Quiet Skies Program Controversy

In a previously undisclosed Transportation Security Administration (TSA) program, federal air marshals are tracking American citizens not suspected of a crime, not under investigation or who are not on any terrorist watch list. The aim of the program, known as "Quiet Skies," is to gather details about the peoples' behavior on the plane to try to thwart any potential aviation threats. Before people board a plane and are watched by federal air marshals, officials use information from the intelligence community and their previous travel patterns to help choose whom to target. The official added the program has been in existence in some form since 2010, and said Congress is aware and provides a great deal of oversight (an example of checks and balances). According to government documents, thousands of Americans have been the target of surveillance in the airport and aboard flights. Marshals observe the people for behavioral cues that officials have previously associated with those of terrorists. The TSA said the program is not targeting ordinary Americans. Those who support the program suggest that the program analyzes information on a passenger's travel patterns while taking the whole picture into account and adds an additional line of defense to aviation security. However some marshals have concerns, saying focusing on passengers who "look suspicious" pulls the marshals away from their mission of protecting the cockpit because they are keeping up surveillance of the individual. Some critics also have concerns about the collection of personal information on innocent Americans. All American citizens who enter the United States are automatically considered for inclusion in the program as officials check their names against watch lists and examine their patterns of travel. The TSA official would not divulge more details but said individuals are not targeted based on race or nationality. Officials would not say whether any terrorist plots have been thwarted because of this program.

In Other News This month, MIT researchers announced they invented a way to shrink objects to nanoscale -- smaller than what you can see with a microscope -- using a laser. That means they can take any simple structure and reduce it to one 1,000th of its original size. The miniaturizing technology, called "implosion fabrication," could be applied to anything from developing smaller microscope and cell phone lenses to creating tiny robots that improve everyday life. Scientists are hopeful that this technology has many real world possibilities. For example, scientists are exploring ways to add tiny robotic particles to cancer drugs that can seek out only the cancerous cells. Starting December 30, Utah will lower its blood-alcohol content limit to 0.05, the strictest DUI standard in the nation. All other states continue to hold a 0.08 limit for non-commercial drivers over the age of 21 (under 21 is .02). The National Transportation Safety Board said close to 100 countries with a 0.05 BAC law experience a lower rate of alcohol-related deaths even though their citizens drink as much alcohol per capita as people in the US. Drunk-driving fatalities in the US have decreased by a third over the past 30 years, but almost 29 people still die each day from alcohol-related crashes. In 2016, the latest year for which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has available data, 10,497 people died in alcohol-impaired crashes -- making up 28% of all motor vehicle fatalities. Those who oppose the legislation have suggested that a 0.05 BAC does not leave drivers “meaningfully impaired” and that making such a threshold the legal standard will only distract law enforcement from the most dangerous offenders on the road. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate a level of 0.05% is equal to about three alcoholic drinks for an average-sized man. At those levels, the CDC says, drivers usually experience reduced coordination, difficulty steering, reduced ability to track moving objects and a slower response to emergency driving situations. At .08%, or about four drinks in, drivers' concentration, memory, speed control, perception and ability to process visuals and signals are all impaired.