If you want to embarrass someone, there’s not a better way than to pull them from the screening line at the airport and give them one of those enhanced TSA pat-downs. Not only does everyone thing you’re a security risk after that, you also get fondled by a stranger. It’s bad news all the way around. TSA rules apply to everyone who gets on an airplane. Unfortunately for the United States, that also includes ambassadors. Meera Shankar, India’s ambassador to the United States, was recently given a TSA pat-down at an airport in Mississippi.
Shankar even tried to play her VIP card to get out of her security screening, only to be told that everyone, even diplomats, were subject to TSA rules. Indian officials claim Shankar was singled out because she was wearing a sari; the TSA denies any impropriety in its search of Ms. Shankar and insists that everything was done by the book with absolutely no racial profiling. Mississippi State University, who had Shankar as the speaker at an international studies dinner, has apologized to the ambassador.
Given the history of diplomats making trouble on airplanes, playing her immunity card might be what got Shankar patted down; after all, those dignitaries think they can do whatever they want, whenever they want.
Tags: international incident, Meera Shankar, India, Indian Ambassador to the United States frisked by airport security, TSA, ambassador searched by airport security, State Department, Indian ambassador Meera Shankar patted down by airport security, airport security, enhanced screening, Mississippi