Attempt To Blow Up US Passenger Jet

@BillRM,

People are advocating for the full body scans because of what they saw in that guy's underwear. Does this mean then that any menstruating woman who happens to be wearing a sanitary napkin in her underwear will be scanned and searched simply because she chooses to use a sanitary napkin? Will all children who are wearing diapers be stripped and searched for bomb materials? What about the sports jocks who happen to have their crotch cradled by a jock strap while heading onto the plane? Will they be stopped after having the full body scan?

If not, how will you set up a profile for the one who has disguised their bomb materials to look like a sanitary napkin on a woman's body or the diaper of a kid they've brought with them?

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Maybe we should start with the basics, and see how it goes. Sounds reasonalbe that airlines could easily require passports before boarding international flights.

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@roger,

they have...for 2 years

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@Butrflynet,

So because there are limit to what is possible to do we should do nothing?

Because no screening protocol is prefect that mean we should not screen at all?

Yes we are seeing some silly over reactions here but that still does not mean that we should not keep doing our very best to find a balance of what we can do to reduce our risks of flying.

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@ossobuco,

Also what is defined as terrorism in these purposes has happened with different groups using this tactic over the years. Think of the Red Brigades and lots of other movements. Plane safety is an international concern re many groups.

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@BillRM,

Quote:

Yes we are seeing some silly over reactions here but that still does not mean that we should not keep doing our very best to find a balance of what we can do to reduce our risks of flying.

When we change how we live in reaction to terrorists that means that the terrorists have won. Yes, we need some level of searches of the passengers, we also need to have good intelligence so the the agents of the collective can concentrate on disrupting the very few people who are a threat, rather than the rest of us.

The sniffers are way to expensive, so we should have roving teams of dog bomb sniffers. The full body scans are an outrageous violation of search prohibitions as outlined in the Constitution, and should be illegal.

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@Butrflynet,

Quote:

People are advocating for the full body scans because of what they saw in that guy's underwear. Does this mean then that any menstruating woman who happens to be wearing a sanitary napkin in her underwear will be scanned and searched simply because she chooses to use a sanitary napkin? Will all children who are wearing diapers be stripped and searched for bomb materials? What about the sports jocks who happen to have their crotch cradled by a jock strap while heading onto the plane? Will they be stopped after having the full body scan?

If not, how will you set up a profile for the one who has disguised their bomb materials to look like a sanitary napkin on a woman's body or the diaper of a kid they've brought with them?

Exactly, and since success will come down to intell and gut feeling (profiling) how about we skip to that rather than detour through this expensive violation of personal liberty of all the people who fly?

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@panzade,

I know, but I read that this one got on without one.

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@engineer,

engineer wrote:

On a related topic, here is an interesting blog entry on what the airplane bombing means if it is truly an organized terrorist attack. The overall premise is that if Al Qaeda is resorting to such a poorly planned attack, then they must really be hurting since their previous efforts have been much better coordinated and had redundant attacks planned together to ensure some success.

Well this attack was remarkably similar to Richard Reid's attack in 2001 that also went out under their loose "brand" so that's not much consolation.

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@hawkeye10,

The full body scans are an outrageous violation of search prohibitions as outlined in the Constitution, and should be illegal.
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No one have a right to have a driver license and no one have a constitution right to get on a commerce airplane either.

If you do not wish to undergo a full body scan then do not board a commerce aircraft.

The right of others not to get blown up out weight your rights to board a aircraft without such a scan if the government decide that is needed.

Take a train or a car or a ship if you wish to travel then.

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Full body scans may be needed at airports for flights departing TO the US and would operate under the civil rights laws of those countries as well.
AS far as in the US itself, as Bill said, where does the constitution require that unreasonable search and seizure be a suicide pact ?

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@farmerman,

TO the US and would operate under the civil rights laws of those countries as well.
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Farmerman if we <USA> decide whole body scans are needed for flights coming into the US then we just do not allow anyone to fly into our airspace without that screening being done at the departing nations airports.

Some concept apply as no one have a right to get on a plane in the US without going through whatever screening the government feel is needed and no nation have a right to fly planes into our airspace without meeting our security requirements.

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@Robert Gentel,

Robert Gentel wrote:

Well this attack was remarkably similar to Richard Reid's attack in 2001 that also went out under their loose "brand" so that's not much consolation.

That's why I think this is a one off. Someone calls up and says they want to bomb a plane, so they give them minimum support and hope it pays off. It doesn't sound like a legitimate Al Qaeda plot.

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@engineer,

Quote:

It doesn't sound like a legitimate Al Qaeda plot.

LEGITIMATE????!!!!!??????

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@roger,

Quote:

I know, but I read that this one got on without one(passport).

Well then...problem solved.
Check the frikkin passport!

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@BillRM,

Can we also apply this train of thought to internet security, Bill, since you are so big on computer privacy?

Anyone not willing to have their emails, purchases, searches tracked by the government should just not use it because the rights of others not to be scammed, cheated, have identities stolen outweigh your rights to total privacy when you access the internet without a government scan of your data?

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@Butrflynet,

Good try however no cigar.

We are talking about a clear danger of lost of lives in the range of hundreds in one event not the lost of funds to the RIAA!!!!!!

And once more it you do not like the rules concerning flying a common air carrier then drive a car or go aboard by surface ship or charter a private plane.

Lord you would prefer to see bodies falling from the sky then to be non-PC!

Most of us draw the line at the lost of lives and you can complain all you care to but the rest of us are going to support logic and commonsense over being PC.

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@BillRM,

Actually, I'm advocating treating everyone the same and not singling out any one group for some reason for special treatment whether it is the screening techniques they are subjected to or the screening techniques they are excluded from because they happen to be carrying a "free pass" card they paid for because they are a frequent flyer.

It is you who are wishing to play a guessing game with the people who want to destroy the planes as to which method they'll use this week and what they'll change to next week so you'll know which category of special groups to profile and give the special treatment to.

If people are THAT worried about their safety in the air, why aren't they willing to spend the few extra minutes it takes for the various screening techniques to be applied to themselves and ALL their fellow passengers every time they step onto a plane?

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I say, If the dark skinned guy gets strip searched, Bill does too. Problem solved.

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On December 26, Transport Canada implemented new security regulations for flights to the United States from Canada in response to the alleged terrorist incident on Northwest Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit.

On December 28, Transport Canada updated the rules regarding carry-on luggage for passengers travelling from Canada to the United States. Effective immediately, US bound passengers will not be permitted to bring carry-on luggage into the cabin of the aircraft, with some exceptions.

Some of the exceptions are:

• Small purses
• Cameras
• Coats
• Medications
• Items for the care of small children
• Laptop computers
• Canes/walkers

Passengers are still encouraged to arrive at the airport early and to expect that some delays will be occurring as a result of the new regulations.

The delays have been as long as 8 to 10 hours and many flights had to be cancelled. Unfortunately, the Toronto has more flights to the U.S. than any other airport in the world.

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Attempt To Blow Up US Passenger Jet

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