Paula Zahn's Divine Proportions

[russotto]

Originally posted by Undertoad


RIGHT NOW they say that FBI analysis of Richard Reid's shoe bomb shows that it was actually an incredibly sophisticated bomb, containing two different explosive agents. This indicates, they say, that this is evidence that the terror network may be more sophisticated than originally thought who can manufacture explosives beyond the capabilities of airport screening. Now that's information I want to know.

Unfortunately, it's information that's not particularly trustworthy. Two different explosive agents? That's an idea Nobel used way back when. And it's used in all firearm ammunition. Not particularly sophisticated by today's standards. The problem is the news people don't know this, so they assume that no one else does.

[tw]

Originally posted by Undertoad
RIGHT NOW they say that FBI analysis of Richard Reid's shoe bomb shows that it was actually an incredibly sophisticated bomb, containing two different explosive agents. This indicates, they say, that this is evidence that the terror network may be more sophisticated than originally thought who can manufacture explosives beyond the capabilities of airport screening. Now that's information I want to know.

That Reid bomb was about 10 oz of C4 equivalent explosive - or about the same amount that destroyed PanAm 007 over Scotland. C4 type explosive is well controlled, difficult to manufacture, and is rumored to have been purchased on the street in Netherlands. On the street? Whats going on here? What has that pretty face at the top to say about this?

And just so that the pretty face does not distract you - what happened to and where did all that C4 come from in the Philly Bus Terminal? More silence and a pretty face so we might forget? Or did we forget?

[Undertoad]

The two substances they mentioned were not C4. They did say that one of the substances was something they had to cook up. By now some more info should be available... hang on...

Here's the sentence from CNN:

An FBI analysis of the shoes showed the bombs were made of two explosives -- a military explosive called PETN and a homemade explosive called TATP. Experts said they have not previously seen that combination.

[Undertoad]

I'm sure there will be many other unanswered questions. The one that still has my head spinning: the first Anthrax target was American Media where the editor's wife was the landlady for two of the 9/11 terrorists. Coincidence? That's what they say.

[Nic Name]

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[russotto]

Originally posted by Undertoad

An FBI analysis of the shoes showed the bombs were made of two explosives -- a military explosive called PETN and a homemade explosive called TATP. Experts said they have not previously seen that combination.

PETN has both military and commercial uses. The interesting thing about TATP IMO is that it's not a nitrate-based explosive -- which means those "sniffers" won't detect it.

[elSicomoro]

Originally posted by tw
C4 type explosive is well controlled, difficult to manufacture, and is rumored to have been purchased on the street in Netherlands. On the street? Whats going on here?

You really CAN buy anything in the Netherlands?

[jaguar]

tw, the majority of C4/Semtex sued today is manufactured in Checelovakia of all places, and is pretty easy to get hold of. For refrence i found that out in a discussion of this with an ex-MI5 IRA counter-intel officer (exceedingly cool guy, flicking though all his photos is a rather interesting experience)

Its intersting its not nitrate, nearly all high-grade exploisives are nitrate based. Good old potassium nitrate, endless hours of fun with that stuff.

[tw]

Originally posted by jaguar
tw, the majority of C4/Semtex sued today is manufactured in Checelovakia of all places, and is pretty easy to get hold of.

Semtex (and I thought it started with 'C') is a Checkoslovakian product. C4 is American. Semtex was easier to obtain during the Cold War. Today, it is not (suppose to be) easily obtained.

C4/Semtex and other equivalents are not easily manufactured. Nitrate based explosives are easy, but not as destructive in 10 oz quantities. It is why such 'military' explosives are suppose to be tightly controlled. Which again asks about the silence - a bag full of C4 in the Philadelphia Bus Terminal. Why the silence?

[elSicomoro]

Originally posted by tw
Which again asks about the silence - a bag full of C4 in the Philadelphia Bus Terminal. Why the silence?

Now tw, do you mean: Why have we not heard about where the C4 came from?

I know what I wonder about that is:

why haven't I heard a damn thing about that since it happened?

That's pretty fucked up, no doubt. And they really oughta be telling us things like "Well, it's highly likely it'll happen again" or "It's unlikely" or whatnot. I tell you what - being a frequent metro rider, I have thought many a time about how easy it would be for someone to take out a metro train. That is an unnerving thought.

[jaguar]

Cemtex....i think you're right, i've never really sutided/worked with anything like them, so i've got buggar all idea, although i thought they were of a similar chemical structure. As for availability, an organisation like Al Queda could easily obtain it, they have the money, and no doubt the contacts. In the last year alone there have been over 100 captures of illegal RADIOACTIVE material, ranging from midly radioactive powder to weapons grade stuff in Turkey, think about that.

[elSicomoro]

Originally posted by dhamsaic
being a frequent metro rider, I have thought many a time about how easy it would be for someone to take out a metro train. That is an unnerving thought.

It's already been done in Tokyo.

My suspicions on the C4 here in Philadelphia:

1--Nobody really knows how the hell it got there. Too embarrassing to say anything like that.

2--They know how it got there, but they are still investigating, and do not want to compromise the investigation.

3--They know, but won't tell us due to national security issues.

No one has blown up a metro train, though. The nerve gas was definitely pretty nasty, however.

But yeah. One could walk onto there with a backpack full of C4 during rush hour, wait until the train was approaching the next metro stop (Metro Center, anyone?) and BAM!

Let's just hope it never happens.

[Nic Name]

Subway, underground, tube or metro (whatever these systems are called in various countries) bombings have taken place in London and Paris in recent years. I won't post all the links here.