Hacking the Airline Bombers
There is a huge upset going on just now about the bomb plot foiled by the MI5 security branch in the UK.
First of all, I want to say, “Great Job MI5!”
The backlash is a lot of folks complaining about not getting to take the mouthwash on board the plane.
Here is why they should hush.
I once worked as a counselor in a correctional facility. While there one of the residents explained to me how he made a bomb out of a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and a battery.
It was extremely easy and had very few ingredient (basically hydrogen peroxide, a battery, a plastic bottle, a nail and a hammer).
Now you know why you can’t take a plastic water bottle on the plane.
Reg writes about behavior and diferent perspectives of the human experience at elemental truths.
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Comments
Jinsai says on August 14th, 2006 at 10:18 am
So was this bomb technique just invented?
Of course not. It’s been around for a long time, as have many others.
If this was really a threat to care about, shouldn’t TSA and everyone else have been doing these things all along?
People are irritated because the response to these threats is late and arbitrary. It’s another example of “closing the barn door after the horse was out”.
People are also irritated because enforcement of rules is also completely arbitrary, depending on airport, terminal, and disposition of the screeners.
“Terrorists” could shove plastic explosive into their rectums, walk to the restroom, and blow the back of the plane off. Does this mean we all need to take our pants off “for security”? Or should we just wait until it happens or almost happens first?
This “shut up, we’re making you safer” attitude has got to stop. Our society should value freedom over safety; discussion over acceptance of authority.
Nick says on August 14th, 2006 at 10:35 am
I agree — there’s no way that the government can adequately screen for *every* possible threat. What happens if some terrorist somewhere develops an underwear bomb??
Sadly, the logical result of this creeping authoritarianism will be to chain us all to our seats naked and shoot us with tranquilizer darts every time we fly. We’ve got to find a better balance between safety and realism.
Charlie says on August 14th, 2006 at 10:55 am
Why the heck is this on lifehack.org? It seems like its only purpose is to express one of many opinions on a subject. I ardently disagree with this post, and am tempted to refute it–but then I stop and think: I don’t come to lifehack to read political opinions.
So, why is it here?
Reg says on August 14th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
Folks, those are interesting thoughts.
I appreciate the honesty of your feedback.
Rian says on August 14th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
Big friggin’ deal.
There are tons of “what-if” scenarios. If we accounted for them all, we’d all be forced to stay in our houses for “safety’s sake.”
There’s a minute chance of being killed in a terrorist attack. (You have a better chance of being killed by a lightening strike.) This fearmongering is exactly what terrorists want.
It’s inconvenient, it’s ineffective, and it’s completely out of place on lifehack.org. But that’s, of course, just my opinion.
Your best bet to catch terrorists is intelligence. Not screening people’s mouthwash.