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2005-01-16 Home Front: WoT

The Doctor Is In Blog: An Attack Averted

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Posted by ed 2005-01-16 9:41:42 PM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Sadly, I'm afraid it will take another US soil attack to arouse people, again. Humans can become accustomed to anything, and with long enough exposure, it becomes the norm. And a laxity creeps in and they are, once again, shocked outta their shorts when an event occurs - with the usual cacaphony of surprise and indignant blather about who should be blamed - for interrupting their pleasant isolation.

It'll happen.

Posted by .com 2005-01-16 3:43:07 AM|| 2005-01-16 3:43:07 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Left unsaid is whether Dr. Bob referred the patiant to a psychiatrist.
The story sounds kind of fishy. Not fishy that terrorists might try again, nor that they might have inside help pre-positioning weapons. But why only razor blades? And why ALL blankets so carelessly refolded that they could be spotted? And why the FA would not have immediately suspected terrorism with the first razor blade.

On the other hand, it would be reasonable that no public noise would be made about such an event if it did happen - the airlines are having enough troubles as it is.

And the Arab men did not reboard - likely detained, but if not, why not? Screw-up? That would provide another reason not to publicise the event.

The experience of my Arab-looking (male) friends is they get special scrutiny EVERY time they fly - the 'random' searches are for everybody else.

Posted by Glenmore 2005-01-16 7:59:57 AM|| 2005-01-16 7:59:57 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Has this been through Snopes? I smell an urban legend of tomorrow.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-01-16 8:24:31 AM|| 2005-01-16 8:24:31 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Glen if your"Arab-looking (male) friends"Want to avoid"special scrutiny"then they and thier cronies need to roll-over on thier mad-dog buddies.Untill then,they can just suck it up.

Posted by raptor 2005-01-16 9:02:58 AM|| 2005-01-16 9:02:58 AM|| Front Page Top

#5 .com Sadly I dont think that just one more attck will do it. Perhaps two or three before people get the hint that there are organizations out there who want to kill us.

Posted by CrazyFool 2005-01-16 9:55:16 AM|| 2005-01-16 9:55:16 AM|| Front Page Top

#6 Glenmore,

Arab looking males do not get checked EVERY time. "Every", is a strong word. I wonder if you are just taking their word, heresay. Have you flown with your Arab looking friends, everytime, they fly? Have you put up your own dime and done your own scientific research on FAA/TSA profiling? Your friends are blathering with no proof. Your friends remind me of the Paleo outcries.

My dad who does airport screening, tells me otherwise. (May I add, he is one of the best, the FAA agents can't past him with their fake bomb/weapon tricks). The people that are getting checked, also, are Anglo old ladies with hip replacements.

Posted by Poison Reverse 2005-01-16 11:27:55 AM|| 2005-01-16 11:27:55 AM|| Front Page Top

#7
I think this story is a hoax.
.

Posted by Mike Sylwester 2005-01-16 1:02:26 PM|| 2005-01-16 1:02:26 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 I think you've got decent (50/50? 60/40?) odds on that call, Mikey.

Posted by .com 2005-01-16 1:04:27 PM|| 2005-01-16 1:04:27 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 I have a friend of [India]Indian descent who has for years (well before 9/11) gotten heavier scrutiny than us lighter skinned folk when travelling internationally . He just makes a point of dressing neatly in his normal, preppy style, and behaving circumspectly. No problem -- he says its good to know the authorities are keeping an eye out for the real bad guys.

Separately, I checked Snopes.com and urbanlegends@about.com. I didn't see anything that looked like this story, which doesn't prove anything either way.

Posted by trailing wife 2005-01-16 3:16:52 PM|| 2005-01-16 3:16:52 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 At the Michelle Malkin link http://michellemalkin.com/archives/001240.htm:
Update III: Several air marshals write to say that the story told by Dr. Bob's patient sounds true. Here's an excerpt from one e-mail I received:

I am a FAM (Federal Air Marshal) and wanted to respond to your Jan. 14th article about a foiled hijacking.... Except for a few minor details the Jan. 14th article you wrote is mostly correct. We have seen this scenario happen a few times and have also found razor blades on the plane before passengers have boarded.

Make of it what you will.

Posted by ed 2005-01-16 3:34:17 PM|| 2005-01-16 3:34:17 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 Arab-looking in this case does not imply Arab - try Congolese-Texan mix. And not interested in NOT being scrutinized - hell, they're on the plane too, why wouldn't they want people who look like them scrutinized?

Posted by Glenmore 2005-01-16 6:34:37 PM|| 2005-01-16 6:34:37 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 so...the pilot stated that there had been a security breach, and everyone needed to deboard the plane for a second, more thorough, security screening. The Air Marshall and his partner were confused, as they had not triggered the security alert nor been notified of it prior to the announcement.

AND WHY NOT???? Is it not the AIR MARSHALL's job to report suspicious activity??????? Thank god for an alert flight attendant who didn't just hope for the best.

Posted by 2b 2005-01-16 6:48:16 PM|| 2005-01-16 6:48:16 PM|| Front Page Top

#13 That razor blade hijacking trick won't work again. Think Flight 93. Who would not risk getting cut rather than flying into a building? They're also not getting into the cockpit that way again. It doesn't mean they won't try it, but it won't go well for them.

Posted by Baba Tutu 2005-01-16 6:48:43 PM|| 2005-01-16 6:48:43 PM|| Front Page Top

#14 I'm thinking BS - do Pilots generally let everyone, bad guyz included, know there's been a security breach? makes no sense

Posted by Frank G 2005-01-16 7:43:43 PM|| 2005-01-16 7:43:43 PM|| Front Page Top

18:07 Crerert Ebbeting3481
23:40 CrazyFool
23:17 Captain America
23:15 Captain America
23:11 Bomb-a-rama
23:09 Captain America
23:01 Bomb-a-rama
23:00 Captain America
22:59 Glereger Chavimble7727
22:57 Captain America
22:55 Bomb-a-rama
22:53 Barbara Skolaut
22:51 Barbara Skolaut
22:51 Captain America
22:34 Pappy
22:30 trailing wife
22:29 trailing wife
22:18 Bomb-a-rama
22:18 ed
22:16 OldSpook
22:13 trailing wife
22:10 OldSpook
22:05 OldSpook
21:59 Schmoe, LTC Ret