Posted on 09/03/2011 6:25:03 PM PDT by Petruchio
The FBI and Homeland Security have issued a nationwide warning about al-Qaida threats to small airplanes, just days before the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Authorities say there is no specific or credible terrorist threat for the 10-year anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. But they have stepped up security nationwide as a precaution.
According to a five-page law enforcement bulletin issued Friday, as recently as early this year, al-Qaida was considering ways to attack airplanes.
The alert, issued ahead of the summer's last busy travel weekend, said terrorists have considered renting private planes and loading them with explosives.
"Al-Qaida and its affiliates have maintained an interest in obtaining aviation training, particularly on small aircraft, and in recruiting Western individuals for training in Europe or the United States, although we do not have current, credible information or intelligence of an imminent attack being planned," according to the bulletin obtained by The Associated Press.
The bulletin also says al-Qaida would like to use sympathetic Westerners to get flight training, then get them to become flight instructors.
Matthew Chandler, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security, described the bulletin as routine.
"We shared this information with our partners to highlight the need for continued awareness and vigilance," he said.
Aviation security is much tighter than it was a decade ago, but al-Qaida remains keenly interested in launching attacks on airplanes, believing large attacks with high body counts are more likely to grab headlines.
Threats to small airplanes are nothing new. After the 2001 attacks, the government grounded thousands of crop dusters amid fears the planes could be used in an attack.
[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
OK folks, where are several million Americans congregated on weekends in the fall? Football stadiums, right?
A dozen or more private jets flying into the crowd at the worst angle, would probably exceed the 9/11 casualty rate.
I have always thought this was the next attack scenario.
Look, we all no the threat is minor. So, it will be played up will we keep a open border and do other silly things.
know
“”al-Qaida threats to small airplanes””
Strange way to put it. I’ll bet all small airplanes are really scared!
I’m also sure they’re still not checking flight schools.
You need to understand,, most general aviation really is about pleasure. You are being selfish to let your personal pleasure stand in the way of the revolution.
The State will soon arrange activities for you entertainment, and you should attend by public transportation. Also, there are plenty of good movies you can watch about airplanes to satisfy your interest in small planes. /
(of course, i would ask you to remember that Sarah lives where GA machines are used like cars, vote accordingly!)
The other day they had a story of the Alphabet Soup Gen Av organizations all on the stage @ OSH talking about working in concert against this sort of big Gov't isssues that effect them.
IMHO I am afraid it maybe to late...
I already know you know that know is spelled k-n-o-w and not n-o. Good to know I knew isn’t it?
Thanks for the know!
Because of this?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2773292/posts
You should check this out and then tell me if even slightly sophisticated terrorists could find a way to arm “small planes” with all kinds of explosives and biological / chemical agents.
Terrorists could fill a small car with a dirty bomb. All those should be continuously tracked so that children can be safe.
Yes as an airplane owner I'm anything but rich...just trying to enjoy my first love...and these accusations really hurt our industry...
Terrorist prefer suitcase bombs, suicide bombers, car bombs and truck bombs for a reason.
Look for this to be the reason they use to try to include GA in their perversions . . . errr . . . I mean Inspections.
In order of likelihood, there's the clamp down on our freedoms you mentioned. But that doesn't make sense unless you're a one world globalist and have a crazy notion that teapartiers, constitutionalists and freedom loving people are terrorists. Also under the same category, the airlines may fear the flying public will turn more and more to GA unless GA is strongly regulated. There may be a lobbing/crackdown campaign to prevent this.
A second less likely reason is that muslim terrorists are feeding our government disinformation to distract from their real attack plans.
Finally, God forbid, muslim terrorists have a nuke.
bfl
All these alerts are nothing but propaganda for more tax money.
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