A terrorist twist I hadn't thought about.

[Jeff K]

Here is something to think about.


"Unintentionally, DHS is creating the next opportunity for a terrorist attack.  Screening procedures, document checks, baggage X-rays, shoe inspections, as well as whatever new procedures are dreamed up to check for explosives in underwear, have caused longer delays at airports.  These procedures are why we are told to get to the airport early.

By creating these long lines of waiting travelers, DHS has created the next target for an al-Qaeda bomber.  The line itself.  A suicide bomber could kill more passengers by igniting a bomb in the midst of the long line of travelers as they wait to be screened by TSA.   Why bother to try to smuggle explosive on the airplane when it is far easier to blow up people standing in line?  Not only is there no security involved, but the number of travelers is far greater."

[Chrisj CMA]

Remember the full body sauna boxes in the old cartoons, where a character would go in fat and come out skinny but with a big head.  Well we need some of those made out of solid steel and cement.  Every passenger should have to sit inside, have the clamshell close and there would be a big red button in front of them flashing.  a sign in english and arabic that says when you push this button ALL explosives inside this devise wil be detonated.  If they wont push the button they get escorted to a holding pen and get striped searced and or shot

[czuch]

Once you get started thinking about how open we are its truly frightening.
The "officials" wont profile because theyre afraid. Its YOUR job. Just like the folks on the plane.
Your saftey is not anyone's responsibility but yours.
You decide to wear a helmet or not, in some states. You decide where to live, You decide if the dude near you or your family is someone youre comfortable with. I've told the ticket lady "If he gets on the plane I'm off."
Of course he was reading "guns,blades and bombs." And LOOKED like one of em.
.02

[Lonerbtw]

 And again I will give the solution. Put a pet pot belly pig on each plane. Thay will not blow it up for fear of blood. If thay anyone is not ok with that then let them fly there own airlines and blow each other up. Besides the pig would keep the kids occupied and maby quiet.
  Loner

[asfltdncr]

So I guess we abolish public gatherings, church attendance, motorcycle shows, stadiums, concerts using that example. 
I'm quite sure that if people that are planning to fly PLAN to fly, there would be a lot less time involved.

[Goody]

So I guess we abolish public gatherings, church attendance, motorcycle shows, stadiums, concerts using that example. 
I'm quite sure that if people that are planning to fly PLAN to fly, there would be a lot less time involved.

No Way    The week end after 911 was the Childrens Brain tumor ride In Maryland.  They were going to cancel.  It became aparent that we were riding rather it was sanctioned or not!  Really cool to see people standing in thier yards waving American flags as over a 1000 motorcycles went past.
Us Americans---we aint scared--- stupid sometimes--but we ain't scared 
Do you ever wonder that maybe we should be 

[alph]

seriously, what's the deal with airplanes anyway?  if they want to kill people, there are so many other whys to do it.  i think the airplanes are just for the "romance" of it all.

[asfltdncr]

I'm sure the attractiveness of air planes is that you only need control or a small amount of explosives to light up so much fuel.  It also must be the affect they are looking for.

My view is everyone goes through the scanner or you're escorted out of the terminal.
Pat downs aren't going to be worth a damn because they won't be allowed to search you ...where....right where this guy had the chemicals stashed-his crotch.

[FLAVALK]

You state the very thing that I have feared for some time now. I don't understand why it hasn't already happened. Maybe not necessarily at an airport, but perhaps at any large gathering....times square on new years eve, 4th of July fireworks celebrations anywhere in the country....you name it. I have a very uneasy feeling that this may come to pass this year. ...I pray it does not.

[Charlie]

You state the very thing that I have feared for some time now. I don't understand why it hasn't already happened. Maybe not necessarily at an airport, but perhaps at any large gathering....times square on new years eve, 4th of July fireworks celebrations anywhere in the country....you name it. I have a very uneasy feeling that this may come to pass this year. ...I pray it does not.

Actually it has.  There have been a number of bombings in Israel in large crowds of people.  The losses don't turn out to be as drastic as you would think.  Many are maimed, but not killed.  I suspect (but do not know) the reason for planes is that everyone on the plane usually dies, leaving no martyrs, where as in crowds, on the ground, more martyrs are made then deaths recorded.

[sheets]

Their goal is to make their events the most sensational they can with the largest impact, directly or indirectly.  Huge gatherings are primary targets.  Maximum damage/impact with minimal effort/expense.  They started with the largest weapon causing the most damage and putting the most fear into the public at large.  Ships, trains and city infrastructure are next (no electricity-water-major bridges . . . how many people stranded with no services . . . or groceries?).  Just putting the thought in your head is a form of terrorism.    

[fstsix]

Does kinda seem they like to do as much damage at each bombing, i cant help but think of a Football game or Nascar, with the grandstands full, But i know!! lets see how he would hold up with this crowd heheheh   

[Serk]

The idea has been out there a while...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sunday_%281977_film%29

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

[Willow]

It may seem morbid to say so, but tightly crowded spots are not the best targets for terrorist body bombers.  Moderately crowded areas such as streets are better.

The reason is that human bodies absorb shrapnel and shock.  Best results are for a crowd loose enough that each body only absorbs enough shock and shrapnel to kill.

An aircraft can be knocked out of the sky by a relatively small explosion, taking all its passengers with it. 

When more powerful bombs are available for use, the rules change.

[therapist]

Actually I think the stuff that should keep us up at night are the relatively unsecured water supply, power grid and our ever growing dependence on computers/internet....that and some killer virus they are most likely working on.  Guess we just live our lives and hope they are all as stupid as the crotch bomber.

[sheets]

Actually I think the stuff that should keep us up at night are the relatively unsecured water supply, power grid and our ever growing dependence on computers/internet....that and some killer virus they are most likely working on.

Precisely my point in my response.  I'm simply a highway guy (mooching off the gov't tit . . .  ???), but I've been involved with transportation emergencies for years.  I'm not a LEO type, but in the world of HAZMAT response I'm a "specialist".  As the landlord, so to speak, of the highway system, a select group of us is routinely trained along side of LEOs and "all" the other EMS functions.  With the transportation infrastructure perspective in mind, I've participated in numerous multi-day sessions with the subject of terrorism.  I've been in classes where a student has to go through a background check a couple weeks in advance before being allowed to attend.  I've been in classes where I'm the only guy in there not wearing a badge and a gun.  Has made me check a time or two to ensure that I'm in the right place.  I've been in sessions where the other folks are reluctant to talk because I'm not one of them.  I've been in sessions where you are not allowed to leave the building with any of the class room material.  All the students are registered with the FBI.  We've purposefully gone places, urban and rural, and walked around places just to see if someone would question us.  I was amazed at the places I went and nobody questioned me.  Others in the session had the same experience at other places (profiling the person - not the activity).  Colleges, Hospitals, remote agricultural facilities for processing food products, to name a few.  The city-county-State infrastructure is guarded with a discriminating eye.  The more remote, the more it is kept under observation.  The power grid is of the utmost priority.  Water (in & out) is equally guarded. Rail and bridges are no less important.  The possibilities are recognized and have "many" eyes scanning the areas for abnormal activity.  It's well known and constantly under surveillance.  Believe me when I say all the possibilities have been explored and tested with training exercises.  We are still vulnerable.  We can't be everywhere at once.