and the Washington Post this morning reports a lot of confusion around the entire issue:

"Boston airport authorities said the man appeared to have been carrying explosive materials that could have caused serious damage. They said a bomb squad found substances in the shoes consistent with "C-4," a powerful plastic explosive that can elude airport security devices.

Other government sources noted that a preliminary examination suggested no presence of the C-4 explosive. Dogs specially trained to react to C-4 did not respond when they sniffed the suspect and his shoes, sources said.

"We're told by the bomb teams on board that this, if it indeed is an improvised explosive, that there certainly is enough there to do sufficient damage to an aircraft in flight," said Tom Kinton, interim director of aviation at Logan.

Other government sources cautioned that the man -- identified by Boston authorities as Richard Reid -- could have simply been trying to light a cigarette, and were reluctant to unequivocally call his action an act of terrorism."

Read the entire article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2001Dec22.html