August 10, 2006
City Reacts to London Airplane Bomb Plot
As delays snarled Laguardia, JFK, and Newark with news that British authorities had stopped a terrorist plot to blow up airliners flying the U.S., New York City's security level remained at "elevated" - which is where it's been since September 11, 2001. Governor Pataki increased state police, Port Authority police, and National Guard presence at the airports, and said, "I want to assure all New Yorkers that we have and will continue to provide a heightened level of security, and I urge all of you to be vigilant, but to go about your normal routines. I encourage all citizens to remain alert with regard to the threat of terrorism. The eyes and ears of the public are one of the most important resources we have to help law enforcement officials deter and prevent acts of terrorism." Mayor Bloomberg noted that since the threat was focused on airports, subway security wouldn't have to be raised. And did you know that Senator Schumer is stuck at Heathrow?
The crazy thing is what the plot seems to be. ABC News reports:
According to sources, the suspected plotters arrested in London today planned to use liquid or gel explosives, triggered with the flash from a disposable camera.Goodness... And so, no disposable cameras or lighters or matches or anything anywmore, huh? But Newsday has this great quote from a traveler who said about the liquid ban, "It's no big deal. At least I can take my computer."The plotters planned to leave the top of each bottle sealed and filled with the original beverage, but add a false bottom filled with the explosive. The volatile mixture would have been dyed to match the color of the beverage.
Sources say the suspects believed this would guarantee them safe passage through security, even if they were ordered to sip the beverage to prove it was harmless, sources said.
The flash in a disposable camera, the plotters apparently believed, would have enough power to trigger the homemade explosive.
Experts say there are a number of homemade or easily modified commercial explosives that could have enough power to damage or destroy a jetliner.
More from BBC News and NY Times. And here's the Department of Homeland Security's list of what you can and cannot do with liquids on planes.
Top photograph by Bebeto Matthews/AP; bottom photograph by Henny Ray Abrams/AP
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Naked Airways should be starting up soon. No need for security checks when no one can conceal anything.
Is it time to be racist against Muslims again? Hallelujah!
This occurs a few days after British Petroleum shuts down a key pipeline and an oil field. Coincidence or conspiracy?
There are some House and Senate elections on the horizon, elections that could lead the Republicans loosing control of one or two sides of the Hill. It seems like these "terror alerts" happen a with upcoming elections. Coincidence or conspiracy?
You make the calls!
Pishaw! They would never try to scare us for no reason! Now, mind you, five Arabs sitting in the middle of the airplane isle with a Heathkit and some colored gel explosive might raise a few hairs on the plane. . . .
The thing is this: no law enforcement official in his right mind would ever release information on a pending investigation of terrorism, not knowing if they might be able to catch more people involved. That means that whenever we hear about such breakups of terrorist plots, we may be assured that the news is already "old news" well in advance of our hearing it. Not only is law enforcement satisfied that they've caught everyone involved, but what terrorists remain from the plot already know the jig is up and therefore won't be trying that particular tactic.
So all this extra security means that either they're just yanking our chains or thier getting lazy when there's no news. You make the call. . .