Editorial: Too many people still lax on security

Friday, March 29, 2002 | 9:12 a.m.

The Transportation Security Administration, the new federal agency charged with screening airline passengers and their luggage, has the daunting job of creating almost a whole new culture among its employees. It won't be a simple matter of a few pep talks and a couple of upgrades to equipment. A whole new sense of responsibility, dedication and alertness must be infused into the field of airline security. The country cannot bear any more stories such as the one this week in USA Today, which reported that screeners under the former, private system -- even after Sept. 11 -- repeatedly missed dangerous weapons being brought aboard planes. The news was not based on probability or guesswork -- it was based on the findings of federal inspectors who frequently got aboard planes even though they were carrying guns, simulated bombs and knives.

One would think that a new culture of heightened alertness would have happened automatically, but, stunningly, Sept. 11 hasn't gotten through to many people upon whom others depend for their safety. Another story out of Norfolk, Va., this week drives the point home. An inspector for the Immigration and Naturalization service violated new regulations by allowing -- without first checking with a supervisor -- four Pakistanis who were crewmen aboard a Russian freighter to go ashore. The crewmen are still missing. Congress has launched an investigation into how this could possibly have happened.

The loss of life on Sept. 11 apparently wasn't enough to instill a greater awareness of national security within a great many people. We hope the federal government is up to its management task ahead.