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HAND LUGGAGE BANNED

Big-time terror arrests in the UK:

British police say they have foiled a plot to smuggle explosive devices in airline hand luggage to blow up planes in mid-flight.

The targets were said to have been flights between the Britain and the US.

Overnight police have arrested a number of people in London and there has been a massive security clampdown on all flights leaving Britain.

Hand luggage has been banned and passengers are being hand-searched and told they cannot carry anything in their pockets when boarding their flights. Only essential items are being allowed on board - and they must be carried in clear plastic bags.

Damn Presbyterians.

UPDATE. Apologies to Presbyterians. Turns out, according to Muslim MP Shahid Malik, we should blame the Jews:

“The action of Israel and the inaction of the West is contributing to the difficult task of tackling extremism.”

Posted by Tim B. on 08/10/2006 at 02:12 AM
  1. The presbyterians are innocent I tell you!

    It must have been the Primitive Methodists.  Who else?

    Posted by Stop Continental Drift! on 2006 08 10 at 02:19 AM • permalink

  2. Wacky Wesleyian’s?

    Lunatic Lutherans?

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2006 08 10 at 02:23 AM • permalink

  3. The Guardian’s report adds a word: ‘allegedly’.

    Posted by ilibcc on 2006 08 10 at 02:30 AM • permalink

  4. The trick is to dress like an Arab. Because Arabs are honest and above reproach. A peaceful bunch who would never, not a one of them, engage in any sort of harmful behavior.

    Their well earned reputation for probity helps too.

    Posted by mythusmage on 2006 08 10 at 02:31 AM • permalink

  5. This kind of stuff really annoys me, how much time and effort do you this is wasted every day searching people of North African and Middle Eastern backgrounds just because those on the left will scream bloody discrimination if you single out prespies?

    Posted by Mattofact on 2006 08 10 at 02:35 AM • permalink

  6. Yep, so we all have to get discriminated against and pay for the actions of a few fairly clearly identifiable @ssholes….

    The lefties will jump up and down about collective punishment in Lebanon by Israel and what a crime it is, and yet demand it here in the name of satisfying bullsh!t multi culti sensibilities!!!

    I like taking all sorts of stuff on board planes with me, and so I would have to give it all up eh, what sh!t this whole situation is turning into, its hard to believe how far we are stooping to placate a troublesome minority and their Lefty puppets…

    Posted by casanova on 2006 08 10 at 02:56 AM • permalink

  7. Vintage journalism from Reuters:

    “...The operation was the culmination of a big covert counter-terrorist operation lasting several months, he said.

    After the arrests, security at all British airports was increased and additional security measures put in place for all flights.

    British Prime Minister Tony Blair has come under strong criticism at home and abroad for following the US lead and refusing to call for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah guerillas.”

    Are these morons for real?  Are they suggesting the plot has come about because of Blair’s support for Israel?  Does this mean we cannot support any victims of terrorism because it might make us a target?

    Who needs f..king Al Qaeda tapes when you’ve got idiotic Western journalists who do their best to convey the terrorist agenda into the mainstream.

    Posted by tdw77 on 2006 08 10 at 03:20 AM • permalink

  8. Funny how only this very morning, attempts by the British Home Office to restrict immigration attracted shrieks of indignation and the use of the ‘R’ word from Yasmin of the Guardian, because it suggested the real concern was Muslims. I wonder why….......

    Posted by Nic on 2006 08 10 at 03:29 AM • permalink

  9. Realax folks. Its ‘only a minority’!

    Posted by dee on 2006 08 10 at 03:37 AM • permalink

  10. Damn Presbyterians.

    And we would have gotten away with it, too, if it hadn’t been for you meddling kids!

    Sincerely,

    John Knox

    Posted by blandwagon on 2006 08 10 at 03:43 AM • permalink

  11. Britain needs fumigation, not immigration.

    Posted by blogstrop on 2006 08 10 at 03:43 AM • permalink

  12. The Sky news report states -

    “those arrested were mainly young, British-born Asian men”

    British born Asian men?

    Asian?

    Is this another example of that oxymoron “second generation immigrants”?

    Could they be subtly hinting that these guys might be native born muslims?

    Posted by Chris Harper on 2006 08 10 at 03:44 AM • permalink

  13. Damn, what’s the name of that terrorist religion? It’s on the tip of my tongue… “M” something… Muuuuuuuuhhh… Muuuuuuuuhhhh… Mormon! That’s it.

    Posted by Dave S. on 2006 08 10 at 03:44 AM • permalink

  14. Whatever gymnastics they put the English language through to describe them Chris, I’ll wager if we get to see some pictures of them eventually, they won’t look like a “cross section of the community” to anyone with any common sense…

    The highly trained Constable Plods at the Canadian Police may however beg to differ…

    Posted by casanova on 2006 08 10 at 03:49 AM • permalink

  15. Bu-Bu-Bu-But there’s no terror threat! Michael Moore told me so!

    PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE TERRORIST BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

    Posted by Quentin George on 2006 08 10 at 03:56 AM • permalink

  16. When will they learn?
    When will they ever learn?

    Posted by geoff on 2006 08 10 at 03:56 AM • permalink

  17. Could they be subtly hinting that these guys might be native born muslims?

    Britains use “Asian” when referring to people from “South Asia”, i.e., the Indian subcontinent.

    Most likely, these men were of Pakistani extraction.

    Posted by Quentin George on 2006 08 10 at 03:57 AM • permalink

  18. #12 - “Asian” men is a British descriptor for anyone from Asia, including those of Pakistani and Indian origin.

    We tend to think “Asian” in terms of South East or Eastern Asian.  They classify it otherwise.

    Posted by tdw77 on 2006 08 10 at 03:57 AM • permalink

  19. This “broad strata of the community” all seem to have the same narrow fixation with aircraft.

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2006 08 10 at 03:57 AM • permalink

  20. Just talk to British Sikhs and Hindus about the whole “British Asians when you mean Muslims” thing.

    Posted by Andrew Ian Dodge on 2006 08 10 at 04:01 AM • permalink

  21. #16

    When will they learn?

    Too late. That’s when.

    Posted by Dan Lewis on 2006 08 10 at 04:08 AM • permalink

  22. As we speak, Tony Blair is cancelling his holiday and arranging to visit a mosque as soon as possible.

    A public booting for the first apologist who says “Religion of Peace”.

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2006 08 10 at 04:23 AM • permalink

  23. #17 & #18,

    I lived in London for 23 years, I know what they meant.

    The point I was making was that an Asian is someone from Asia, not someone from Britain whose ancestors were born in Asia. Just as I may be Caucasian, but I am Australian, not European.

    I was trying to take the piss out of this example of the racist PC twaddle that the press indulges in.

    Posted by Chris Harper on 2006 08 10 at 04:29 AM • permalink

  24. The captain’s clock: the time it takes between acknowledging RoP as perpetrators and blaming Israel.

    Posted by captain on 2006 08 10 at 04:34 AM • permalink

  25. I bet it’s ‘Primitive Baptists’.
    They take the ‘Bible’ literally!!
    Scary stuff!

    Posted by Islam/cancer-Chuck Norris/answer on 2006 08 10 at 04:35 AM • permalink

  26. well its not all bad: finally made the authorities cut down on the amount of hand luggage people have been bringing onto the plane with them see here

    Posted by WeekByWeek on 2006 08 10 at 04:38 AM • permalink

  27. Maniacal Mormons? Homicidal Hindus? Anti-social Amish? Belligerent Buddhists? Crazy Catholics? Peeved Presbyterians? Psychotic Sikhs? Angry Anglicans? Nope, surprise, surprise, it’s the Insane Islamists…again. What is it with this lot and planes?. Maybe they’re just jealous - can’t build ‘em, can’t fly ‘em - gotta blow ‘em up.

    Posted by EliotNess on 2006 08 10 at 04:42 AM • permalink

  28. Dress like an Arab, thanks for the advice mythusmage. That is clearly what I am doing wrong when flying. I dress like a 55 year old pale faced suburban Caucasian woman. Which I am. I fly very little, but 3 months ago I got done over for explosives as I rushed from my domestic flight to my international at Sydney. And the tape said I was tainted. So 4 times I was tested. Eventually the gentleman decided he was getting false positives. And then today as I passed though security to wave off my pregnant daughter (again pale faced but considerably younger woman) I was checked for explosives. And I am not the only one of my suburban middle aged female mates to be selected as potential terrorists. A friend who travelled a month before was pulled out 3 times for checking in her European holiday, starting in Sydney.

    Has there ever been a terrorist disguised as a middle aged Aussie women. What the hell do they think they are doing.

    But then I was born a Presbyterian

    Posted by Ros on 2006 08 10 at 04:45 AM • permalink

  29. #28   My mother, a former baptist, now a hand clapper (evangelical) has the same problem. She fits the profile: 62yo, caucasian nurse, who likes weak coffee.

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2006 08 10 at 04:54 AM • permalink

  30. Eight years back I had an exchange with an over-zealous US INS worker at Heathrow, who made me (among other things) squeeze the toothpaste of its tube, open my camcorder, take out the batteries, put them back in, turn it on etc etc etc.  When she’d finished with me I said:

    “Your attitude is ridiculous and intrusive.  The next time an Australian national tries to blow up a plane over the Atlantic, this sort of business will be justified!”

    Enter David Hicks and Jack Thomas ...

    Posted by murph on 2006 08 10 at 05:00 AM • permalink

  31. BTW.  It looks as if the plot was to construct a bomb on board.  All liquids, save essential medical items, are banned.  Baby formula is allowed, however, the parent must drink some in front of airport security to prove that it is baby-formula.

    Posted by murph on 2006 08 10 at 05:02 AM • permalink

  32. Still they are not the only ones who don’t know who the enemy is.

    “Another statement on Hizbullah’s Al-Manar TV said guerrillas fired a barrage of Khaibar-1 rockets at Beit Shean, deep inside Israel, in response to “Zionist aggression and massacres against unarmed civilians.” But Palestinian security officials and witnesses said five Hizbullah rockets landed in the West Bank town of Arabani, about 15 kilometers from Beit Shean.”

    Beirut, 09 Aug 06, 14:26

    wrong target

    Posted by Ros on 2006 08 10 at 05:04 AM • permalink

  33. Could save a lot of time if they just refused boarding to anyone with a freshly shaved scotum. Sure some porno actors would miss connecting flights, but it’s a small price to pay.

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2006 08 10 at 05:05 AM • permalink

  34. I once knew a Presbyterian who hurt someone’s feelings, clear proof of future intent.

    Posted by Lucho on 2006 08 10 at 05:06 AM • permalink

  35. British born Asian men?

    Asian?

    That’s British for “Pakistani”.

    Posted by Rob Crawford on 2006 08 10 at 05:15 AM • permalink

  36. Old but good...

    Posted by Dan Lewis on 2006 08 10 at 05:29 AM • permalink

  37. Yeah.  They use the term “oriental” to describe what Aussies and Yanks call Asians.

    Posted by murph on 2006 08 10 at 05:29 AM • permalink

  38. What?  My wife and mother-in-law recently joined the Presbyterians.  It seemed like a nice church, with a nice organ, not the Las Vegas show services you see in many churches now days.  And you’re telling me they’re a terrorist cult?  Er, an alleged cult? 

    Ho!  My decision to continue staying home reading the newspaper while drinking coffee and petting my dachsund has been validated.

    Posted by wronwright on 2006 08 10 at 05:57 AM • permalink

  39. #20 don’t forget MOEM, to be used when avoiding offence to frequenters of the lakemba mosque

    Posted by KK on 2006 08 10 at 06:00 AM • permalink

  40. Everyone wait a minute….

    We all know that this is a plot by the zionist Joooooooos.

    The Pakistani men aren’t really Pakistani, they are Joooos who are involved in a red flag operation to blame muslims for more terrorism. Further research will prove that all 21 men are Mossad spies who converted to Islam and then were purposefully caught to give Muslims a bad name. If you want proof just ask George Galloway, Sheik Hilaly and Keysar Trad tomorrow.

    Posted by The counter revolution on 2006 08 10 at 06:01 AM • permalink

  41. Everyone take a deep breath.
    They could be average shmoes who dont really like them ‘aero-plane’ thingagummys.
    I know I dont like flying.

    Posted by Islam/cancer-Chuck Norris/answer on 2006 08 10 at 06:12 AM • permalink

  42. I am a Christian pastor of Presbyterian pastor of Presbyterian background, and it can’t have been us ..... we don’t have the cash and there were no Clymores (the SWORD not the anti-personnel mine). Mind you, the country with the most Christians of Presbyterian type is South Korea ..... maybe they were planning to use one of their volatile (i.e. very spicey) pieces of cuisine?

    Posted by Wolfbane on 2006 08 10 at 06:17 AM • permalink

  43. Yeesh, sorry about the garbled nature of above post; CLAYMORES!

    Posted by Wolfbane on 2006 08 10 at 06:20 AM • permalink

  44. Damn Jehovah waitress’s, I told ‘em they would be trouble, but did they listen?

    Posted by daza on 2006 08 10 at 06:32 AM • permalink

  45. Next qantas will be asking people to wear transparent clothes onto their aircraft.  for the sake of a bunch of medieval head-chopping goat abusing toilet bowl scrapings, *everybody* is now obliged to be treated like a criminal for daring to use air-travel.

    Posted by daza on 2006 08 10 at 06:39 AM • permalink

  46. #33 you had me reaching for my dictionary - a freshly shaved scotum - gadzooks! Visions of travelling with a tongue-tied, smooth-cheeked, caber-tossing, kilt-clad denizen of the north.  I guess the Scots are Presbyterians hence the travel ban suggested by our friend Infidel Tiger.

    Posted by Ubique on 2006 08 10 at 06:43 AM • permalink

  47. #46 Yeah, should have read scrotum, but now that you mention it, that applies to Scotsman as well. Beware the hairless sporran!

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2006 08 10 at 07:08 AM • permalink

  48. ... passengers are being hand-searched !

    Posted by blogstrop on 2006 08 10 at 07:16 AM • permalink

  49. Damn to hell, George Bush, Tony Blair and John Howard. Had they just remained dhimmified, none, absolutely NONE of this would be occurring.

    Has anyone blamed Tibetan monks? If not, I blame them.

    Posted by El Cid on 2006 08 10 at 07:17 AM • permalink

  50. Not the Saffronistas, el cid!

    Posted by Mr. Bingley on 2006 08 10 at 07:29 AM • permalink

  51. Those who insist that attacks and planned attacks by Islamists are attacks planned by Islamists, when in fact those attacks and planned attacks are by Islamists, must stop so that Islamists who are planning attacks will not be made to feel that that they are being singled out. 

    It is easy to avoid accusations of discrimination when the victim has done no wrong and, oh, how woefully we fail to CARE when it comes to genuinely testing situations like this. 

    A murderer is never just a ‘murderer’; he is a person who kills people.

    Posted by Inurbanus on 2006 08 10 at 07:36 AM • permalink

  52. daza

    Yep.  They’d sell their grandmothers into prostitution in Thailand before they’d admit that the source of the problem is that evil religion.

    Posted by murph on 2006 08 10 at 07:42 AM • permalink

  53. #52, actually the religion of filth is also fairly busy blowing stuff up in Thailand as well.

    Posted by daza on 2006 08 10 at 08:03 AM • permalink

  54. Could save a lot of time if they just refused boarding to anyone with a freshly shaved scotum.

    #33, or they could just ask them to take a drug test:

    Boxer rejects drug test on religious grounds

    His coach, Chris McCullen, says the boxer’s faith means he cannot allow anyone to see his genitals.

    “It’s against Omar’s religious beliefs. He’s not to show his genitals to anyone,” McCullen said.

    Posted by Art Vandelay on 2006 08 10 at 08:10 AM • permalink

  55. Tomorrow, when some people suggest this is because of London’s support for Israeli activity against Hezbollah, keep one thing in mind - this attack was 8-12 months in the planning and under surveillance for at least 3.

    In other words: They don’t need an excuse but they will encourage the media to come up with one in order to divide us.

    Posted by Dan Lewis on 2006 08 10 at 08:18 AM • permalink

  56. daz

    About 1300 dead this year in Thailand.  Must be because of Thailand’s invasion of Iraq.

    Posted by murph on 2006 08 10 at 08:24 AM • permalink

  57. A solution.
    1.  All passports must state religion.
    2.  Passports required for ALL flights.
    3.  All Muslims banned from flying.
    They will be permitted to walk, swim, drive or go by ship or camel.

    Posted by Peter1234 on 2006 08 10 at 08:30 AM • permalink

  58. SBs news had two minutes for the Brit security scare (aircraft) -(they and channel nine news said 20 flights.)
    Then sbs did EIGHT and a half minutes on the Israelis and Lebanon.
    The village of ?Tyr was “pounded with nine Lebanese killed”,Hez were described as “fighters”,Israel dropped “a blizzard of Israeli PROPAGANDA”,Israelis turned Lebanon into a graveyard,besides the “human cost there was the damage to the economy of Lebanon and the environment..”
    Well that time also included “we musn’t forget that meanwhile Israel is daily pounding Gaza -there has been 171

    Posted by crash on 2006 08 10 at 08:37 AM • permalink

  59. 57, if I were a terrorist then I would put Buddhist on my passport application and go in disguise…

    ...all this becomes easier with the home grownies who “look like us”. Think Jack Roche, David Hicks, the shoe guy from the UK…there will be more of them…

    Posted by closeapproximation on 2006 08 10 at 08:40 AM • permalink

  60. #54 They can’t show their dicks because it’s the Religion of Piss.

    Posted by Zuzzy on 2006 08 10 at 08:43 AM • permalink

  61. palestinians killed by Israel.
    They sbs -spent two and a half minutes on the three “dissident Libs”.
    Next ABC news spent one and a half minutes on the Brit aircraft terrorism thing and cited “several aircraft” no number.
    They spent two and a half minutes on the three “Dissidents Libs”.

    Posted by crash on 2006 08 10 at 08:46 AM • permalink

  62. I reckon its the Masons.  That pyramid with the eye on it looks like it is for control planes.

    Tablets…Where are my tablets?!!!

    Posted by youngy on 2006 08 10 at 08:52 AM • permalink

  63. #28

    My wife was stopped stopped several times because her laptop kept showing positive.  Nobody could figure it out. It seems the ultra-expensive hand cream that she used has nitro-glycerine listed as a minor ingredient.

    Posted by joe bagadonuts on 2006 08 10 at 09:03 AM • permalink

  64. Britain’s Reward for Being Bush’s Ally

    Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 05:41:07 AM PDT
    Today, we can see again what Britain gets for being a staunch ally of Bush. They get home-grown terrorists, bombings, and more terrorist plots.

    You have to wonder what exactly are the benefits of hitching yourself to George W. It’s like when you consider making an investment or major purchase. You look at the pros and the cons. We all know what the cons are: your people become a target for terrorists, and you breed your own terrorist cells.

    So, what are the benefits? Ummmmm, well, uhhhh, okay not many. Blair has sold out his people so he can cozy up on Bush’s lap. Tony is like any other man in power, he wants to more power himself, and be closer to those who have even more power.

    daily ko, ummm..daily

    Damn, can’t even type the whole name. Excuse me while I go wash my eyeballs.

    It’s going to be so easy, when these people see muzzle flash, they’ll think it’s a camera and smile.

    Posted by El Cid on 2006 08 10 at 09:14 AM • permalink

  65. The gutlessness of Kos’s position is palpable.

    Posted by murph on 2006 08 10 at 09:32 AM • permalink

  66. The day these scum get whats coming to them can’t come soon enough…  And that goes for the musie murderers and our homegrown Kos-like cowards…

    Posted by casanova on 2006 08 10 at 09:36 AM • permalink

  67. I wonder if it has anything to do with this:

    “In a poll conducted for the Channel 4 documentary, only half the British Muslims questioned said they thought of Britain as “my country”, whereas nearly a quarter said they thought of it as “their country” - meaning someone else’s. The younger respondents were, the greater the alienation. Shockingly, one in three British Muslims aged between 18 and 24 said they would rather live under Sharia law than under British law. In a Pew poll of Muslims worldwide, a gob-smacking 81% of British Muslims said they thought of themselves as a Muslim first and a citizen of their country only second. This is a higher proportion than in Jordan, Egypt or Turkey, and exceeded only by that in Pakistan (87%). By contrast, only 46% of French Muslims said they were Muslims first, compared with 42% who felt themselves first and foremost citizens”

    Allah Ahkbar!!

    Posted by Cornelius on 2006 08 10 at 09:56 AM • permalink

  68. I question the timing. It’s amazing how far Karl Rove will go to distract people from the fact that Ned Lamont beat his puppet Joe Lieberman.

    Posted by DanG on 2006 08 10 at 10:11 AM • permalink

  69. #46 Yeah, should have read scrotum, but now that you mention it, that applies to Scotsman as well. Beware the hairless sporran!

    My brother, no kidding, was stopped at Reagan National last week while wearing a kilt.  The security guy said that people in the airport thought he looked suspicious.

    While I don’t know about his sporran, I do know that his back is not hairless.

    I am delighted that US security is on-the-ball when it comes to potential Presbyterian terrorism - though my bro is a lapsed Catholic.

    Posted by VKI on 2006 08 10 at 10:12 AM • permalink

  70. Australian passengers were waiting on news about their flights, anxious that they would not miss departing of the congestion.

    The first casualty of war is coherency

    Posted by jlc on 2006 08 10 at 10:13 AM • permalink

  71. It may just be due to the terrible side-effects of the schism within the Uniting Church. The Methodists and Presbyterians have never sat easily together in a spirit of eucharist. There was bound to be trouble.

    Meanwhile in the Vatican, the Carmelite nuns have taken to the streets brandishing firearms and burning effigies of Martin Luther.

    Posted by Racing on 2006 08 10 at 10:30 AM • permalink

  72. Shockingly, one in three British Muslims aged between 18 and 24 said they would rather live under Sharia law than under British law.

    Any details provided on why they are on British soil and not in their uhhh, preferred location..?

    Posted by Bashir Gemayel on 2006 08 10 at 10:37 AM • permalink

  73. Cornelius

    I watched Jon Snow’s documentary on C4 the other night.  Snow, the stupid sh*tferbrains pinko, was mouth agape as Muslims told him that if he were to insult mohammed or be an adulterer, that they would be within their rights to kill him.

    Posted by murph on 2006 08 10 at 10:43 AM • permalink

  74. Did Hicks get out?

    Posted by Hanyu on 2006 08 10 at 10:43 AM • permalink

  75. DanG,

    You think you’re being sarcastic, but that’s the first lefty excuse I found today: make peaceniks look bad just at their moment of triumph in Connecicut.

    And for the record, I blame the Swedes.

    Posted by McKreck on 2006 08 10 at 10:57 AM • permalink

  76. With all due respect, I think it’s about time someone inserted a large garden gnome up Muslim MP Shahid Malik’s arse.

    Posted by Hanyu on 2006 08 10 at 11:06 AM • permalink

  77. This reminds me of a prophecy from my dad 25 years ago ... “we’ll be fighting some of our immigrants in the streets in the future” ... it has happened not only in the streets but also in the air ... I put his comments down to a Enoch Powell moment of his back then ... but I was a naive student believing the crap my Uni lecturers were peddling ... but my old man wasn’t so wrong after all ... no, not wrong at all ...

    Posted by Stevo on 2006 08 10 at 11:08 AM • permalink

  78. “tackling extremism” sounds like something out of the Aussie Rules rulebook.

    Posted by PW on 2006 08 10 at 11:09 AM • permalink

  79. #37: Yanks seem to also classify Indians as Asian. AZN “the network for Asian America” has a fair amount of Indian content - it’s the only source of cricket on the TV I have over here…

    Posted by sam on 2006 08 10 at 11:13 AM • permalink

  80. #79 sam:
    You know Asia is tradionally known as going all the way to the Bosphorus from the east ... or anything west of Europe and Africa ... btw, I met Tendulkar last season in Sydney ...

    Posted by Stevo on 2006 08 10 at 11:29 AM • permalink

  81. Here is one from the memory hole. The author of this story was heavily criticized at the time. It is an eyewitness acount.

    Women’s Wall Street

    The take-off was uneventful.  But once we were in the air and the seatbelt sign was turned off, the unusual activity began. The man in the yellow T-shirt got out of his seat and went to the lavatory at the front of coach—taking his full McDonald’s bag with him.  When he came out of the lavatory he still had the McDonald’s bag, but it was now almost empty. He walked down the aisle to the back of the plane, still holding the bag.  When he passed two of the men sitting mid-cabin, he gave a thumbs-up sign.  When he returned to his seat, he no longer had the McDonald’s bag.

    Then another man from the group stood up and took something from his carry-on in the overhead bin. It was about a foot long and was rolled in cloth.  He headed toward the back of the cabin with the object.  Five minutes later, several more of the Middle Eastern men began using the forward lavatory consecutively. In the back, several of the men stood up and used the back lavatory consecutively as well.

    Posted by moptop on 2006 08 10 at 11:33 AM • permalink

  82. Rodolfo Mendoza, a police intelligence official in the Philippines was among the law enforcement officers involved in thwarting a plot by Ramzi Yousef in 1995 - to use liquid explosives to blow up a dozen airliners as they flew across the Pacific Ocean to U.S. destinations, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and New York.


    “The action of Israel and the inaction of the West is contributing to the difficult task of tackling extremism.”

    Posted by 13times on 2006 08 10 at 11:33 AM • permalink

  83. Where does Shahid Malik mention Jews? I can’t find it in the linked article.

    Posted by gson on 2006 08 10 at 11:38 AM • permalink

  84. Can’t we have a platter of pork sauseges at security - if you won’t eat one - no flyee for you boyo

    Posted by Pogue Mahone on 2006 08 10 at 11:45 AM • permalink

  85. #83, see the quote that says “Israel” there are rumours that there are some Jews in that country.

    Posted by sam on 2006 08 10 at 12:05 PM • permalink

  86. This is hysterically funny

    Libermand Loses, CODE RED, CODE RED, CODE RED!

    And isn’t it queer that the emergency is declared within a day of Republican party leader Ken Mehlman launching an all-out offensive against Democrats following Joe Lieberman’s loss in Connecticut, an offensive in which Mehlman, the White House and Republican operatives are claiming that Democrats no longer care about national security or the war on terror.

    And just at that moment we get our FIRST ever red alert. Beam me up, Scotty.

    AmericaBlog

    Posted by moptop on 2006 08 10 at 12:14 PM • permalink

  87. Ah, some Jews. Thanks for the clarification, Sam. And what about the West (also mentioned in the quote)..?

    Posted by gson on 2006 08 10 at 12:18 PM • permalink

  88. Does this make explicit what we all think anyway?...That men and women (show us some ankle) of Pakistani extraction should fuck off back to their murderous, incestuous, fly-struck shit-hole in the middle of the sub-continent? Like, right now?

    Or am I imagining 21 arrests for yet another attempted mass murder.

    Posted by phoenix55 on 2006 08 10 at 12:25 PM • permalink

  89. #87, When someone says “we should blame Bob and Jane” it’s perfectly correct to to state that they said to blame Bob. Especially if they often blame Bob.

    Also when continuing a joke about blaming a religion it’s preferable to blame something associated with religion in the continuation. It’s a pretty common technique. Notice the comments humourously blaming other religions and the lack of comments humourously blaming non-religious things (other than by McKreck who clearly operates on a higher plane of humour than us mere mortals).

    Posted by sam on 2006 08 10 at 12:25 PM • permalink

  90. The suspects were “homegrown,” though it was not immediately clear if they were all British citizens, said a police official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case. Police were working closely with the South Asian community, the official said.

    This was ten paragraphs down in the AP story put up by AOL News.  It’s the first mention in that story of who’s responsible.  I guess they didn’t want to be insensitive.

    I get stopped and searched and deprived of my shoes nearly every time I fly, and I’m a 60-year-old Celtic-looking grandmother.  It wouldn’t be so infuriating if there weren’t invariably MOMEAs walking unobstructed onto the plane as I’m being scanned.

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2006 08 10 at 12:31 PM • permalink

  91. McKreck,

    Satire is becoming more and more difficult to use anymore. No matter how over the top you want to go, someone at Kos or DU will prove that they should never be underestimated.

    Posted by DanG on 2006 08 10 at 12:37 PM • permalink

  92. Sky News reports:

    Sky News’ Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said those under arrest are mainly young, British-born men of Asian origin.

    Which part of Asia, do you suppose? Japan, perhaps? Taiwan? Hong Kong? Bangkok? LOL

    Posted by Kyda Sylvester on 2006 08 10 at 12:37 PM • permalink

  93. I blame Tormites. Nobody can be that upstanding and honorable.

    And holy swords are so 1980s.

    Posted by mythusmage on 2006 08 10 at 12:39 PM • permalink

  94. I see, Chris Harper, I should have read the comments first.

    Posted by Kyda Sylvester on 2006 08 10 at 12:40 PM • permalink

  95. #81, Moptop, I was trying to track back to that story myself.  Nothing came of it at the time (beyond castigation for the nasty, nasty bigots who raised the alarm)as there were no noxious substances found in the band’s possession, but paranoid as I am, it sounded like deliberate coat-trailing to me. Or a dress rehearsal.

    Posted by Celaeno on 2006 08 10 at 12:50 PM • permalink

  96. #95,
    I think it was a probe or our defenses.

    Posted by moptop on 2006 08 10 at 12:55 PM • permalink

  97. Anyone else heard the rumor that the Brits delayed notifying US authorities of the plot because they feared CIA leaks?

    Posted by Kyda Sylvester on 2006 08 10 at 01:05 PM • permalink

  98. Well, the most important question is are the police adequately guarding the mosques to protect against the inevitable “backlash”?

    Kyda:  I hadn’t heard anything about concern with CIA leaks, but there were reports that Pakistani intelligence assisted in this.  It’s a sad commentary on the U.S. if the Pakistani government is viewed as more trustworthy than the CIA.

    Posted by Polish Frizzle on 2006 08 10 at 01:11 PM • permalink

  99. but paranoid as I am, it sounded like deliberate coat-trailing to me. Or a dress rehearsal.

    I think they were just being assholes. “Hey, let’s make the dhimmis sweat.”

    The proper thing to do would be to pick out the charming Muzzie nearest you and say, “Your actions are making me nervous. If something alarms me, your eye will be the first one I plunge this pen into.”

    Posted by Dave S. on 2006 08 10 at 01:21 PM • permalink

  100. 100th! Some people call blowing up 20 planes “terrorism” I call it a radical climate change initiative.

    Posted by Ross on 2006 08 10 at 01:31 PM • permalink

  101. #99, DaveS.  Excellent suggestion!  I have bought a decorative arrowhead, hand-knapped and quite sharp, intended as a necklace ornament.  I’ll be wearing it under my blouse on my next flight.

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2006 08 10 at 01:40 PM • permalink

  102. DanG,

    Agreed. The word “unsatirizable” pops into my head a lot nowadays.

    Posted by McKreck on 2006 08 10 at 02:08 PM • permalink

  103. Are all you people, under the guise of humor, seriously advocating racial profiling? You should be ashamed. The Muslim race is as good as any other race, a fine, peaceful race.

    Oh wait, it’s not a race. It’s a religion - often violently aggressive, and fanatically totalitarian when it’s dominant. Mohammed (the original Mohammed) designed it that way.

    Sarcasm aside, in the present circumstances it seems being obsessed with political correctness isn’t such a good thing after all.

    Posted by Newman on 2006 08 10 at 02:11 PM • permalink

  104. Debbie Schlussel has the low-down on a couple of Presbyterians from Michigan.

    Posted by Kyda Sylvester on 2006 08 10 at 04:20 PM • permalink

  105. Give the mussies their own flights with wailing musak over the speakers and ROP hosties fully bagged.
    One plane a day to where ever.
    No need to search them then.

    Posted by 81Alpha on 2006 08 10 at 04:42 PM • permalink

  106. #59 Closeapproximation

    ...all this becomes easier with the home grownies who “look like us”. Think Jack Roche, David Hicks, the shoe guy from the UK…there will be more of them…


    Er, looking at the shoe-bomb guy from the UK (Richard Reid), I’m sure he doesn’t look like ‘us’.

    Posted by kae on 2006 08 10 at 05:51 PM • permalink

  107. I watched the 7.30 Report last night with Red Kerry. The transcript isn’t available yet (8.30am fri), unfortunately.

    The first 10 minutes were devoted to an interview with one Crispin Black who is a former intelligence officer. Didn’t catch what he actually does now.

    The “I” word wasn’t mentioned until 5 minutes in, and the “m” word not long after that.

    I did get a bit of a surprised snicker when Kerry asked why terrorists would still be gunning for planes when there were plenty of other targets out there.

    I’ll paraphrase a bit: “First, let me apologise if this sounds funny, but with airplanes you get more bang for your buck.”

    Yes, Crispin Black did suggest that blowing up jetliners gives you more bang for your buck. The scary part is that the phrase was in my mind when he said it.

    He was totally serious, however, and most definitely wasn’t going for laughs.


    Of course, there was also the added suggestion that terrorists might aim for jumbos in order to inspire, you know, like, fear????

    Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2006 08 10 at 06:25 PM • permalink

  108. 7 Sunrise pulled no punches at 8:30 this morning and said the plotters were Muslims and terrorists. The M word and the T word in one sentence.
    81 at 105: Mussies-only flights sound OK but there is the problem that their pilots haven’t trained to take-off or land. I see crewing problems.

    Posted by Skeeter on 2006 08 10 at 06:50 PM • permalink

  109. What is it with this gson? Any theories?

    Was he born thick as two short planks or does he practice being a complete and utter twat in front of the mirror?

    Posted by MentalFloss on 2006 08 10 at 07:49 PM • permalink

  110. MentalFloss: at a guess, I’d say “yes” to both.

    Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2006 08 10 at 07:52 PM • permalink

  111. You’ll be happy to know CBS News here in the US saw fit to broadcast the formula of the home-made explosives the terrorists were supposedly planning to use, and even showed where on the supermarket shelves to find the ingredients…

    Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 08 10 at 08:12 PM • permalink

  112. #111 richard mcenroe

    And I suppose that still not enough to issue warrants for their arrest?

    Posted by Grimmy on 2006 08 10 at 08:24 PM • permalink

  113. From Andrew Bolt today:
    “Is this violent Islamism really such a perversion of ‘peaceful’ Islam, or is Islam simply a theology too steeped in violence for the modern world?”
    Good question Andrew but I think we know the answer.

    Posted by Bonmot on 2006 08 10 at 09:20 PM • permalink

  114. Anybody else think this was supposed to be Ahmedinutjob’s “resounding slap and devastating fist-blow”?  Yes, yes, I know, Pakistan and all, but let’s face it:  they’re all in cahoots.

    Posted by RebeccaH on 2006 08 10 at 09:22 PM • permalink

  115. #98, Given this article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060810/ap_on_re_eu/britain_terror_plot

    “”“
    The bombs were to be assembled on the aircraft apparently using a liquid explosive — most likely peroxide — and detonated by such devices as a disposable camera or a music player, two American law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Britain asked that no information be released.
    “”“

    It would seem the Brits were right in their relative assessments of leak potential.

    Posted by sam on 2006 08 10 at 09:28 PM • permalink

  116. Moderate Muslim: A muslim who has neither access to explosives or a microphone. Apocryphal.

    Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2006 08 10 at 09:31 PM • permalink

  117. Yes, Richard, and CBS News is going to air an interview with Ahmadinewackjob. Mike Wallace is in love:

    “You’ll find him an interesting man,” he said. “I expected more of a firebrand. I don’t think he has the slightest doubt about how he feels ... about the American administration and the Zionist state. He comes across as more rational than I had expected.”

    link

    Wallace dismissed the common perceptions of Ahmadinejad.

    “He’s actually, in a strange way, he’s a rather attractive man, very smart, savvy, self-assured, good looking in a strange way,” Wallace said. “He’s very, very short but he’s comfortable in his own skin.”

    link

    We can always count on CBS News.

    (via Powerline)

    Posted by Kyda Sylvester on 2006 08 10 at 11:25 PM • permalink

  118. #113 Do you have a reference for your Andrew Bolt article? thanks

    Posted by Narnian1 on 2006 08 10 at 11:38 PM • permalink

  119. Check out the headline in the UK Daily Telegraph website

    “Plotters were middle class and British”

    Aye the fiends! With their smelly labradors, tartan car rugs, fondness for 4 o’clock tea and their peculiar prediliction for rhodedendrums, I knew they were up to no good.

    Is there no end to their deviousness? What next? Self detonating Rover 2000’s, sarin flavoured marmalade and imprecations for Holy War on the front page of the Maidenhead Gazette?

    Posted by Harry Flashman on 2006 08 11 at 12:15 AM • permalink

  120. You’ll be happy to know CBS News here in the US saw fit to broadcast the formula of the home-made explosives the terrorists were supposedly planning to use, and even showed where on the supermarket shelves to find the ingredients…

    How interesting, richard. 

    The US Army has what’s known as
    Sapper School at the Engineer School on Fort Leonard Wood.  It’s an intensive course on leadership and combat engineering.  I never attended it, but I know many who have.

    At one time, the Sapper course included a block of instruction on preparing field expedient explosives, with hands on experience.  One part of this included preparing ammonium nitrate explosives, similar to what was used in the Oklahoma City bombing.

    This went on for a quite while, until after 9/11.  I’m not sure of all the details, but I do know that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms actually investigated the fertilizer purchases made by the Sapper school (my source didn’t know exactly how this investigation was started).

    Now, this was part of an official, honest-to-goodness DoD training program for soldiers who are expected to be explosive experts.  Guess what happened?  BATF asked the Engineer School to stop teaching this particular subject.

    Which, by the way, has been taught to combat engineers for decades…..I had a somewhat similar block of instruction in 1979, although much less intensive than what the Sapper School offers. 

    And the subject was dropped, to the detriment of the soldiers, I sincerely believe.  Understanding explosives is key to effectively and safely using them.  But they are denied a learning tool known to be effective largely due to the paranoia of the BATF.

    Now, CBS has seen fit to publish the formula on how to manufacture explosives.  Will the BATF be knocking on their door in the near future?

    [crickets chirping]

    Thought so.

    Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2006 08 11 at 12:20 AM • permalink

  121. Suicide Blazers? Ricin & Tonic?

    Posted by Harry Flashman on 2006 08 11 at 12:21 AM • permalink

  122. #51
    Thanks a whole heap Inurbanus, now i have a headache.

    Posted by Michael Lonie on 2006 08 11 at 12:45 AM • permalink

  123. It’s even worse than thought. From Drudge:

    PITBULL JOURNALIST GOES SOFT ON IRANIAN MADMAN: 88-year-old CBS journalist Mike Wallace says Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a ‘reasonable’ man on Sean Hannity’s ABC radio program… Points out Ahmadinejad not anti-Jewish… just anti-Zionist state. Says many Jews in Iranian Parliament, in great positions in Iranian life… Believes Ahmadinejad sincere in his hope for peaceful coexistence between Iran and West… Troubled by comparisons of leader to Hitler… Marvels at Ahmadinejad’s civil engineering degree, ‘intellect’, ‘savvy’... Asks viewers not to bring ‘prejudices’ to Sunday night ‘60 MINUTES’ broadcast… Proclaims ‘discussion’ was sincere and not for propaganda purposes… Developing…

    That from the man who made Barbra Streisand cry. What is this perverse thing journos have going with tyrants? It’s actually very creepy.

    Posted by Kyda Sylvester on 2006 08 11 at 01:20 AM • permalink

  124. #122, Michael Lonie

    I must take stock.  Why did I give you that headache?  Are you angry?  You have every right to be.  My comment was a form of western cognitive imperialism. 

    Please kill someone indiscriminately.

    Posted by Inurbanus on 2006 08 11 at 01:43 AM • permalink

  125. #72 BashirG.Probably for the same reason so many live in Australia.They are very satisfied with the fact that if they can breed enough offspring the combination of child welfare,disability pensions or unemployment benefits enables them to live,like animals admittedly,without having to bother working.This allows unlimited time for praying or indulging in one of those other interesting sidelines that seems to attract this scum.

    Posted by Lew on 2006 08 11 at 02:06 AM • permalink

  126. #124 Inurbanus

    Please kill someone indiscriminately.

    If you insist.

    By the way, just out of curiosity, where you at?

    Posted by Grimmy on 2006 08 11 at 02:08 AM • permalink

  127. #117 Good looking in a strange way???, is that a nice way of saying he’s an ugly bastard?.

    Posted by phillip on 2006 08 11 at 04:55 AM • permalink

  128. #126 Jesus, Grimmy - it’s called irony.

    Posted by Inurbanus on 2006 08 11 at 10:09 AM • permalink

  129. #107 St Crispin being the patron saint of COBBLERS apparently -truly.

    Posted by crash on 2006 08 11 at 12:50 PM • permalink

  130. Well, my brother is a pilot. This makes me shudder.
    Thank you pakistan, however mothers and fathers over there, stop brainwashing these young men with crap let them be responsible working me within the community.

    Posted by 1.618 on 2006 08 11 at 08:38 PM • permalink

  131. Saw a piece on the news last night about some new scanning machines that you can pass stuff through and it’ll read the ‘atomic makeup’ (or some other sciencey-sounding thing meaning ‘figure out what the stuff really is.’  Supposedly will be on the market in a couple of months at a mere $200K apiece.

    Posted by Achillea on 2006 08 11 at 09:32 PM • permalink

  132. #128 Inurbanus

    #126 Jesus, Grimmy - it’s called irony.

    I realized that. I was ironing back at ya :)

    Posted by Grimmy on 2006 08 12 at 11:07 AM • permalink

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