005 liquid explosive plot -- Richard Reid.

That shoe bombing and album -- put the bomb in the end of a in the underpants what's more concerning about everything is going on and can you detect explosives yet.

Look I realize that pistol is -- in some extent you're saying gotta look out for the bombs because those are the latest techniques of al-Qaeda that al-Qaeda.

Often goes back to some of their earlier.

-- And in this particular case why can't TSA focus both on.

Hand weapons like knives as well as bombs should they be doing both.

I think that's -- that's a fair statement I didn't think it.

-- you should the reality of it is that you know TSA was created.

To prevent the taking the out of -- plane the security and playing is of concern to everybody a pistol said there's no Intel.

About the scenario of using knives how -- common sense.

We know anybody who what he's basing on is that there are 25000 flights a day in the US just to US.

And since two and 2010 in the world basically has adopted -- you can bring on these large knives and haven't had instance but what you're saying is is also some -- it -- They're saying is what the editorial board of the Washington Post said we'll put it up on the screen post nine elevenths era of reinforced cockpit doors and savvy passengers air Marshal program flooded tennis train in self defense.

Allowing Penn Nuys will not result in such tragedies happen if the use the pen knives to start telling off passengers.

And and basically forcing.

The opening of the cockpit -- that -- Well that's really one of the questions we haven't seen that that's what they're basing it on past.

Those are killing twenty we're gonna kill a 150 more into -- open that -- to -- a pilot might decide to do so.

And it's a concern for safety overall but again congress should revisit the statute.

What is the role TSA posts on eleven now but the same time -- -- the checkpoints get what they're supposed to get that's really concerned are.

Michael now -- it is the maximum.

Number of.

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