Police Discover Car Bomb in Times Square

Sometimes you gotta hand it to the Air Controllers.

I just listened to the liveATC recording of the bomber’s Emirates plane about to depart New York, I am sure all here are aware it had taxied out and was called back but I am amazed at how last minute the message came:

“Emirrates 202, Kennedy Tower, position and……actually I have a message for you, to go back to the gate immediately!“

“Similarly, half a dozen nutters with a bag of fertiliser have managed to turn the justice system upside down. They didn’t vote either. They made it happen all by themselves.”

That’s no way to talk about the National farmers union…….

Lucky I didn’t say hydrogen peroxide. I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of militant hairdressers.

Times Square bomber linked to Taliban, paralles to bomb at London Picadilly Circus

New two group game now…Taliban has stepped up terrorism efforts, and expanded…Osama’s A.Q. still active too.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/05/06/pakistan-taliban-role-nyc-bomb-appears-likely/

http://www.foxnews.com/images/root_images/mehsudlink_20100506_051412.jpg

http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/05/02/times-sq-attempt-disturbing-london-echoes/

“Similarly, half a dozen nutters with a bag of fertiliser have managed to turn the justice system upside down. They didn’t vote either. They made it happen all by themselves.”

That’s no way to talk about the National farmers union…….

I’m getting off topic a bit, but agreed PMN, see my post #35 at http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=99291&page=2

There are holes to be picked here, as you well know, but no one can accuse you of not making your point succinctly. I wonder if the case for amending the firearms legislation has ever been argued or has it just been left, forgotten by everyone, except those whose innocent pleasure was hampered and spoilt?

Why vote full stop when they’re all full of crap anyway? Seeing parts of the advertising campaigns in the run up to this election reminded me of kids trying to get one up on each other in a first school playground. I’ll vote when there’s a ‘none of the above’ option.

Also, with an election tomorrow, another thought occurred to me.

Some years back, one man in Dunblane managed to change firearms legislation, affecting thousands of responsible gun owners. He didn’t vote for this change, he made it happen all by himself.

Similarly, half a dozen nutters with a bag of fertiliser have managed to turn the justice system upside down. They didn’t vote either. They made it happen all by themselves.

So we’ve reduced ourselves to allowing a few fruitcakes to change our laws instead. Why vote when, individually, you can achieve major change by popping into the garden centre?

I think I already agreed with your last sentence. As for the rest, ‘What, me worry?’:)

Hmm… I really can’t say I agree on your outlook in any way, shape or form, but you have a right to have your own opinion. I’ll stick to thinking anyone crazy enough to do what this guy did may constitute some kind of threat to society.

I didn’t try to suggest the persons involved in these amateur attacks are harmless and I am aware of the damage even small amounts of explosive can do. In the current case I’m suggesting that had the bomber shown a degree of training and professionalism, then there might be grounds to say there is a valid terrorist threat. The same applies to the shoe bomber. Even so, it is impossible to legislate or do anything to stop determined and reasonably intelligent people from causing mayhem. If it takes an extra two hours to fly because of security checks, bombers will move on to softer targets. You might be able to fly more safely, but my using the bus, standing in a pub, or visiting a market will become less safe instead. ‘The bomber will always get through’, (although used in a different context) is a truism.

Without trying to cause offence, yes, I am taking it lightly. I have far more chance of dying from a million other causes than by a terrorist attack. I don’t think the world is a more dangerous place than it has been, in my lifetime.

Liberties being eroded?
Lots of money spent for uncertain results?
I don’t know and really dodn’t have an opinion…but here’s a recent experience…

Last week I was reentering the U.S. from Canada after attending a car show with one of my vintage cars. I was towing it in an enclosed trailer and driving my Ford Excursion.
It was early morning at the border crossing so there were several commercial trucks lined up as well. Alongside my truck was a large propane tanker.
When I went through the radiation monitors, the alarm went off (not that I could tell from my vantage point..no light or bells went off).
A US border official asked if I had any medical treatments lately, I said No and though that was an odd question.

They made me go inside and once they looked at my passport, (I had to fight the urge to make a wisecrack about “Paper’s please” with a German accent) they said that since I was next to the propane truck, some of its fumes went downwind and contaminated the sensors I was using. (It seems propane produces some natural radiation…who knew that?)

They scanned me with a handheld radiation monitor, went over my truck and trailer with it, one of their people drove my truck through the monitor again…with clean results…then they had me open my trailer.

Total delay..about 15 minutes.

Was it worth it? I really didn’t miind. I was impressed with their scanners and the chaps were nice. They really liked my car.
But since they knew before hand it was simply a case of cross contamination was it really necessary?
Why not just give the truck & trailer a walk around with a handheld monitor and do it in half the time?

Anyway, I was impressed that their sensors are that sensitive…but still if guys were well enough equipped to make some sort of bomb, I’d think they’d be smart enought to sneak it in the country through one of the open borders or beaches…or heck, put it in a backpack and let a Mexican carry it across.

If this is the best the ‘Global Terrorist Threat’ can do – set thier shoes on fire or make a car smoulder, I think the security services and the government might be slightly overstating thier case.

With respect while this incident was a relative damp squib in terrorist attacks and may well have been prevented by vigilant ‘citizens’ rather than “draconian” anti-terror measures, I have to take issue at your remark regarding individuals or groups who take the “set their shoes on fire” approach. Even a small amount of explosive in an aircraft, carried on in sneakers or packed into a pair of skiddies is enough to cause severe if not catastrophic damage to an aircraft in flight. And while the reports are that the vehicle contained gas cylinders and commercial ‘fireworks’ the amount is not known. Fireworks contain explosive – if the vehicle was packed with enough it could well have been turned into a shrapnel bomb. Certainly exploding gas canisters would make a mess of people walking by….

Your obvious dislike of the security measures currently in place is evident but they are there for a reason – to reduce the possibility of explosive devices being taken on board commercial aircraft. I would rather have to queue up for an extra two hours if I thought the delay would deter terrorist attempts.

I have seen first hand what a very small amount of Semtex can do…

I agree, PMN, but the concern is registered in Stuart’s last sentence. Governments have a habit of not viewing anti-terrorism action as temporary and that is the problem. I think I am right in saying that UK local authorities use a piece of anti-terrorism legislation to justify snoopping on their rate-payers’ lives.

Don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t agree more that a lot of increased security is nonsense and is there purely so something is seen to be done rather than it actually being effective and serving a purpose, but I still don’t think this incident should be viewed quite so lightly. Amateurs maybe, failed maybe; but had that car actually gone off properly it would probably have made really quite a mess, so I don’t think the people involved here should be dismissed as harmless amateurs. Their intent was clearly to kill, and as they failed this time it would only be a matter of time until they try again and probably succeed.

PMN, I’m condemning the fact that our liberties are being eroded on the flimsiest of grounds – a bunch of amateurs no sane government could take seriously are causing a hugely disproportionate reaction to the actual harm they can cause.

Every time one of these clowns tries to make a bomb, it seems to be an excuse for more draconian legislation. Even at the height of the Irish troubles, when many more people were killed and maimed than by the current bunch, there didn’t seem to be such a need for badly thought out, hurried legislation that adversely affects everyones rights and allows the state to pry even further into our lives.

Once in place, laws tend to stay in place. Governments don’t want to be accused of ‘being soft on terrorism’.

Stuart H, you seem to be condemning the fact they didn’t succeed more than the fact they were trying to kill people, which I find somewhat puzzling. What’s going on? :confused:

Apparently we’re all supposed to buy in to ‘The Global Terrorist Threat’ and give up our civil liberties because a few nutters go to an ironmongers and their local gardening centre.

If this is the best the ‘Global Terrorist Threat’ can do – set thier shoes on fire or make a car smoulder, I think the security services and the government might be slightly overstating thier case.

If I was a self respecting terrorist, I wouldn’t want to associate myself with these clowns. When we had the IRA bombings, at least we had terrorists could take seriously.

In all possibilities he may well have been working alone, the ingredients of choice (fireworks etc.) seem to be crude and hastily set up.

Time well tell, nonetheless.