Posted on 07/11/2006 3:00:34 AM PDT by omronnie
The report states that a man with a Middle Eastern name and a ticket for a Delta Airlines flight to Atlanta shook his head when screeners asked if he had a laptop computer in his baggage, but an X-ray machine operator detected a laptop.
A search of the man's baggage revealed a clock with a 9-volt battery taped to it and a copy of the Quran, the report said. A screener examined the man's shoes and determined that the "entire soles of both shoes were gutted out."
No explosive material was detected, the report states. A police officer was summoned and questioned the man, examined his identification, shoes and the clock, then cleared him for travel, according to the report.
A TSA screener disagreed with the officer, saying "the shoes had been tampered with and there were all the components of (a bomb) except the explosive itself," the report says.
The officer retorted, "I thought y'all were trained in this stuff," TSA officials reported.
The report says the TSA screener notified Delta Airlines and talked again with the officer, who said he had been unable to check the passenger's criminal background because of computer problems.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
While the TSA and local police are bickering, this al-quida wannabe is testing out airport security and then is let go !!.
Beam me up Scotty !!
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
The TSA guys should've stuck to their guns. I'm pretty sure the police don't have the power to give a pass to any individual through security at the airport, else why have TSA at all? Might as well staff airport security with cops.
What comes to mind is two things...one this was a covert test of security, and a chance to do political damage to the TSA, or to discredit the leadership for that airport.... or, it was an actual test of security to see what they would detect which is a classic case of testing security. The explosives can be smuggled by airport employees during ground operations, or by another passenger with the explosives taped to his body. The metal detectors do not test for explosives and they could easily sneak explosives through security using a non-arab looking Muslim.....then you put the package together.
The police officer in this case should be fired, and work for Mcdonalds or Burger King where he has the most qualifications for turning burgers. The TSA tech was 150% correct and in fact should of put the individual on the ground and in handcuffs immediately, the airport shut down.....We seem to remain in a stupid state even after 911 with some exception....
This cop did not think we are at war. I thought that most cops knew better than to pay attention to the New York Times.
He had every component of a bomb - but the explosives ?
well - allright then I guess he was mighty dangerous ...
BTW I now a guy, whos travelling with some wires a clock and a battery in his suitcase ... I should have shot him - also he's my boss and I might have got his job...
The reporter fails at the critical moment. Many alarm clocks have battery back-up. Does the 9-volt battery fit into the clock? Was the clock/battery in his checked baggage or his carry-on baggage. Big difference when coupled to the dug-out shoes.
I think the TSA is at fault by not knowing their authority. The police office probably meant that he saw nothing to immediately arrest the man for but...The shoes alone would be enough to ask for a search warrant of the man's house and to do background checks, IMHO.
As might have been pointed out before, this could be sensationalist news reporters making much ado out of little. It's common for newer plug-in type alarm clocks to have backup batteries so that power failure at night does not mean the alarm will fail to sound when intended. A missing battery door and some duct tape to take its place sounds like a much more likely thing to encounter.
Well, the guy should have been pulled aside for a full body cavity search, but other than that I don't see how travelling with an alarm clock and a 9 volt battery is illegal.
If they were seperate in his carry on luggage, it would be ignored. It's not like hooking up a battery to an alarm clock is a time intensive operation. Hollowing out your shoes in-flight could also be performed by a determined individual taking a bathroom break. Another option would be applying a ready made container to the sole of your shoe in the bathroom.
The explosives are the critical component. All other materials could carried aboard without raising too many suspicions.
The battery, the clock, okay, could be coincidental.
But what I want to know is: "Who hollows out their shoe soles...except terrorists and possibly smugglers?"
New rule...if you hollow out your shoe soles...no ticket, no air travel!
Nah, new rule....
Three serious "red flags" and you're a Muslim - they should just shoot the bastard as a nuisance...
Semper Fi
A security person who sees that on a screen should by all means inspect the shoes. There could be interesting stories behind that, such as money or drugs.
I have taken to wearing foam slippers through security, while carrying the footwear and belt I intend to go on the plane with in a large shopping bag which I send through X-ray. Nothing beeps when I walk through the arch, and I go without a hassle. At least so far.
"The police officer in this case should be fired, and work for Mcdonalds or Burger King where he has the most qualifications for turning burgers."
I have a different take on this.
While I think the police officer should have detained the passenger, I think this an outcome of our PC reactions to law enforcement.
I certainly do not know what was going through the policeman's mind, but unfortunately a policeman today has to be concerned whether he will be prosecuted for just doing his job if he makes a mistake.
If given the chance, I am not sure I would go into law enforcement unless I was sure that the people above me had my back if a situation like this arose.
Probably wrong, but just my 2 cents.
He should have been finger printed, picture taken, DNA taken name given over to the FBI, ICE, ect. Ran through every computer data base we have. Put on the watch list. May be not allow on that flight until he is checked completely out.
Hmmmm, it's the TSA's fault that the cop they called to the scene didn't arrest the man or hold him till a background check was done? I've read your response and it's a lot like many of the other ones, it gives a little blame here, allows for an exception there, etc. And I'm shocked at every reply so far.
(1). The TSA asked the middle eastern man if he was carrying a laptop and he said, "no". But the TSA then found a laptop.
(2). The TSA found a clock with a 9-volt battery taped to it.
(3). The TSA found a koran along with the clock and taped battery.
(4). The TSA discovered that the mans shoes were inexplicably hollowed out.
In my opinion this was a case of MONUNEMTAL STUPIDITY on the part of both the TSA and the cop. ALL parties were unbelievably and dangerously stupid. This entire scenario is so absolutely unbelievable that it could truly be a hilarious Saturdy Night Live spoof on the unmitigated stupidity of our airport security and "law enforcement" dopes. The guy should have been detained and thoroughly investigated by the FBI, at the very least, AND THE FLIGHT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CANCELLED AND THE AIRPORT SEARCHED. Instead, they let the guy go have himself a happy flight.
Yeah, in a nation of fools, which is what we've become. These are post 9/11 days we live in, so boarding a plane with hollowed out shoes is akin to boarding a plane with an unloaded gun. The bomb material for both the shoes and the clock with the 9-volt battery taped to it could have been stashed someplace on the plane. Lying to the airport screener about possessing a laptop and then being found with one in your luggage should by itself be enough reason to pull the guy aside and do a full search, and I mean FULL SEARCH, body cavities included, as well as a background/criminal check.
You take all these things together with a Middle eastern man carrying a koran along with everything else and the only reason why he wasn't detained and investiaged, and the flight cancelled, is because we are a nation of politically correct fools, too afraid to do the right thing because of fear of getting sued, or getting fired.
Bingo--five across.
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