Oh dear - water explosive found

[PropertyCrashUK]

News is reporting that a woman tried to get on a flight to Pakistan carrying water bottles that bomb sniffer dogs had a good sniff of.

Why a flight to Pakistan though???? Hmm...

[VectraMan]

She's of Pakistani origin, but the flight was an internal US one.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5261456.stm

Anyone else read this register story about how improbable the whole liquid explosives thing is?

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08...t_terror_labs/

[sasguru]

She's of Pakistani origin, but the flight was an internal US one.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5261456.stm

Anyone else read this register story about how improbable the whole liquid explosives thing is?

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08...t_terror_labs/

Superb article (the register one) vectraMan. I'm no chemist, but the gist of the article rings a bell: personal experience has taught me to believe in incompetence rather than conspiracy theories, whether on the part of terrorists or the authorities. I think you should create a new thread with that link.

[MrsGoof]

apparently not explosives at all, just a large dose of paranoia

[AtW]

The Register has always billed itself as a tabloid, which means something like the Sun or News of the World, sadly with Mike McGees departure to setup The Inquirer their (The Regs) quality of journalism dropped to negative zone - be extremely careful to trust anything they say there.

Here is one pearl:

"At best, an infidel or two might be killed by the blast, and one or two others by flying debris as the cabin suddenly depressurizes, but that's about all you're likely to manage under the most favorable conditions possible."

So, what would happen if terrorist puts bomb to illuminator and blows it up - sudden depressurisation at 30,000 ft with tempretures aboard of -50C. Would it result in just one or two casualties? I am not so sure.

Thing to remember is this - the military has conducted very extensive research in explosives, poisons etc. There are actually viable formulaes that are simply classified and not being shared with anyone outside special people, however what one can find can lead other person to find it too, afterall a lot of dangerous things can be made from regular components. So, its possible that a much more viable liquid explosives actually possible, new formulae than those pubilshed, and its possible AQ guys were close to it or actually reached. Thus all assumptions regarding explosives in that article would automatically drop off.

In any case I'd rather fly on an airplane with no one having liquids than trust some irresponsible hack from The Register.

hth

[MrsGoof]

what confuses me is that applying alkli metals to water can be explosive, so ask for a cup or 2 of water from the troly dollay and take cover.

or

are they not providing liquids to drink on the plane?

[AtW]

IMO ideal air travel should be this - people are put into rectangular boxes to pack more of them (this will make tickets cheaper) and use sleeping gas to make sure everyone sleeps, handcuff to boxes of course - after sleep to minimise arguements and make travel instantenous, almost like threaded's time machine.

This would not only minimise risk of terrorism, but also cut costs and remove fear of flying out of equation. No need for extra staff on board too - come to think of it I am off to patent business process for "terrorism proof 21st century flying".

[The Lone Gunman]

what confuses me is that applying alkli metals to water can be explosive, so ask for a cup or 2 of water from the troly dollay and take cover.

or

are they not providing liquids to drink on the plane?

Yes. Have you ever seen a carbide lamp go off? Was caving with a mate when he dropped his (he was into old gear at the time) it landed, split and went off. Glad I wasnt already on the ladder. How we laughed at him spanking his own arse to put it out.

[expat]

IMO ideal air travel should be this - people are put into rectangular boxes to pack more of them (this will make tickets cheaper) and use sleeping gas to make sure everyone sleeps, handcuff to boxes of course - after sleep to minimise arguements and make travel instantenous, almost like threaded's time machine.

This would not only minimise risk of terrorism, but also cut costs and remove fear of flying out of equation. No need for extra staff on board too - come to think of it I am off to patent business process for "terrorism proof 21st century flying".

Only the crew awake. Quis custodet ipses custodes?

[AtW]

Was caving with a mate when he dropped his

Please remain where you are - the police is on its way.