Watch out for dem terrurust beer coolers!

[driftu]

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...658292,00.html

[taranaki]

The terrorists are winning.They have the government jumping at its own shadow,issuing ridiculous threats about the most mundane of household items.

It has always been common sense not to leave your suitcase unattended in an airport,for fear of losing it to thieves.Thesedays,however,you are more likely to spark a full-scale terror alert,triggering the mass evacuation of the building and disrupting the entire airport.And why? Because out of the millions of suitcases that pass through airport terminals every year,one might contain a terrorist bomb.The odds of being harmed by that bomb are infinitessimally small,and yet the authorities are compelled to restructure the whole protocol of air travel to prevent that one attack.

If terrorists wanted to disrupt air travel,they wouldn't even need explosives now.A few strategically placed unattended suitcases would be enough to shut down an airport. I f spotted abandonning the cases,a potential terrorist could simply claim to have forgotten the case.There would be no evidence to the contrary.

[driftu]

and at the same time what a shame :

[psychobadboy]

booby-trapped beer coolers

Now I've heard it all. This is getting absolutely ridiculous now. Why do the FBI keep giving us these warnings? The warnings serve no purpose anymore cuz people simply don't care. I certainly don't anymore.
The next thing I'm gonna probably hear: "The FBI is issuing a warning for consumers shopping for pets. Terrorists are hiding explosives on the bodies of dogs in pet stores."

Sound absurd? We're almost there...

[2strokebloke]

The article won't load for me. But from what it looks like here, I guess we're one step closer to "anything and everything could be a booby trap, and/or terrorist - even you!"

[bm2boats]

There are many alerts the Government issues. Some are Orange, Yellow, Red, Violet... But, What would happen if there was another terror attack and the Government never issued an increase in the terror alert. Can you see all the lawsuits lining up. I like to hear how many was stopped with the increase of alert levels. I heard of 3, A bomb on the George Washington Bridge, A bomb in the lincoln tunnel, and a chase in NJ that went for 50 to 60 miles on a guy who Might have had a bomb.( Yes, I heard he was from the Middle East). The one on the GWB, I heard 3 NYC Cops talking on the corner of 8th Ave and 36th St. in NYC.

[Integra06]

FBI and Department of Homeland Security officials say no such devices have actually been discovered, nor is there any current intelligence that terrorists are hatching plots involving floating bombs. But some officials believe al-Qaeda may be focusing on harbors and shipping channels in an effort to replicate the success of the October 2000 attack on the U.S.S. Cole in the port of Aden, in which suicide bombers used a small launch laden with explosives to rip a 40-ft. hole in the warship's hull, killing 17 sailors.

Has anyone ever thought that maybe our governmental members sit down and just TRY to find the dumbest ideas of attacks that might happen? If they were going to attack, they would've already done it. I think the smarter thing for the government to do, is to keep quiet about the kinds of attacks they think might happen and to not let the public know. If the public doesn't know, then it's virtually impossible for a potential terrorist to know what could be prevented. Basically, if you warn the public about floating beer coolers, the terrorist will just find something completely different to attack with.

[Raz_Kaz]

OMG!!!! People witht hat kind of thinking are usually writers

[RedLightning]

Originally Posted by bm2boats

There are many alerts the Government issues. Some are Orange, Yellow, Red, Violet... But, What would happen if there was another terror attack and the Government never issued an increase in the terror alert. Can you see all the lawsuits lining up.

hmm never thought of that one, good idea.

[werwolf-23]

Originally Posted by bm2boats

There are many alerts the Government issues. Some are Orange, Yellow, Red, Violet... But, What would happen if there was another terror attack and the Government never issued an increase in the terror alert. Can you see all the lawsuits lining up.

Well, no, because the government's job is to administrate the country, not defend it. That job is up to the military... At least, that's what the judges would say, I'm sure.

Sometimes I get the impression the White House just wants EVERYONE jumping at their own shadows. Be afraid, and you won't start asking why you need that big government hand picking your pocket all the time...

[taranaki]

sounds suspiciously like the old 'UPS uniforms' legend... http://www.snopes.com/rumors/ups.asp

[YogsVR4]

Originally Posted by werwolf-23

Well, no, because the government's job is to administrate the country, not defend it. That job is up to the military... At least, that's what the judges would say, I'm sure.

Sometimes I get the impression the White House just wants EVERYONE jumping at their own shadows. Be afraid, and you won't start asking why you need that big government hand picking your pocket all the time...

Wrong. It is the governments responsibility to defend us. The military is an extension of the government - not independent of it.

The government has hand its hand in our pockets for decades now. Its called income tax. The IRS has been and is many times worse on civil rights then anything happening at Gitmo or these airports. Get yourself audited someday. Really.

[lazysmurff]

Originally Posted by bm2boats

There are many alerts the Government issues. Some are Orange, Yellow, Red, Violet... But, What would happen if there was another terror attack and the Government never issued an increase in the terror alert. Can you see all the lawsuits lining up.

not really. how many lawsuits took place before these "warnings" were in order?

these ratings are a pyschological thing. some say, to keep the american people afraid and feeling the need for leadership that errodes their rights, other say they simply are in place to make us feel like our government is doing something.

either way, america has gone quite a few terrorist attacks without them, i really dont see why we need them.

[werwolf-23]

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

The government has hand its hand in our pockets for decades now. Its called income tax. The IRS has been and is many times worse on civil rights then anything happening at Gitmo or these airports. Get yourself audited someday. Really.

Exactly -- and we've always had some terrifying enemy which we just NEEDED to be protected from, so get to work on them thar 1040s, boys! I'm not trying to pin this on the current administration. Whether it's the Communists or the Japanese or Germans or, ah, Communists again, and now the terrorists, with maybe a brief flirtation with space invaders after the collapse of the USSR, always some justification for the ludicrous taxation.

Originally Posted by YogsVR4

Wrong. It is the governments responsibility to defend us. The military is an extension of the government - not independent of it.

It's a broader definition of government than I usually like to use, but very true. I usually like a clear definition between my civil and military leadership, because when they're blurred you get 'President' Musharaf in Pakistan.

Hmm. According to this: http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Constitution.html

The only thing our elected officials must defend is the Constitution, against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and it's the job of the Army and Navy of the US to defend the citizens. (Watch me split hairs, Yogs! Watch me!)

[lamehonda]

next thing you know they are going to tell us that terrorists like to live in trailers and drive camaros, this is absurd