29 December 2009

Semper Ubi Sub Ubi

From ABC

This photo is the nasty pair of drawers that thankfully didn't blow a hole in Northwest Flight 253, but managed to spook the civilized world during the holidays. But, the concept of strapping bombs to your genitals is nothing new, as seen in Pakistan last year. From the Daily Times in July 2008:
Would-be suicide bombers could be using explosives “underwear briefs” rather than explosives jackets to evade “conservative” body searches, sources said on Wednesday.

Sihala Police College forensic lab sources told Daily Times that the study of recent suicide attacks showed that suicide bombers used “explosives-laden” under-garments, briefs in particular, to carry out the attacks.

The sources said that the explosives could weigh between five kilogrammes to seven kilogrammes, made deadly by adding glass splinters, metal ball bearings and bullets.
So, like we've seen around the world, the determined terrorist can adapt to achieve his objective. Even if the TSA would scrap its much-criticized political correctness in their prevention methods, would they still be able to nab the terrorist dressed up as a woman? I have to take back my post two years ago giving the TSA a hard time for searching military personnel coming home for R&R, in light of the Fort Hood shootings. But will our politicians cease the partisan ugliness to set forth security policies that reflect the current threat level? I have my doubts...

5 comments:

Bag Blog said...

My husband and I have often made jokes about having to "strip down" at the airport to get through the metal detector. Maybe it won't be a joke much longer, but a reality. The old "is that a banana in your pocket or are you just glad to see me" could cause a strip search :)

CI-Roller Dude said...

There was a terrorist not too long ago who stuffed explosives up his... and got into see some pretty high up folks. The explosives went un-detected...however, when the dipshit blew up, nobody else was in the room.
It's now called the Ass IED. (no shit)

Anonymous said...

CI, if you're referring to the one in Saudi Arabia, they later said that he didn't have it shoved up his ass (that'll be next) but wearing panties like the idiot who burned himself over Detroit. The blast radius wouldn't be nearly as large if it's inside the body, and you aren't going to fit 7kg of explosives up there, either.

Grung_e_Gene said...

Does anyone recall the Puppet Masters, in the novel anyone dressed was a potential threat for having a "slug" on their backside... Odd how Heinlein is spot on again...

olgreydog7 said...

Why is there such an objection to a full body x-ray? Do nipples show up in it or something? Do you really consider your bones that private? Honestly, that is the only measure that I think it worth a shit at stopping anything. The metal detectors are fine for guns and knifes, but do NOTHING for explosives. Hell, he could have just put it in his pocket. They don' check that.