Caradoc

Anyone else noticed that any time the TSA loses face, another implausible threat comes up for them to focus on?

travfar

This isn't science fiction. This was used a couple of years ago. Not on an airline, but a guy with a bomb inside him went into a secured compound. He made it through security. He even hung out with his victims for a while and drank and ate with them. Then he set himself off. Does this have me more concerned about flying? Nope. The TSA has always been more about warm fuzzies than actual security. It doesn't change a thing.

Scubatooth

that was the saudi prince butt bomb. still would have never been found by TSA.


hmmm is "No specific Threat" = No threat were just making things up to keep our budget fluffed. This should be interesting to watch as i think finally were gonna see a blue shirt get the tar beaten out of them for there actions.

Time to write the domed idiots again.

RatherBeOnATrain

That was an assassination attempt, that failed.

FWIW, I'm pretty confident that you cannot possibly pack enough explosives, inside a living body, to take down a plane. (Remember, if those explosives are in a person, then the explosives cannot really be placed where they would do the most damage to a plane.)

JumboD

Let's say the NOS could perform a "virtual" cavity search, how would they distinguish between a plastic explosive and the "other" kind of explosive sometimes carried in a body cavity? Let's be honest, has anyone not ever had one "on deck" and said "I'm running late, I'll just handle it at the airport"?

redreeper

Especially in MONSTER wheelchairs. ^

Why would they be more likely to penetrate the security of an airport than the security of a mall or sporting event? I would think if I were intent on causing as much "terror" as possible I would go for a target that the most people would personalize (like an office building or mall or sporting event) with the highest death toll and with the easiest access. A plane is a good tool to cause a high death toll but you need to get into the cockpit to control it. Not so do-able anymore. Just my opinion

Cookie Jarvis

Is anyone surprised? It was just a matter of time before TSA trotted this one out.

Boggie Dog

Not so sure that the catering kitchen chicken doesn't already deserve a hazardous label.

PatrickHenry1775

This response to an earlier post alludes to a crucial fact in the article on msn.com, that foreign terrorists have discussed using implanted explosives. Let me repeat that phrase, foreign terrorists. Just like "Richard Reid", the notorious shoe bomber, was not an American, and just like the Christmas Day underwear bomber was not an American, the terrorists allegedly chatting about using implanted explosives are not Americans in the United States. The first line of the article on msn.com reports that the feds have "told overseas airlines that fly into this country" (query: does that definition include Delta, United, or American Airlines) about this alleged threat.

Once again, Americans on domestic flights are going to be subjected to unconstitutional searches because of the activities of foreign terrorists. This is intolerable. The timing of this article, just 2 days after we celebrated Independence Day and the public announcement of the signing of the Declaration of Independence 235 years ago, is ironic.

cardiomd

No, your statement is almost certainly *untrue* - modern explosives are extremely energy dense, and essentially all you need to do is destroy the integrity of the plane. Most estimates are only in the 2 oz range of high energy explosive needed, and even accounting for the body's insulation (if person does not excrete it first) the amount could easily fit inside somebody.

This is a nice essay addressing that issue:
http://thetravelinsider.info/securit...explosives.htm

This is a strong argument *against* the make-work and sexual harassment program that was formed, which never could detect this threat.

Interestingly as a few others have pointed out, the metal detectors are much BETTER than the body scanners for this threat. You have no hope of detecting 8 oz of PETN in somebody's rectum or in a soft surgical implant, or between their toes as they walk through the radiation scanner. You DO have a hope of detecting a metal detonator on somebody's body using a WTMD, or detecting modified electronics or a detonator pattern using an Xray.

UALOneKPlus

Simple solution, let's ban people from airplanes.

Problem solved.

Vitaforce

Maybe this latest development will hasten the arrival so called "checkpoint of the future" that was mentioned recently in newspapers and magazines.

http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2011/0...port-pat-down/

If someone could create these scanning tunnels to be highly sophisticated at detecting implanted and hidden explosives, while emitting minimal or no radiation, then it's a positive for passengers concerned about radiation and being patted down.

essxjay

Seven years and counting this forum has existed so I doubt it has escaped anyone's notice.
Methinks a sardonic FTer trotted this one out ages ago and the meme just now made its way inside the U.S. intelligence community.

exbayern

A few weeks ago I was at one of the busiest rail stations in Europe. It was heaving; I have never seen it that busy.

There was work being done on several regional rail lines. It was the hottest day and the hottest day anywhere in Europe that day. There was a large Neo Nazi march planned. There was a large counter rally planned. The rail station sits next to one of the great landmarks of Europe, filled with tourists from around the world. Streets were blocked off into the city centre and traffic was at a standstill. A major Autobahn was closed down due to demolition works.

In the end, nothing out of the ordinary happened. The anti-Neo Nazi marchers had a mass for peace. Some of they laid down on the rail lines to prevent many of the Neo Nazis from making it into town. It ended up being a busy Saturday on a very hot day.

But that setting would have been ideal and yet it seems that so much focus is placed on airports and airplanes. (In my scenario above, there were many times more police than usual, with duty brought in from surrounding towns, and more presence inside the station and outside the station. But it was still friendly and professional)

Superguy

^^^^