posted on March 17, 2006 02:21:21 PM new
Bomb Parts Pass Checkpoints at 21 U.S. Airports
Congressman Calls Results of Undercover Tests 'Very Disappointing'
(March 17) -- Government investigators conducting undercover tests at 21 U.S. airports were able to get bomb materials through screening machines at all of them, ABC News has learned.
The investigators sent through components of an improvised explosive device and common household chemicals, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office, the watchdog arm of Congress. Undercover agents carried a small amount of material that would need to be properly combined on the other side of the checkpoint to create a bomb. The material got past screeners and X-ray machines in every one of the 21 airports tested.
"I think security is still not where it needs to be," said Jerry Hauer, an ABC News consultant and terrorism expert. "At the end of the day, you can still get all the components through security that you need to assemble a bomb on the other side."
The report was ordered by Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., who said he wanted to see "how penetrable the passenger screening system is to explosive devices." He called the results "very disappointing."
Mica would not comment on any of the specifics of the report because it is classified.
Covert tests are a key part of testing the security system and are conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, which admitted it worried about explosive devices slipping through. It recently cut back on the list of banned items so screeners could concentrate on finding bomb-making material.
Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, hidden weapons and simulated bombs have made it through checkpoints in hundreds of tests.
'Highly Implausible'
The Transportation Security Administration, the government agency that handles security at American airports, issued a statement in response to the report.
"While random items commonly found under a kitchen sink could conceivably be concocted into an IED, there are so many things that could go wrong with this hypothetical scenario that we find it highly implausible," it said.
A spokesman from the Department of Homeland Security said the study involved several investigators bringing different components through security.
ABC News' Dennis Powell, Ari Meltzer and Lisa Stark contributed to this report.
03-17-06 15:47 EST
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS BELOW
Do the results of this study surprise you?
No 82%
Yes 18%
Total Votes: 83,978
Note on Poll Results
How confident are you in airport security?
Not at all 56%
Somewhat 40%
Very 4%
Total Votes: 85,342
posted on March 17, 2006 07:49:49 PM new
to tell you the truth, the thing that annoys me about this kind of report is that you give people ideas. i don't mean terrorists, because they already know this, but you give joe shmoe dicontented the idea and then let him know it is entirely possible.
If someone really wants to kill people, chances are they will, I would just rather we not put new ideas in the minds of those that suddenly get the inclination.
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
posted on March 17, 2006 08:04:05 PM newthe thing that annoys me about this kind of report is that you give people ideas. i don't mean terrorists, because they already know this, but you give joe shmoe dicontented the idea and then let him know it is entirely possible.
Better classify every episode of "MacGyver" as Top Secret. Also all my father's old 1940s/50s Army Manuals detailing how to make improvised devices and boobytraps.
I won't mention that any decent chemist can knock up a batch of binary (or trinary) chemical weapons in a day or so, and until combined they are quite safe to handle and will pass any current airline security check if properly disguised as per the tradecraft manuals.
posted on March 17, 2006 08:31:08 PM new
Agit - I prefer to live under the misconception that no one ever watched MacGyver or actually believed that you could jumpstart a drawbridge with aftershave and a flashlight battery to escape from pursuing nazis.
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Never ask what sort if computer a guy drives. If he's a Mac user, he'll tell you. If he's not, why embarrass him? - Tom Clancy
posted on March 17, 2006 10:51:04 PM new
It's been proven time and again how weak security is in different areas. The major news channels love to report all the weaknesses with updates on how those weaknesses are never addressed.
So don't you wonder if it's true, why aren't all the hoards of terrorist cells taking opportunities of these weaknesses?
posted on March 18, 2006 12:52:08 AM newIt's been proven time and again how weak security is in different areas. The major news channels love to report all the weaknesses with updates on how those weaknesses are never addressed.
Doesn't really matter as you are far more likely to die in a car crash than be killed by terrorists. At least here the government saw the futility of increased screening at airports and now allows you to carry-on pocket knives once again. Thankfully they never bothered with wasting money on Air Marshals (or whatever the glorified sky cops are called).
As usual it's the liberal media elite trying to scare your US Congress into passing more draconian anti-personal legislation and abridge what little freedoms you have left. Next they'll want to give everyone National ID badges with RFID chips so they can monitor your movements in the hopes of spotting the terrorists - yeah right!
posted on March 18, 2006 05:41:24 AM new
So now the Liberals are responsible for the loss of personal freedoms caused by new laws passed by this Conservative Congress. I never saw that idea before.
If you own a cell phone and carry it "THEY" already know where you are. This conservative government said the tracking device they ordered built into cell phones is for your personal safety.
I get it now its the liberals that get the conservative Congress to make anti personal freedom laws. Then tell the American people that its for personal safety to loose personal freedoms.
Is that similar to this U.S. Government telling the Iraqi people we brought them freedom?
How can America have any HOMELAND SECURITY? When millions pour into our country through wide open borders and only 1% of the sea containers coming in are checked?
posted on March 18, 2006 12:00:50 PM new
Double! I thought the only discos left were in Mexico & Cuba. Is that where you were? I never said I didn't want to go - LIAR! And, of course I missed you - who wouldn't?
posted on March 18, 2006 06:50:25 PM new
Permanent vacation is for wimps, Double. You're above that nonsense.
P.S. If you want to bum yourself out, buy a "Tweezerman" 12X mirror. I needed a new magnifying mirror for my eyebrows and found this one today. I can sure recommend them (if you're losing your close-up vision) but when you first look at yourself up THAT close, it's awful! << This is my beauty tip of the day.
posted on March 18, 2006 07:17:53 PM new
Kraft, what's going on with you? Checking into multi bladed razors, filling your indoor pool with lime green jello, making your own sex videos and now new tweezers and magnifying mirrors??
Ahhhhh, I get it, April first is just a few weeks away and you're getting ready. So nevermind, forget I even mentioned anything. Carry on!
posted on March 18, 2006 08:11:05 PM new
Pi, OK, first off, the videos were something Twelve forced me to do. If you watched them, you would see there was no sex involved. He just made me cook him meals and do his laundry while I pretended to be Asian. He made me say things like "you're manly" and "you know more than me". Although I looked convincing in the films, all the dialogue was against my will.
posted on March 18, 2006 08:40:47 PM new
Aw heck Kraft, I halfway expected you to come back at me with something better than that.
Can't you tell that i'm trying to pick a fight with you? I mean, now that it appears as if you and Dblf are all kissy kissy with each other and all.
It sure has gotten boring around here lately and hardly anything juicy has been said in a long time. Have you noticed that? Somebody has to get things going again. So come on, hit me with your best shot, you...you..hairy-ape-girl.
posted on March 19, 2006 04:12:02 AM new
Piin-yea things are quiet now since crowfart left the building after calling maggie a slut.She now hangs out with her liberal ass-hole friends in OWTA,she couldnt handle the heat over here.
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[ edited by classicrock000 on Mar 19, 2006 04:13 AM ]
posted on March 19, 2006 05:40:24 AM new
Looks like Otwa Crossfire has become private, requiring a password to view the threads. And the Crossfire Forum has been removed from the Otwa Community Center Forum list.
posted on March 19, 2006 08:11:10 AM new
I noticed that yesterday, helen. Jim posted something about it in the announcements board, saying that he doesn't want crossfire to show up in searches but i'm sure that wasn't the only reason why he made the changes.
Darn, I guess i'm gonna have to re register there just so I can read all the juicy stuff being said. You do know what this means now, don't you, helen? It means that YOU can't reference threads there in discussions here and put a link to them anymore because no one will be able to read them to verify.
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WHAT? When did craw call mags a slut? Did I miss something here? Are you serious about that, Classic? Did crawfort get a suspension over it?
posted on March 19, 2006 08:38:15 AM new
All those posters of the troll variety who rely on an audience may loose their motivation to post there. It's an interesting development.
posted on March 19, 2006 08:49:17 AM newDarn, I guess i'm gonna have to re register there just so I can read all the juicy stuff being said. You do know what this means now, don't you, helen? It means that YOU can't reference threads there in discussions here and put a link to them anymore because no one will be able to read them to verify.
No one? Assumptions abound......
The trolls are of the lamest variety so far. What is their motivation? To try to wreck a good forum because of their jealousy that they are unable to contribute on an intellectual level?
posted on March 19, 2006 09:08:19 AM new "The trolls are of the lamest variety so far. What is their motivation? To try to wreck a good forum because of their jealousy that they are unable to contribute on an intellectual level?"
Exactly right, Kiara......and trolls who consider suspension a mark of distinction and another looney loop to add to their effeminate signature line.
posted on March 19, 2006 09:14:49 AM new
Classic, did you mention kiara's name again because she suddenly appeared. Hey wait a minute here...were you sitting there thinkin about her again? Why you dirty dog you, see what you've gone and done? All you have to do is think about her and she suddenly appears. Her alarm has esp.
As I sit here and reel 'em both in.
ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø ø¤º°`°º¤ø
[ edited by piinthesky on Mar 19, 2006 09:20 AM ]
posted on March 19, 2006 09:30:09 AM new
The alarm remarks have been stale for quite awhile now. No one 'reels' me in as I post when I damn well feel like it and Helen seems to do likewise.
posted on March 19, 2006 09:36:25 AM new
I can't roll you turds around the sandbox any longer today because I have to go out of town now but i'll be back later to see how much damage the flies have done. See ya!
posted on March 19, 2006 12:23:30 PM new
WHAT? When did craw call mags a slut? Did I miss something here? Are you serious about that, Classic? Did crawfort get a suspension over it?
Damn Piin-where the hell ya been?? It was awhile ago,don't know how you could have missed that one.No,she didn't get suspended,but everyone including Helen chastised her for it.It was totally uncalled for and she knew it.
I don't remember the name of the thread,but
maggie was the OP and it had Pres.Bush in the title.The jest of the thread was maggie said that she didn't and wouldn't vote for pres Bush,but he wasn't all bad.Thats all crowfart had to read and went ballistic.I remember one line she wrote that went something like this-"I cant respect anyone who likes president Bush" Then I thought who really gives a rats ass who YOU respect.Ya know the really funny thing to all this? A couple of months later I believe it was Colin referred to mingotree as crowfart in one of the OTWA threads,and she became indignant and "threaten" to report him to "Jim"(whoever the hell he is)Imagine this maggot,who for a couple of years has called every right wing
person in here names now becomes indignant because someone calls her crowfart LOL...ya cant make this sh*t up.
Since then crowfart was so embarrassed to post in here,she has disappeared over to OTWA with the rest of her lame friends who do nothing but agree with each other-what a lame ass board that is-if you disagree like you and Colin you get tossed out-what a joke. Anyway,I wish I could provide a link,but I'm no good at that-if HELEN would, it would make for good reading during these slow days of March
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[ edited by classicrock000 on Mar 19, 2006 12:29 PM ]
posted on March 19, 2006 12:31:37 PM new
"Looks like Otwa Crossfire has become private, requiring a password to view the threads. And the Crossfire Forum has been removed from the Otwa Community Center Forum list."
posted on March 19, 2006 12:32:40 PM new
"All those posters of the troll variety who rely on an audience may loose their motivation to post there. It's an interesting development"
