Explosives found at JFK

[kg4kww]

Explosives found at JFK (http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/09/15/explosives.onboard.ap/index.html)

[WA5KRP]

I have a sinking feeling that happens more often than we really know.



WA5KRP
Texas

[N7AAO]

Many many years ago, when I was in about 6th grade, a person I know (who shall remain nameless) walked through security at a popular airport (which shall also remain nameless) with a concealed .38 snub-nose.

After waiting several days, the airport was notified by the person in question. However, I've never forgotten it.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unclesam.gif

[K0RGR]

Gosh, I'm glad you reminded me - I've been looking for a place to pitch a complaint since I got home.

I just flew back from England this weekend.

Last Tuesday, the BBC (that other TV network you Conservatives love to hate). They did an 'expose' piece on security at British airports. One of their reporters posed as a job seeker, and got hired to work security at Manchester Airport, the 3rd largest in England.

She reported for work for 3 months. In that time, she managed to smuggle her VIDEO CAMERA past the security checkpoint EVERY DAY undetected. She secretly videotaped the security people not checking bags they were supposed to check, letting large numbers of people sneak past security checks, not xraying items, not doing searches.

In one case, they had 1000 people arrive from Pakistan, and only 2 suitcases from that entire group were checked - the metal detectors were not working and there were no hand wands available, so the people were just herded through. The bags were not x-rayed. Most of those passengers went on to other destinations, including the USA!

One night, she snuck onto the tarmac, where nobody is allowed, and managed to board and videotape on 12 different aircraft, undetected!

OK, so, before airing the broadcast, the BBC shared the story and all of the information with the airlines and the airports in England so they would have a chance to fix the problems. They gave them 3 months, and in fact, many of the problems appeared to be fixed.

On my trip home, I observed that I was able to pass through a metal detector wearing suspenders that set off the detectors over here 100% of the time. I also had change in my pocket. They never looked at my laptop. Was the equipment really working or not? Were procedures being followed?

I won't say which airport I was in, but it wasn't Manchester.

Is it any wonder that strange things would turn up in New York and other U.S. destinations? It took a long, long time to go through inspection and reboarding in Chicago, but I was glad for it - at least I felt safer, knowing my bags had been inspected, and they didn't rely on the checkers overseas, even though I was coming from the U.K..

The BBC lays the blame for the problem at the feet of management, which drastically cut costs post-9/11, resulting in sharp cutbacks in staffing. I can only assume that the same thing happened at the airport I was in. Perhaps private-sector security is not the best answer all the time?

[kc2jga]

Quote[/b] ]"The fact that TSA located these explosives indicated the system is working," Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence Ferazani said.

The system is WORKING?? I think not! How in the hell did he get his bags on board in the first place?! THEY got lucky by randomly pulling him to the side. If they had not chosen him, he might be sitting at home with those bombs sitting on the mantle.

[AG3Y]

Reminds me of the "Airplane" movies, in which the armed terrorists run through the metal detectors, unchallenged, while the old Grandma is harshly thrown up against the wall and almost strip searched!

http://www.tigersweat.com/movies/airplane/

It would be funny if it weren't so true! And when was that movie made, 1980 ? Things haven't changed, have they ? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

73 from Jim

[KA9VQF]

In the mid to late ‘70’s I personally carried concealed firearms through the security at several Midwestern airports. I had the paper that allowed this at the time but was never asked to produce it.

[ai4ep]

no need in believing every thing you read

[kg4kww]

AI4EP this is true or it wouldn't be on the news. This is scarey and should not be happening.

[N7AAO]

Quote[/b] (kg4kww @ Sep. 15 2004,20:55)]AI4EP this is true or it wouldn't be on the news. This is scarey and should not be happening.
KWW, the news reported that Dewey had defeated Truman.

Don't believe everything they report.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/unclesam.gif

[ai4ep]

kww was not around back then...

reminds me of 3 men drinking and bragging at the local bar

they were discussing who could remember the earlier incident in their lives

first man said " I can remember going to the first grade in school "

second man said " I can remember learning to walk and how proud my parents were of me walking across the floor unattended "

third man said " shucks, I can remember further back in my life than that. I can remember going to the prom with my father and home with my mother. "

Don't need to repeat it, some of us got it the first time

[K8ERV]

I thot Dewey did defeat Truman. I learn something every day. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[WA2ZDY]

As I just posted in some other thread just the other day, if you believe what you read in the paper or see on TV, you need help.

Once upon a time the news was an unbiased report of facts. The opinions were on the editorial page. That is no longer the case. You see what "news" the editor wants you to see, and slanted the way the editor and publisher wants it.

Crime is a perfect example. It's no secret that most of the American media are liberally minded, generally pro-Democrat and left leaning. Hey, that's fine. But watch the TV news one evening, and chances are you'll see a story about some crime committed in your city. Watch closely, as even if it was a crime committed with a baseball bat or steak knife, there's probably a graphic in the corner depicting a handgun.

Was a handgun used? No, but they want you to associate crime with guns, guns with crime. It's called editorialising when the news should be facts.

Just one of many many examples.

Enjoy, and don't believe everything you see, hear and read.

[KC9ANQ]

well several years ago pre-9/11 my grandmother who always carried a .25 caliber hand gun got on the plane going to florida with us for a vacation she had totally forgot about the hand gun in her purse and when we were on board IN THE AIR saw it and panic was not the word!!! my dad took her to the rear near the bathrooms and showed the flight attendent and she took the gun to the captain and grandma got it minus ammo when we landed in Florida. Grandma shipped the gun home UPS but On the return flight , same airline, getting onboard from Florida EVERY PERSON was sent through a metal detector. We teased grandma about that until she passed away.

No relevance to the topic really just wanted to share http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[kg4kww]

Hey if this dude could do it and fly across the ocean, then what's to stop others from trying. It appears that overseas airline security is not taken as seriously as in the US.

[kb1irs]

Quote[/b] (KA9VQF @ Sep. 15 2004,14:52)]In the mid to late ‘70’s I personally carried concealed firearms through the security at several Midwestern airports. I had the paper that allowed this at the time but was never asked to produce it.

Could you tell me more about this paper? In particular, I'm curious to find out when and why it became impossible for someone permitted to carry concealed on the ground to obtain a permit to carry in the air.

[kg4kww]

Good question, please respons.
Copy Direct?

[al2n]

I work in the airline insustry (till they all go bankrupt) and I can tell you exactly where the holes in the system are.

Anyone in this country can get explosives on board an aircraft. Not everything that goes on board is screened. With a little research you will see where the biggest gap in security is. Would be easy for a terrorist to start bringing down planes at random.

While you are worrying about that here is another tidbit for you to chew on:

The people working security at the nations airports before 9/11 are the same ones doing it now! Only thing is that now they wear TSA uniforms rather than XYZ security. They get paid more than the $7.00 an hour they got before, but they are the same folks.

Also think about this; how many airlines have contracted out their baggage handling? You have hundreds of foreign born people tossing bags who are making about $7.50 an hour. How much would it take to pay one of those guys to turn his head for a minute? What about the hundreds that come from countries that hate our guts? You will find that many of the contract baggage handlers come from Pakistan, India, Turkey, Phillipines, Iran, etc... Who is to say that Osama does not have agents working the ramp in Chicago and New York as we speak? They bypass security each day as they go to work. Would not take much for a bad apple to plant a bomb onboard an aircraft.

Our airports are secure (for the most part) from passengers bringing items on board. But we are wide open to an attack originating from the inside.

Still reading? Have you figured out how any Joe off the street can get an explosive on a plane yet? Take an explosive device and send it express mail. US mail is not screened. Scary huh?

[KA9VQF]

Well you see I was a bonded courier, federally licensed firearms dealer, and part time police officer. It seemed that I may as well get the permit to carry a concealed weapon too. Even part time cops had to have a weapon “at hand” at all times in those days, doubt that has changed.

I don’t understand this part.

{Quote from kb1irs}

“Could you tell me more about this paper? In particular, I'm curious to find out when and why it became impossible for someone permitted to carry concealed on the ground to obtain a permit to carry in the air.”

As far as I knew at the time the same paper worked. As I said no one ever asked to see my permit.

And what does this mean?

{Quote from kg4kww}

Good question, please respons.
Copy Direct?

I understand that the ‘respond’ was a typo but, what is Copy Direct. Some kind of different e-mail?