# Explosive Device set off on US Airline

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosive-device-set-off-on-us-airline/522599>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [December 26, 2009, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosive-device-set-off-on-us-airline/522599 "2009-12-26T02:28:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosive-device-set-off-on-us-airline/522599/61 "2009-12-29T04:58:52Z")

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> [@Magiver](#):
>
> Al Qaida has an MO of announcing their intentions. I really don’t understand it but it’s something they’ve done in the past.

I believe they have done that here.

> [@](#):
>
> When you look at 9/11, it wasn’t just a terrorist attack, it was designed to hit the economic, political, and military icons of the United States. Using this as a platform of thought, I would anticipate an attack on infrastructure that has a history of cascade failure or something that can be leveraged in an asymmetric warfare tactic. This is their strategy. There is also a desire to link events to dates. The next attack could be New Years Day, Obama’s inauguration, Easter, or anything that adds sensationalism to the event.

Most of this would still apply to blowing up an airliner on Christmas.

> [@](#):
>
> Whether this is a Bin Laden driven plot with more than a month’s planning or a group of wanna-be Bin Ladens is the question. I don’t think Homeland Security can answer it. I don’t want to hear that they know it was an isolated incident when they can’t know.

And I want to know that too. I think we’re miscommunicating here: when they say it’s not part of a larger plot I don’t think they mean he had no help. Somebody must have encouraged this guy and given him some support. They’re saying this was not the start of a planned wave of attacks, which is borne out by the fact that there haven’t been any others. Al Qaeda’s hallmark used to be multiple attacks, including the embassy bombings and the four targets on September 11th. And yes, it goes without saying they need to fix this.

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosive-device-set-off-on-us-airline/522599/62 "2009-12-29T05:31:44Z")

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They’re saying now the PETN was in his underwear. You gotta be pretty whacko to put a bomb in your groin. Hopefully, he roasted his nuts in the failed attempt. :eek:

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosive-device-set-off-on-us-airline/522599/63 "2009-12-29T06:03:31Z")

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Even if he didn’t, it’s not like he’s going to get out of prison and have a chance to raise a hoard of little nitwits. He’s looking at life at ADX Florence or someplace equally charming.

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