TSA: Terrorists May Be Conducting Dry Runs

TSA: Terrorists May Be Conducting Dry Runs

www.msnbc.msn.com

Airport security officers around the nation have been alerted by federal officials to look out for terrorists practicing to carry explosive components onto aircraft, based on four curious seizures at airports since last September.

The unclassified alert was distributed on July 20 by the Transportation Security Administration to federal air marshals, its own transportation security officers and other law enforcement agencies.

(visit the link for the full news article)

With what I've read in this article, it absolutely sounds like dry runs are being performed. It's very scary. With the four seizures that they have found, I have to ask. What haven't they found?

www.msnbc.msn.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Here's another snippet from the article. Is there anything else that can be concluded than dry runs?

The four seizures were described this way:

San Diego, July 7. A U.S. person — either a citizen or a foreigner legally here — checked baggage containing two ice packs covered in duct tape. The ice packs had clay inside them rather than the normal blue gel.

Milwaukee, June 4. A U.S. person’s carryon baggage contained wire coil wrapped around a possible initiator, an electrical switch, batteries, three tubes and two blocks of cheese. The bulletin said block cheese has a consistency similar to some explosives.

Houston, Nov. 8, 2006. A U.S. person’s checked baggage contained a plastic bag with a 9-volt battery, wires, a block of brown clay-like minerals and pipes.

Baltimore, Sept. 16, 2006. A couple’s checked baggage contained a plastic bag with a block of processed cheese taped to another plastic bag holding a cellular phone charger.

This doesn't look good that's for sure. I think there is a good chance that terrorists may be planning to bomb a series of airline flight's. If I remember correctly wasn't there a plot some time ago to blow up 12 airliner's in a single day that got thwarted.

These terrorists are very intelligent and will eventually find loopholes in our security , I've never flown anywhere but I hope the people that use airlines stay vigilant.

Yeah like the ``terrorists`` would use planes again. SURE. The security is high and anyway, the ``terrorists`` didn't took the planes with boxcutters, this story is utter BS.

ATS Thread

Yes. they did thwart an attack very similar to this before. But this was the whole scare over liquids. Remember? No liquids allowed over 3.5 ounces?

It seems that while we were looking at liquids they were seeing if they could get plastique n board!

This seems to be the new strategy for terrorists or whoever. I feel like the new strategy is to have us put all of our focus into something like liquids, so all of the TSA is looking for liquids, and then they don't notice a big bag of clay and a bag of wires and batteries.

I feel like this is also a metaphor for the bigger picture. lets focus on planes while the real threat is somewhere else!

Yes. they did thwart an attack very similar to this before. But this was the whole scare over liquids. Remember? No liquids allowed over 3.5 ounces?

You're talking about the hoax around august 3 2006? Seriously. This was a hoax... impossible to do. Just research it. IMPOSSIBLE.

Liquids should be allowed on planes, that's just scaremongering and control freaks policies.

Impossible to get liquid explosives onto a plane and ignite them? Impossible?

If i had said to you in 1999 that someone could bring down two of the largest buildings in the world with a few box cutters would you have told me that was impossible too?

Whether that actual threat was real or not can be debated, but it is certain that if one wanted to bring down with some liquid or plastic explosives they could.

Do you have research to prove your theory?

Here is my logic. An explosion large enough to rip a hole in a plane or to kill the pilots and damage the instruments would be catastrophic. Period. I am no expert, but that seems logical to me.

Originally posted by lombozo
San Diego, July 7. A U.S. person — either a citizen or a foreigner legally here — checked baggage containing two ice packs covered in duct tape. The ice packs had clay inside them rather than the normal blue gel.

Originally posted by TruthWithin
It seems that while we were looking at liquids they were seeing if they could get plastique n board!

Man thats a lot of plastique right there - my ice blocks measure apx 20x8x3 CM's, pretty standard size me thinks. Remember The shoe bommer he was supposed to have enough in the heel of one shoe to of done the job.

Maybe there looking for transport routes as well - or more likely get a quantity of explosives air side on one person, then split it between passengers on seperate flights - just my 2 cents.

[edit on 25/7/2007 by Now_Then]

Nitroglycerin is made of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen. A physical shock can start a chain reaction that breaks its molecules down into carbon dioxide, water and oxygen. The breaking of the bonds between the atoms releases an enormous amount of energy in a very short amount of time.

Nitroglycerin is a component in some relatively stable solid explosives, like dynamite. But as a liquid, it's extremely dangerous and volatile. You typically have to use a blasting cap to detonate a stick of dynamite, but you can accidentally trigger a nitroglycerin explosion with a physical shock. It doesn't blow up at the slightest movement as depicted in some movies and TV shows, but you can detonate it by hitting it.

Nitroglycerin is oily and clear, so if you poured some into an opaque lotion bottle, no one but you would know what was really inside. However, nitroglycerin's inherent instability would make this bottle very dangerous for you to carry around.

Like nitroglycerin, most liquid explosives are made of unstable molecules. These complex molecules break down into ordinary, stable molecules when exposed to the right stimulus. Even a very minor shock can start the process, and since it involves the breaking of atomic bonds, it releases enormous amounts of energy.

The terrorists most likely intended to remove the explosives from their carry-on luggage and detonate them while the planes were over the Atlantic Ocean. They may have planned to use explosives that require the mixing of two different liquids in order to start the reaction. Unnamed sources have stated that the attackers planned to mix a liquid dyed to resemble a sports drink with a peroxide gel to create an explosive substance.

According to other sources, the attackers intended to use triacetone triperoxide, which can be made from readily available substances like hydrogen peroxide, acetone and acid. Like nitroglycerin, triacetone triperoxide molecules are made of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon. When it explodes, it breaks down into large amounts of ozone and acetone.

Regardless of which exact substance the attackers planned to use, the liquid nature of the explosives would have been central to the plot for two reasons:

Liquid explosives are very volatile, so the attackers would not necessarily need elaborate or powerful detonators to start the explosion. Without as much material to smuggle on board, the attackers would be less likely to attract the attention of airport security. In the case of the August 2006 plot, unnamed officials speculated that the attackers planned to use cell phones or MP3 players as detonators.

Smuggling a liquid onto an airplane would not be very difficult. The attackers may have planned to use ordinary bottles made for hair gel, shampoo, lotion or other liquids and gels. Under typical circumstances, airport security probably would not question items like these.

science.howstuffworks.com...

Project Bojinka was a plot to blow up multiple airliners. There was also Richard Reid. How about flight 587 and the missing 9/11 hijacker?

Call me nuts, but I believe some if not most of these items described are everyday, mundane items. I will attempt to de-fuse each one. Pun intended.

Source: news.yahoo.com...;_ylt=AhFbQUwCpg1PziPUl0rfuvVH2ocA

The four seizures were described this way:

• San Diego, July 7. A U.S. person — either a citizen or a foreigner legally here — checked baggage containing two ice packs covered in duct tape. The ice packs had clay inside them rather than the normal blue gel.

The person (regardless of origin) is an artist. He makes pottery and is going on a vacation to do some sculpture. He wants to keep the clay moist.

• Milwaukee, June 4. A U.S. person's carryon baggage contained wire coil wrapped around a possible initiator, an electrical switch, batteries, three tubes and two blocks of cheese. The bulletin said block cheese has a consistency similar to some explosives.

The person is a fisherman on a trip, perhaps to his boat. The "wire coil" could actually be metal fishing leader wrapped around a flint-stone or cigarette adapter. The switch is for his boat which he intends to replace a defective one. The three tubes are actually rod holders ( or salami ) and the cheese is to be eaten.

• Houston, Nov. 8, 2006. A U.S. person's checked baggage contained a plastic bag with a 9-volt battery, wires, a block of brown clay-like minerals and pipes.

The person is an everyday anybody. Who doesn't have a 9V battery? The wires are his headphones for an iPod, or AC power adapter for his laptop. Brown clay like materials is either brown shoe wax or salt water taffy and the pipes are wind chimes.

• Baltimore, Sept. 16, 2006. A couple's checked baggage contained a plastic bag with a block of processed cheese taped to another plastic bag holding a cellular phone charger.

Couple just got married. Traveling with cell-phone. Can you say Velveeta for some wild, kinky honeymoon sex? Just add oven mitts. I always travel with stuff in plastic zip-locs.

OK, I realize I am going to get flamed here, but I have been hassled at so many airports with simple items like these. If they want to get serious, how about checking all the un-scanned cargo and goods shipped in the cargo hold.

I don't know....this story doesn't add up to me. More fear mongering or diversion. Why chance a "dry run"? Just because something gets by one time doesn't mean it will or won't again. Too risky.

I don't think they (terrorists, and I hate that word) are going to use planes again. They are much more cunning and cleaver than we all think. I am sure what they have in store is much more sinister and evil.

Just my .02¢ < runs to bunker while putting on flame proof suit >

Regards...kk

edit to fix typos

[edit on 25-7-2007 by kinda kurious]

Hey KK. Nope, no flaming from me. Actually you make a pretty good, intelligent argument. However I don't agree with you.
These are indeed trying times, and to look at the world today with rose colored glasses donned to your eyes is a sore mistake. I'm not an alarmist. I would do anything - ANYTHING - to insure that the world would be hate and war free. Unfortunately, that's not the case. This new breed of "terrorist" is smart, clever, and extremely patient. They plan out everything in extreme detail. I'm too tired and too lazy to provide a link, however a year or two ago some information was seized from a terrorist organization which detailed right down to the number of people who walked by a specified target in NYC every hour. An official, and I paraphrase, stated that it was the most efficient Intel that he had ever seen. I have to believe that this is a test. Very mundane objects that might simulate weapons/explosives to see if they can pass screening, but nothing that could lead to incarceration. Brilliant actually. I've never hoped in my life to be so wrong, but I believe that within the next 2 years that there will be something that happens which will make the CIVILIZED world cry.

Originally posted by lombozo
These are indeed trying times, and to look at the world today with rose colored glasses donned to your eyes is a sore mistake. I'm not an alarmist. I would do anything - ANYTHING - to insure that the world would be hate and war free. Unfortunately, that's not the case. This new breed of "terrorist" is smart, clever, and extremely patient.

Actually, I do wear glasses, clear. Your point is well made. I suppose my levity suggested that I don't take these things seriously, but I do. It is obvious you are much more well versed than I on such matters.

It is my opinion, as we both agree, that they are in fact smart and clever. That is why I think it could perhaps be something "other" than the use of planes. ( But to contradict myself, they did make the initial attempt in 1993 and waited 8 years for success in 2001 to bring down WTC ) I think they want massive casualties, and perhaps even more, to inflict large scale chaos and the collapse of our banking and financial systems.

I can think of so many potential ways that they could inflict such things, but don't want to give anyone ideas.

Thanks for a mature and rational response. That is refreshing on this board. I look forward to further exchanges.

Thank Sir.....kk
fixed typo / content

[edit on 26-7-2007 by kinda kurious]

Not to be argumentative, but to further my point. I had remembered the following excersice and just found the link.

First, simply watch the video and count how many times the people in white shirts pass the ball. That is all you must do.

Don't cheat.

www.metafilter.com...

I am sure the most astute here will see what others don't. My point is simply that the act of diversion is powerful.

< Sorry if this has been posted before, I just found it. >

Regards...kk

edit for typo and content

[edit on 26-7-2007 by kinda kurious]

Originally posted by kinda kurious
It is obvious you are much more well versed than I on such matters.

Thanks for a mature and rational response. That is refreshing on this board. I look forward to further exchanges.

Thank Sir.....kk
fixed typo / content

[edit on 26-7-2007 by kinda kurious]

Actually, I'm not really that well versed in these matters, I'm just a news junkie, and am aware.

Thanks for the compliment. I too look forward to more exchanges with you. Stay cool, and I'll catch you around the board!

Interesting follow-up to the San Diego "incident"

www.signonsandiego.com...

So, if this one was icorrectly reported, perhaps the others were too?
More innocuous booga-booga to extract more budget money and give the impression that we are all in danger from some unknown bogeyman/bogeywoman?

But local TSA Security Director Michael J. Aguilar – and the chief of the police agency that patrols the airport – said Wednesday that while screeners initially thought the packs held a clay-like substance, it was quickly determined they contained the usual blue gel.

Yheah - but you could give someone a very nasty black eye if they were throwen with any accuracy - be afraid, be very afraid

The "dry run" thing seems somewhat iffy to me - as I said in the other thread, if these people are conducting "dry runs" for attacks, why have they not been arrested? You'd think you'd want to arrest the perpetrators of these dry runs, or at least watch them to look for connections to the groups they're working for. And if they are being watched, why publicize the incidents (thus tipping off the perps)?

It doesn't make sense - it smells like a scare tactic.

Originally posted by kinda kurious
Not to be argumentative, but to further my point. I had remembered the following excersice and just found the link.

First, simply watch the video and count how many times the people in white shirts pass the ball. That is all you must do.

Don't cheat.

www.metafilter.com...

I am sure the most astute here will see what others don't. My point is simply that the act of diversion is powerful.

< Sorry if this has been posted before, I just found it. >

Regards...kk

edit for typo and content

[edit on 26-7-2007 by kinda kurious]

I guess I must be pretty aware because when I got tested on the video I got a "well done". Yes, I saw the gorilla and realized that they were trying to diverge me by looking at the ball. Not everybody is that easily fooled.

Xmotex - I'm guessing they can't arrest them if there's no proof of intent. I would think that a dry run would use items that resembled substances they would use in the real deal, but are not illegal. For example, clay instead of plastic explosives. That way if they are caught they can't get arrested.