Posted on 12/27/2009 5:09:33 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
The explosive device used by the would-be Detroit bomber contained a widely available - and easily detected - chemical explosive that has a long history of terrorist use, according to government officials and explosive experts.
SNIP
PETN was widely used in the plastic explosives terrorists used to blow up airplanes in the 1970s and 1980s.
Investigators say Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab hid an explosive device on his body when he traveled from Amsterdam to Detroit. They say PETN was hidden in a condom or condom-like bag just below his torso.
Abdulmutallab also had a syringe filled with liquid. One law enforcement official said the second part of the explosive concoction used in the Christmas Day incident is still being tested but appears to be a glycol-based liquid explosive. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation.
SNIP
But Abdulmutallab did not go through full-body imaging machines in Nigeria or Amsterdam, said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. King has been briefed on the investigation.
Both airports have body scanners. The Amsterdam airport has had a long reputation for good security, King said, while Nigeria's airports have been more of a concern.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
Doesn't make a bit of difference. We still get a new rule: you're confined to your seat during the last hour of the flight. More restrictions coming I'm sure.
We can't let a perfectly good crisis go to waste, haven't you heard?
“Detroit explosive common, easily available”
Zatso? Where could you or I get some, hmmmmm?
Oops. “detectable,” not “available.”
Kinda screws up the impact of my post. Which was nothing to write home about, anyway.
It’s relatively easy to make in one’s garage, even easier if you have a doctor prescribe you Lentonitrat for a heart condition.
However, it’s fairly shock sensitive so you don’t want to drop it.
Thanks for the post; link. Very interesting.
When I was going through security at Amsterdam airport this last July, I was complaining to the officer there that all of this “take off your shoes” and “open up the computer” stuff was just garbage. If someone really wanted to get something passed them and was determined, the checks they were doing would be worthless. He agreed with me and said that “millions of dollars worth of drugs passed through that airport daily. So much for how good these methods are. All they have succeded in doing is making trips more difficult for regular passengers.
The Obama administration is concerned about Command & Control.
Anything having anything to do with national security is just a nuisance - or rascist.
*shrug* The article says “widely available”.
As you say, ‘they’ never let a crisis go to waste...
You’re welcome PGalt.
I remember shortly after 9-11 eighty some year old Congressional Medal of Honor winner Joe Foss was hassled by the TSA in Phoenix for having his Congressional Medal of Honor in his pocket. Yet we allow guys on watch lists, flying Imams and other undesirable to fly our skies with impunity. We need to drop this PC crap and start profiling those who might be likely terrorists.
All that is needed is for bomb dogs to sniff the line as it cues up to go through security. That way you don’t need to put everyone through the scanners. Rover is gonna smell that stuff on someone standing in line...
This isn’t that hard.
No can do. Muslims are offended by dogs. Their dislike of dogs trumps our dislike of being murdered.
What do you mean "Unfortunately"?
We may need this soon.
Well, I think I did hear about pigs being used to sniff for explosives also, so maybe we wouldn’t have to use dogs?
I like the way you think!
Great thread. Thanks to every poster. Read it all BUMP!
My pleasure.
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