Ned
10-07-2006, 11:18 PM
TSA has told us that laboratories lined up by Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation replicated the bomb the British plotters were experimenting with, and scientists tried to build every alternative they could imagine in additional testing by scientists.
According to the New York Times, "The work did not involve blowing up an airplane. Instead, ingredients were mixed in the beakers and, with the help of a robotic device, detonated while technicians were in a nearby bunker, security officials said. High-speed cameras recorded the explosions, while devices took readings so technicians could calculate the power and duration of the blasts and predict their effect on a plane."
Aviation security officials have publically stated that they decided there was no way to eliminate the risk posed by liquids and gels brought aboard a plane. They decided that trying to identify and intercept any object that might present a threat, no matter how modest, would cause major checkpoint bottlenecks. They decided that they wanted to prevent anything that could cause catastrophic damage from getting aboard planes.
Taking into account the possibility that terrorists might act as a team and pool ingredients, Homeland Security stated that they arrived at the limit of one quart-size plastic bag per passenger. That amount of liquid explosives could still cause damage or harm passengers, but it would be unlikely to destroy a plane, according to TSA.
Accordingly, the ban on liquids and gels was lifted so far as you are now permitted to take virtually any liquid from home you desire, as long as it's no more than 3oz per bottle and that all bottles can fit into a one quart baggie.
That sounds logical and rational doesn't it? That sounds like it will make us much safer when flying, doesn't it? That sounds like Homeland Security went about its business in a measured and sane way making their decision concerning liquids and gels scientifically, doesn't it?
I submit, the TSA liquid/gel rules and regulations are not logical nor rational nor scientifically determined! I submit, the TSA liquid/gel rules and regulations are irrational and insane, poorly thought out and absurd! I submit, the TSA liquid/gel rules and regulations do not make us safe at all, or even a tiny bit safer than before any bans or rules and regulations on liquids and gels were put into place...and I'm prepared to prove it.
My premise is that TSA rules and regulations have so many exceptions to the 3oz per container and one quart baggie rule that the exceptions to the rules have rendered the rules completely ineffective in making us safe, or the least bit safer. It is assumed that any terrorist will figure out how to look and act completely legitimate in taking advantage of the exceptions to the rules, an assumption I think everyone will agree is completely logical and sensible.
I have experimented with putting small containers of liquids and gels into a one quart baggie. I have found that along with a travel size tube of tooth paste I can comfortably fit four 3oz containers into the baggie. So that's 15oz of liquid/gel in my carry-on so far.
Next, let's see what else I can bring aboard. According to TSA the following are all exempt from the 3oz container limitation and baggie rules: All prescription and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including KY jelly, eye drops, and saline solution for medical purposes;
Liquids including water, juice, or liquid nutrition or gels for passengers with a disability or medical condition;
Life-support and life-sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs;
Items used to augment the body for medical or cosmetic reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetic breasts, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids; and,
Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medically related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.
All diabetes related medication
So, as long as I declare it, under TSA rules I can bring along my 4oz container of contact lens soaking and cleaning solution to prevent eye problems with my contact lenses, my 4oz container of rewetting solution, 3-6oz containers of juice for my hypoglycemia, my 2 epi-pen kits for allergy attacks, and my nitroglyercin for my heart condition. (Now these are all legitimate items for me and have have taken them on board in my carry-on even before the baggie plan went into effect. A terrorist could easily get prescriptions and doctor notes to carry these items and more, but for this example I'll stick to these items.) Let's add this up, and we get 36oz of additional liquids.
That's now a total of 51oz of liquids and gels. That's 0.4 of a gallon, a lot of liquid. I'm a professional chemical engineer. I submit, with 51oz of the right liquids, a terrorist, even working alone, could blow one big hole in the side of a plane to bring it down.
If necessary, under TSA rules I could even bring in more than 51oz of liquids and gels, if I had prescriptions for diabetes related medication and other medications, and liquids exempt from the baggie rules.
So, I conclude the above example essentially proves my point. TSA has written so many exemptions into their rules and regulations about liquids and gels that they have completely neutralized any effect they might have had. Hence the TSA liquid/gel rules and regulations do not make us safe at all, or even a tiny bit safer than before any bans or rules and regulations on liquids and gels were put into place.
What do you think?
According to the New York Times, "The work did not involve blowing up an airplane. Instead, ingredients were mixed in the beakers and, with the help of a robotic device, detonated while technicians were in a nearby bunker, security officials said. High-speed cameras recorded the explosions, while devices took readings so technicians could calculate the power and duration of the blasts and predict their effect on a plane."
Aviation security officials have publically stated that they decided there was no way to eliminate the risk posed by liquids and gels brought aboard a plane. They decided that trying to identify and intercept any object that might present a threat, no matter how modest, would cause major checkpoint bottlenecks. They decided that they wanted to prevent anything that could cause catastrophic damage from getting aboard planes.
Taking into account the possibility that terrorists might act as a team and pool ingredients, Homeland Security stated that they arrived at the limit of one quart-size plastic bag per passenger. That amount of liquid explosives could still cause damage or harm passengers, but it would be unlikely to destroy a plane, according to TSA.
Accordingly, the ban on liquids and gels was lifted so far as you are now permitted to take virtually any liquid from home you desire, as long as it's no more than 3oz per bottle and that all bottles can fit into a one quart baggie.
That sounds logical and rational doesn't it? That sounds like it will make us much safer when flying, doesn't it? That sounds like Homeland Security went about its business in a measured and sane way making their decision concerning liquids and gels scientifically, doesn't it?
I submit, the TSA liquid/gel rules and regulations are not logical nor rational nor scientifically determined! I submit, the TSA liquid/gel rules and regulations are irrational and insane, poorly thought out and absurd! I submit, the TSA liquid/gel rules and regulations do not make us safe at all, or even a tiny bit safer than before any bans or rules and regulations on liquids and gels were put into place...and I'm prepared to prove it.
My premise is that TSA rules and regulations have so many exceptions to the 3oz per container and one quart baggie rule that the exceptions to the rules have rendered the rules completely ineffective in making us safe, or the least bit safer. It is assumed that any terrorist will figure out how to look and act completely legitimate in taking advantage of the exceptions to the rules, an assumption I think everyone will agree is completely logical and sensible.
I have experimented with putting small containers of liquids and gels into a one quart baggie. I have found that along with a travel size tube of tooth paste I can comfortably fit four 3oz containers into the baggie. So that's 15oz of liquid/gel in my carry-on so far.
Next, let's see what else I can bring aboard. According to TSA the following are all exempt from the 3oz container limitation and baggie rules: All prescription and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including KY jelly, eye drops, and saline solution for medical purposes;
Liquids including water, juice, or liquid nutrition or gels for passengers with a disability or medical condition;
Life-support and life-sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs;
Items used to augment the body for medical or cosmetic reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetic breasts, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids; and,
Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medically related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.
All diabetes related medication
So, as long as I declare it, under TSA rules I can bring along my 4oz container of contact lens soaking and cleaning solution to prevent eye problems with my contact lenses, my 4oz container of rewetting solution, 3-6oz containers of juice for my hypoglycemia, my 2 epi-pen kits for allergy attacks, and my nitroglyercin for my heart condition. (Now these are all legitimate items for me and have have taken them on board in my carry-on even before the baggie plan went into effect. A terrorist could easily get prescriptions and doctor notes to carry these items and more, but for this example I'll stick to these items.) Let's add this up, and we get 36oz of additional liquids.
That's now a total of 51oz of liquids and gels. That's 0.4 of a gallon, a lot of liquid. I'm a professional chemical engineer. I submit, with 51oz of the right liquids, a terrorist, even working alone, could blow one big hole in the side of a plane to bring it down.
If necessary, under TSA rules I could even bring in more than 51oz of liquids and gels, if I had prescriptions for diabetes related medication and other medications, and liquids exempt from the baggie rules.
So, I conclude the above example essentially proves my point. TSA has written so many exemptions into their rules and regulations about liquids and gels that they have completely neutralized any effect they might have had. Hence the TSA liquid/gel rules and regulations do not make us safe at all, or even a tiny bit safer than before any bans or rules and regulations on liquids and gels were put into place.
What do you think?