[LibertyRocks]

I'm obviously not an expert on these things either, that's why to me hearing that there is no residue to even figure out what the bomb was made of is rather intriguing(sp?). I wouldn't think it could burn off 100% either.

I'm hoping there are some chemists or munitions experts here at FR that can give us insight (not how or with what), but to tell us if it matters, and even if it is possible...

My first layman's thought would that it would be hard for them to prove in court that someone created and intended on setting off a real bomb vs. a hoax. If you've got no proof of explosive residue (as is apparently the case at ECU) there would be no way to prove that the "suspicious package" the bomb squad set off was indeed a bomb...

[Ichneumon]

If you've got no proof of explosive residue (as is apparently the case at ECU) there would be no way to prove that the "suspicious package" the bomb squad set off was indeed a bomb...

You mean, aside from the big explosion?

[Northern Alliance]

My first layman's thought would that it would be hard for them to prove in court that someone created and intended on setting off a real bomb vs. a hoax.

You know, I can't recall a single case where this was an issue - where someone was convicted mostly on the basis of LEO exploding a suspicious package, and from the residue testifying that it was a bomb.

Another though on this - I don't know the federal law, but in lots of places it doesn't really matter if the 'thing' is real or not. A fake gun gets you convicted for armed robbery; selling fake drugs gets you a drug conviction.

[Dick Vomer]

as mentioned earlier... package, detonator, wiring, circuit board, battery, triggering device, blast pattern, force expended/size of charge ratio.... there are also trace residues that are left...

this might be misinformation or (probably) bad reporting by the reporter failing to fully understand what the interview actually said.......(reporters are stupid, generally.......box of rock stupid.....think back on the guys and gals that majored in "Journalism" or "Communications").

[babygene]

"I'm hoping there are some chemists or munitions experts here at FR that can give us insight (not how or with what), but to tell us if it matters, and even if it is possible.."

I'm no chemists or munitions expert, but you could clearly make a bomb with Hydrogen and Oxygen, and the only trace would be H2O.

[Grampa Dave]

Gentlemen, could you help us, the uninformed re the so called untraceable.

Are they talking about the ingredients or the lack of taggers?

Thanks