Apropos of the Time report on possible limousine bomb terror at the inaugural, there’s a good backgrounder from Global Security.org on Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDS).

Wonder how that’s pronounced? VEE-bides? Vee-buy-eds? Vuh-BEADS?

Anyway, here’s a handy BATF explosive standards chart on VBIEDS:

The Time article says an al Qaeda document on VBIEDS attacks calls for the deployment of three limos, each carrying 12 or more compressed-gas cylinders to create a “full fuel-air explosion by venting flammable gas into a confined space and then igniting it.” It suggests painting the cylinders yellow to falsely “signify toxic gases to spread terror and chaos when emergency and haz-mat teams arrive…”

The Department of Homeland Security says “authorities are on the alert” this week for a possible attack.

Let’s hope this doesn’t just mean they’ll be bothering toddlers and Medal of Honor winners around the Capitol.

Update: In the Bullpen rightly puts the Time report in its proper context.