FBI Questions Man On Box Cutters In Planes

AP ^ | 10-17-2003 | Curt Anderson

[coloradan]

Shoelaces and leather belts can also be used to tie someone up. These are prohibited, Citizen!

[NJJ]

A Southwest statement said the items appeared "intended to simulate a threat"

How do we know the terrorists didn't/don't/won't put the same notes in their flight bags? Sorry, but I think we have to have a zero tolerance on these stunts. They don't prove anything, as there can be NO perfect defense. Our anti-terror tactics have to be focused on offense, rather than defense, where the dollars are 10X more cost effective.

I believe a life sentence is a "little" too much. If I had any say, I would be sure this crusader never gets a job in any security sensitive industry, ever.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

I hope that you are correct about the insignificance of Al Qaeda. We HAVE beat the living crap out of them around the world. Maybe there is no gas left in the tank. I think Bin Laden is dead.

If Al Qaeda is so weak, why would the administration portray them as a dangerous threat?

[justlurking]

In all fairness, I've found that once they get "in the groove", the TSA folks are a vast improvement over the previous security personnel.

I was delayed a few times when TSA took over security for a new airport and it took them a while to get "up to speed". But, the TSA folks have been much more "cordial" than the private security people hired by the subcontractors to the airlines (which paid little more than McDonald's).

After they have been around a while, the TSA folks may be no better. But at the moment, I find them to be more efficient and more reasonable.

[EverOnward]

Nobody will ever overtake another American Commercial Airliner if it's full of passengers. Americans are not going to sit there and go thru that again.

There are only enough sky marshalls to fly planes of elected reps. The rest of us are on our own. Law enforcement fellow advised my daughters to eyeball everyone on plane. Take particular notice of anyone that looks suspicious and report to attendant. Also use anything available as weapons -- rolling up magazine and jabbing it hard against throat, temple or eyes -- can also use shoes as weapons. A workmate of mine always wears heavy "stomping boots" as he calls them and a special belt buckle...

I think most people who fly planes now prepare mentally to fight on board the plane if they have to.

[Rome2000]

A 20-year-old North Carolina man was being questioned by the FBI in connection with the incidents, according to a congressional official and a senior law enforcement official, both of whom spoke on condition of anonymity

I at least can tolerate the low grade now FEDERAL MORONS that I interact with as long as they are pleasant and discuss such weighty issues as the "Atkins diet",but the reality is that WITHOUT PROFILING, THERE IS NO SECURITY.

This remains beyond the grasp of the SOB's in charge.

IT IS CRIMINALY NEGLIGENT!

HIRE EL-AL CONSULTANTS OR BE SUED!!!!!!!!!

[steveegg]

Let me guess; you don't have a beard that's halfway down your chest and weren't wearing a turban (you probably would've gotten the bungee cords through security with those accessories).

[eno_]

The 40/hr. unionized rampers are also mobbed up and corrupt as hell. Rampers at NYC airports are routinely busted in theft rings. $9/hr. has nothing to do with how secure the rampers are.

[eno_]

There are only enough sky marshalls to fly planes of elected reps.

So, basically, the whole thing of elected reps flying commercial is a big show to make the sheeple think the whole system is safer. With the sheeple paying this huge bill to have the government propagandize them. Lovely.

And then there's the whole "some are more equal" angle to this story.

[garbanzo]

I have never understood why giving the same people a new uniform would somehow magically improve airline security.

[COBOL2Java]

I have never understood why giving the same people a new uniform would somehow magically improve airline security.

Well, since this little piece of legislation was pushed by the Democrats, I have to assume the intention was not so much to improve airline security, but instead to improve the incidence of the [D] lever getting pulled on election day.