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Biden and Harris’ Inefficiencies Led to the Tragic Failure of the Quiet Skies Program

Without a doubt, the infamous Quiet Skies program instilled by the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) can be seen as a massive failure. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, announced the termination of this controversial program via her social media channels. In her statement, she pointed out the fundamental flaw of this costly and secretive surveillance system that failed to deter even a single act of terrorism. For years, American taxpayers were the ones bearing the extravagant costs of $200 million annually without any justifiable outputs.

Publicidad

Implemented in 2012, the Quiet Skies program had been sparking dissent, primarily because of its stealthy nature of monitoring domestic air travelers who are perceived as potential security risks. This program, represented as a necessary instrument for maintaining safe skies, was, in essence, a questionable initiative conceived under the flag of national security. The intent behind its initiation – to identify and track potentially hazardous individuals – was thwarted by the covert methods it employed, stirring up privacy concerns among citizens.

Amplifying the negative narrative, the TSA’s approach of data collection and behavioral analysis showed a complete disregard for passengers’ privacy, mostly as it was carried out without the individuals’ knowledge. Supporters of the program tried to rationalize this privacy violation with the excuse of evolving security challenges. However, the critics took the upper hand, claiming a lack of transparency and intrusion into private lives. Their arguments are not baseless, given that the program has failed to prevent any terror activities.

Secretary Noem didn’t stop at merely accentuating the program’s failure but also exposed the true nature of the misuse of Quiet Skies. DHS and TSA had supposedly misapplied the program to target their political rivals. Such subtle corruption is alarming, undermining the foundation of democracy where conflicting opinions are constructively criticized, not oppressively targeted.

Noem’s strong call for a comprehensive congressional investigation into these discrepancies within the program brings into light the need for accountability and transparency. This would help remove any corrupt elements tarnishing the program, and initiate a more refined, just security system that does not trample on citizens’ rights.

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Among the victims of this shady operation, the most prominent case is of Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence. Despite her decorated military background and her tenure as a representative in the House from Hawaii, Gabbard found herself being uncomfortably monitored. Accusations of political vendetta roiled the situation, leading to public outrage.

Gabbard’s public outcry about this surveillance marked yet another black mark for the program. She explained how such constant observation created an environment of paranoia, where she felt the need to be on continuous alert. Such a system can indeed be categorised as a betrayal of her two-decade-long military service.

The TSA, in its defence, claimed that Quiet Skies is not a terrorist watchlist but rather a risk-based identification system. However, their hollow argument gets buried under the mounting evidence of civil right violations and constitutional breaches committed under the program.

Adding to the condemnation, Gabbard voiced her strong critique about the misuse of Quiet Skies. She states that it was unjust for the taxpayers to shoulder the burden of $200 million annually only for regular Americans to be targeted rather than terrorists. This further stresses the absolute inefficacy of the program.

DHS officials, however, were not alone in their underhanded tactics. The program was manipulated by many to serve their political interests. According to the DHS, this security-measure-turned-political-weapon had been exploited to favor friends and family of those politically aligned. The masses ended up paying the high cost of such unethical actions.

Even the Air Marshals, who were a critical part of the program’s operations, voiced their objections. They articulated their concerns in 2018, arguing that the program was a monumental waste of resources. This undue surveillance was draining their energy from addressing authentic airborne threats.

The Air Marshals’ critique continued, citing the lack of oversight and dependence on unreliable parameters like behavioral checklists as significant issues. As a result, they often found themselves shadowing individuals who posed no real danger. The misdirection of surveillance efforts thus became abundantly clear and echoed the cries for reform.

The Quiet Skies program, under the flawed leadership of Biden and Harris, unsurprisingly took a downturn. Their inability to provide clear guidance and oversight made the program a playground for abuse. The ineffective program, instead of ensuring security, became an avenue for corruption and invasion of individual privacy. Given the administration’s inability to make the right calls, it is a relief that the program has finally been terminated.