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| Terror Networks |
| Mass murder in the skies: was the plot feasible? |
| 2006-08-19 |
By Thomas C GreeneThe seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air; Binary liquid explosives are a sexy staple of Hollywood thrillers. It would be tedious to enumerate the movie terrorists who've employed relatively harmless liquids that, when mixed, immediately rain destruction upon an innocent populace, like the seven angels of God's wrath pouring out their bowls full of pestilence and pain. The funny thing about these movies is, we never learn just which two chemicals can be handled safely when separate, yet instantly blow us all to kingdom come when combined. Nevertheless, we maintain a great eagerness to believe in these substances, chiefly because action movies wouldn't be as much fun if we didn't. Now we have news of the recent, supposedly real-world, terrorist plot to destroy commercial airplanes by smuggling onboard the benign precursors to a deadly explosive, and mixing up a batch of liquid death in the lavatories. So, The Register has got to ask, were these guys for real, or have they, and the counterterrorist officials supposedly protecting us, been watching too many action movies? We're told that the suspects were planning to use TATP, or triacetone triperoxide, a high explosive that supposedly can be made from common household chemicals unlikely to be caught by airport screeners. A little hair dye, drain cleaner, and paint thinner - all easily concealed in drinks bottles - and the forces of evil have effectively smuggled a deadly bomb onboard your plane. |
| Posted by:john |
| #14 Who the f&ck cares whether the terrorists' particular devil's brew was going to work or not? In this age of weapons of mass destruction ability no longer matters. Intent must now become the yardstick by which the wish to harm is measured. Relatively innocuous individuals can end up contributing vital surveillance or transportation for an act that goes well beyond their actual ability to harm. If those who consider atrocities to be an appropriate response to political situations, then their intent must be proper evidence to convict them. These maggots sought to plunge thousands of people to their deaths in mid-flight. This should be sufficient cause for their lifetime imprisonment. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-08-19 20:32 |
| #13 A couple points: The article does a number on the idea of using TATP, but was that exactly what the jihadis were trying to use? Even a half-assed explosion has value. Terrorism is about media and theater. The mere fact of a dozen simultaneous attacks and resulting media coverage is a sufficient goal. Remember that Japanese cult and their home-brew sarin attack on a subway? Less than a dozen killed and a thousand or so injured, IIRC, but nothing like the toll from a 'proper' nerve weapon. Still, I would not call it unsuccessful. The article is from The Register, a site known more for snarky comment on the IT industry than in-depth analysis of the war on terror. Just because the jihadis are inept does not mean they are not dangerous. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2006-08-19 19:57 |
| #12 Dead or contained. (I'm talking about the active jihadis.) Others here at the Burg are working on the 'dead'. My own professional work has to do with the 'contained', although I contribute a bit to those who are working on the 'dead'. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-08-19 19:25 |
| #11 To the best of my knowledge there has been a great deal of research done on binary explosives, specifically for the purpose of use in tank main guns. The theory is sound though the application appears to be somewhat less than optimal. |
| Posted by: FOTSGreg 2006-08-19 19:18 |
| #10 "utterly unable to threaten or hurt" I'm thinking that means dead. And I assume you also mean those that follow in their footsteps and take up the same jihadi course. Dead. Waay dead. Lots and lots of deaders will be required to make it so. |
| Posted by: flyover 2006-08-19 19:08 |
| #9 Thanks lotp. Just about everybody in the Army knew someone in the Pentagon and some knew many. I had been on the E-Ring and visited offices very near the impact only two weeks prior to the event. I hope folks never forget these terrible, senseless murders. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-08-19 19:03 |
| #8 I'm sorry to hear you lost a colleague that day, Besoeker. As some of you know, our daughter was a few blocks from the Twin Towers on 9/11 and friends of ours were in the wing of the Pentagon that was hit. I will not forget and I will not forgive until all of murderous cult that killed innocent people that day are utterly unable to threaten or hurt my loved ones again. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-08-19 18:34 |
| #7 Having lost a colleague on PanAm 103, I'm well aware of what the investigators report revealed. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-08-19 18:27 |
| #6 Well as far as hydrgen peroxide goes you can get "100 point" H2O2 from beauty supply companies This is about 20% H2O2 which is about the same strenght as what I get for greenhouse use. So strongher solutions are around. I talk to the supplier about 50% H2O2 way before 9-11 and he said that BATF was REAL interested in who was buying this stuff. You know 50% might be more available in Europe than here. Just like I can buy all the ammonium nitrate prills I want but in Europe you get it as a 50% solution. I think you might be able to make TATP with 20% peroxide but a little voice that has become louder as I grow older is saying you really don't want to try this. |
| Posted by: bruce 2006-08-19 18:19 |
| #5 Exactly, TR. Does anyone care to argue Mr. greene's chemistry? |
| Posted by: Vegas Matt 2006-08-19 17:09 |
| #4 "How about asking the surviving families of Pan AM 103." PanAM 103 wasn't brought down by TATP! The investigators surmised that it was Semtex concealed in a portable radio. Your comment is a non-sequiter. |
| Posted by: Texas Redneck 2006-08-19 14:59 |
| #3 i agree with that first comment and want too add 9/11 too the list that was mass murder from the skies |
| Posted by: honkey 2006-08-19 14:54 |
| #2 In a convoluted way he has a point. Dumb Irish farmers manufactured a thousand pound bomb that devastated London's financial district. We should be thankful the Jihadis are not in the same intellectual league as dumb Irish farmers. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2006-08-19 10:46 |
| #1 How about asking the surviving families of Pan AM 103. I think you'll get a pretty clear answer Mr. Greene. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-08-19 09:54 |