Al Qaeda Has 'Developed Liquid Explosives Which Blow Up When Dry' Prompting US Evacuation

[big_dog]

Source: The London Daily Mail

Al Qaeda terrorists could try to bring down planes using an undetectable explosive soaked into their clothes, officials fear.
The organisation’s bomb-makers are reportedly developing an ‘ingenious’ system whereby shirts and trousers drenched in the explosive could be ignited when dry.
It would be undetectable under current security measures and remove the need for terrorists to mix liquid explosives on board, security sources told the American TV network ABC News yesterday.



The latest threat to air passengers is one of the reasons behind the current global terror alert, according to two senior US government officials.
The reports are the most detailed yet into the nature of intercepted messages between Ayman al-Zawahiri, the head of Al Qaeda, and Nasser al-Wuhayshi, his deputy in Yemen.
British bomb expert Sidney Alford confirmed that the new method was possible using easily available chemicals, but pulling it off would be tricky as the soaking process would dilute the explosive.


He said: ‘The clothes act as a diluent and reduce the power of the explosives.’
However, igniting treated clothes could be done simply with a match. Passengers are allowed to carry a single box of safety matches or a cigarette lighter on flights.
The new explosive has reportedly been developed by the notorious bomb-maker Ibrahim al-Asiri of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, who made the device used by convicted ‘underwear bomber’ Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in his attempt to blow up a plane on Christmas Day in 2009.
Other reports have suggested that Al-Asiri is developing bombs that could be sewn under the skin of terrorists.



The level of ‘terror chatter’ being monitored by security services has been described as one of the most serious threats to American and Western interests since the 9/11 attacks.
Officials had previously called the communication 'strategically significant' and likened the intelligence 'chatter' to that intercepted in the days leading up to 9/11.
The BBC reports that Yemeni intelligence services discovered al-Qaeda members had arrived in the Yemeni capital Sanaa over the past few days ready to implement a large plot.
It is said that that plot would include explosions and suicide attacks aimed at Western ambassadors and embassies.






Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2385344/US-drone-attack-kills-4-Al-Qaeda-militants-Yemen-embassy-closures-extended.html

[uberblonde]

1. So let me guess.

Now we have to fly naked?

[snappyturtle]

14. Good God my first thought! nt

[TheBlackAdder]

20. So now TSA agents can't just 'pat down' young children, they can strip search them. nt

[Lonr]

21. Damn

beat me to it...

[Mojorabbit]

47. That was my first thought also. nt

[RC]

55. It sounds like they are working on it.

What about the cabin crew?

[Jamastiene]

78. GMTA

That was my first thought too.

[Kablooie]

82. That's silly. The bombs sewed under the skin would still get through.

The only thing that will work is to force the whole world to become Muslim.
Then the threats will stop.

Wait a minute. Sunni or Shia? ... Hmmm.
Need to think a little more about this.

[hrmjustin]

2. Now that is a scary thought.

[agent46]

3. Heh

Probably came out of a US defense contractor lab.

[TheBlackAdder]

19. More like 'Given to them" to keep the conflict going, amping it up. nt

Remember the movie

"Deal of the Century"

[Flatulo]

24. Yes, I'm sure that's it.

Loon.

[TheBlackAdder]

34. So, you trust the defense contracting community?

I might be a little extreme with the comment I've made, but it's not outside the norm of their actions.

[Flatulo]

88. It's more the case that I kind of resent the implication that brown people are too

dumb to craft newer, more advanced technologies.

There's a tendency for folk of a conspiratorial bent to be dismissive of the capabilities of AQ, whereas in fact, some of the more notorious players have engineering degrees and are quite clever to boot.

[jberryhill]

37. Hey, how you been?

[Flatulo]

74. Hi John, I'm well - how about yourself?

I'm retired now and enjoying life.

[jberryhill]

75. Never too late to start, I guess

[phleshdef]

4. Wow, all that scientific effort just to buzzkill Greenwald.

Well, at least according to him anyway.

[hatrack]

5. Boo!!

[Old and In the Way]

6. Great, we'll have to fly naked now.

Could be a game changer....

[kentauros]

97. No, your clothes will be shredded as you watch,

and you'll be given a jumpsuit of orange TyVec, courtesy of the DHS.

"Thank you for flying Church of England Airlines. Cake or Death?"

[tularetom]

7. When the TSA finds out about this we'll all be flying nekkid

Could seriously alter the demographic of air travelers.

[VanillaRhapsody]

39. Or we will get Airline furnished hospital gowns!

[daleo]

41. Not naked

We will have to rent special airplane clothes for an extra fifty bucks.

[Lithos]

102. Was thinking WET T-SHIRT CONTEST!!!

Hooter's Airline will be making a come back as the "safe" alternative

[BeyondGeography]

8. Imagine this level of creativity and effort turned toward productive ends

Maybe next century.

[Control-Z]

15. Will there be a "next century"

with robust functioning societies?

[wordpix]

108. that is the Big Question

[Drum]

43. +1

I know...it's sad, isn't it? The problems of humanity (and our ecosystems) that could be worked on....

[LongTomH]

9. Has anyone interviewed chemist and/or explosives experts on this?

I has me doubts!

[think]

17. I would search and research but with those keywords I'll pass....

[Blasphemer]

35. LOL... +1.... nt

[Hydra]

32. The first liquid explosive thing was BS

Required hours to mix the chemicals in a safe environment. Gonna let them hang in the bathroom for 3+ hours to do it quick and dirty?

I'm curious how this is supposed to work and whether they'll make us strip into prisoner outfits or something at security. Brave new world out there.

[leveymg]

66. This came up in 2010. Ordinary clothes cannot absorb enough explosive to blowup.

This is not pose a realistic threat that might bring down an airliner. The contents of checked Bags soaked in PTN might pose a problem if not "sniffed."

[cstanleytech]

73. I wouldnt be so fast to channel Lord Kelvin if I were you leveymg.

After all just because we "know" something is impossible now as of this minute doesnt mean something might not come along to smack us upside the head and prove what we "know" as a fact isnt anymore.

[ronnie624]

81. We should submit meekly to our government's system of surveillance and monitoring.

Just in case.

[cstanleytech]

84. Mmm you do realize I was merely refering to the science aspect

of what might not be possible now might be one day, right?

[cstanleytech]

71. Nitrocellulose. nt

[Fumesucker]

77. That was my first thought, but that's not a "liquid explosive"

Plus it has to be confined in a pressure chamber to explode, otherwise it just burns quickly.

[cstanleytech]

79. Wonder if an air tight aluminium briefcase would work. nt

[niyad]

10. this isn't from the Onion?

[PSPS]

11. LOL. What's next? Spontaneous combustion?

I can almost hear the urine dripping under everyone's beds.

[Scootaloo]

12. You mean they're dressed in guncotton?

Yeah, that sounds like a job for an intelligent man.

[sabbat hunter]

119. no one ever said

that suicide bombers are intelligent.

[Scootaloo]

120. Smarter than this bullshit

That's why they conduct suicide bombings with... you know bombs, and packs of screws, nails, and ball bearings. Say what you like about them, but they know their own techniques and tools, right? Large amounts of concussive force and lots of shrapnel.

What we're talking about here amounts to extra-flammable clothing. It's so less-than-dangerous that you can't even call the delivery system "suicide bombing," unless the guy's wearing a parka filled with the stuff (and if you see a guy wearing a parka in Yemen, you should be suspicious anyway.) Let's not even bother getting into the problems if the guy weari8ng the stuff ever gets a little damp - the chemicals that create cloth like this tend to be extremely acidic. Essentially, this "technology" would be less dangerous AND more obvious than a traditional bomb belt

Basically the idea is so dumb that not even the Bond franchise would use it (Mission: Impossible maybe.) My money is on this being a figment of some alphabet agency's imagination being used as a cover for something else in Yemen.

[jtuck004]

13. Didn't we do that with iodine and ammonia in 9th grade science class? Next thing

you know they will be screaming "terrorist" every time someone buys a pack of Mentos.

[Daemonaquila]

65. I was thinking Nitrogen Triiodide too.

So, big whoop... Really, there are a lot of substances that can make a shirt highly flammable that don't involve C4 or gunpowder. A big explosion, though? Not so much. At worst they've come up with something that burns hotter than usual to do more damage in a plane than, say, torching your polyester jacket after soaking yourself in Everclear from the Duty Free.

[jtuck004]

68. There have to be tens of thousands of people with this kind of knowledge, most of it gained

during the process of graduating from American High Schools.

Geez - I really do think the whole of most anyone in power just thinks they are dealing with a bunch of goats, who will swallow anything.

[mindwalker_i]

16. Will politico give this a pants-on-fire rating?

Or will Tory come out saying, "Somebody order some exploding pants?"

Next week al-Qaeda will develop the gaze of death (and explosions), so anybody with a face will be on the no-fly list. Or everybody will have to wear ski-masks... or something.

Then, al-Qaeda will discover Taco Bell and just feed it to terrorists before they board planes, so their butts will explode mid-flight causing grisly deaths to all aboard. That will be the true weapon of ass-destruction.

Are you scared yet? The sooner the NSA's collective "member" is in your proper "recepticle," the sooner you can feel safe.

[VanillaRhapsody]

42. they don't have the sharks with laser beam eyes yet?

[mindwalker_i]

46. I imagine that would be difficult to get through t x-ray...

maybe a bit obvious

[Eleanors38]

52. Nah, they slacked off.

[snappyturtle]

18. I guess we haven't responded adequately to the terrorist alerts....

I really dont believe all this crap. I really don't. If it's true, I'll take my chances without
increased security measures that I know will piss me off.

edit: I suppose the TSA will outlaw lighters on flights....again. Glad I quit smoking.

[Ilsa]

22. We will have to wear paper suits when we fly.

Yeah, TSA will have a dressing room where we dispose of our clothes and put on paper air-wear. Baggy suits, dresses, probably different colors for First Class, Business class, Coach (Blue, Red, White or Gold, Silver, Bronze, like awards). They'll have big pockets for wallets, travel papers.

[backscatter712]

23. I read it in the Tory Mail, so it must be true! n/t

[Lugal Zaggesi]

25. Now that Al Qaeda knows that the NSA is listening to everything

they can let their science fiction writers go wild over cell phone calls, emails and easily decryptable communications:

"Amad, do you have the explosive clothes bombs ready yet to strike the heathen non-believers ?"

"Yes Umar, that research project has gone perfectly and all problems have been resolved, thanks be to Allah."

"What about the suitcases built with highly explosive cyclotrimethylene trinitramine leather? Is that ready yet ?"

"Yes, we will be checking explosive suitcases into dozens of planes on 'Team America, FY Day', PBUH. How is the project killing off American honeybees coming ?"

"Hahaha, yes, that is working perfectly. They suspect nothing but fungicides and pesticides. We will destroy 1/3 of their crops before they know what hit them."

"How about the Global Warming Hoax we paid Al Gore to implement ? How is that coming ?"

"They seem to be close to figuring that one out, I"m sad to say. Soon they will realize that all Americans driving enormous SUV's have absolutely no effect on the climate - but we have put the fear of Allah into them for a few decades, at least."

"What about your Cold Fusion project ? Is that done yet ?"

"Yes, we just need to buy up a few tons of palladium, and we will have enough power for our mobile Satellite Killing Laser."

"Ah, I was going to ask about the mSKL - does it work on airliners as well as predicted ?"

"Yes, thank Allah - our research scientists have overcome all tracking difficulties - by Dec 25th, any blasphemer aluminum birds will fall at our command, PBUH."

"What about the Internet Destroying Virus ? Is that ready yet ?"

"As soon as the Allah-Haters transition 40% of the Internet to IPv6, we will strike hard and fast, Amad. We are letting them hang themselves as they ramp up, unsuspecting."

"Good - our Muslim Research Projects are going perfectly. Soon, the Evil West will stand trembling before our scientific might..."

[Volaris]

30. I think this post is the best thng I've seen in a good long while,

thanks Lugal

[Lugal Zaggesi]

50. Thanks

Some of my earlier humorous posts were "censored by Jury" -
it's nice to hear some are understood and appreciated

[Volaris]

67. lol we should make a list..

7 Things you can't say on D.U.

And I think "subversive" isnt something you learn, I think you have to be born with it. Or, you learn it at such an early age that it's essentially a kind of pre-cognition, you don't KNOW that you are learning it heh.

An example from Chris Hedges:

Time Index 5:30-7minutes 40 seconds. The whole thing is an interesting watch anyway, but THAT segment, made me a lifelong Hedges fan lol.

[Lugal Zaggesi]

70. I recently saw a 7 part interview with Chris Hedges on theREALnews

He's definitely somebody that takes the Truth seriously.

Thanks for your link, I'll finish when I have time. Chris is certainly one to start a Gay/Lesbian college group on principle - he almost became a religious man...

I've never read one of his books, but I heard a radio show once about his book Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle which sounded quite interesting. I don't get around to as many books as I used to... so ironically, I've been meaning to read "The End of Literacy".

[Volaris]

83. Yeah, I watched that 7-part segment also,

more and more, I consider Chris to be a prophet of sorts=)

[niyad]

56. sooooo glad I was not drinking anything when I started reading this, or you would owe me a keyboard

[WilliamPitt]

92. You are now my god.

[bemildred]

95. Yes, we can be played too.

Sometimes I wonder if we know that.

[ctsnowman]

96. lol Love it.

[DeSwiss]

26. Meh.

- Terra, terra, terra.

[Cha]

33. Meh, on your Ignorant anti-President Obama Propaganda

glad there are people in charge who don't turn their damn noses up at possible threats to people whose only crime is not being like they are.

[tofuandbeer]

27. International travel may be a thing of the past, soon.

[NRaleighLiberal]

28. Another serving of fear....

[blkmusclmachine]

60. Scared yet?

Cuz the Feds have a solution...

[NRaleighLiberal]

61. shakin in my boots - got all my duct tape ready to go

[Baitball Blogger]

29. Wait a minute, so that means you don't allow anyone with wet clothes on the plane?

[cascadiance]

44. My guess is that they have some sort of embeded "popable" bag in one's clothes.

That if they just smack mid flight and it lets out the fluid in the clothing, whereupon it dries out and then blows up. They'll perhaps at the time disguise it as a "spilled drink" or something like that.

I wonder if they'll give flight employees water pistols to shoot at someone if they think they're suspiciously wet.

[truth2power]

49. A closer reading...

I think what they're saying is they soak the clothing in this liquid that can be ignited when dry.

Not that it automatically explodes when it dries. The title of the article is misleading.

So the clothing is soaked, let dry and then put back on. Looks normal but explodes if you put a flame to it.

[Vinnie From Indy]

31. If these terrorists have been discovered I suggest they get arrested

How many trillions will this cost us?

[YOHABLO]

36. Can't they train dogs to sniff this stuff out? Just a thought.

[Common Sense Party]

54. I think everybody waiting at the same gate as the terrorist would sniff it out.

Chemicals like that are bound to have an odor.

[jmowreader]

38. You mean the TSA workers wouldn't notice someone dripping wet and smelling like a bomb?

[Th1onein]

40. Terra! Terra! Terra!

Here we go again.

I'm so sick of this shit.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

45. The US Government boy cried wolf too many times with "terra!"

Show me tangible proof of this, not some government flunkie's word. . .and then allow the evidence to be publicly tested by independent researchers as to the existence of "Explosive water" and then maybe I might believe you.

Until then, expect more police state actions in the name of security. This is all leading to a regimented society.

[blkmusclmachine]

59. Terra threat level BROWN,

for bullsh!t.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

85. Terra threat level BROWN, for Some ol' bullshit! :)

[valerief]

48. I see a new industry--fly fashions. DHS-approved, DHS-required clothing to be worn in flight.

All luggage/carry-ons to be shipped separately from body-only flights.

[another_liberal]

51. I think this plot has been employed before . . .

[Common Sense Party]

53. Right. And there would be no chemical smell at all.

[AtheistCrusader]

57. Well, I for one am sure glad we've addressed the root causes of terrorism rather than

applying bandages and hammer blows willy-nilly for the last 4 decades.

[blkmusclmachine]

58. The TSA's Wet Dream.

[cactusfractal]

62. Nothing new...

Picric acid is highly unstable when dry, though as a hydrated paste it's quite friendly. I learned how to make it decades ago from the Anarchist's Cookbook.

I guess that one copy finally got returned to the Jalalabad Public Library. Imagine the fines!

[MsPithy]

63. This is why the Israelis search passangers for for deceptive behaviors, not

body cavities for explosives.

[OnyxCollie]

64. Al Qaeda saw this on Mythbusters.

It's the exploding pants episode.

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/exploding-pants-minimyth.htm

I'm so disappointed in Tory and Grant for assisting terrorists. (I can't be mad at you, Kari!)

[adirondacker]

69. LMAO! I think you you are onto something!

regarding Kari;

[Lugal Zaggesi]

72. Once all TV and video is digital

the NSA will know who is watching what, when, everywhere.

Some of those old episodes of "Gilligan's Island" have the Professor making some pretty subversive devices out of coconuts, radio parts, scraps of canvas and lobster shell.

Mythbusters will have to be tracked closely too, of course.
And MacGyver.

[adirondacker]

76. One must be forever cautious...

[PopeOxycontinI]

80. Sniff sniff...

What's that smell?
I think it's bullshit.

[TM99]

86. So let me get this straight.

Al Qaeda has developed 'liquid explosive bomb wear' that could be used to bring down planes.

OK, even if I take this seriously, the question remains.

Why shut down the embassies? Why not warn airlines? Why not shut down airports? Why not increase surveillance and security at airports?

This is a huge disconnect that calls the truth into question yet again on this 'terra threat'. I am so damned sick of fear mongering and attempts to control us with this terrorist fear.

[leftynyc]

87. If it can bring down a plane

It can also probably do a fair amount of damage at a building - or certainly to the people guarding or in the building. I understand the skepticism but you have no way of knowing if they've beefed up security at airports (unless you've flown in the last 2 days). I can definitely tell you there was more security at Grand Central Station today in New York. They don't announce that kind of thing - the security is just there.

[TM99]

93. So they don't announce

security being increased at airports and train stations? Since when? They did repeatedly under the Bush administration.

Additionally, if they do not announce increased security, why broadcast 24/7 reports about our shutting down 22 embassies?

There are too many contradictions not to be skeptical.

[leftynyc]

98. Huh?

Bush is no longer President and I frankly don't remember them announcing anything other than the coded colors scheme thing that Pres Obama got rid of. As far as the embassies - don't you think somebody would notice 22 US embassies closing - don't you think any American citizens in those countries or people bringing paperwork to them to get visas to visit the US should be informed those embassies are closed? Of course they had to announce it.

[TM99]

99. You attempted to make the point

that increased airport security is not reported because it is to make them 'secure'.

I correctly pointed out that for the last 10 years of this 'War on Terror' both the Bush AND now the Obama administrations are very quick to publish 'possible' security issues, including airports. That color scheme is gone, but not the issues behind it.

I don't disagree that they should be warned, however, I am skeptical that it is a credible threat. Those reasons have been covered on DU for days now so I won't repeat them.

But, if this is the credible proof of possible attacks (a report about using 'explosive clothing' on airplanes), don't you think that all of the people in this country should be informed of the need for heightened airport security?

Is there heightened airport security right? No. And because there isn't, and this is the threat, it is yet another inconsistency that leads to skepticism.

[leftynyc]

100. I actually made that point about

train stations like Grand Central. Obviously we're used to the increased security on 9/11 anniversaries and certain holidays but plenty of times I see the national guard (who have been there since 9/11) all of a sudden with the long guns and helmets. Nothing has been on the news but it's obvious they've heard something that makes them nervous. They don't make announcements about it, the security is just very obviously heightened.

I guess being a New Yorker makes it different. We've already been attacked and still have countless landmarks that are known all over the world that would make nice juicy targets for terrorists. I suspect when I hear people poo-pooing the threat that these people live in places that nobody gives a shit about and have nothing to blow up. Otherwise they wouldn't be making light of something that has and still has very dire consequences if it happens again.

[TM99]

103. I love New York City

but damn, the arrogance is rich sometimes.

Yeah, no one could possibly want to do any sort of damage near where I live.

*cough* Palo Verde nuclear power plant near a major metropolis. *cough*

A city was victimized, but I don't know how we go about healing that. I can counsel an individual who has experienced war, abuse, rape, violence of all sorts, however, how do you help a city heal. Hypervigilance is understandable, and it can still make you susceptible to manipulation of your own worst fears.

[leftynyc]

104. I love NYC also

and didn't mean to imply that you didn't live in a nice place...there are plenty of nice places in the country that still have no international recognition - that was my point. Terrorists are not going to blow up a cornfield in KS. I live just north of the city (but work there) so midtown is 20 miles south of me and Indian Point Nuclear Plant is around 20 miles north of me. I don't think we're paranoid here - I just think we don't blow off terrorism the way some people on this board seem to because it doesn't fit their worldview.

I can't believe how many people asked me if I was going to move out of NY after 9/11 (a guy in my building who I only knew from the laundry room was killed) and I looked at them like they were insane. You want arrogance - I'd rather die in NY than live anywhere else - how's that

[TM99]

106. I don't blow off terrorism.

I was in the military. I counsel many who have experienced that level and degree of violence. As a somaticist, I see what it does to both body and mind.

Right here and right now, this particular 'warning' seems very coincidental given the leaks and needed discussions about broad surveillance powers for the security apparatus in this country.

It is healthy to be skeptical.

My mother is from upstate NY. I lived in the West Village after college before grad school while I was getting Freudian Analysis. Like I said, I love it...but.....

Have a good morning.

[yellowcanine]

110. A big "IF", as it turns out... You mean just as the "underwear bomb" and the "shoe bomb" did?

British bomb expert Sidney Alford confirmed that the new method was possible using easily available chemicals, but pulling it off would be tricky as the soaking process would dilute the explosive.

He said: ‘The clothes act as a diluent and reduce the power of the explosives.’

The new explosive has reportedly been developed by the notorious bomb-maker Ibrahim al-Asiri of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, who made the device used by convicted ‘underwear bomber’ Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in his attempt to blow up a plane on Christmas Day in 2009.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2385344/Al-Qaeda-developed-liquid-explosives-blow-dry-prompting-US-evacuation-Yemen.html#ixzz2bJBF7tk7

Ok, let's see how that one worked out.....

Abdulmutallab spent about 20 minutes in the bathroom as the flight approached Detroit, and then covered himself with a blanket after returning to his seat. Other passengers then heard popping noises, smelled a foul odor, and some saw Abdulmutallab’s trouser leg and the wall of the plane on fire. Fellow passenger Jasper Schuringa, a Dutch film director, jumped on Abdulmutallab and subdued him as flight attendants used fire extinguishers to douse the flames. Abdulmutallab was taken toward the front of the airplane cabin, was seen to have lost his trousers due to the fire, and had burns on his legs. When asked by a flight attendant what he had in his pocket, he replied: “Explosive device.” The device consisted of a six-inch (15-cm) packet which was sewn into his underwear containing the explosive powder PETN, which became a plastic explosive when mixed with the high explosive triacetone triperoxide (TATP) (the same two explosives that were used by Richard Reid in 2001), and a syringe containing liquid acid. Abdulmutallab created the explosive by mixing PETN with TATP and other ingredients.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umar_Farouk_Abdulmutallab

I refuse to fear people who spend their time figuring out new ways to set their pants on fire on airplanes.
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." FDR 1933

[leftynyc]

111. Does it really sound like I live in fear?

I'm in Grand Central Station twice a day and work 1 block from the Empire State building. I go to theatre, sporting events, the various different Christmas tree displays in December - all places that a terrorist would love to hit and would make a big splash on the front page. That doesn't mean I don't look around and see if anything doesn't look right - that's just common sense when you live in New York and anywhere else that has landmarks that are known worldwide.

[yellowcanine]

113. If you worry about a guy bringing down a plane by setting his pants on fire - yes.

"If it can bring down a plane" were your words. That is all I had to go on.

[leftynyc]

114. I flew to Greece just last month

so I obviously don't worry too much about it. Acknowledging something may happen if conditions are right is hardly being in fear of it. But keep trying to shrink me, it's amusing.

[yellowcanine]

115. Not trying to "shrink you," whatever that means. No need to take it personally.

Just pointing out the irrationality of all of this fuss about new ways for someone to set their pants on fire. I can think of lots of ways people could theoretically create lots of havoc - on planes or otherwise - but what is the point of getting on here and speculating about it? This is what happens when we accept the Bush view about the "War on Terror." I refuse to participate.

[leftynyc]

117. If I actually spent a lot of time

thinking about all the ways a terrorist could kill me in NY, I'd be hiding under my bed. In any given day I'm on a commuter train, a subway, passing the crowds waiting to go to the top of the Empire State Building. That's just reality but it hardly keeps me or any other NYer from living our lives.

I was under the impression that speculation was one of the main purposes of a site like this....not specifically about terrorism, just about "what if....?"

[yellowcanine]

118. I have no real problem with just speculation but I do when it leads to statements like this:

"I just think we don't blow off terrorism the way some people on this board seem to because it doesn't fit their worldview." (#104 - Response to TM99)

Statements like that dismiss the views of people like me who are just trying to get people to see a little different perspective. Speaking for myself, I neither "blow off terrorism" nor do I have a worldview which denies its existence. I think we get more than a little carried away sometimes with yes - speculation about all of the terrible weapons the terrorists and other bogey men of the world are supposedly developing - don't forget it was nonexistent WMDs which got us mired in Iraq - and was invading Afghanistan within a month of 9/11 really the smart way to neutralize Osama bin Laden and Al Quaeda? I don't think so, and I really do suspect that Bush wanted that war also and did not actually try very hard if at all to get the Taliban to turn over Osama bin Laden to the U.S. And I am not even getting into the Patriot Act, which would not have passed without the endless buildup of fear perpetuated by the Bush administration. When we get breathless about the latest whatever we play into the fear exemplified by the term "war on terror." Warmongers like Bush are successful because we buy into their war on terror language. People forget that Osama and the hijackers were Saudi, not Afghans or Iraqis. But yet those are the two countries we invaded in response to 9-11. That doesn't really make any sense, no matter how one looks at it and that is a worldview problem - one created by fear.

[leftynyc]

122. Then I wasn't referring to you

But you can't tell me that some people here totally ignore the threats, think the government will gin up threats as a distraction (and this includes Greenwald who thinks he's the center of the universe and this Yemen thing is all about him). I'm in complete agreement that the previous administration tried to keep us fearful, took their eye off the ball when they moved the troops to Iraq but they're gone now and haven't found this administration to exaggerate the situation. There is such a thing as being too cynical.

[olddad56]

90. if you wash your clothes in this stuff, don't put them in the dryer.

[quadrature]

89. will also start fires...Nairobi airport..nt

[yellowcanine]

116. Or maybe it was an electrical fire which went undiscovered behind a wall.

And then the emergency response was inadequate. It sounds as if there was a lack of a coordinated response.

It is hard to think of a place an airport terminal where someone could set their clothes on fire and burn the place down.

[DetlefK]

91. And here's the recipe for that explosive (link):

http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5450

[bemildred]

94. And they talk about the "hair on fire" crowd here.

But seriously, you can't stop this sort of thing, society will grind to a halt.

[Evasporque]

101. all those breast implants are gonna be felt up....nt

[Orsino]

105. Clothing that can be ignited when dry, but not when wet?

Them al-Qaedas are goddamned geniuses.

[AppleBottom]

107. It's amazing how a terrorist organization that's supposed to be on the run and severly crippled

manages to create such a highly advanced explosive that even our Zillion dollar, multi-national companies haven't even managed to create yet. It's like something out of a science fiction novel...

[yellowcanine]

109. "highly advanced explosive that even our Zillion dollar, multi-national companies haven't even

managed to create yet." Maybe not.......

British bomb expert Sidney Alford confirmed that the new method was possible using easily available chemicals, but pulling it off would be tricky as the soaking process would dilute the explosive.

He said: ‘The clothes act as a diluent and reduce the power of the explosives.’

This is a "highly advanced explosive"?

The new explosive has reportedly been developed by the notorious bomb-maker Ibrahim al-Asiri of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, who made the device used by convicted ‘underwear bomber’ Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab in his attempt to blow up a plane on Christmas Day in 2009.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2385344/Al-Qaeda-developed-liquid-explosives-blow-dry-prompting-US-evacuation-Yemen.html#ixzz2bJBF7tk7

Ok, let's see how that one worked out.....

Abdulmutallab spent about 20 minutes in the bathroom as the flight approached Detroit, and then covered himself with a blanket after returning to his seat. Other passengers then heard popping noises, smelled a foul odor, and some saw Abdulmutallab’s trouser leg and the wall of the plane on fire. Fellow passenger Jasper Schuringa, a Dutch film director, jumped on Abdulmutallab and subdued him as flight attendants used fire extinguishers to douse the flames.[106] Abdulmutallab was taken toward the front of the airplane cabin, was seen to have lost his trousers due to the fire, and had burns on his legs.[107] When asked by a flight attendant what he had in his pocket, he replied: “Explosive device.” The device consisted of a six-inch (15-cm) packet which was sewn into his underwear[1][108][109] containing the explosive powder PETN, which became a plastic explosive when mixed[110] with the high explosive triacetone triperoxide (TATP) (the same two explosives that were used by Richard Reid in 2001[111][112]), and a syringe containing liquid acid.[113] Abdulmutallab created the explosive by mixing PETN with TATP and other ingredients.[113]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umar_Farouk_Abdulmutallab

So, (1) this is a process which is well understood by bomb experts but which they are skeptical about its capabilities to produce an effective bomb.

And (2) this is being developed by the same guy who developed the "underwear bomb" and the "shoe bomb."

This is who we are supposed to fear? People who create "bombs" which set their pants or their shoes on fire and do little else? Please. I don't know about you, but I refuse to be afraid of people who set their pants or their shoes on fire on airplanes.

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." FDR, First Inaugural Address, 1933.

[Maedhros]

112. Damn straight!

Refuse to be afraid!

We've got nothing to fear...but fear itself?
Not pain, not failure, not fatal tragedy?
Not the faulty units in this mad machinery?
Not the broken contacts in emotional chemistry?

With an iron fist in a velvet glove
We are sheltered under the gun
In the glory game on the power train
Thy kingdom's will be done

And the things that we fear are a weapon to be held against us...

-- Rush "The Weapon"

[jasond54231]

121. The source is from the Daily Mail

Enough said.

Yet another feeble attempt to instill fear into the masses.