Scary Thoughts…
August 11th, 2006 | Posted in » In the News...
As I read this article on MSNBC.com, I couldn’t help but think to myself how utterly impossible terrorism is to stop.
Points that were made in the article:
– Terrorists can conceivably create bombs from components smuggled onto a flight.
– It’s virtually impossible to check EVERY item carried on to a flight.
– Security scanning equipment can’t detect some of the easiest things that could be used.
– Even if you halt the carry-on of all items (and thus the assembly of bombs), attacks in crowded security lines could be as bad or worse.
The point? We’re jumping through a lot of hoops to deter terrorism, but basically, our efforts are futile in at least one aspect… there is no deterrant that can halt a determined terrorist from every sort of mayhem.
Scary thoughts… scary thoughts.
8 Responses to “Scary Thoughts…”
Sorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time.
By Bowden McElroy on Aug 11, 2006
I blame Richard Dean Anderson: MacGuyver showed the world it was possible to blow things up with everyday household products.
By Bob Cleveland on Aug 11, 2006
There’s been a lot of chatter about this, as it’s all that’s been on the news, lately.
My reaction is: do you suppose there would have been other attacks since 9/11, if it weren’t for our government’s efforts? I’m positive there would have been, and I am thankful about that.
Second: it’s not the government that’s protecting us. God has reminded us that the entire world is held together by (referring to Jesus, as I recall) “the word of His power”.
That, I am REALLY thankful about.
We’ll continue to fly a few times a year.
Funny story: about 3 years ago my first best friend died. I had a couple days’ notice, so I made a quick reservation and flew to Missouri. Such a short lead, and my ticket got flagged. I got the royal search; they guy in front of me in line was named Mohammed and he looked like one of the guys on the poster right there at security.
He breezed right through unnoticed.
By John on Aug 11, 2006
Bowden…
Great point! And to think, I thought MacGyver was about the coolest guy on earth when that show was running…
Bob…
Good points as well.
To clarify, I guess I didn’t mean to imply that government efforts were futile… I’m CERTAIN many attacks have been prevented, as you’ve indicated. My point was simply that those who are REALLY worked up about terrorism have simply got to accept the fact that even the best efforts humanly possibly can’t stop everything. Obviously, that would have been a good lead-in to your second point.
Personally? I’m not terribly worried about terrorism… I know that God is ultimately in control of this world, and that nothing happens without His knowledge. (That’s certainly not to say I don’t think we should take it seriously or do things to prevent it, of course!) I don’t know why He allows things like 9/11 or Katrina, but the fact that He still holds the wheel is VERY comforting. So… should He choose to allow me to come home early due to terrorist action, so be it. I can’t say I’m excited about the idea, but if that’s something God would allow as part of His plan, who am I to argue?
Your last point is VERY well taken… we’re so wrapped up in political correctness, our governmental efforts are in large part pretty ridiculous. Nothing like strip-searching an 85 year old grandmother in a wheelchair out of “fairness”.
By Judah on Aug 11, 2006
With reference to the comment above, a friend of mine was travelling to a medical conference with her colleagues, all of them anaesthesiologists. One of them was running late and had left the hospital in a big rush to catch up with the group and board the flight. He was from the Middle East, had an Arab name and dark complexion, and oh horrors! had forgotten to leave behind an anaesthesia appliance which was half dangling out of his pocket – an instrument that could have been used as a stun gun. Before the others had noticed and could alert him, he had already been passed through Security. Just as well he was an OK type after all.
These are scary times alright, and given the agenda of Islam, destined to get far worse yet.
By Bob Cleveland on Aug 11, 2006
As Paul Harvey would say .. now for the ressssssst of the stooooooooorrrrrrrry:
I have a titanium knee(installed 60 days before SBC Greensboro). Got an ID card with an X-ray of it and all. Plus, when I travel, I take a cane with me as if I have trouble, I might need it and I don’t want to be 1000 miles from my 3 canes here and buy yet another.
When you mosey up the security with a cane, they pull you out of line (usually cuts waiting time, BTW), and give you the whole search anyway. Every time.
No strip search yet, but I’m still hoping.
By Judah on Aug 12, 2006
I was flying with my hubby and son between two cities in the USA on a non-USA passport and so we were tagged for the special security treatment. My menfolk were frisked and sent through the gate while I was given the full treatment which included having my underwear checked for explosives. No, not those in my bag – those I was wearing! This occurred in full view of other passengers. The only explosive I had with me was my own mounting barely suppressed anger from humiliation and extreme indignation – and they came within a hair’s breadth of pushing the button, I can tell you. Nearby passengers did give me very sympathetic looks when I was finally allowed to board. I can only think that they pick those who look least like a terrorist – the little old grandma in a wheelchair, for instance – as it may be one of those who are most likely to fool the system and get by with it.
By Judah on Aug 12, 2006
Of course, a titanium knee probably contains a cannister of liquid explosive which can be syringed out during the flight and triggered by an invisible device secreted inside a cane.
Bob, no doubt you will get your strip search yet!
By Bob Cleveland on Aug 12, 2006
Judah: I can only hope I don’t get water on the knee….
John: Didn’t mean to convey the impression that you were ragging on Uncle Sam. I see so much that indicates folks think we’re living in Camelot that I knee-jerk on occasions like this.
This is even true in the church. I kind of head up our prayer team and see, all the time, people who really worry about all sorts of stuff, as if they didn’t really BELIEVE God is sovereign and active in His creation. In fact, the most steadfast and joyful people I’ve seen in church in some time are the Smiths, Troy and Shanna. He’s the guy I blogged about, and he died.
I had an interesting discussion with our Pastor, and separately with our Minister of Worship. This was right after the Pastor had preached on hyper-calvinism, and one point was infants who die. Both had indicated that they could not agree with doctrines that said not all infants who die, go to heaven. I asked each what the Bible said about that. Each had to admit that it simply didn’t.
The point I made with each was that we can trust in one of two things. 1) Trust in my own conclusion that God takes all infants (folks who die before the “age of reason” .. which term I don’t see in the Bible, anyway), or; 2) Simply trust God to handle infants in a manner consistent with Who He is, and what He’s told us about Himself. I choose the latter.
That’s how it is with terrorists. I just trust Him to handle that. And if I assume room temperature as a result of some terrorist act, well, I was planning on doing that some day anyway.