Originally Posted by
VPescado
The precursors are a nitric/sulfuric acid mix and glycerin. I believe that the puffers would detect some fumes off of the concentrated acid but we all realize that the puffers are seldom used.
Which is a gross failing on TSA's part. The technology is there, it just needs to be used.
The glycerin is unlikely to be detected as so many products (e.g. soaps) would cause false positives.
Even so, it still causes them to go crazy. Ask
iluv2fly about the fun he had when he tested positive for glycerin. It at least triggers further bag checks and swabbing.
My understanding is that producing it does not require very controlled conditions - other than temperature (and the big issue here is to keep the product cool enough so it doesn't go off prematurely - which is likely only to concern a terrorist insofar as if it occurs before enough product has been produced to guaranty the destruction of the aircraft - an further, it doesn't strike me as a major engineering feat to construct an ice bath for cooling).
Even so, where are you going to get enough ice on a plane or in an airport to make enough of the stuff WITHOUT causing unwanted attention? You might be able to get away with a coke cup or two full of ice, but I don't think it's going to be nearly enough.
And if even this is considered too unlikely, how about a terrorist that wears clothes made of nitrocellulose onto the flight?
Probably about as likely. And how can we detect this without using puffers?
My point is that there are real threats, but the TSA is failing to protect us from them while inflicting their own damage upon the traveling public.
I agree with this.
