US: Terrorists look to implant bombs in humans
Jul 6, 2011, 8:34 am
#1
Original Poster
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US: Terrorists look to implant bombs in humans
Here we go--cavity searches may be in our future:
The U.S. government has warned domestic and international airlines that some terrorists are considering surgically implanting explosives into humans to carry out attacks, The Associated Press has learned.
There is no intelligence pointing to a specific plot, but the U.S. shared its concerns last week with executives at domestic and international carriers.
People traveling to the U.S. from overseas may experience additional screening at airports because of the threat, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
"These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same activity at every international airport," TSA spokesman Nick Kimball said. "Measures may include interaction with passengers, in addition to the use of other screening methods such as pat-downs and the use of enhanced tools and technologies."
There is no intelligence pointing to a specific plot, but the U.S. shared its concerns last week with executives at domestic and international carriers.
People traveling to the U.S. from overseas may experience additional screening at airports because of the threat, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
"These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same activity at every international airport," TSA spokesman Nick Kimball said. "Measures may include interaction with passengers, in addition to the use of other screening methods such as pat-downs and the use of enhanced tools and technologies."
Jul 6, 2011, 8:58 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salish Sea
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Yawn.
This 'threat' has been bounced around for several years ever since an episode of the BBC series "Spooks" (that's fiction for those of you in DC who don't know).
Still, got to keep the public scared ____less.
This 'threat' has been bounced around for several years ever since an episode of the BBC series "Spooks" (that's fiction for those of you in DC who don't know).
Still, got to keep the public scared ____less.
Jul 6, 2011, 9:02 am
#4
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They don't need to implant anything-just have them eat a ton of Brussels sprouts <ducking>
Jul 6, 2011, 9:14 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Portland, OR
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Posts: 1,676
Yes, yes. And MANPADS around the airport perimeter. And anthrax in the artificial sweetener packets. And poison chicken from the catering kitchen. And snakes in the ventilation ducts.
All threats that would not cause any reasonable person to lose sleep.
But which keep excessively-paranoid DHS staffers up all night figuring ways to spend billions of dollars to protect the populace against hundreds of tiny risks.
All threats that would not cause any reasonable person to lose sleep.
But which keep excessively-paranoid DHS staffers up all night figuring ways to spend billions of dollars to protect the populace against hundreds of tiny risks.
Jul 6, 2011, 9:16 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northern California, in the redwoods, on the ocean.
Posts: 437
Yup. You got it. It's already been revealed that those machines have that capacity. Furthermore, no one will know this is being done to them, or that the x-ray power has been boosted. So much for informed consent.
Jul 6, 2011, 9:18 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,425
Here we go--cavity searches may be in our future:
Jul 6, 2011, 9:55 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Like terrorists already in the US couldn't do that. And why in these scenarios are the lunatics always headed for the airport? Never a mall or a sporting event or a monster truck ralley....just someplace where fear is a money-maker....like the airport. 
Jul 6, 2011, 10:16 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Programs: DL MM Gold
Posts: 1,676
Perhaps the stereotypical demographic audience at monster truck shows is more likely to profile their fellow attendees and be more suspicious of the stereotypical demographic terrorist? They certainly wouldn't look twice at 95 YO grandmas in wheelchairs.
Jul 6, 2011, 10:24 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2008
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A surgically implanted device would not show up with a cavity search. If metallic, it would alarm the WTMD with no way to resolve the anomaly short of a medical x-ray. If non-metallic, it would be invisible to any of the current technologies including the not yet done cavity search. A surgical scar may be evident, but what is under the scar would remain unknowable.
This leads me to try to think of ways to handle this threat. In my limited knowledge this is what I have:
I'll take #9.
This leads me to try to think of ways to handle this threat. In my limited knowledge this is what I have:
- Anyone with a surgical scar does not get to fly.
- Since it would be unlikely for someone to carry an implanted device for a long time, anyone with a recent surgical scar does not get to fly.
- CAT scans for everyone with a recent surgical scar.
- Laparoscopic insertion or insertion through a body cavity would not leave a visible scar. So, back to CAT scans for everyone scar or not.
- Trust the SPOT teams to spot.
- Would ETD detect implanted device? Probably not. Forget ETD.
- How about and ETD blood test? Yeah, this might work.
- Do nothing new. Wait until the threat becomes real. Then just shut down aviation.
- Do nothing new. Manage the risk. Accept that things might happen. Accept that they will be very rare. Try to not scream and run around in circles. If it ever happens, find those responsible and bring them to justice.
I'll take #9.
Jul 6, 2011, 10:35 am
#15
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 1,007
A surgically implanted device would not show up with a cavity search. If metallic, it would alarm the WTMD with no way to resolve the anomaly short of a medical x-ray. If non-metallic, it would be invisible to any of the current technologies including the not yet done cavity search. A surgical scar may be evident, but what is under the scar would remain unknowable.
This leads me to try to think of ways to handle this threat. In my limited knowledge this is what I have:
I'll take #9.
This leads me to try to think of ways to handle this threat. In my limited knowledge this is what I have:
- Anyone with a surgical scar does not get to fly.
- Since it would be unlikely for someone to carry an implanted device for a long time, anyone with a recent surgical scar does not get to fly.
- CAT scans for everyone with a recent surgical scar.
- Laparoscopic insertion or insertion through a body cavity would not leave a visible scar. So, back to CAT scans for everyone scar or not.
- Trust the SPOT teams to spot.
- Would ETD detect implanted device? Probably not. Forget ETD.
- How about and ETD blood test? Yeah, this might work.
- Do nothing new. Wait until the threat becomes real. Then just shut down aviation.
- Do nothing new. Manage the risk. Accept that things might happen. Accept that they will be very rare. Try to not scream and run around in circles. If it ever happens, find those responsible and bring them to justice.
I'll take #9.