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Screening could have detected explosives
UPI ^ | December 27, 2009

Posted on 12/28/2009 2:28:57 AM PST by myknowledge

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Existing airport screening equipment could have detected the explosive suspected in the attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner, experts say.

But the screening equipment is used on a only small fraction of passengers in part because of concerns about privacy rights, costs and long lines at airport security, The Washington Post reported Monday.

That Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 23-year-old Nigerian suspect, allegedly managed to bring PETN, or pentaerythritol tetranitrate, aboard the Christmas Day flight alarms some international security experts and former U.S. government officials, the Post said.

Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism analyst at Georgetown University, said PETN is well-known and often preferred by suicide bombers.

(Excerpt) Read more at upi.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abdulmutallab; airlinesecurity; airportsecurity; flight253; petn; petnexplosive; screening; tsa
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PETN, or pentaerythritol tetranitrate

Why wasn't Abdul Mutallab patted down and searched, along with his luggage? Those accursed traitorous liberals, grrrrrrrrr, needlessly jeopardizing the safety of the airliner and the passengers, who proved to be the last line of defense against terrorists.

PC rears it ugly head...again!

1 posted on 12/28/2009 2:28:58 AM PST by myknowledge
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To: myknowledge
There are several ways to detect the material. One has four legs and a great nose. . . . .
Why they don't use them is a mystery. Maybe it's not PC.
2 posted on 12/28/2009 2:34:40 AM PST by DeaconRed (Red is Positive, Black is Negative, Make sure nuts are wet. All we need to know about interrogation)
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To: Voter#537
One has four legs and a great nose. . . . .

Like swine, they have been used for centuries for truffles. I would love to see one sniffing up a muzzie.

3 posted on 12/28/2009 2:39:31 AM PST by Dedbone
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To: myknowledge
But the screening equipment is used on a only small fraction of passengers in part because of concerns about privacy rights, costs and long lines at airport security...
Simple, you just screen the right people:

You see a little old lady struggling in a walker... you jump on that ho now, bro! You scan the holy hell outta that one!

Now, of course, the diversity-enriched young men from Nigeria, you have to make sure they're comfortable, whisk them through security and give them free drinks on the plane, and keys to the captain's private rest room. Diversity is what makes our country great, after all.

There. Problem solved.

See peoples. Ya just gots to know how to run your security operation. Ask the homies in TSA. They'll tell you!

4 posted on 12/28/2009 2:41:42 AM PST by samtheman
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To: Voter#537
In Australia, sniffer dogs are universally used. The Australian Customs Service is so doggedly apt, cunning and skilled at their job.


5 posted on 12/28/2009 2:47:08 AM PST by myknowledge (F-22 Raptor: World's Largest Distributor of Sukhoi parts!)
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To: myknowledge

I am still skeptical it was PETN, because it is detectable by dogs and sniffers. I am still inclined it was something else and the FBI does not want it made publicly known because what the bomber wannabe actually used is for the most part something that is able to pass easily because it falls outside normal explosive detection parameters.

I discussed some theories the day after this happened about binaries such as water and alkali metals as sodium, potassium or lithium, by the description of the “glow” the molten metallic burns on the aircraft wall and on the skin of the terrorist I am standing on my assumption the failed explosives were not PETN. I could be wrong but then again the FBI is not going to be cooperative to the public and just be totally open, and I am by all means no explosives expert, if it was PETN it may have become contaminated or degraded in some form by the method the bomber had to conceal it, something that imaginative minds would find repellent, but to these Islamic pit bulls its acceptable to sink to such levels of humanity if its condoned by the Muslim religion.


6 posted on 12/28/2009 2:50:56 AM PST by Eye of Unk (Phobos, kerdos, and doxa, said the Time Traveler. “Fear, self-interest, and honor.”)
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To: myknowledge

Everyone fly naked and no carry on luggage!


7 posted on 12/28/2009 2:58:14 AM PST by dalereed
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To: Eye of Unk

my understanding is,

sniffers only detect explosives
with taggants.
..
if not correct,
please enlighten me


8 posted on 12/28/2009 3:02:33 AM PST by element92
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To: myknowledge

Obama’s spokesman on FoxNews last night blamed GWB for everything. Obama’s boys and policies are home free. No exceptions, no matter what.


9 posted on 12/28/2009 3:04:46 AM PST by hershey
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To: myknowledge
If the Prince of Peace hadn't disarmed the Jihadi numbnut's bombs, we'd be discussing whose body parts are who's rather than the chemical composition of the potential, failed explosive device.

We've been asking here at FR for God to have mercy on our nation.

I submit that we've just seen it.

10 posted on 12/28/2009 3:09:32 AM PST by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: element92

Its not in my expertise to discuss what TSA has in regards to what they can or cannot detect, I do know that there is available many combination’s of ordinary items that can be “mixed” to create some form of combustion.Even some heart medications will look normal but may actually be condensed far enough to be dangerously potent.


11 posted on 12/28/2009 3:24:41 AM PST by Eye of Unk (Phobos, kerdos, and doxa, said the Time Traveler. “Fear, self-interest, and honor.”)
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To: Caipirabob

I agree and have been thanking God over and over for His mercy in this latest attack!

Keep praying, everyone - while we demand the airlines kick the jihadists off the planes BEFORE they get on them!


12 posted on 12/28/2009 3:30:47 AM PST by Freedom'sWorthIt (Ronald Reagan: If we ever forget that we're one nation under God,then we'll be a nation gone under.")
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To: Eye of Unk
I am still inclined it was something else and the FBI does not want it made publicly known because what the bomber wannabe actually used is for the most part something that is able to pass easily because it falls outside normal explosive detection parameters.

This is very possible as Schipol has "sniffers" and a few dogs.

This may be a new generation of explosive or a thermite-like substance that melts its way down through the aircraft via gravity and into the fuel tank.

13 posted on 12/28/2009 4:26:20 AM PST by Erik Latranyi (Too many conservatives urge retreat when the war of politics doesn't go their way.)
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To: Voter#537
There are several ways to detect the material. One has four legs and a great nose.

Explains why so many of them have problems with dogs.

14 posted on 12/28/2009 4:31:22 AM PST by pnh102 (Regarding liberalism, always attribute to malice what you think can be explained by stupidity. - Me)
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To: Erik Latranyi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_powder


15 posted on 12/28/2009 4:33:30 AM PST by Eye of Unk (Phobos, kerdos, and doxa, said the Time Traveler. “Fear, self-interest, and honor.”)
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To: myknowledge
instead of punishing us collectively, punish state sponsors of terrorism collectively. If we get attacked, bomb one of them at random. Let them fight among themselves and start blaming each other as their infrastructure deteriorates. Maybe they will police each other or at least in-fight.
16 posted on 12/28/2009 4:35:08 AM PST by Puddleglum ("due to the record harvest, rationing will continue as usual")
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To: pnh102
Explains why so many of them have problems with dogs.

No, it's because of what happened to King Ahab and his wife.
17 posted on 12/28/2009 4:36:17 AM PST by aruanan
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To: Voter#537

Muslims are offended by the very sight of dogs.


18 posted on 12/28/2009 4:40:29 AM PST by Carley (OBAMA IS A MALEVOLENT FORCE IN THE WORLD)
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To: Eye of Unk

Drug mules insert the condoms in their rectums.

I suspect he went to the bathroom to remove the condom and get it ready to ignite.

Wondering now if the next day flight disruption was another terrorist who locked himself in the bathroom to remove and discard his condom filled with PETN.


19 posted on 12/28/2009 4:42:46 AM PST by Carley (OBAMA IS A MALEVOLENT FORCE IN THE WORLD)
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To: Carley

Makes you kinda wonder about the second guy on a similar flight that was reported as being sick for two hours in the restrom, sounds like he may have been constipated and could not remove such bodily hidden binary explosives.


20 posted on 12/28/2009 4:46:08 AM PST by Eye of Unk (Phobos, kerdos, and doxa, said the Time Traveler. “Fear, self-interest, and honor.”)
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