Alright. Now I’m pissed.
I’m going to tell you all a short story. My mother used to fly for her boss. She would fly across the country, do some menial task, and fly home. This usually involved hand delivering documents, attending some sales pitch to take notes, or (occasionally) making some sales pitch. She loved that her job allowed her to travel and she had few things to keep her in one place so it was great. Almost.
One day, a few years back, she was headed through security and was stopped. They took her into a back room and accused her of having a bomb in her bag. They said their tests revealed bomb making ingredients. Now, my mother is no bomber. She doesn’t like the govvies but she is a pacifist through and through. They kept her in that room three hours before discovering that the bomb making material was shampoo that had spilled. Due to this incident, she is now on the watch list and gets pulled in for interviews and a full search of all luggage on every flight.
That said, how the FUCK did Abdulmutallab, a man that was in the U.S. database, manage to get on a plane bound for the United States with a freaking bomb!? Is there really that big of a loophole? Can a terrorist get onto a U.S. flight simply by starting in another country? Is there no security there? And if this is accurate – Why?
This man could have killed so many people. He was headed to Detroit. His name was on terrorist watch lists after his father reported him to Nigerian embassy officials in November. Our government knew of him months before that report. His name was also on the manifest. Why did we not halt that plane? We did it in April with an Air France plane. And that plane wasn’t even landing in the U.S; just flying over us.
Have we learned nothing in eight years?
mac
7 months ago
I thought Pagans flew solo, on brooms…er wait, that's a different group ;-)
I know a lot of places have had stricter secutity screenings than the US has for quite a while. They have been on the alert longer because they have been victimized earlier than we were. It is hard to imagine how this bozo got on that plane???
I wear steel toed boots for work. I'm in them all day, I demand comfort( as such, I have nice boots). I have travelled in my work boots in the past. I do not any longer – it's too much hassle. And, I understand the inspectors perspective there a little. He/she has no clue who or what I am, merely that my boots set of the metal detector.
I also carry an old P-38 army can opener on my key-chain. It's a tiny thing used to open the old C-ration cans. I like it because it's the bestsest can opener in the whole world. And maybe, it's just a little nostalgic, reminding me of "back in the day".
A couple of years ago, I was halted at the sceurity desk for what seemed like forever because I had this tiny can opener on my key-chain. I explained to the clueless guy what it was. I even said he could have the damned thing (I'll get another at the surplus store for a buck?). He was having none of my nonsense. We waited for his superviser to show up….
She seemed serious enough as she walked toward us, until he gave her the weapon of destruction.
"It's a can opener." She said
"Well, that's what he said, too. But it has this little point on it?"
She rolled her eyes and said, "Give the man his keys, and let him get on his flight."
I don't know what the point of the story is, other than, not all those guys are doofusses.
I know Pagans can be very spiritual. Sorry about that silly joke at the beginning :-P
The Lion
7 months ago
It's ok. I'm not Pagan. That is mum's thing. And she isn't even that into it. But no, no broomstick. She flew coach :)