Luggage bomb hoax lands couple in jail
Jan 11, 2003, 8:17 pm
#46
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by SinJin:
NoStressHere, according to Spiff's post and quoting the CNN piece, the couple "rigged up a fake bomb in their checked luggage" and added a note.
Even a fake bomb is frowned upon by ALL law enforcement agencies and normal citizens.
Would like to get a fake one placed under your desk at work? Might cause your blood pressure to rise for a while...
[This message has been edited by SinJin (edited 01-11-2003).]</font>
NoStressHere, according to Spiff's post and quoting the CNN piece, the couple "rigged up a fake bomb in their checked luggage" and added a note.
Even a fake bomb is frowned upon by ALL law enforcement agencies and normal citizens.
Would like to get a fake one placed under your desk at work? Might cause your blood pressure to rise for a while...
[This message has been edited by SinJin (edited 01-11-2003).]</font>
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Assistant Dist. Atty. Karyn Sinunu said Friday that no charges would be filed because the belongings in the suitcase were not a fake bomb.</font>
Boo hoo hoo for the poor TSA thugs who gave this couple a hard time for their political views...
Jan 12, 2003, 9:51 am
#47
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The plain, sad, fact is that two people lost their freedom for a day for criticizing the government. There is nothing more fundamental to the Bill of Rights than your right to do that without fear of retribution.
I hope the favorable resolution of this incident is a step in the right direction. Otherwise, all the security will have been devoted to preserving a system not worth preserving.
[edited for preposition improvement]
[This message has been edited by RichG (edited 01-12-2003).]
I hope the favorable resolution of this incident is a step in the right direction. Otherwise, all the security will have been devoted to preserving a system not worth preserving.
[edited for preposition improvement]
[This message has been edited by RichG (edited 01-12-2003).]
Jan 12, 2003, 10:59 am
#48
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by RichG:
The plain, sad, fact is that two people lost their freedom for a day for criticizing the government. There is nothing more fundamental to the Bill of Rights than your right to do that without fear of retribution.
I hope the favorable resolution of this incident is a step in the right direction. Otherwise, all the security will have been devoted to preserving a system not worth preserving.
[edited for preposition improvement]
[This message has been edited by RichG (edited 01-12-2003).]</font>
The plain, sad, fact is that two people lost their freedom for a day for criticizing the government. There is nothing more fundamental to the Bill of Rights than your right to do that without fear of retribution.
I hope the favorable resolution of this incident is a step in the right direction. Otherwise, all the security will have been devoted to preserving a system not worth preserving.
[edited for preposition improvement]
[This message has been edited by RichG (edited 01-12-2003).]</font>
Jan 12, 2003, 11:19 am
#49
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Brian:
One can only hope that something in your suitcase with this message is one day mistaken for an intentional intent to "send or place a false or facsimile bomb."
After all, your views deserve the widest possible dissemination, and a court appearance would give you valuable publicity.
I hope that, while in jail, they are compelled to reimburse the government for all of our tax money that they wasted playing this silly and potentially dangerous game.
Symmetry... gotta love it.
</font>
One can only hope that something in your suitcase with this message is one day mistaken for an intentional intent to "send or place a false or facsimile bomb."
After all, your views deserve the widest possible dissemination, and a court appearance would give you valuable publicity.
I hope that, while in jail, they are compelled to reimburse the government for all of our tax money that they wasted playing this silly and potentially dangerous game.
Symmetry... gotta love it.
</font>
Remember, if I'm wrongly arrested or convicted, your tax dollars will be needlessly spent.
As much as we disagree, I would not wish a "mistaken" arrest on you or any other person. Why would my views compel you to wish it upon me? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif
Have a nice weekend. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
Jan 12, 2003, 2:31 pm
#50
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I stand on my characterization of this incident without reservation of any kind.
FWAAA: How can you continue to engage in dialogue with someone who gratuitously wishes ill upon you?
FWAAA: How can you continue to engage in dialogue with someone who gratuitously wishes ill upon you?
Jan 12, 2003, 2:56 pm
#51
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by RichG:
I stand on my characterization of this incident without reservation of any kind.
FWAAA: How can you continue to engage in dialogue with someone who gratuitously wishes ill upon you?</font>
I stand on my characterization of this incident without reservation of any kind.
FWAAA: How can you continue to engage in dialogue with someone who gratuitously wishes ill upon you?</font>
"I've put a statement with essentially the same content in my checked bags - right on top - since Jan 1, and twice the statement has disappeared, replaced with the TSA "We searched your bag cause our toy MRI machines couldn't tell the difference between your clothes, books and food and a bomb" notice. Of course, I didn't include any fake bombs - just the political message. Screw the TSA and all who work for it."
I am not going to play the adolescent game of suggesting that the poster made a terroristic threat at the end of that post, because he didn't. It was hyperbole... childish in my opinion, but nothing more than that.
In that context, perhaps my response will be somewhat understandable to those who read it, without the benefit of your "editing."
Thank you.
[This message has been edited by Brian (edited 01-12-2003).]
Jan 12, 2003, 4:16 pm
#52
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by SinJin:
Personally, I hope they lock them for a long time!
</font>
Personally, I hope they lock them for a long time!
</font>
Jan 14, 2003, 10:32 am
#53
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Not a bomb
Jailed man says airport cops 'overreacted'
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...4/BA175843.DTL
Jailed man says airport cops 'overreacted'
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...4/BA175843.DTL
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The man who was arrested with his wife at the San Jose airport last week for putting notes in the couple's luggage deriding security screeners said in an interview Monday that authorities overreacted when they jailed the pair for three days.</font>
Jan 14, 2003, 10:36 am
#54
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by EPS:
Not a bomb
Jailed man says airport cops 'overreacted'
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...4/BA175843.DTL
Not a bomb
Jailed man says airport cops 'overreacted'
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...4/BA175843.DTL
The man who was arrested with his wife at the San Jose airport last week for putting notes in the couple's luggage deriding security screeners said in an interview Monday that authorities overreacted when they jailed the pair for three days.</font>
"However, authorities contend, at worst, Donahue packed the electronic gear to ensure it would draw attention to his note and, at best, he chose the wrong forum to protest the aviation security law that Congress passed to protect passengers after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"Look, you don't write a note like that unless you want someone to read it, " said Santa Clara County Assistant District Attorney Karyn Sinunu. "He wanted his suitcase to be popped, and it got popped. It was a silly little protest, and he got the attention he wanted.
"The police did exactly what they've been trained to do. They saw something suspicious, and they investigated it," she said.
Federal Transportation Security Administration spokesman Robert Johnson agreed.
"Notes on cardboard don't set off bomb-detection equipment," he said. It was the electronic components "grouped together inside" that caused the search, he said.
"In the days following 9/11, this ought to be a no-brainer," Johnson said. "Next time I would suggest a letter to his congressman."
Jan 14, 2003, 12:14 pm
#55
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What I would like to know is, if they really suspect a bomb, who gets to actually open the suitcase? It doesn't seem that the bomb squad gets called so are there real bomb experts on hand? Is the room evacuated before opening the suspect luggage? Is it a bomb proof room or would an explosion get to other parts of the airport if a bomb goes off (maybe due to a TSA employee inadvertently setting it off during inspection)?
I do think these are unlikely events, but as TSA is supposed to be equipped to deal with bombs, then these questions should have answers.
I do think these are unlikely events, but as TSA is supposed to be equipped to deal with bombs, then these questions should have answers.
Jan 14, 2003, 12:49 pm
#56
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The more you read this, the more you realize we have gone crazy. Even if they thought it looked like a bomb, why would they open it in a crowded airline terminal?
And, after they opened it, could they not deduct it was not a bomb?
And, after dragging them off to jail, why did it take 3 days to let them go?
This is insane. As someone else mentioned, is it worth this much expense to protect something we are watching slip away? Our freedom?
Jan 14, 2003, 12:54 pm
#57
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by NoStressHere:
The more you read this, the more you realize we have gone crazy. Even if they thought it looked like a bomb, why would they open it in a crowded airline terminal?
And, after they opened it, could they not deduct it was not a bomb?
And, after dragging them off to jail, why did it take 3 days to let them go?
This is insane. As someone else mentioned, is it worth this much expense to protect something we are watching slip away? Our freedom?</font>
The more you read this, the more you realize we have gone crazy. Even if they thought it looked like a bomb, why would they open it in a crowded airline terminal?
And, after they opened it, could they not deduct it was not a bomb?
And, after dragging them off to jail, why did it take 3 days to let them go?
This is insane. As someone else mentioned, is it worth this much expense to protect something we are watching slip away? Our freedom?</font>
Sounds to me like they were punished for their viewpoints, but I'm sure others will vehemently disagree.
If the jackboots fit...
Jan 14, 2003, 1:08 pm
#58
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Why did they open it if they suspected a bomb? Great question. Where's SinJin now!?!?!
Jan 14, 2003, 3:25 pm
#59
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I think it is obvious that they did not in any way think it was a bomb.
When they think something is a bomb, they evacuate the terminal, call in the experts, etc.
Nobody is that stupid that they would think this was a bomb and open it up like this to examine it.
But the screener's pride was involved here. So they used their power to make these people sorry.
Their pride was hurt so they claimed that they "saw" a bomb and somehow managed to keep these people in jail for 3 days.
As we see, the story doesn't hold together but they either lied or have false memories, or both.
When they think something is a bomb, they evacuate the terminal, call in the experts, etc.
Nobody is that stupid that they would think this was a bomb and open it up like this to examine it.
But the screener's pride was involved here. So they used their power to make these people sorry.
Their pride was hurt so they claimed that they "saw" a bomb and somehow managed to keep these people in jail for 3 days.
As we see, the story doesn't hold together but they either lied or have false memories, or both.
Jan 14, 2003, 6:17 pm
#60
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I did something simular to this. We were doing some convoy training and I had taught a class on why it is important not to stop in enemy territory and pick things up off the road. I then went ahead of the convoy and laid a water can off the side of the road and marked it so that if they picked it up it read "BOMB". Well I only had one troop out of about 50 trucks stop and pick it up. We left the area and I forgot the can. The next day the MP's came looking for me. A civilian government employee saw the can and stopped. He picked up the can and about crapped his pants. I was not in the good graces of my commander for awhile.