Attack of the Killer... er, Socks?

I guess we should have suspected it. Now we have a suspected
terrorist in custody in England who had traces of explosives on his
socks. Great. Now we'll be taking off our belts, shoes, *and socks*
at the airport? What happens when we find a terrorist with a pound of
C4 down his y-fronts? Wait, don't tell me, let me guess.

But I guess it's all for our own good, right? As long as it keeps us
safe. Riiiight.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
Stuck at LaGuardia in the Snow

*** QUOTE ***

http://www.sacbee.com/24hour/nation/...-7547647c.html

Homeland Security warns of possible attacks on aircraft
By LESLIE MILLER, Associated Press
Last Updated 11:48 a.m. PST Saturday, December 6, 2003

WASHINGTON (AP) - The discovery of a pair of stretched-out socks with
traces of explosives in them has prompted a government warning that
al-Qaida may still be planning to use personal items to blow up a
plane, according to the Homeland Security Department.

The bulletin was issued Wednesday to state and local officials, as
well as federal transportation officials, said Homeland Security
Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse.

The FBI also issued a circular on the subject, he said.
Roehrkasse said there is no specific intelligence information
indicating the terrorist group has a plot to blow up an aircraft using
socks or other personal belongings.

He declined to say where the suspicious socks were discovered.

But ABC News, citing an anonymous source, reported Friday that the
socks were seized by British authorities in Gloucester, England,
during the arrest of Sajid Badat last month.

Badat was arrested Nov. 20 and charged with conspiring in an
explosives plot with shoe bomber Richard Reid, who is serving a life
sentence for attempting to bomb an airliner in December 2001.

Roehrkasse said the bulletin issued by Homeland Security "indicated
al-Qaida operatives continue to display an interest in modifying
personal items for potential use as improvised explosive devices, and
continue to desire to target aviation."

Transportation Security Administration screeners have already been
asked to be extra alert during the holiday season, Roehrkasse said.

He said it's not known specifically what the socks may have been used
for, or whether the explosive residue came from a floor or a shoe or
were intended for use on someone's body.

*** END QUOTE ***

On 6 Dec 2003 13:24:09 -0800, (The Bill
Mattocks) wrote:

Great. Now we'll be taking off our belts, shoes, *and socks*
at the airport?

Wait until they figure out how to make C-4 thread and weave it....what
detonates c-4? electricity or physical shock? Either test seems
unpleasant if you are wearing a suspected article