Satertek

Heard about this story this morning but I finally found a picture of the "bomb."

Here's "what authorities thought was a bomb strapped to her body.":



A tiny breadboard, a few LEDs and a 9V battery.

The heck are they thinking? This is worse than that whole Aqua Teen thing.

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leejo

What the hell were they thinking? What the hell was she thinking? I'm sorry but IMO their actions were perfectly correct. Just because a bomb looks ridiculously amateurish doesn't mean it won't go boom.

Again, what the hell was she thinking?

Satertek

Probably: "Hey it would look cool to have a glowing stick figure on my shirt"

heh

Yea it was a dumb move, but its too obvious its harmless.

(Her hair is also a bit of a questionable choice )

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Buckets

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Gillespie

"Too obvious its harmless"?

You dudes are actually slamming the authorities for acting the way they did? Oh, gee... I'm sorry! I guess I missed that day in college where they gave us the manual for what an "obvious" bomb looks like.

Jesus Christ... the girl's lucky they didn't gun her down. How ****ing retarded for her to wear a fake "bomb" to a goddamn airport. You walk in an airport (or any other government building) and even SAY that you have a bomb and you're getting arrested.

Tarenth

Meh. She got arrested and the authorities claimed that if she had not coopperated with them they would've shot first and asked questions at the autopsy later. I'm just glad staring down the SMGs of the troopers who stopped her didn't spark a need to act reckless.

The only thing I found amusing, though, was the fact that the article specifically mentions the trooper was armed with a submachinegun.

I remember flying to Florida in November of 2002. On the flight back I was seated next to a lady who, to be brutally honest, used far too much make-up. Going through the security check point during the layover at the international terminal in Texas, I was surprised when the alarms went off and I was 'kindly' escorted at gunpoint to a small room. Upon which I was informed I set off a chemical alarm and I needed to remove all my clothing for some tests for dangerous agents. Metal chair, metal table, cold room at 60 degrees, and I'm sitting in my skivvies for 45 minutes before they determine the 'dangerous chemical substance' on my jacket is facial cosmetic powder.

Was I annoyed? Kinda...but if those scanners pick up mascera then they'll probably pick up explosives or biological agents as well. I guess I was just glad they didn't question the broken down M1A1 rifle in my luggage that wasn't declared. Ah...good times in the NJROTC drill team.

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Steeler

Stupid people + Paranoid bureaucracy = Embarrassment to our society

(I predict this thread will develop according to the normal Sandbox template)

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leejo

Good thing she didn't say "Don't shoot me, bro!"

Satertek

Good article on it: http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2007...son/index.html

But apparently she was holding a wad of white play-doh too (which can look like plastic explosives), so maybe she didn't look so harmless.

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TheFeniX

Yea, because intelligent people who try to blow up planes, walk around with C4 in hand. It's not like they try to hide it or anything.

Questioning? Definitely.

Arrest and charge? Retarded.

Wasting time on crap like this just sends a message to law-abiding citizens of "Leave all your rights at the door, shut up, and do whatever we say, no matter how incompetent, stupid, or lazy we happen to be."

I have to take another quasi-international flight this Sunday. There is nowhere, and I mean absolutely nowhere, I'd rather not be than an airport. And it has nothing to do with "OMG TERRORISM!" Well, it probably does, but I'm more scared of airport officials than some whack-job with a bomb (real or fake).

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CingularDuality

I haven't seen any pictures of this bimbo, but I understand that she was wearing a baggy hooded sweatshirt, too?

Regardless, unless you're suicidal, that's certainly not the way to conduct performance art...

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Bc2ID

I hate to say it but unless you are in the business, you really do not have a frame of reference. None of you know how close she was to being shot...and it is a good thing the complied with directions. All it takes is for one person to not take a potential threat seriously and you could have a major incident. Some of these same people who claim it was excessive will cry foul if the next terrorist is successful, claiming that the govt. did not do more to protect us. Unless you are completely unaware the 9-11 hijackers flew out of Logan, so the employees on the airport property are very hyper-sensitive and thank goodness for that!

Wasting time on crap like this.....are you serious???? She had all the pieces to have the actual thing. You expect people to act like it is a joke???!!?? I am all for personal rights and liberties, however she brought a hoax device to an airport, let the professionals do their job properly. It is times like these where the backseat driver's come out of the woodwork and second guess the government. Be thankful that they did act and they took this very seriously. Look how easily it is in Iraq to detonate devices in crowds and in public places. Be thankful that you live in a place that has a strong police presence, I hope the Judge makes an example out of her.

BTW calling the Massachusetts State Police incompetent, stupid, and lazy really does not make your judgement valid. These were the same troopers that responded to Richard Reid and many other events involving potential terrorism. Once again be thankful that they are here to offer their expertise.....

*Getting off the soap box now*

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USN_Squid

You're pushing it in the right direction. What would you have authorities do? What should they have done in this case?

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tHa_KhAn

The original article I read said she had playdough/putty in her hands as well. Too bad she didn't utter a "Don't tase me bro!" catch phrase. I mean circuit board strapped to chest, concealing clothes, and substance resembling explosive in hands.....this would be like trying to play a little air soft in the terminal.

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Steeler

This gets repeated often as a matter of rhetoric, but I believe that is a tautology. Even if everyone took every potential threat seriously, you could still have a major incident. You could also have many people fail to take a potential threat seriously and not have a major incident.

Further, taking a potential threat seriously is prudent. Overreacting to an unknown threat is foolish. Punishing the subject of a perceived but false threat because of one's own overreaction is petty and self-serving.

If the woman did in fact intend to cause a scare then she should be prosecuted for doing so. If the incident was the result of a misunderstanding, then they should leave her alone (they can even make all the disapproving statements to the press they like).

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