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Blocks of cheese with wires sticking out

By Michelle Malkin  •  July 25, 2007 01:47 AM

NBC News obtained a TSA unclassified bulletin about possible airplane/airport dry runs by terrorists probing homeland security.

What caught my eye were the photos of some of the suspicious devices taken by airport authorities:

cheeseblock.jpg

cheeseblock002.jpg

The report states that “individuals involved in these incidents were of varying gender.”

Oookay. Is that all they can tell us, though? Did any other traits “vary?” Shouldn’t we know a little more about the people giving shady explanations for toting around blocks of cheese with wires sticking out or taped to a cell-phone charger?

Every vigilant traveler–every once and future John Doe–should take a look at the TSA warning. And if you see something cheesy, say something. At the very least, you’ll offend a cheddar-lover. At best, you could save thousands of lives. Quite worth the risk, I think.

Speaking of John Does, it appears–take with a grain of salt–that the John Doe protection amendment will become law. But there is still no final language of the amendment.

Be on the lookout…

***

And speaking of dry runs, remember this?

See what others have said

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Trackbacks

  1. Bill's Bites
  2. Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator
  3. Gubatron
  4. Captain's Quarters
  5. TSA: Dry Runs Indicate Terrorist Attack Near at Conservative Times--Republican GOP news source.
  6. Jesus is Lord, A Worshipping Christian’s Blog » Blog Archive » Airports Warned About Terror Dry Runs
  7. Pajamas Media
  8. Airports Warned About Terror Dry Runs | JesusMySavior
  9. Webloggin - Blog Archive » Feds Say Watch Out For Terrorist Dry Runs On Planes
  10. Michelle Malkin » John Doe wins!
  11. Strangelove » Exploding Hor d’oeuvres
  12. Thoughts Of A Conservative Christian Say Cheeeeeese….”dry runs” of hijacking operations, «
  13. Lump on a Blog » Blog Archive » Smelly Suitcases and Simple 'Rithmetic
  14. The Infidel Terrorist » Cheese bomb turns out to be nothing more than . . . cheese!

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Comments

  1. #1
    On July 25th, 2007 at 2:25 am, rac said:

    I caught this story earlier and basically came away from it with: Be on the look out for ‘Individuals With Varying Traits’. But, because I may be sued, I’ll have to think really hard about reporting whatever it is I might feel is suspicious. Thank you liberalism.

  2. #2
    On July 25th, 2007 at 2:29 am, mnmike said:

    I’ve had wired cheese before. I wouldn’t recommend it though.

  3. #3
    On July 25th, 2007 at 2:40 am, Dersu said:

    The report states that “individuals involved in these incidents were of varying gender.”

    Are there more than two?
    oops, I forgot the youtube debates, sorry.

    MM, we aint payin no OT !

  4. #4
    On July 25th, 2007 at 2:58 am, puhiawa said:

    TSA=Dolts
    Chertoff=Dolt In Chief

  5. #5
    On July 25th, 2007 at 3:01 am, TheWriteJerry said:

    So we don’t know if the cheese was of Middle Eastern descent?

    Can they tell us at least if it was fresh or expired? Extra sharp or mild?

  6. #6
    On July 25th, 2007 at 3:04 am, blacktygrrrr said:

    I am always hesitant to take at face value any story emanating from NBC News, given their penchant for using fake footage in the past.

    However, the problem is that some people have “terror fatigue,” and will not accept that the terrorists do not have this.

    As badly as I want their never to be another 9/11 again, these foiled bomb plots globally are not waking people up. It might take more 9/11s as Israel suffers from to wake people up. I pray this is not the case.

    As Colonel David Hunt says, “They just don’t get it.”

    I wish people would.

    http://blacktygrrrr.wordpress.com/2007/06/30/until-san-francisco-gets-bombed-they-will-not-understand-anything/

    http://blacktygrrrr.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/colonel-david-hunt-the-jfk-plot-they-still-just-dont-get-it/

    eric

  7. #7
    On July 25th, 2007 at 3:07 am, Snooper said:

    This is just wonderful news. Good Lord.

    We need this like a hole in the head. I wonder what it will take, as Eric says, and countless others, WAKE UP!!

    here is another bit of news that is equally disturbing:

    http://aftermathnews.wordpress.com/2007/06/18/scandal-of-the-century-rocks-british-crown-and-the-city/#comment-38051

    I haven’t blogged on it because I am “chin on floor mode”

  8. #8
    On July 25th, 2007 at 4:05 am, PBoilermaker said:

    Wow, Snooper, that’s a hell of a story about Bandar and the Saudis!

  9. #9
    On July 25th, 2007 at 4:56 am, Sergeant Tim said:

    That New York Sun article says,

    “A spokeswoman for the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Senator Lieberman, an independent of Connecticut, vowed that an immunity protection would make it into the final bill.”

    Call your representatives in D.C., folks, for the ‘John Doe’ legislation is coming in on a wing and a prayer.

  10. #10
    On July 25th, 2007 at 5:51 am, crashemt said:

    Speaking of John Does, it appears–take with a grain of salt–that the John Doe protection amendment will become law. But there is still no final language of the amendment

    No, no, no. This simply can’t happen. Since when is the Democrat House and Senate actually concerned about the best interest of the whole over the mis-placed claim of rights by some uber-minority?

    I think someone on the hill is pulling our collective leg.

  11. #11
    On July 25th, 2007 at 6:43 am, Fritz said:

    1) Fire Chertoff.
    2) I don’t know if this is a true story but, nevertheless, anyone suggesting “bomb” with a fake seems just as guilty as someone “joking” that they have a bomb. I hope that anyone doing that has been arrested. (I doubt that anyone has, because announcing an arrest would be a deterrent. …but then Skeletor runs DHS–and he’s proved to be, at best, and idiot.)
    3) Fire Chertoff!

  12. #12
    On July 25th, 2007 at 7:19 am, ajmontana said:

    The Milwaukee picture seems less likely, after all in Wis. they where Cheese on their heads. The Baltimore pic. is scary. Diff. gender? geez, please tell it like it is.

  13. #13
    On July 25th, 2007 at 7:20 am, ajmontana said:

    corr. wear

  14. #14
    On July 25th, 2007 at 7:22 am, Lindsay said:

    With all the smuggled cheese found I think the potential, testing the waters terrorists are from Wisconsin.

    Seriously, I had the same feeling in reading the article and wondering who is getting caught on trial runs. When the press is afraid to print the ethnicity or name of the person they are usually a)Middle Eastern-in England: “Asian:” or b)illegal aliens of Hispanic origin.

    With the mainstream media propaganda you have to learn to read between the lines; or in this case, fill in the blanks. I am pretty sure the people with the weird items were not from Sweden.

  15. #15
    On July 25th, 2007 at 7:53 am, orlandocajun said:

    I realize that insane radical muslims still want to kill us. However, how much longer are we going to have to hear of an “imminent threat” of terrorists attacks in the U.S.? Sometimes I think that this is the way politicians make us helpless little citizens more dependent on them and sometimes I think that the MSM has to use scare tactics to sell ads.

    Personally, I don’t need to hear the current “threat color” of terror. I don’t need to hear about dry runs and thwarted attempts to kill us. All I want to hear is how many of them we’re killing and which country we’re going to destroy if we’re attacked here again.

  16. #16
    On July 25th, 2007 at 7:56 am, DesertLover said:

    Two more wonderful cases of “PC strikes again”

    Processed Cheese and Phone Charger …

    I also noticed they didn’t bother telling us where the “individuals …of varying gender” were traveling “to” … wouldn’t that figure into the situation as well? … a major city destination would be more likely to raise a flag than a small town in the lesser populated plains states as an example …

  17. #17
    On July 25th, 2007 at 7:57 am, RobM1981 said:

    What’s the matter with you people?

    It’s not as if these people are proto-terrorists, or that we’re at war. Haven’t you been listening to MSNBC or John Edwards? This is all a figment of your neocon imaginations. These people were simply transporting snacks. Or perhaps they mistook the cheese for their iPods, and stuffed wires into them. And tape. And perhaps wrote the word “C4″ on them in Sharpie.

    How is this different than other pleasant pastimes, like crocheting? People have a right to tape wired cheese together and carry it onto airplanes.

    I think it’s in their holy tome, even. The book of Jihad, Chapter 3, I believe between “Beheadings” and “Hor d’oeuvres.” I could be wrong, of course…

    OTOH, transporting foods out of their local region… THAT is an act of eco-terrorism, suitable to raising National Alert to at least DefCon2. Do you people realize how much carbon would have been released into the atmosphere hauling that cheese through the air?

    Right now Elizabeth Edwards is calling for an Independent Eco-Cheese-Crime Prosecutor.

  18. #18
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:35 am, jrlingreenbay said:

    Lindsay #14:

    As a Wisconsinite, I have say that, as proud of our cheese as we are - we all know that Great Cheese comes from Happy Cows, and Happy Cows come from California Cheese.

    Obviously, these incidents were perpetrated by troubled individuals. It is therefore logical that a troubled individual would not normally associate with the aforementioned “Happy Cow”.

    It can be assumed that it came from a meloncholy cow….even, I dare say, a troubled bovine. I would suspect then, that they used non-great cheese, perhaps, “ok” cheese….or “mediocre” cheese…or even “not-so-bad” cheese,
    If that is the case, I, speaking for my state, humbly apologize for our lack of diligence in policing our bovine population.

    I also respectfully submit my request to the Department of Homeland Security for random dairy checks and stricter guidelines of enforcement at our milking stations.

    I apologize for our udder failure.

    ( Ok - I’m still on coffee cup #1…so I’m a little punchy ) :)

  19. #19
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:39 am, DesertLover said:

    jrlingreenbay

    Go get ‘em … LOL

    I suspect that they had “sharp” cheddar … we all know that sharp objects are banned in carry-on items

  20. #20
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:40 am, gayle said:

    I know have a new respect for cheddar.

  21. #21
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:42 am, jrlingreenbay said:

    Probably aged as well - we all know they spend more time checking the elderly than anyone else.

    G’mornin Desertlover - Semper Fi :)

  22. #22
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:45 am, Lindsay said:

    If the wired items were bacon or a country ham, THEN we could suspect Swedish people. Otherwise I am betting they were “people of interest” that we cannot target due to profiling.

  23. #23
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:45 am, gayle said:

    Dang! I cannot spell worth a crap today!

    That should have read; I now have…..

    I haven’t had enough caffeine!

  24. #24
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:46 am, DesertLover said:

    jrlingreenbay

    Top o’ the mornin’ to you as well … another wonderful Semper Fi day in the neighborhood …

  25. #25
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:49 am, gayle said:

    Cheese, Cows, Milk, Moo, does the body good,

    Ok, word association here;

    We can do this!

  26. #26
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:49 am, ajmontana said:

    Looking into the Camera…
    “say timebomb!”

  27. #27
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:50 am, DesertLover said:

    Lindsay

    Actually bacon or ham would eliminate all of our Muslim friends since even handling pork is prohibited … and we know the cheese was not overly gourmet … could not have been a variety with wine or other alcohol in it for the same reasons … of course … our Dhimmi friends would probably say I was profiling with that statement … but they can go pack sand as far as I am concerned …

  28. #28
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:52 am, almeehan said:

    I may have missed it but it doesn’t say these people with the fake cheese bombs were detained or charged. Remember making jokes or comments about bombs or terror is a federal offense. I would think fabricating a fake one and trying to get it on board rises to a level above that. MM can you have someone research to see if anyone was charged or detained?

  29. #29
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:53 am, gayle said:

    DesertLover!

    There’s the solution!!!!

    Send BBQ sandwiches in protective doggie bags to all radical Muslims.

    Overnight FEDEX a whole pig to roast to Muslim leaders as a peace offering!

  30. #30
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:54 am, Lindsay said:

    DesertLover, yes, I know that they would never touch pork. They file lawsuits if they have to touch bacon in Target as cashiers.

    I like profilers (new bumper sticker).

  31. #31
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:56 am, jrlingreenbay said:

    I can just here the TSA people as the crowd gathered by the security checkpoint….

    “Nothing to see here folks….moooooove along”

    Ok - now I know I need a 2nd cup of coffee.

  32. #32
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:56 am, gayle said:

    Better yet, equip our military with pet pigs!

    That would scare the terrorists into submission!!!!

  33. #33
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:57 am, DesertLover said:

    Lindsay

    How about “Profile for Peace” (Bumper Sticker)

  34. #34
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:57 am, jrlingreenbay said:

    Correction: hear :P

  35. #35
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:58 am, DesertLover said:

    gayle

    How aboue we turn a million pigs loose in Baghdad … clear the place out in a matter of minutes …

  36. #36
    On July 25th, 2007 at 8:59 am, DesertLover said:

    make that about

  37. #37
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:00 am, gayle said:

    That would work!!!!

    Tell MICHELLE to pass this on to the powers that be!

    WE HAVE SOLVED THE CRISIS!

    NOBEL PEACE PRIZE?????

  38. #38
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:00 am, ajmontana said:

    “I love the smell of Bacon in the morning”

  39. #39
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:01 am, gayle said:

    (gayle is peeking into her coffee cup; “what is this I am drinking?!?”)

  40. #40
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:01 am, gayle said:

    Fry them critters!!!! (taliban + AQ)

  41. #41
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:03 am, DesertLover said:

    new interrogation technique … threaten them with porky pig as their new cell-mate to get them to talk …

  42. #42
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:04 am, Morganfrost said:

    individuals involved in these incidents were of varying gender.

    This is great news! Since most folks’ gender remains constant over the course of their lives, all we need to do keep an eye out for the few people whose gender seems to be varying, and we’ll have our terrorists! God Bless TSA!

  43. #43
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:06 am, gayle said:

    We need to arm ourselves with a pet pig, stockpile BBQ, just in case they make a housecall.

  44. #44
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:07 am, ajmontana said:

    left out a word….
    ” I love the smell of Napalm Bacon in the morning.”

  45. #45
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:08 am, gayle said:

    I am serious!!!

    It sounds so absurd, but it would work for our military!!!!

    If the terrorist deplore pork, then flaunt it!

  46. #46
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:24 am, Teddy Kennedy said:

    so let me get this straight, I can be detained for making a joke about a bomb while going through security but i won’t be arrested for having a joke bomb while going through security?

    DHS/TSA = What a joke!

  47. #47
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:29 am, davidcaskey said:

    To me this points to a problem. We are now 6 years from 9/11. Yet who is our enemy? We are told that the enemy is terror. But that is like saying that our enemy is an atomic bomb. This incident is one more episode of terror. The fact that a plane was not distroyed is irrelevant, the same objective was achieved. People are now more afraid. So we redouble our “war on terror”. That means that all the 70 year old women will be systematically searched from top to bottom. People like myself will be pulled to the side and have to account for all of their items. We still want be able to bring toothpaste on the plane. The reason is that with the definition of our enemy, all of us are the enemy. I don’t now about you people but this is not logical to me and obviously not productive.

    Our government has failed us in not defining the enemy. We are told that we don’t like one particular sect in the Muslim religion but can not define those in the sect and still we are subjected to the worse abuse of our constitutional priveledges ever in our history. And for what?

    It is a hard pill to swallow, but our politicians will have to give a definition to our enemy other than terrorist. Are we figting Saudi’s, or maybe Iran, or are we fighting a religion. If so, we need to define this and fight that element. We need to use the most ruthless of tactics in the fight and leave the rest of the American citizens alone.

    Any person with half a brain can get any weapon they desire on a plane. The fact that these people sent cheeze with wires only sends a message of we are still here. I was not a “dry run”. If someone has access to C4 then they have access to a willing government and an array of technicolgy that will definitely stop the idiots at the TSA. This means that at the airport gate, we need less security. By the time a “terrorist” has reached that point it is too late. Instead we need to decide that it is time to stop travel by Muslims. That sounds nuts but it is these people that wish us harm. Not 70 year old gray hairs or 58 year old men. You will argue that not all Muslims wish us harm but they do. Look at their religious literature, it is very plain. Something like 5 to 10% of Muslims are either terrorist or actively support the cause, about 80% lend sympathy and understanding to these monsters. In WWII we stopped Germans and Japanese in our country with less inclination to do us harm than these numbers. Some feel that was wrong but it got the job done and we had few incidents of terrorism here. We need to swallow the bitter pill and do the same. In WWII we did not make war on the 70 year old gray hairs. We took the war to those with sympahy to our enemy.

    Some argue that in cracking down on the Muslims we will make them angry. But we are now making me angry and my neighbor is angry and we are Anglo-Saxon. Simply look at your history books and see the result of Anglo-Saxons becoming angry.

  48. #48
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:33 am, englishqueen01 said:

    One has to wonder if the people who found the wired cheese will be sued, seeing as they are being so clearly bigoted in pointing out suspected acts of terrorism.

  49. #49
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:36 am, Michelle Admirer said:

    Forgive old bigoted, racist me, but I’m at least as interested in the names of the people in whose luggage this stuff was found as in the finds themselves.

    The fact that the names / ethnic identities of the four individuals & couples in question were deliberately suppressed in the press accounts I’ve seen may be all we need to know, if you’ll forgive me for jumping to conclusions.

    But, frankly, taped-together blocks of cheese in the Samsonite of Mr. Jacob Gunderson of Antigo, Wis., means something altogether different to me than the same thing in an overnight bag belonging to Abdul Mohammed of Los Angeles.

    (BTW, Outagamie County Airport in Appleton, Wis., does have a cheese shop. Good stuff, too!)

  50. #50
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:38 am, DesertLover said:

    englishqueen01

    I got the impression this was “found” by the TSA screeners … guess if the TSA employees suspect and say something it is not the same as you or I being suspicious and saying something …

  51. #51
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:43 am, jrlingreenbay said:

    Davidcaskey #47:

    “…we are subjected to the worse abuse of our constitutional priveledges ever in our history.”

    Since when is it unconstitutional to require safety / security checks at an airport?

    And on the same topic - please let us all know how your constitutional rights have been eroded - specifics please.

    You complain about abuses of constitutional priveleges, but then go on to state that we shouldn’t allow ANY Muslims to travel and even bring up WWII and, I assume, are referring to internment camps.

    If an American Citizen is a Muslim - do they not, by definition, share those same Consitutional priveleges?

    The problem which you overlook is that a “Muslim” - does not HAVE to be Arabic in descent. Look at the “American Taliban” or whatever he was called. Look at the African Muslims, or even the African American homegrown sympathizers who wanted to attack the Sears Tower.

    The fact is that Terrorist can’t be narrowed down to your stereotypical Arabic Muslim, although, that is the most common attribute. And, contrary to your statement, I highly doubt 80% of Muslims are ’sympathetic’. More likely a great number of them are fearful of speaking out against their radical brethren due to reprisals.

    Also - acquiring C4 doesn’t require a sympathetic government. Black market underground arms dealing is readily available.

  52. #52
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:44 am, olblueyes said:

    I understand the humor everybody is posting here about this story, but i just hope people are really taking this seriously. These incidents weren’t done as a joke, but as a way to test the airport security screeners. Since these are items packed in travellers bags nobody but the screener will be able to detect them, thus the general public is given no new useful information to help be vigilant against these possible dry runs. I’m just wondering how mnay of these things went through unnoticed and at which airports. Where ever it was, that is probably where the next terrorist attack will come from.

  53. #53
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:48 am, ajmontana said:

    These Cheese item’s easily could have made it on checked baggage and never been discovered.

  54. #54
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:50 am, jrlingreenbay said:

    Olblueyes:

    It’s hump-day and early in the morning for some of us….

    As for me…my wit/sarcasm is a result of mid-week work fatigue and a lack of caffeine. lol

    However, don’t let my humorous remarks lead you to believe that I am not aware of the dangers & threats out there. I have over 20 years background in Public Safety & Security work and am a chronic ‘people watcher’ wherever I go.

    Maybe it’s the “Name Pelosi’s Memoirs” & “John Kerry Limericks” threads, but it’s just made things a bit more light around here recently…. :)

  55. #55
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:52 am, reppac122 said:

    Do these terrorist know no bounds? Now they use one of my favorite foods of all time in their evil plans. What’s next, pasta?

  56. #56
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:53 am, reppac122 said:

    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:50 am, jrlingreenbay said:
    As for me…my wit/sarcasm is a result of mid-week work fatigue and a lack of caffeine. lol

    Same here with my recent above comment! Where is the coffee? Hold the cheese!

  57. #57
    On July 25th, 2007 at 9:54 am, Boomer said:

    Great to see TSA is wide awake and on the job protecting us from exploding dairy products. Of course these are dry runs and the individuals perpetrating these incidents should be aggressively prosecuted the same as any individual joking about a bomb.

    I have always hated flying commercial and putting up with their draconian rules and regulations. With over 3,500 hours of Military flying time you tend to get spoiled having the run of the aircraft, plus I always made it my duty to keep a close eye on the two stick actuators up front when not baby sitting passengers or passing gas to another aircraft.

    The Department of Homeland insecurity needs a cleansing starting with the Secretary for Lettuce Pickers. The only reason we haven’t been hit since 9-11 is pure freaking luck. With the wide open borders and the simpletons at TSA protecting us we are in big trouble. Yesterday I ready an article about Sky Harbor Airport having no TSA security for a 4 hour period allowing airport employees to pass by sleeping security guards without any searches or ID verifications. Backpacks, coolers and packages were not searched or x-rayed. How many other major airports operate with the same lack security?

  58. #58
    On July 25th, 2007 at 10:00 am, jrlingreenbay said:

    TSA = Trained to Sniff out Asiago

    DHS = Do you Have Swiss?

  59. #59
    On July 25th, 2007 at 10:14 am, The Raging Republican said:

    This is a very dangerous time…… and the more those crazy Dems talk about bumper stickers slogans and how we are not facing a real threat, the more this country is going to slip into complacency and leave ourselves open for another attack.

    Wake up America!

  60. #60
    On July 25th, 2007 at 10:14 am, ajmontana said:

    Well said jrl, based on my time on Michelle’s site ALL of us take this seriously but Humor here keeps us sane. :)

  61. #61
    On July 25th, 2007 at 10:14 am, davidcaskey said:

    JRL
    Have you ever heard of the Fourth Amendment? It is a very important aspect of the Constitution. It is supposed to prevent us from warrantless search. In the case of Muslims, that is warranted. They have indicated they wish to distrop us. But I am sure you missed that concept over the last 20 years. There was a time when you did not have to be searched to get on a plane. With the current searches and security they are really not doing anything. I can’t understand why people can not understand that. If you don’t feel our rights are being violated, justify the hassel that a 70 year old grandmother has to go through to get on a plane. And why is a plane any different than any other mode of transportation? People on a bus or train are just a likely to die from a bomb. My mind is blown away by people like you that desire this idiotic security and lack of focus on who is doing us harm. I think Bush to be as bad as Lincoln or Wilson, and from my part of the country that is not a compliment.

  62. #62
    On July 25th, 2007 at 10:18 am, ajmontana said:

    David said:
    “With the current searches and security they are really not doing anything.”

    ARE YOU HIGH???!!!

  63. #63
    On July 25th, 2007 at 10:18 am, deshere said:

    It’s a test run.

    If a block of cheese w/cell phone gets thru security,
    then the bomber knows that a block of plastic explosive
    w/detonator will also go thru security.

    How many “blocks of cheese” were not caught by TSA?

  64. #64
    On July 25th, 2007 at 10:41 am, jrlingreenbay said:

    davidcaskey #60:

    You assume to know more than you do about me / my views.

    Firstly - I think searching Grandmas & Grandpas and children to be ridiculous, the way I’ve seen it done at times.

    The 4th Amendments states that:”The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated…”

    Given the current threat and the country’s status at war, going through a metal detector and being patted down before boarding an airplane - ( Given the fact that the greatest attack on our country 6 years ago was facilitated by the use of….AIRPLANES ) is not unreasonable.

    Your use of the terms ‘Warrantless’ and ‘warranted’ are convoluted. In the amendment it means an actual written warrant, not that the search is ‘warranted’ as in simply justified.
    The key is - is it reasonable to do so.
    The answer is, yes it is.

    I’ve traveled extensively - and have never felt “violated”. Inconvenienced, sure…but I’ll take a little inconvenience any day rather than death.

    I agree with you that buses and trains are not much different from planes. I also agree with you that our security systems now are NOT adequate and not properly facilitated.

    But I strongly dispute your assumption that I am ignorant of the current threats and who poses them. I would be curious to have you next to me in an airport and point out who YOU think should be searched or not allowed to fly. I think it would be very revealing.

    The most difficult task for this Country is to be able to adequately identify who our enemy is - on an individual basis. You say Muslims, but that is only partly true.

    And finally - comparing Bush to Lincoln?
    Where do you get that from? The only comparison I’ve heard made before is the suspension of Habeas Corpus. And comparing GWB to the President who ended slavery in this country and tried desparately to keep a country together during its worst time - is a bit of a stretch.

  65. #65
    On July 25th, 2007 at 10:41 am, HeatherRadish said:

    June 4?

    Now I’m even more disturbed that oversize bottles of liquid and cans of Play-Doh were allowed through security at Milwaukee two weeks ago. (my story here)

    In addition to the dry run aspects, I also suggest this creates a handy diversion….screeners giving extra scrutiny to packaged snacks and souvenir cheddar are going to pay less attention to other objects.

  66. #66
    On July 25th, 2007 at 10:51 am, DesertLover said:

    jrlingreenbay

    well said …

    Airport security checks will never 100% stop the threat of terrorism any more than posting speed limit signs 100% stops speeding …

    But …

    When driving and suddenly you see a police car you automatically take your foot off the accelerator to slow down … even if you weren’t speeding at the time …

    The police car becomes a viable deterrent simply by its presence …

    Airport security serves the same purpose as a deterrent … regardless of its effectiveness simply being there puts that question in the minds of those that would try to get something through … that is why they are always trying to figure out something new …

    Personally I would rather they get foiled on these dry runs by whatever means than be totally free to carry the real thing on board without even a chance of being discovered …

  67. #67
    On July 25th, 2007 at 10:51 am, davidcaskey said:

    What does it take for you to understand that TSA security is a sham? I can name at least a dozen ways to get through the security and I am not a terrorist. So the security is sensless if it is doing nothing. That plus the fact that it violates the Fourth makes the effort absolutel rediculous. If you feel safe after the TSA efforts, think again. You are as exposed as ever. The security is only a show piece. The harder they can make it for you, the greater the show. Are you aware, for instance, that studies have shown that you can not reconstitute a bomb with liquids on a plane. Yet you gladly give up you toothpaste and ointments for the show. You go through the routine of taking off your shoes despite the fact that a bomb requires something called a detonator. That device is picked up with a simle metal detector and you definitely can not walk on them. In short you can not justify our extensive efforts at security by logic, need, or legalities when you disect out what they are doing.

  68. #68
    On July 25th, 2007 at 10:59 am, jrlingreenbay said:

    To quote the ‘Gipper’: “There you go again….”

    How is the TSA search at the airport a violation of the 4th amendment?

    While they are ‘warrantless’ in the terms of not having a court-order or approval for specific individuals, they are certainly reasonable given the current state of war and the prior attacks on this country.

    I’m not an expert on bombs - so I can’t comment on that portion of your statement. However, I will say that an item such as a non-metal edged weapon or composite material knife can easily be hidden inside a shoe. So what’s the problem with having them checked?

    There are firearms out there designed to look like cellphones. So they ask you to activate your cellphone to make sure it is what it appears.

    As I said before - the system isn’t perfect. If it were - we’d be inconvenienced a lot more than you would EVER tolerate.

  69. #69
    On July 25th, 2007 at 11:08 am, taylork said:

    Does anybody know what happened to these people of varying gender after they were caught? Did their translator get their quick enough?

  70. #70
    On July 25th, 2007 at 11:12 am, DesertLover said:

    Guess our resident munitions expert has never heard of NitroGlycerin … in its most unstable and detonatable form it is a liquid …

    All one would have to do is freeze it to keep it stable until it thawed on the plane and then it becomes unstable and can be easily detonated … doesn’t take much either … want to get fancy a couple of wires from a phone battery or dvd player battery or laptop battery or … the list goes on …

    or just throw a small vial of it against a wall to break it and the shock wave going through the NG will set it off …

    and it is used in small amounts in C-4 and other military munitions …

    BTW … plastic explosive is very pliable and could conceivably be stored in a tube … such as toothpaste tube … but it would require an actual detonator of some sort …

  71. #71
    On July 25th, 2007 at 11:46 am, jrlingreenbay said:

    LOL…Michelle:

    “Chee-bomber, chee-bomber.”

    Nice one… may I add:

    “No Pepsi….liquids not allowed”

  72. #72
    On July 25th, 2007 at 12:08 pm, davidcaskey said:

    That was an extremely smart comment Desertlover, I mean I should have thought of TNG. Gosh, a substance that is almost impossible to get without a government. Is tracable due to its bio imprint. Oh, it does not freeze, you see it is an oil. Also, it is so unstable that just walking across the parking lot would be a sure give away that you had some. Now how about this, take a lap top. Dissect out most of the non-essential aspects. Like the extra battery compartment. Line it with C4 and insert denoator which would look like a component. It could turn on. Set internal clock and there you go. Do we check for this, no. So now what is the value of security if it is so easily breached. I don’t want you to think all day, the answer is zero. Of course the C4 is tracable, but we know who is trying to kill us, we just don’t want to profile them or acknowledge the problem.

  73. #73
    On July 25th, 2007 at 12:42 pm, DesertLover said:

    davidcaskey

    Hate to have to do this but here goes. Hope you will all forgive the length of this post in advance.

    NITROGLYCERIN FACTS

    Instability and desensitization

    In its pure form, it is a contact explosive (physical shock can cause it to explode) and degrades over time to even more unstable forms. This makes it highly dangerous to transport or use. In this undiluted form it is one of the most powerful high explosives, comparable to the military explosives RDX and PETN (which are not used in munitions at full concentration because of their sensitivity) as well as the plastic explosive C-4.

    Early in the history of this explosive it was discovered that liquid nitroglycerin can be “desensitized” by cooling to 5 to 10 °C (40 to 50 °F), at which temperature it freezes, contracting upon solidification. However, later thawing can be extremely sensitizing, especially if impurities are present or if warming is too rapid. It is possible to chemically “desensitize” nitroglycerin to a point where it can be considered approximately as “safe” as modern high explosive formulations, by the addition of approximately 10-30% ethanol, acetone, or dinitrotoluene (percentage varies with the desensitizing agent used). Desensitization requires extra effort to reconstitute the “pure” product. Failing this, it must be assumed that desensitized nitroglycerin is substantially more difficult to detonate, possibly rendering it useless as an explosive for practical application.

    A serious problem in the use of nitroglycerin results from its high freezing point (13 °C [55 °F]). Solid nitroglycerin is much less sensitive to shock than the liquid, a feature common in explosives; in the past it was often shipped in the frozen state, but this resulted in a high number of accidents during the thawing process by the end user just prior to use. This disadvantage is overcome by using mixtures of nitroglycerin with other polynitrates; for example, a mixture of nitroglycerin and ethylene glycol dinitrate freezes at -29 °C (-20 °F).[1]

    Detonation

    Nitroglycerin and any or all of the dilutents used can certainly deflagrate or burn. However, the explosive power of nitroglycerin is derived from detonation: energy from the initial decomposition causes a pressure gradient that detonates the surrounding fuel. This can generate a self-sustained shock-wave that propagates through the fuel-rich medium at or above the speed of sound as a cascade of near-instantaneous pressure-induced decomposition of the fuel into gas. This is quite unlike deflagration, which depends solely upon available fuel, regardless of pressure or shock

  74. #74
    On July 25th, 2007 at 12:45 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    davidcaskey -

    You don’t think Nitro can be home-made?
    Think again.

    Given your comments, I’m translating them to mean that you want us to profile every muslim ( how do you profile a religion, by the way ) and get rid of our current security measures?

    You also neglect to mention, or have conveniently forgotten, that 9-11 occurred with the assistance of ordinary, everyday boxcutters. Not explosives.

  75. #75
    On July 25th, 2007 at 1:01 pm, Bruce said:

    It’s another Homeland Security scam designed to get all us legal & stupid citizens afraid.

    As far as Nitro goes, I’ve got some of that for chest pain. Problem is that I haven’t heard of anyone besides McGyver who has been able to use the pills for explosives though.

  76. #76
    On July 25th, 2007 at 1:17 pm, Regulus said:

    I’m just hoping that those who were attempting these test runs are still being held in a dimly-lit room somewhere, getting their heads squeezed like pimples (in a figurative sense) to give up whomever it is that sent them on their little “errands.”

    It’s exasperating that those who are supposed to inform us spend so much time trying not to.

    Divining what’s going on from our own media, and to a lesser extent our own government, is more and more like reading Pravda or Isvestia - you have to glean the details from what they don’t say:

    - Race of criminal suspect not mentioned: chances are the suspect is black or hispanic.

    - Political affiliation of politician accused of wrongdoing not mentioned: chances are he or she is a Democrat.

    - Identifying characteristics of individuals toting practice bombs into airports not disclosed: Well, you make the call. I’ll give you one guess.

    Meanwhile, next time I’m at an airport, I’ll be on the lookout for “He-who-must-not-be-named” - Voldemort?

  77. #77
    On July 25th, 2007 at 1:19 pm, davidcaskey said:

    Good one deserlover, now a terrorist “freezes” TNG by getting it to 50 degrees. Rushes to the airport with his product, rushes through the terminal and is all set to use this as a bomb. I would have never thought of that. O as I recall, only small amount to TNG are necessary to do considerable damage. Particularly as in a passenger plane we are sitting on top of the fuel tank as well as it in the wings so 3oz or less of product would be all that is necessary. What is the limit by the TSA, did you say 3oz. Why that would do the job, so now please explain what the hell the security is doing. As to making this substance yourself, if you decide to do so, please let me know I want to watch from a few blocks away.

    There is nothing that justifies the actions of our government in this security issue. We have not employeed this idiotic form of survalence in our history that I am aware of. Previous generations have identified and taken care of the enemy, not us. The answer, yes limit the rights of Muslims if they are going to practice this hateful religion, we do not seem to have a problem doing that with the KKK. Limit or eliminate their movement into our country. Hold their governments specfically responsible for the actions of their citizens. And be ready for immediate hurt being placed on those countries that allow their citizens to participate in terror.

  78. #78
    On July 25th, 2007 at 1:26 pm, josetheguerilla said:

    Please sombody, throw out the lettuce with the cheese.

  79. #79
    On July 25th, 2007 at 1:46 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    davidcaskey #76 stated:

    ” … limit the rights of Muslims if they are going to practice this hateful religion, we do not seem to have a problem doing that with the KKK.”
    ( As far as the KKK - I don’t know of any limitations of their right to assemble, speak, travel or think what they want. You decry the loss of constitutional priveleges but in the same breath with to limit constitutional privileges of Americans who have not been found guilty of a crime or even individually accused. And again, I ask, how do you identify who IS a Muslim? It is a religion - can you pick out in an airport, who is a Catholic? Jew? Muslim? Protestant? Agnostic? Unless they wear some symbolic clothing or jewelry, I would like to hear how you’d “spot the terrorist”.)

    “Limit or eliminate their movement into our country.”
    (I assume by your statement - ‘movement INTO our country’ - your talking about foreigners entering the US. With this point, I don’t see a problem and encourage our government to use high standards of background checks and other means before allowing ANYONE to come to the US from an area known to harbor or sponsor terrorism. The fact, however, is that the majority of travellers coming to the US are NOT terrorists. The fact, also, is that those who do not appear to be a threat, can be - as in the case of the Doctors in the UK accused in the latest plot there. )

    “Hold their governments specfically responsible for the actions of their citizens. And be ready for immediate hurt being placed on those countries that allow their citizens to participate in terror.”
    ( Interesting theory. So, if say, a Muslim Canadian comes to the US and commits an act of terror - we should bomb Montreal? Or a Muslim citizen of the UK? You would justify bombing London if a UK citizen terrorist comes here and does us harm? )

  80. #80
    On July 25th, 2007 at 2:15 pm, DesertLover said:

    jrlingreenbay

    Well said and good points … but I fear we are wasting our breath on
    davidcaskey

  81. #81
    On July 25th, 2007 at 2:29 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    I have no idea where’s he coming from - He’s not liberal….but he’s not a mainstream conservative if he’s looking to actually racially profile and hinder the rights of ALL Muslims, leaving the rest of us OBVIOUS non-Muslims to our freedoms.

    Do we have a FAR-right troll in the wire?

  82. #82
    On July 25th, 2007 at 2:41 pm, DesertLover said:

    jrlingreenbay

    Hard to say … but can only say so much before it becomes obvious that nothing one says is going to cause someone to reconsider their position

  83. #83
    On July 25th, 2007 at 2:45 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    Desertlover #82 -
    ” Hard to say … but can only say so much before it becomes obvious that nothing one says is going to cause someone to reconsider their position”

    That solves it - he’s a Congressman!

  84. #84
    On July 25th, 2007 at 2:51 pm, DesertLover said:

    jrlingreenbay

    ROFLMAO

  85. #85
    On July 25th, 2007 at 3:23 pm, ajmontana said:

    or a Lawyer…..

  86. #86
    On July 25th, 2007 at 3:29 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    A LAWYER wanting to take the right to travel freely away from anyone? Funny thought…but highly unlikely.

    Unless he’s promoting that so he can turn around and sue the government when they do it….

    Actually, when you look at the comments,
    1. Stop searching non-Muslims ( does that mean White People? )

    2. Start searching, limiting the travel of, and take away the rights of those Muslims ( again - does that mean White People? )

    I add the question about White People because it seems davidcaskey has the ability to tell who is Muslim and who is not by looking at them.

    It seems that those suggestions could be made by someone who is more in line with the KKK, or other far-right wing fanatical teachings.

    He did bring up the KKK….hmmmmmmmm….

  87. #87
    On July 25th, 2007 at 4:14 pm, Dandapani said:

    “Behold the Power of Cheese!”

  88. #88
    On July 25th, 2007 at 4:22 pm, jrlingreenbay said:

    Dandapani…lol…

    Seeing as we’re back to the humorous posts:

    Must be a hoax…A true Muslim would use Swiss….the Holy Cheese.

  89. #89
    On July 25th, 2007 at 4:38 pm, ajmontana said:

    Sounds Gouda to me…….

  90. #90
    On July 26th, 2007 at 10:37 am, Pixel_Dust_1776 said:

    70 year old gray hair ladies should not be checked by TSA?. Taken to its logical conclusion, somehow not checking old ladies in a wheel chair will make us more safe traveling. Someone stated that someone with half a brain can take any weapon anytime into an aircraft. Easy to post here, I dare you to try it at the checkpoint. Someone posted screeners can miss cheese in checked baggage. I don’t think so, WE see EVERYTHING that is inside and outside checked luggage. By the way, two women downed two Russian airliners, they could have been 70 year old ladies, with gray hair. Perhaps the nay sayers posting in this board have a better way to make air travel. If you do, get in touch with the airlines of DHS so that you help us.
    Oh, I forgot, I work for TSA.
    Have a nice flight!!
    Rio
    Semper Fi!
    P.S. Please, forgive me any mispellings.

  91. #91
    On July 26th, 2007 at 12:50 pm, nfbailey said:

    I propose new legislation that jails anyone in posession of a fake bomb attempting to board a plane. It’s obvious what they are up to.

    I also think suspicious and provocative behavior like that of the flying imams should be scrutinized and punished as terrorism. They did, after all, terrorize a plane full of Americans.

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