Think Progress

Liquid explosive detection systems

By Amanda Terkel on Aug 17th, 2006 at 4:02 pm

Liquid explosive detection systems

are already in place at the White House and the Supreme Court. But they are still not in America’s airports because the Bush administration hasn’t provided TSA with enough funding. “The TSA has not outfitted airports with the devices, in part, because officials have to prioritize where they spend limited dollars, according to Frank Cilluffo, Bush’s former special assistant for homeland security.”



49 Responses to “Liquid explosive detection systems”

  1. RealScientist says:

    Don’t they carry these things everywhere Cheney goes?


  2. Five of Diamonds says:

    Democrats cannot protect you, only Republicans. The sky is green. Obey.


  3. Jack says:

    so their priority is to protect their rearends first


  4. Jesus Christ God of WAR says:

    You’ve GOT to be kidding! There was NOTHING in the “terroist plot” in the UK that shows al Qaeda had ANY capability to do what “terrorist experts” claim they could.

    This is a RUSE!

    This is a SHAM!

    [from: http://www.theregister.co.uk/ 2006/ 08/ 17/ flying_toilet_terror_labs/ ]

    …Now we have news of the recent, supposedly real-world, terrorist plot to destroy commercial airplanes by smuggling onboard the benign precursors to a deadly explosive, and mixing up a batch of liquid death in the lavatories. So, The Register has got to ask, were these guys for real, or have they, and the counterterrorist officials supposedly protecting us, been watching too many action movies?

    We’re told that the suspects were planning to use TATP, or triacetone triperoxide, a high explosive that supposedly can be made from common household chemicals unlikely to be caught by airport screeners. A little hair dye, drain cleaner, and paint thinner – all easily concealed in drinks bottles – and the forces of evil have effectively smuggled a deadly bomb onboard your plane.

    Or at least that’s what we’re hearing, and loudly, through the mainstream media and its legions of so-called “terrorism experts.” But what do these experts know about chemistry? Less than they know about lobbying for Homeland Security pork, which is what most of them do for a living…

    …the fabled binary liquid explosive – that is, the sudden mixing of hydrogen peroxide and acetone with sulfuric acid to create a plane-killing explosion, is out of the question. Meanwhile, making TATP ahead of time carries a risk that the mission will fail due to premature detonation, although it is the only plausible approach.

    Certainly, if we can imagine a group of jihadists smuggling the necessary chemicals and equipment on board, and cooking up TATP in the lavatory, then we’ve passed from the realm of action blockbusters to that of situation comedy…

    The Bush Cabal is full of nothing but Oooga Booga.

    Now ask me: How NOT scared am I?

    I will answer: NOT at all!


  5. Zimzone says:

    Not enough money, not enough time…
    5 F*CK’N years!
    Who’s serious about terrorism?
    Not the White House.
    Not the majority party.
    They like ‘Fear & Smear’, it works with the outlook
    on life they inherited with that silver spoon of the lucky
    sperm club in their mouths.
    Bush gives America a bad name.


  6. Mr. Big says:

    Before the govermnet pours millions of dollars into new equipment and hands out contracts, shouldn’t it be tested first to see if it works?



  7. DieNowForPeace says:

    #6
    AS IF the Government is concerned about budgets, accounting or accountability.

    You’re funny.


  8. Wayne says:

    Republicans have controled the WH, house and senate, have not actually provided detection systems for this and they claim the Democrats are soft on terrorism.

    It would be a great joke, except it is not funny at all.

    Again, the facts show the Repugs do not really care about protecting the citizens of the US, they are all talk.


  9. Jimmy says:

    Why at the White House? Do they do tours there anymore? Are they worried about Helen Thomas?


  10. Wayne says:

    #6
    Mister little mind, you have already been discredited as a liar in several threads. What you say has no credibility here any longer

    You are quite entertaining though. You show by example the tiny minds of the Bush apologists.


  11. Jesus Christ God of WAR says:

    #7 – EXACTLY my point. Well said Madam/Sir!


  12. NoMoreBush says:

    Being the Protectors against terra is hard work.


  13. idlecrank says:

    officials have to prioritize where they spend limited dollars

    Like pop corn factories in Pennsylvania.


  14. Gay Bear says:

    So much for homeland security.


  15. TripMaster Monkey says:

    When this whole liquid-bomb plot was foised upon us, I predicted that it would be faund to be completely bogus. This wasn’t clairvoyance or inside info on my part, you understand…I was simply making that prediction based uponb the simple fact that EVERY OTHER terror threat we’ve had pushed down our throats since 9/11 (which itself is more than suspect) has been either a ridiculous exaggeration, an entrapment scheme, an outright hoax, or a combination of two or all three of these.

    And here, we see that this scheme could not possibly have gone off as we’ve been told. Is anyone even remotely surprised anymore?

    Folks, you’re being manipulated. You’ve been dancing on the neocon’s strings since 9/11, and if something isn’t done very soon, we’ll never be able to pry the strings from their grasp.


  16. hellinabucket says:

    Big Guy don’t you even read before shooting off. The systems are already in place in the WH and the Supreme Court building. Why would these systems be in place at these 2 sites if they didn’t work?

    Simple and stupid Mr. Big


  17. Skeptic says:

    What is surprizing that there have been no plans in the last several years for a gradual deployment of new X-Ray machines. Perhaps start a few at the larger East Coast airports to see if they work in a busy environment and then gradually deploy them everywhere. Of course HSA is too busy organizing for hurricanes and bird flu and container port security to think about Airplane Hijackers. Its the post 9/11 age after all /sarcasm off


  18. Jesus Christ God of War says:

    #16 – When this whole liquid-bomb plot was foised upon us, I predicted that it would be faund to be completely bogus. This wasn’t clairvoyance or inside info on my part, you understand…I was simply making that prediction based uponb the simple fact that EVERY OTHER terror threat we’ve had pushed down our throats since 9/11 (which itself is more than suspect) has been either a ridiculous exaggeration, an entrapment scheme, an outright hoax, or a combination of two or all three of these…

    I agree. But in my case, I have just enough grad school level chemistry and physics to know what’s possible. I knew they either had something spectacular (sourced from where???) or they had nothing. Shocking surprise! They had nothing!!!

    We have been fed a complete and utter nonsense. The Bush Cabal, with the backing of Tony Blair, strikes yet again. How many more will we have to endure between now and November?

    But if you’re of the “faith based” crowd, it can be a little more difficult to tell when someone has been lying to you.


  19. Rebel With A Cause says:

    The only way this would work is if someone smuggled a bottle of nitro aboard an airplane in a shaving lotion bottle.

    It would have to be an explosive to explode. No combination of items found in a grocery store or a drugstore would do the job.

    There are several items sold in the above stores that do have a “flashpoint” that could ignite other items, but one of the other items would have to be an explosive such as nitro.

    Put Cremora or a like item on a surface and light a match to it and see what happens. And people put that stuff in their stomachs. Wow!


  20. Bluedog49 says:

    Mr. Big: “Before the govermnet pours millions of dollars into new equipment and hands out contracts, shouldn’t it be tested first to see if it works?”

    Here’s a thought. Before you rush to your keyboard to offer your latest lame attempt to rationalize your cult leader’s shortcomings, read the post. It says this technology is already being used at the Supreme Court and the Whitehouse.


  21. dlet says:

    Just knowing that the White House and Supreme Court are protected makes me feel so much better as I am getting on a plane. Thanks bushie.


  22. TheToonGuy says:

    Honestly, if the Bush administration was really serious about this, wouldn’t they have put the same energy into getting this done as they have in their drive for war in Iraq?

    They spend more time painting the Dem’s as “terrorist candidates” than they do talking about the need to get these protections into place. Why is that?


  23. Wayne says:

    #20 — Rebel With A Cause

    There any many houshold chemicals that can be used to create explosives or compounds that can be used for Burning at high temps, like thermite or napalm does.
    You can make an explosive compound from even asprin.

    outlawing all houshold chemicals would be akin to outlawing claw hammers, because you canuse them to beat someone to death though


  24. bones says:

    Note Chimpy protected his butt, but yours just die.


  25. Mr. Big says:

    The systems are already in place in the WH and the Supreme Court building.

    As part of a pilot program. If millions of dollars are spent and contracts are given are you going to reimburse the taxpayers if the equipment is unrealible?


  26. For Truth says:

    Its my understanding the TSA was caught “prioritizing” their funding not too long ago, was it nice furniture and stuff like that?


  27. For Truth says:

    Thats a good one Mr. Big, thats funny.


  28. Bluedog49 says:

    Mr. Big: very frugal with public money where American lives are at stake. When the wealthy need a break, not so much.


  29. For Truth says:

    Before the govermnet pours millions of dollars into new equipment and hands out contracts, shouldn’t it be tested first to see if it works?

    Comment by Mr. Big — August 17, 2006 @ 4:25 pm

    You mean like the Osprey, the missle defense system, nuclear powered airplanes, Chrysler-built tanks in the 80’s, Star Wars defense system, F-22 Raptor, that FBI computer system, the war on drugs, the new passports. I could spend more time researching and come up with a lot more, but I hope you get the point here.


  30. Mr. Big says:

    You mean like the Osprey, the missle defense system, nuclear powered airplanes, Chrysler-built tanks in the 80’s, Star Wars defense system, F-22 Raptor, that FBI computer system, the war on drugs, the new passports.

    If you wish. If millions are spent on this equipment and it doesn’t work the American people will get hosed. You can’t just spend millions of dollars on equipment and equip every airport in the country with something that you don’t know works. It has to be tested, like the current pilot program at the Supreme Court and the White House.


  31. For Truth says:

    Mr. Big you live in la la land, the American people get hosed daily, and yes the government can do that. Even the MSM has a regualar spot devoted to the “fleecing of America” which is often government hosing Americans.

    For political and cronyism reasons, all kinds of things are bought and installed that don’t work, your argument is weak. Maybe there is a pilot program to test the equipment, but your argument is not worth installing.


  32. For Truth says:

    And why would the White House and the Supreme court building want to be the guinea pigs on that. What if they find out the hard way this equipment does not work?


  33. Bluedog49 says:

    Descretionary spending, adjusted for inflation is higher under this Repub congress than at any time in history. And Mr. Big thinks we should be careful before we protect American citizens with this technology. Privatize Social Security? Sure, let’s try any one of a number of untested theories. Tax breaks for corporations enjoying record profits? Sure, business can always use a leg up! The fiasco in Iraq? Sure, dump $1.3 trillion into that spider hole. $6 million for technology which could protect American citizens from attacks on airliners? Let’s be very careful about that.


  34. Mr. Big says:

    And Mr. Big thinks we should be careful before we protect American citizens with this technology.

    How do you know it works? Have you tested it? You can’t just throw money at something and hope for the best.


  35. Mr. Big says:

    very frugal with public money where American lives are at stake.

    Except when it comes to our boys’ saftey in Iraq. Then you want to complain about that spending. Democrats want to cut spending on national defense, and put it into social spending.


  36. Bluedog49 says:

    I hate to break it to you Mr. Big, but descretionary spending doesn’t include defense. So your boys are spending at the highest levels in history for things not at all related to Iraq. They’ve cut spending on veterans health care and education for military families. They sent our boys to Iraq without spending the money to provide them with sufficient armor. They’ve got our boys riding around in Humvees which are NOT COMBAT VEHICLES! You need to understand that the words you hear on your various right wing propaganda sites are not strong enough to stand up to the facts. But, again, I’ve forgotten that facts mean nothing to you. You are not interested in learning anything. You’re just another troll, another feral pig rooting around in the garden. I shouldn’t be feeding feral pigs. If you don’t feed a feral pig, he moves on.


  37. Mr. Big says:

    So your boys are spending at the highest levels in history for things not at all related to Iraq.

    And yet Dems say that the GOP is not compassionate.

    But you prove my point when you say this, “They’ve cut spending on veterans health care and education for military families. They sent our boys to Iraq without spending the money to provide them with sufficient armor. They’ve got our boys riding around in Humvees which are NOT COMBAT VEHICLES!” You’re arguing for even more spending then the Republicans support. Just as I said, the GOP should be spending less, but if the Dems had their way, there would be even more spending than there is now.


  38. progressaurus rex says:

    yes, we should fight them over there, rather than over here…because they’d rather spend the money over there.

    building schools, police stations and hospitals, improving roads and infrastructure — only the best for iraq.

    $307 billion and counting…

    how many billions will it take to rebuild new orleans?


  39. progressaurus rex says:

    You’re arguing for even more spending then the Republicans support.

    mr. big, that’s a b.s. argument if i ever heard one. the vast amounts of money being wasted in iraq are going largely to no-bid contracts and mercenaries. the argument isn’t to spend more money (well the real argument is that we didn’t have to spend it in the first place), it’s to quit short-changing the military in favor of military contractors who have repeatedly been proven to be abusers of government funds.

    the mercenaries and contractors are getting paid as much as twice as the armed forces for jobs that our military can and will do. our military are getting shafted so certain defense companies (don’t make me invoke the h-word) can line their pockets.

    the war, aside from being a monumental policy mistake, has been run irresponsibly and incompetently. unless of course you wanted chaos in the middle east, something that i can’t rule out with these jackasses in charge.


  40. WORFEUS says:

    Gee. We can all sleep a little better knowning that our elected officials have taken steps to keep themselves safe from liquid explosives, even if we aren’t.

    Right?


  41. Zooey says:

    Is Mr Big on every thread today? Geez…


  42. progressaurus rex says:

    Is Mr Big on every thread today?

    yea, who would’ve guessed that a crappy 80s hair metal band could end up as a blog-bound rovian shill?


  43. WORFEUS says:

    Is Mr Big on every thread today? Geez…

    Comment by Zooey — August 17, 2006 @ 8:40 pm

    Big Brother is everywhere Zooey.


  44. progressaurus rex says:

    well dixie,
    i tried to get on your troll list but my comment was so good it got blocked by the filter.
    maybe after they see it’s a joke they’ll let it through.


  45. Zooey says:

    yea, who would’ve guessed that a crappy 80s hair metal band could end up as a blog-bound rovian shill?
    Comment by progressaurus rex

    Oh my god, I forgot about them! They taught us how to love… *gag*


  46. progressaurus rex says:

    yea, they rank up there with winger, warrant, and great whitelionsnake. oh, and damn yankees.

    how did such a fruitful and wondrous era of music end? it’s so sad.


  47. Zooey says:

    prog rex,

    Don’t question…just let it go…


  48. Ken says:

    What I find interesting is that the only 2 places in the nation now “protected” by these detectors are the abodes of the top judges and the executive branch.I guess that’s because if you can spend someone elses money on protection it’s better to cover your ass rather than the people paying for it.Just more of this administrations “who asked your opinion,this is about me not you” attitude.



Jump to Top

About Think Progress | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy (off-site) | RSS | Donate
© 2005-2009 Center for American Progress Action Fund
View Most Popular

Advertisement

What We're About

Featured

image
Subscribe to the Progress Report



imageTopic Cloud


Visit Our Affiliated Sites

image image
Reports


Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.

Name:
Email:
Tip:
(required)


imageArchives


imageBlog Roll