Explosives aboard U.S.-bound cargo jets spark global terror alert

[News_Editor]

Explosives aboard U.S.-bound cargo jets spark global terror alert

2010-10-30 04:46:13 GMT+7 (ICT)

LONDON/DUBAI/D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- Two suspicious packages found aboard U.S.-bound cargo jets in England and Dubai on Friday contained explosives, officials said, sparking an international airline security scare and prompting U.S. authorities to search several planes and increase aviation security.

The incident, believed to be an attempted terrorist attack, began on early Friday morning (European time) when a UPS cargo plane landed at East Midlands Airport from Yemen en-route to Chicago via Philadelphia. It landed in England as part of a routine stop over.

Scotland Yard said the cargo was removed from the aircraft and examined by explosives officers, after which they were sent for additional scientific examination. U.S. officials confirmed the package contained explosive materials.

A second suspicious package, also originating from Yemen and en-route to Chicago, was found at a FedEx facility in Dubai. "In cooperation with the FBI, local authorities have confiscated a suspicious package at the FedEx facility in Dubai," said Maury Lane, a spokesman for FedEx.

As a result of the discovery and the suspicion that they were terrorism-related, FedEx has indefinitely embargoed all shipments from Yemen. "The Company is cooperating fully with the authorities on this matter," Lane added.

Few details about this package were available, but U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed that explosive materials had been found inside.

UPS also suspended its service out of Yemen as a result of the discovery. "Because security is of the utmost importance, UPS is immediately suspending service out of Yemen until further notice," a statement said. "UPS is fully cooperating with authorities who are monitoring reports of potentially suspicious packages onboard cargo flights."

President Obama addressed the nation from the White House on late Friday afternoon, providing more details about the events. "I want to briefly update the American people on a credible terrorist threat against our country, and the actions that we're taking with our friends and our partners to respond to it," he said during a televised news conference.

Obama said American intelligence and law enforcement professionals, working with friends and allies, had identified two suspicious packages bound for two places of Jewish worship in Chicago. "Those packages had been located in Dubai and East Midlands Airport in the United Kingdom. An initial examination of those packages has determined that they do apparently contain explosive material," he added.

Obama was first notified of the terrorist threat by John Brennan, his assistant for Homeland Security and Counter-terrorism, at 10.35 p.m. EDT on Thursday. "I directed the Department of Homeland Security and all our law enforcement and intelligence agencies to take whatever steps are necessary to protect our citizens from this type of attack," he said.

As a result of the threat and out of an abundance of caution, cargo planes at Newark Liberty and Philadelphia airports were searched. Several UPS trucks in New York City were also searched, but no suspicious packages were found on either the planes or the trucks.

Later, United Arab Emirates flight 201, a Boeing 777-300ER that departed Dubai International Airport earlier on Friday, was escorted by Canadian and American fighter jets until it landed safely at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

"This is only because there is cargo from Yemen on the flight," said FBI Special Agent Richard Kolko. "There is no known threat associated with this cargo or this flight."

Both packages discovered in England and Dubai were addressed to religious institutions in Chicago, according to Special Agent Ross Rice of the FBI. "In addition to this, there are no identifiable or specific threats to the Chicago area," Rice said. "Since two of the suspicious packages that were intercepted were addressed to religious institutions in Chicago, all churches, synagogues and mosques in the Chicago area should be vigilant for any unsolicited or unexpected packages, especially those originating from overseas locations."

In response, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago has alerted area synagogues not to open packages that appear suspicious due to the way they are wrapped, or which come from Yemen or from any organization that has the name "Yemen" in it. It advised any institution that receives such a package to call 911 and evacuate the area.

"Needless to say, we all hope that nothing will come of this. But given the realities of today’s world and the information that has been made available, it is important that these security precautions be taken by all area synagogues," said Michael C. Kotzin, Jewish Federation Executive Vice President.

CNN International reported, citing unidentified sources, that both packages were sent from the same name and address in Yemen, allegedly someone with known ties to terrorism. It also said Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is believed to have been behind the packages, although officials did not immediately confirm that, though Obama hinted towards it.

"Although we are still pursuing all the facts, we do know that the packages originated in Yemen," Obama said. "We also know that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, a terrorist group based in Yemen, continues to plan attacks against our homeland, our citizens, and our friends and allies."

Going forward, Obama said, the United States will continue to strengthen its cooperation with the Yemeni government to disrupt plotting by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and to destroy the al-Qaeda affiliate.

In response to Friday's possible terror plot, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced it will take a number of steps to enhance aviation security.

"Some of these security measures will be visible while others will not," DHS said in a statement. "The public may recognize specific enhancements including heightened cargo screening and additional security at airports. Passengers should continue to expect an unpredictable mix of security layers that include explosives trace detection, advanced imaging technology, canine teams and pat downs, among others. As always, we remind the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to local law enforcement."

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and DHS are expected to announce more information about the new security measures later on Friday.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-10-30

[hobanse]

Good Job GIP/CIA, keep the terror fear alive.

[hobanse]

A BA spokesman on BBC confirmed package no explosive!

The package arrived in Britain on an American-registered cargo plane from the

Yemen that made a routine stop at the East Midlands Airport. The device was

well hidden and was only uncovered when a second search was ordered after

""the first drew a blank"" usless snifferdogs

. The device was said to include wires and white

powder in a toner cartridge but there were suggestions the explosives may

have been found in a second suspect package.

Authorities in Britain refused last night to say if explosives were found at

the East Midlands Airport –

"though early reports suggested it had been given

the all-clear "

but President Obama revealed the contents when he made a

public statement on the terror threat.

http://www.englandinfonewspaper.com/

Stupid Al Qaeda send package from Jemen

[rubl]

A BA spokesman on BBC confirmed package no explosive!

The package arrived in Britain on an American-registered cargo plane from the

Yemen that made a routine stop at the East Midlands Airport. The device was

well hidden and was only uncovered when a second search was ordered after

""the first drew a blank"" usless snifferdogs

. The device was said to include wires and white

powder in a toner cartridge but there were suggestions the explosives may

have been found in a second suspect package.

Authorities in Britain refused last night to say if explosives were found at

the East Midlands Airport �

"though early reports suggested it had been given

the all-clear "

but President Obama revealed the contents when he made a

public statement on the terror threat.

http://www.englandinfonewspaper.com/

Stupid Al Qaeda send package from Jemen

The BA spokesman obviously didn't know what he was saying as at least one package containing explosives seems to have been found in the UK and another in Dubai.

[rubl]

Good Job GIP/CIA, keep the terror fear alive.

not sure I do understand this remark. May need a bit more explanation. Maybe just typing terrors and should read 'Good work Al Qua'ida, keep the terror fear alive' ?

[Moonrakers]

Good Job GIP/CIA, keep the terror fear alive.

[sillyman99]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11657132

[Tigs]

How funny. Just in time for a bit of a patriotic frenzy on the run up to the November elections.!

Call me a cynic but the whole thing is a load of tosh! Either that or these are the worst terrorists in the world. They have done the hard bit by getting the package on to an aircraft undetected, only for it not to go off, and then they have put on the addresses of some Jewish community centers, well that wouldn't raise suspicion in the Yemen now would it! It is all a pile of crap and comes at a time when we need another scare to keep the population under control, and the budgets free from scrutiny.

[rubl]

How funny. Just in time for a bit of a patriotic frenzy on the run up to the November elections.!

Call me a cynic but the whole thing is a load of tosh! Either that or these are the worst terrorists in the world. They have done the hard bit by getting the package on to an aircraft undetected, only for it not to go off, and then they have put on the addresses of some Jewish community centers, well that wouldn't raise suspicion in the Yemen now would it! It is all a pile of crap and comes at a time when we need another scare to keep the population under control, and the budgets free from scrutiny.

For some it seems the thought of 'government conspiracy' comes natural. No proof needed, it MUST have been that darn government again. I'm equally convinced the flooding in Thailand is the work of the CIA wishing to flush away all those bodies of illegally killed terrorists which they may no longer hide in Gitmo

[hobanse]

http://www.bbc.co.uk...canada-11657132

The world knows the old and new US Gov. lie to us!

http://www.metacafe...._ultimate_clip/

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=1p2RXWvy4Vs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_Wor3KEIqc&feature=related

[Ulysses G.]

Good Job GIP/CIA, keep the terror fear alive.

Conspiracies seem to be hobanse's forte'.

[cloudhopper]

How funny. Just in time for a bit of a patriotic frenzy on the run up to the November elections.!

Call me a cynic but the whole thing is a load of tosh! Either that or these are the worst terrorists in the world. They have done the hard bit by getting the package on to an aircraft undetected, only for it not to go off, and then they have put on the addresses of some Jewish community centers, well that wouldn't raise suspicion in the Yemen now would it! It is all a pile of crap and comes at a time when we need another scare to keep the population under control, and the budgets free from scrutiny.

Yeah I just have to agree with this post.

[hobanse]

Good Job GIP/CIA, keep the terror fear alive.

Conspiracies seem to be hobanse's forte'.

to believe in Santa Claus seem to be ulysses forte!

[Ulysses G.]

SANTA LIVES!

[teatree]

The use of false flag events by governments is tried and tested.

Operation Northwoods....?

Gulf of Tonkin....?

USS Liberty....?

[Ulysses G.]

Tin foil hat time?

[Tigs]

How funny. Just in time for a bit of a patriotic frenzy on the run up to the November elections.!

Call me a cynic but the whole thing is a load of tosh! Either that or these are the worst terrorists in the world. They have done the hard bit by getting the package on to an aircraft undetected, only for it not to go off, and then they have put on the addresses of some Jewish community centers, well that wouldn't raise suspicion in the Yemen now would it! It is all a pile of crap and comes at a time when we need another scare to keep the population under control, and the budgets free from scrutiny.

For some it seems the thought of 'government conspiracy' comes natural. No proof needed, it MUST have been that darn government again. I'm equally convinced the flooding in Thailand is the work of the CIA wishing to flush away all those bodies of illegally killed terrorists which they may no longer hide in Gitmo

Now come on that last bit is just silly!

teatree, has it!

The use of false flag operations by the USA, Israel and to an extent the UK is well documented. The problem is in these days of the internet, information flows to freely and too quickly to pull the wool over everybody's eyes effectively (hence the desire to bring laws in, in the US by the current administration to allow the government complete control of the internet when it deems that there is a security threat to the USA).

The Gulf of Tonkin incident should be read as to how to stage an incident by killing your own folks in order to justify a war. The USS Liberty remains to this day an utter scandal for which nobody has been held to account. 34 US Servicemen were killed, by Israeli air attacks on a US ship, the reading and evidence of the commander on the ship is totally disturbing. Read it, learn, then comment on how quick some people are to distrust governments. Even simpler events to terrorise populations occur and are effective. Remember a few years back in the UK when Tony Bliar needed a bit of leverage and so deployed the Army to encircle Heathrow because of an imminent terrorist attack? Tanks and armoured personnel carriers surrounding Heathrow. The civilian population and tourists alike were well set up on that one. I mean if you have a large bomb and you want to go to Heathrow and the Army have surrounded the place you get a much better result by getting a different taxi and standing in the middle of Paddington Rail Station at 5pm.

Since i worked in Northern Ireland years ago where the bomb makers worked with deadly efficiency, cunning and incredible technical expertise, their trade seems to have deteriorated somewhat. We are led to believe that people seriously fill the soles of their shoes with plastic explosive and try to light it with a naked flame, that people actually wrapped explosives in their underpants, and some fools were trying to make a liquid explosive on board an aircraft that was impossible to make on the aircraft. Were these really Al Quaida terrorists? they were all shown to be suffering mental illness one way or the other, and in terms of a dedicated attempt to cause harm on an aircraft they really are at the bottom of the list, and you'd get a much better results making a molotov cocktail out of your bottle of duty free vodka.

It is all meant to keep us towing the line. It makes you feel they are looking for the bad guys because they confiscate your sandwich with extra mayo at the gate and make you open all the tins of baby food for your nipper you need on the flight. hel_l even the Captain of your flight is not exempt! A friend of mine had his Marks and Spencers potato salad confiscated, only to find when he returned around the screen to complain, the potential deadly explosive he purchased at M&S was being consumed by the lardy security guard. He had his 'sharp pencils' confiscated as they were a potential weapon, yet when he reminded the security guards that in the cockpit he has a f*****g big fire axe, or that if he wants to get rid of the aircraft and its occupants all he has to do is point it at the ground, they looked at him and said 'rules is rules Sir'!

I said to a mate at the beginning of this year that we would have a global terror alert in October just prior to the November elections, and Bingo! Coincidence? maybe, do I believe anything that spurts from the mouth of some of these governments...No!

am I

convinced the flooding in Thailand is the work of the CIA wishing to flush away all those bodies of illegally killed terrorists which they may no longer hide in Gitmo

No! That IS a conspiracy theory.

[hobanse]

Is UIYSSES on Rupert Murdochs paylist??????

[metisdead]

A BA spokesman on BBC confirmed package no explosive!

The package arrived in Britain on an American-registered cargo plane from the

Yemen that made a routine stop at the East Midlands Airport. The device was

well hidden and was only uncovered when a second search was ordered after

""the first drew a blank"" usless snifferdogs

. The device was said to include wires and white

powder in a toner cartridge but there were suggestions the explosives may

have been found in a second suspect package.

Authorities in Britain refused last night to say if explosives were found at

the East Midlands Airport –

"though early reports suggested it had been given

the all-clear "

but President Obama revealed the contents when he made a

public statement on the terror threat.

http://www.englandinfonewspaper.com/

Stupid Al Qaeda send package from Jemen

And now the package has indeed been confirmed as:

the device was viable and could have exploded.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/oct/30/theresa-may-cargo-plane-bomb

[Ulysses G.]

Is UIYSSES on Rupert Murdochs paylist??????

Guess again.

[Ulysses G.]

Is UIYSSES on Rupert Murdochs paylist??????

Guess again.

[geriatrickid]

Where is this nonsense about a CIA plot coming from? Why do people like Hobanese and others persist on repeating inaccurate and false information? Why is there a need to deny events that are politically inconvenient? More facts will emerge once the Yemen government undertakes local interrogation techniques on the suspect. Arabs know how to get arabs to talk.

Implicated in the events is a former detainee at Gitmo. You know, Gitmo, the place that held the people arrested in Afghanistan that were working on behalf of the Taliban. These people were supposedly peaceful innocent angels.A great many of these innocent detainees have gone on to be rearrested again after being caught redheaded in violent criminal activity.

This isn't the first such event involving explosives put on aircraft as the pattern and M.O. now indicate that the Sept. 3, 2010 that the UPS cargo plane that crashed shortly after take-off from Dubai airport, killing two crew members on board is of similar cause. Reports said a fire had broken out in the plane just after it took off from Dubai international airport.

This is just part of an ongoing situation. On Sept. 4 Yemen arrested a top AQAP leader, ex-Gitmo detainee Jaber al-Fayfi. On Sept 21 AQAP kidnaped a senior Yemeni security officer in Saada, and demanded the release of Fayfi in exchange for the Yemeni officer. In mid September, the Saudis warned multiple governments that that terrorists were planning to mail chemical and biological materials, as part of an attack on America and other Western countries. This alert was made public on September 23.

On October 28, Leicestershire police called to East Midlands airport at 3:28 a.m. BST to check out a suspicious package that was shipped aboard UPS plane. The parcel was a printer containing an ink cartridge with protruding wires, a circuit board and partly covered in a white powder. The parcel turned out to contain explosives. The U.K. informed counter-terrorism officials in North America, Australia and the EU once the explosives had been discovered. On October 29 multiple security agencies acting on the alert of September 23 and the U.K. discovery started searching UPS and FEDEX aircraft with packages originating from Yemen.

The white substance is confirmed to be PETN. This comes despite the denial provided by international munitions expert Hobanese of ThaiVisa. Another explosive device was discovered at the Dubai FEDEX warehouse in Dubai. On October 30, UAE police confirm the device discovered in Dubai contained PETN and lead azide PbN6, an explosive generally used in detonators. Dubai Police have released release pictures and indicate that the operation was most likely sponsored by AQAP. Yemeni authorities agree and have arrested a medical student that is implicated. (Gee, a medical student. I bet she's as innocent as the doctors implicated that attempted the suicide bomb attack in Scotland.)

The only conspiracy here is that of denial pushed by cowards or others with an agenda of hate. There are alot of terrorists out there and they live in places like Yemen and Pakistan. They do not like westerners. Deal with it.

[Ulysses G.]

The white substance is confirmed to be PETN. This comes despite the denial provided by international munitions expert Hobanese of ThaiVisa.

The only conspiracy here is that of denial pushed by cowards or others with an agenda of hate.

Hear, hear!

[chuckd]

Is UIYSSES on Rupert Murdochs paylist??????

UIYSSES (sic):

Since 1/20/09 the USD has tanked against the baht by about 15%.

Any way you can get me on the payroll?

[H2oDunc]

I also think it is all a little too convenient. A few days ago we had the boss of BA calling for a relaxation of the searches carried out on passengers. Then a few days later we have this latest " SCARE " We are then shown bits of nothing really and told that these items " COULD " have brought the plane down. But didn't. Now I thought they had already installed very expensive and invasive scanners that are there to detect explosives. Now how can they get explosives onto an aircraft with these scanners in place ?

1 minute we are told that some guys in a cave in Afghanistan beat the worlds most extensive air defence system and brought 3 steel reinforced buildings crashing to the ground. Now they seem to be the most inept terrorists in the world as from the shoe bomber on they seem to not even get a simple bomb to go off.

No doubt they will rush through even more anti terror laws that will only take away more freedoms and cause even more inconvenience for travellers.

They also seem intent on taking out Yemen now as it seems to be the new axis of evil.

Something just doesn't seem to ring true with all this.

No doubt the so called threat alert system has been ratcheted up once more. Scared people are easier to control which to me is what all this is about!

[Richb2004v2]

It's always someone else's fault. I think it works on the inclination that the smaller party is always innocent. So in most cases that leads to the guilt of the USA in everything they are vaguely connected to. One day the USA will no longer be number one at which point everyone might start to support them over the new superpower.

[geriatrickid]

I also think it is all a little too convenient. A few days ago we had the boss of BA calling for a relaxation of the searches carried out on passengers. Then a few days later we have this latest " SCARE " We are then shown bits of nothing really and told that these items " COULD " have brought the plane down. But didn't. Now I thought they had already installed very expensive and invasive scanners that are there to detect explosives. Now how can they get explosives onto an aircraft with these scanners in place ?

1 minute we are told that some guys in a cave in Afghanistan beat the worlds most extensive air defence system and brought 3 steel reinforced buildings crashing to the ground. Now they seem to be the most inept terrorists in the world as from the shoe bomber on they seem to not even get a simple bomb to go off.

No doubt they will rush through even more anti terror laws that will only take away more freedoms and cause even more inconvenience for travellers.

They also seem intent on taking out Yemen now as it seems to be the new axis of evil.

Something just doesn't seem to ring true with all this.

No doubt the so called threat alert system has been ratcheted up once more. Scared people are easier to control which to me is what all this is about!

Do you want to take a deep breath and think it through? I provided a timeline. This situation goes back to September. There is now good reason to believe that the mysterious explosion and fire on board the UPS plane out of Dubai may have been a bomb. There is zero relationship between the bombs and the BA chairman's statements. Cargo sent via cargo airlines is rarely inspected or screened. Air freight sent on passenger jets would most likely not have been screened by techniques capable of detecting this type of explosive. The sceening the BA chairman was objecting to has zero relationship with the cargo in this situation.

How do you propose your "sophisticated air defense" systems were going to stop 9-11? The airplanes were hijacked. No one had ever before encountered such a scenario. The FAA was overwhelmed. NORAD responded as best it could and the first 2 US fighter jets to arrive on scene were too late. As the Canadian fighters arrived to secure US airspace, other US fighters were only being given the correct coordinates and clear instructions of what to do. It is fortunate that the NORAD personnel opted to scramble first because the FAA was not providing accurate information. What exactly did you expect the US to do? Shoot down civilian aircraft without any idea of what was going on? The US response can be criticized in hindsight, but I would rather a government that hesitates before shooting down a passenger jet, then one that is trigger happy.

The response to the recent cargo bombs demonstrates a completely different response. As the Emirates jet believed to be carrying some of the suspected explosive devices neared North America.

Canadian Air Force CF-188 jets (aka F-18 Hornets) first intercepted Emirates Airways Flight 201 as it entered North American airspace. The jet was was escorted up until the US border and the handoff to US F-16s was effected over northern New York state. NORAD was in control of the airspace. The US department of homeland security was in charge of the operation as soon as it entered US airspace. Everyone was ready for all eventualities. Can you see the difference?

The US government has not been claiming that Osama lives in a cave. He most likely is living in a Pakistani village. Keep in mind that Osama has diabetes. He has to take care of his health and cave dwelling would kill him. Nor do I think that any of his 5 wives and 20 or so children fancy living in a cave.

[hobanse]

I also think it is all a little too convenient. A few days ago we had the boss of BA calling for a relaxation of the searches carried out on passengers. Then a few days later we have this latest " SCARE " We are then shown bits of nothing really and told that these items " COULD " have brought the plane down. But didn't. Now I thought they had already installed very expensive and invasive scanners that are there to detect explosives. Now how can they get explosives onto an aircraft with these scanners in place ?

1 minute we are told that some guys in a cave in Afghanistan beat the worlds most extensive air defence system and brought 3 steel reinforced buildings crashing to the ground. Now they seem to be the most inept terrorists in the world as from the shoe bomber on they seem to not even get a simple bomb to go off.

No doubt they will rush through even more anti terror laws that will only take away more freedoms and cause even more inconvenience for travellers.

They also seem intent on taking out Yemen now as it seems to be the new axis of evil.

Something just doesn't seem to ring true with all this.

No doubt the so called threat alert system has been ratcheted up once more. Scared people are easier to control which to me is what all this is about!

Do you want to take a deep breath and think it through? I provided a timeline. This situation goes back to September. There is now good reason to believe that the mysterious explosion and fire on board the UPS plane out of Dubai may have been a bomb. There is zero relationship between the bombs and the BA chairman's statements. Cargo sent via cargo airlines is rarely inspected or screened. Air freight sent on passenger jets would most likely not have been screened by techniques capable of detecting this type of explosive. The sceening the BA chairman was objecting to has zero relationship with the cargo in this situation.

How do you propose your "sophisticated air defense" systems were going to stop 9-11? The airplanes were hijacked. No one had ever before encountered such a scenario. The FAA was overwhelmed. NORAD responded as best it could and the first 2 US fighter jets to arrive on scene were too late. As the Canadian fighters arrived to secure US airspace, other US fighters were only being given the correct coordinates and clear instructions of what to do. It is fortunate that the NORAD personnel opted to scramble first because the FAA was not providing accurate information. What exactly did you expect the US to do? Shoot down civilian aircraft without any idea of what was going on? The US response can be criticized in hindsight, but I would rather a government that hesitates before shooting down a passenger jet, then one that is trigger happy.

The response to the recent cargo bombs demonstrates a completely different response. As the Emirates jet believed to be carrying some of the suspected explosive devices neared North America.

Canadian Air Force CF-188 jets (aka F-18 Hornets) first intercepted Emirates Airways Flight 201 as it entered North American airspace. The jet was was escorted up until the US border and the handoff to US F-16s was effected over northern New York state. NORAD was in control of the airspace. The US department of homeland security was in charge of the operation as soon as it entered US airspace. Everyone was ready for all eventualities. Can you see the difference?

The US government has not been claiming that Osama lives in a cave. He most likely is living in a Pakistani village. Keep in mind that Osama has diabetes. He has to take care of his health and cave dwelling would kill him. Nor do I think that any of his 5 wives and 20 or so children fancy living in a cave.

1998: An Oklahoma City FBI agent sends a memo warning that "large numbers of Middle Eastern males" are getting flight training and could be planning terrorist attacks. [CBS, 5/30/02] A separate CIA intelligence report asserts that Arab terrorists are planning to fly a bomb-laden aircraft into the WTC (World Trade Center). [New York Times, 9/19/02, Senate Intelligence Committee, 9/18/02, more]

http://www.wanttoknow.info/9-11cover-up10pg

FBI Agent Robert Wright's '9/11 Testimony' on C-SPAN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQGJyEAVQQg&feature=related

[H2oDunc]

I also think it is all a little too convenient. A few days ago we had the boss of BA calling for a relaxation of the searches carried out on passengers. Then a few days later we have this latest " SCARE " We are then shown bits of nothing really and told that these items " COULD " have brought the plane down. But didn't. Now I thought they had already installed very expensive and invasive scanners that are there to detect explosives. Now how can they get explosives onto an aircraft with these scanners in place ?

1 minute we are told that some guys in a cave in Afghanistan beat the worlds most extensive air defence system and brought 3 steel reinforced buildings crashing to the ground. Now they seem to be the most inept terrorists in the world as from the shoe bomber on they seem to not even get a simple bomb to go off.

No doubt they will rush through even more anti terror laws that will only take away more freedoms and cause even more inconvenience for travellers.

They also seem intent on taking out Yemen now as it seems to be the new axis of evil.

Something just doesn't seem to ring true with all this.

No doubt the so called threat alert system has been ratcheted up once more. Scared people are easier to control which to me is what all this is about!

Do you want to take a deep breath and think it through? I provided a timeline. This situation goes back to September. There is now good reason to believe that the mysterious explosion and fire on board the UPS plane out of Dubai may have been a bomb. There is zero relationship between the bombs and the BA chairman's statements. Cargo sent via cargo airlines is rarely inspected or screened. Air freight sent on passenger jets would most likely not have been screened by techniques capable of detecting this type of explosive. The sceening the BA chairman was objecting to has zero relationship with the cargo in this situation.

How do you propose your "sophisticated air defense" systems were going to stop 9-11? The airplanes were hijacked. No one had ever before encountered such a scenario. The FAA was overwhelmed. NORAD responded as best it could and the first 2 US fighter jets to arrive on scene were too late. As the Canadian fighters arrived to secure US airspace, other US fighters were only being given the correct coordinates and clear instructions of what to do. It is fortunate that the NORAD personnel opted to scramble first because the FAA was not providing accurate information. What exactly did you expect the US to do? Shoot down civilian aircraft without any idea of what was going on? The US response can be criticized in hindsight, but I would rather a government that hesitates before shooting down a passenger jet, then one that is trigger happy.

The response to the recent cargo bombs demonstrates a completely different response. As the Emirates jet believed to be carrying some of the suspected explosive devices neared North America.

Canadian Air Force CF-188 jets (aka F-18 Hornets) first intercepted Emirates Airways Flight 201 as it entered North American airspace. The jet was was escorted up until the US border and the handoff to US F-16s was effected over northern New York state. NORAD was in control of the airspace. The US department of homeland security was in charge of the operation as soon as it entered US airspace. Everyone was ready for all eventualities. Can you see the difference?

The US government has not been claiming that Osama lives in a cave. He most likely is living in a Pakistani village. Keep in mind that Osama has diabetes. He has to take care of his health and cave dwelling would kill him. Nor do I think that any of his 5 wives and 20 or so children fancy living in a cave.

I'm not getting into an argument about 9/11 but at the time the US did tell people that he was living in bora bora cave system that is why they spent weeks bombing the crap out of it.

The aircraft had been hijacked yet the most sophisticated air defence system couldn't get a fighter up till after they had crashed ? Yeah right.

If I recall correctly the excuse they used at the time was the were in fact holding exercises which dealt with just this scenario ?

As said they have also become the most inept terrorists in the world the last few years for no apparent reason.

I still say that the whole thing stinks regardless of what they are telling people

[chuckd]

With the transponders turned off, the hijacked aircraft became virtually invisible to the flight controllers.

Are we entering the Twilight Zone again on this thread?