[knak]

strange stuff in this one (if you all have not seen it yet?)

At the nervous center of homeland security

excerpt: In Miami, a man tried to board an airplane with a bizarre, handmade contraption, a vacuum cleaner hose taped to tin cans and air filters. Federal agents confiscated the hose, worried that it could be used as a lethal device. The man was stopped from boarding and was being questioned. Meanwhile, a digital photo of the device was being studied by a DHS engineer.

• Customs agents and Border Patrol officers were investigating a "tool" sold overseas -- Broderick would not be more specific -- that they feared could be used as a weapon.

• In a northeastern city that Broderick would not name, police and federal agents were working a tip that several empty suitcases had been left in bus terminals and other areas.

[knak]

it does say at the end that the miami device turned out to be nothing, but it just goes to show what these people have to deal with. Hopefully when the one device that is something goes through someone will be sharp enough to catch it!

[JustPiper]

In a northeastern city that Broderick would not name, police and federal agents were working a tip that several empty suitcases had been left in bus terminals and other areas.

Definite one to follow up on considering there were 3 separate ones yesterday!

[Velveeta]

Thanks. DHS is not going to be able to catch and run after every strange occurance. God Bless them though, for working as diligently as they are. We are stressed, imagine their stress level.

[WestCoastGal]

During the Code Orange heightened terrorism alert level in December, when dozens of flights to the United States were canceled, Broderick often worked 36 hours straight. Ridge would join him at 3 a.m in the center for a sandwich.

"He was here at 4 and 5 in the morning," Broderick said. "It was very serious. There were threats to blow up airlines and the possibility of large numbers of American casualties." Broderick said he slept on the floor of his office several nights. (He has asked for a sofa in his new office upstairs. "The floor is very hard," he said, "and I'm an old Marine.") But recently things have been calmer, and by the end of this day, many of the morning's incidents have been resolved: ************************************************************************* Thanks to them and all the rest who are standing watch!!

[Indie]

a vacuum cleaner hose taped to tin cans and air filters.

After reading the description, I can only conclude this was an expedient gas mask....Your thoughts?