“Shampoo, iPods and Starbucks lattes have suddenly become security threats. Terrorists could easily slip a few apparently innocuous items past airport security and assemble them into a lethal explosive once aloft, security experts said,” Matt Crenson reports for The Associated Press.
Crenson reports, “Some envision a group of two or three terrorists mixing up explosives in an airplane bathroom, perhaps even using commonplace materials such as hydrogen peroxide and detonating their bomb with the battery from a cellphone or some other small electronic device.”
“‘In mid-flight you could go into the toilet, attach the mobile phone to the explosives and, as the plane makes a final approach over a densely populated urban area, you detonate it,’ said Irish security analyst Tom Clonan. To puncture an aircraft’s fuselage would require an explosive charge ‘half the size of a cigarette packet,’ he said,” Crenson reports.
Full article here.
Related iPodDailyNews article:
Terrorist plot said to have involved Apple iPod as detonator – August 10, 2006
It’s gonna be no fun flying anymore and a real drag on long distant flights… no briefcases, no laptops, no iPods, CD players, no book or magazines, no carrying on, period. I’m just not going anywhere anymore!
The airlines will provide stuff. For a fee, obviously. Maybe this is their chance to lift out of perpetual bankruptcy.
I’m confused? If homeland security knew about these simple materials becoming a big threat after 9/11, why wasn’t this banned before? Sensationalism news is killing America.
Assholes should be security threats too because a terrorist could “easily slip a few apparently innocuous items past airport security and assemble them into a lethal explosive devise once aloft . . . “
Profiling anyone?
I really hate to say it, honestly I do, but we know what the enemy looks like – with this type of threat
It’s fine so long as the airline is ready and willing to supply me a free water or 2 once I’m on the plane. I usually sleep on flights, but use my iPod to fall asleep. That would kind of suck to have to give up. I can’t see all of those business travelers giving up their laptops and cell phones!
Is that Tom Clonan or Tom Clancy?
Besides, Harrison Ford taught me that I can download millions of dollars from a well protected bank server too!
Why don’t we just have a ban on all molecules and atoms?
if it doesn’t have blond hair, don’t let it go anywhere!
If only we were kinder and gentler to the
terrorists(man I’m sick of that word), then
they wouldn’t hate us so much and we could take
our iPods anywhere. Damn that George W. Bush
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AG Pennypacker: Please tell us exactly what the enemy looks like. Is it the crackers that blew up the Oklahoma City Federal Building? What about the shoe bomber, who could easily have shaved his beard to look like one of your own? What about others that are not Islamic, but are just as unhappy with our country, like the Columbine boys (both white) that wanted to cause some damage? How about the militants in Idaho? David Koresh? All of these guys are just as white as you, and are pissed off at our country. What if they decide that blowing up a plane is just as easy as blowing up a car or shooting a people?
Damn boy, think before you type.
I’m going to get a big bus like John Madden. No more trips outside of the continental USA.
Actually, this may be a good way to force people TO READ and expand their intellectual capacity.
I really hate to say it, honestly I do, but we know what the enemy looks like – with this type of threat
What an ignorant asshole. Maybe we should just round up all the brown people in an internment camp or something, huh?
Next time you want to make a point just light yourself on fire.
Now Jimbo, surely you know water is a dangerous substance. Terrorists can use the electrical ports in business class (used for laptops) to separate the hydrogen from the water, and then use that create an explosive. They can bring catalysts onboard disguised as prescription medication to hasten the electrolysis. No, I’m afraid water will just have to be banned.
Enjoy your flight!
jimbo-
Dude get real! You are talking about “Has Beens” and exceptions. I’m talking about the reason for the recent suspicion. iPods will not be banned because of douche bag white boys ok (which no doubt their are a lot of – but be reasonable here) We know who has the vendetta here quit fooling yourself and everyone else)
I bet you get fooled twice frequently!
And if you don’t think the government already profiles, you are in denial! Percausion is not always politically correct
Jimbo,
When you sat militants in Idaho, I hope you’re not talking about Randy Weaver (Ruby Ridge), that would be a real cheap shot. Those people chose a life style different than ours. That didn’t make them militants. An FBI agent shot his unarmed wife in the face while she was holding her baby. Who exactly was at fault there? Not trying to start any sh!t, just think that’s a bad example.
I think the Greek house system at universities is the root of all problems. All those frat boys know how to read is the proof on the bottle label. And I’m sure there’s a terrorist tie-in, somewhere…
http://www.zefrank.com/theshow
See today’s show for a logical analysis of why we shouldn’t be panicking every time there is a threat.
Why don’t drivers panic every time they get in a car? The “threat” of harm and death is imminent. To paraphrase the quote above “it only takes crossing inches into your lane to cause an accident”.
People don’t panic because they have a reasonable gauge of the risk, they “need” to drive, and believe they have some control, even though the “other guy” could be a moron, drunk, or just talking on his cell phone (oh, sorry, redundant – that would be a moron again) and just act unpredictably.
Same reason people don’t panic when they turn on their PC with Windows. You would think they would be panic-stricken at the next outbreak of viruses and worms hitting them. But they accept the risk, ignoring it blithely, because they “need” to use Windows, and they figure it won’t happen to them.
So why do people panic about air travel? You know what? You’re as vulnerable in the air as anywhere else. The human existance is fairly fragile, and any crazy person, anywhere, at any time, could end yours. You can’t live in fear of that.
You would be better off relieving your life of the real risks – eat less fat, stop smoking, stop doing Windows, and, of course, HANG UP AND DRIVE!
Live in fear, the terrorists have achieved their goal.
I’m traveling to England shortly, and I’ll be damned if any Neanderthal-level pitiful excuse for a human being who understands only one concept of persuasion is going to control my actions. I’m going, and I’m going to have fun.
End rant.
It’s my understanding that iPods are only band on flights originating from England. They are still allowed on U.S. flights.
Big boost for iChat AV- why fly to give that presentation when you can do it with iChat?
Um . . . I don’t know about any serious airline threats (terrorism) that has been linked to any other group of people than fundimentalist muslims of middle eastern decent.
Sure there are exceptions to the rule, but those are always exceptions, which, when exagerated, undermine the rule.
Seems pretty clear-cut to me.
Lufthansa confiscated my Phillips screwdriver, then gave me a metal knife, fork and spoon with my dinner!
Maybe SHOES should be confiscated! What’s to prevent a terrorist from whipping off his Gucci loafers and clobbering someone?
What about BELTS and TIES? These can easily be used to strangle innocent victims!
For now on, if you love freedom, fly naked!!!
(I feel ill now just picturing it)
blucaso,
That was absolutely beautiful, I couldn’t have said it any better. You are spot on, I live it, I love it.
blucaso.
Well said. Stop living in fear and the terrorists and the government lose their hold on you.
While you’re at, read Barry Glasner’s book Culture of Fear.
http://tinyurl.com/s2f2k
On the same note, is anyone else sick and tired of seeing the CONSTANT Breaking News banner on tv. That and these ridiculous TV news graphics like “Sky Terror:, and “Terror In The Air” scrawled in jagged red letters, backed up by ominous sounding music.
Incredibly stupid. I could go into the restroom on any plane, rip one of the plastic panels from the walls, snap it into pieces and have a lethal sharp weapon.
What next? TSA-inserted catheters at the seat?
The terrorists have already won – because the TSA surrendered to them. Nice job!