Major Terror plot foiled against U.K.-U.S. bound flights

[Brent]

It's more than convenience. Our whole economy is at stake. If you make it inconvenient to fly, people will reduce their travel plans for business as well as leisure. If people reduce their travel significantly, the US economy will collapse. Why do you think they target airplanes? It makes a huge economic impact when we react this way.

But if this attack had been carried out, the airline industry would have probably collapsed... they would have to shut everything down for days like they did after 9/11.

[Brent]

The leader of the free world is speaking.

Trying not to be political.

[Audrey2Katrina]

I'm glad I live in this part of the World, where things are peaceful and pleasant.

And I sincerely hope they can stay that way, Hybrid... but bear in mind, the people behind these sorts of plots are NOT going to stop at your nation's border. Correct me if I'm wrong; but wasn't there recently a plot uncovered by some of these nice folks (yes that's sarcasm), to kidnap, and/or behead your nation's prime minister?

A2K

[southerngale]

Can we rip on any other parts of our government on this board, as long as it's not the NHC or weather-related?? I'll assume that would be too political.

Nope, not a good idea...check the Board Rules and Announcements forums.

If you make flight so inconvenient that people won't fly or won't fly as often the terrorists win without blowing up a single plane. No liquid or gels? What if an ill person gets stuck on the tarmac for several hours without access to water. There are a lot of people that would have a very difficult time traveling with zero liquids and gels including babies and the elderly.

Well, it's not exactly "zero" liquids. For example, you can still bring on baby formula...you just have to taste it first.

Btw, reading through your posts, stormtruth...do you ever see the positive in ANYTHING? "You can't.." "You can't..." "You can't..."
I say...hopefully these measures will help thwart any future attacks! I find it unbelievable that you seem so much more worried about your convenience.

[fwbbreeze]

Here is another question: How much does everyone trust the airplane water?

It's contaminated with bacteria according to the EPA

ew findings from the Environmental Protection Agency show some planes have unwanted stowaways in their water supply -- potentially dangerous bacteria that could make you sick.

"What we have in the water right now from our test results is an indication that there could be a safety concern," says Tom Skinner, the Environmental Protection Agency's chief enforcement officer.

Over the past six months, his agency randomly tested water on more than 300 planes from domestic and foreign carriers.

In one out of every seven planes, the EPA found water that did not meet federal standards. It found bacteria like coliform and E. coli -- which are often associated with human feces.

And now we are all forced to drink feces by the U.S. government? No thanks.

ummm I fly regularly and I am always offered BOTTLED water....your flair for the dramitic is rather amusing.

[brunota2003]

Here is another question: How much does everyone trust the airplane water?

It's contaminated with bacteria according to the EPA

ew findings from the Environmental Protection Agency show some planes have unwanted stowaways in their water supply -- potentially dangerous bacteria that could make you sick.

"What we have in the water right now from our test results is an indication that there could be a safety concern," says Tom Skinner, the Environmental Protection Agency's chief enforcement officer.

Over the past six months, his agency randomly tested water on more than 300 planes from domestic and foreign carriers.

In one out of every seven planes, the EPA found water that did not meet federal standards. It found bacteria like coliform and E. coli -- which are often associated with human feces.

And now we are all forced to drink feces by the U.S. government? No thanks.

Just to let you know, there are quite a few cities out there who take sewer water and recycle it back into clean water for everyone to use...its nothing new...also...that is why we have waste water treatment plants...so that stuff gets treated and placed back out into the cycle...

[P.K.]

I'd rather have a couple of people getting ill than planes falling out of the sky around me. Think Lockerbie in 1989 but with a much higher population density.

[Lindaloo]

Exactly P.K.

[southerngale]

But P.K. - be reasonable. One of those people might be stormtruth. We can't have that!

[Audrey2Katrina]

Think Lockerbie in 1989 but with a much higher population density.

Good Lord, I recall Lockerbie quite well--what a horrible tragedy--teaching at another school at the time, and everyone was wondering if it would mean major war with Libya as there was little doubt Quadafi was behind it.

A2K

[stormtruth]

Can we rip on any other parts of our government on this board, as long as it's not the NHC or weather-related?? I'll assume that would be too political.

Nope, not a good idea...check the Board Rules and Announcements forums.

If you make flight so inconvenient that people won't fly or won't fly as often the terrorists win without blowing up a single plane. No liquid or gels? What if an ill person gets stuck on the tarmac for several hours without access to water. There are a lot of people that would have a very difficult time traveling with zero liquids and gels including babies and the elderly.

Well, it's not exactly "zero" liquids. For example, you can still bring on baby formula...you just have to taste it first.

Btw, reading through your posts, stormtruth...do you ever see the positive in ANYTHING? "You can't.." "You can't..." "You can't..."
I say...hopefully these measures will help thwart any future attacks! I find it unbelievable that you seem so much more worried about your convenience.

I don't see anything positive about the terrorists threat clearly remaining just as bad as it was before 9/11 after five years of the war on terror. It seems more like the war on consumer travel to me.

There are happy things tho. I just saw a movie called Scoop which was funny. And the recent Pirates movie was very good

[Stephanie]

And to think my brother and sil are vacationing in Italy right now. I don't know their flight info, where they are flying out of. Another thing to worry about. I just don't understand all the violence in todays world. *shakes head*

Oh wow! I know that I'd want to get the heck home now if I was them. It's going to be such a mess anywhere.

The British authorities did an OUTSTANDING job.

All I know is what we have to go through now just to travel by air is enough to make me NOT want to fly anywhere for vacation. I DO understand why we are doing it, and probably my attitude about flying and traveling in general is just what Al-Qaeda ordered, but it is not pleasant or relaxing anymore.

[southerngale]

Obviously, I didn't mean that terrorists threats are positive. I thought I explained what I meant clearly enough.

Anyway, I see it differently. This just proves to me WHY we're fighting the War on Terror. We can't roll over and play dead and let the terrorists win. We have to try to stop them, and just like was said nearly 5 years ago, it will be a very long process. The terrorists want to destroy us...we can't just sit idly by and let them so that you don't have to put your keys in your luggage or can't drink your own brand of bottled water when you fly.

Btw, I saw the new Pirates movie too - it was great!

[craptacular]

Can we rip on any other parts of our government on this board, as long as it's not the NHC or weather-related?? I'll assume that would be too political.

Nope, not a good idea...check the Board Rules and Announcements forums.

Thanks for the clarification. I'm all for a board that bans political threads (we have all sorts of fun on another board I'm on), but I hope that it is an equal playing field. This thread leads me to believe it is not. I apologize if this is something that should be handled via PM (I still don't have a great idea of the culture of this board) ... I'll try to stick to the weather.

[southerngale]

Can we rip on any other parts of our government on this board, as long as it's not the NHC or weather-related?? I'll assume that would be too political.

Nope, not a good idea...check the Board Rules and Announcements forums.

Thanks for the clarification. I'm all for a board that bans political threads (we have all sorts of fun on another board I'm on), but I hope that it is an equal playing field. This thread leads me to believe it is not. I apologize if this is something that should be handled via PM (I still don't have a great idea of the culture of this board) ... I'll try to stick to the weather.

lol

It's ok. We used to have a political forum on here, and although I enjoyed it, it did get a little out of hand and took up too much staff time. It also divided a lot of people who otherwise seemed to get along. Anyway, we're a weather board first, and that's just not a fit here right now. However, discussing important current events is allowed...we just ask that you keep political comments out of it. I know that's hard sometimes, but it's done to keep some peace on the board.

Feel free to PM any staff member with any questions & welcome to Storm2k!

[stormtruth]

I know this sounds negative but people are being made to throw away expensive cosmetics and baby formula at U.S. airports. Also, there is no water on some planes according to this article. I think this is seriously going to affect consumer travel.

Those who noticed them hastily shoved mouthwash, toothpaste and sunblock into their luggage, but most did not, unaware of what was playing out at security. Air travel, an Ironman-worthy test of endurance on the best of days, today will stretch every passenger and airline worker to the limit.

At the security line, the usual suspicious objects -- laptops, iPods, killer sneakers -- were all but forgotten as TSA workers shouted at people to throw away eyedrops, lotions, lip gloss, bottled water, anything at all.

One young woman chucked an entire Mario Badescu skincare kit into the trash, looking simultaneously bewildered, enraged and tearful. As a beauty product junkie myself, I felt her pain. I made a show out of jettisoning a small tube of Neosporin so they might not take the half-full tube of $50 sunscreen in my bag. All the while, bits and pieces of the story were bruited about in a strange game of "telephone": "I heard it was nuclear weapons!"

Epic screaming matches broke out over baby formula, with the dueling agendas of protective parents and those protecting us from terrorism locked in steely combat. The hapless woman who runs the day spa at the Jetblue terminal found herself and her stock the subject of intense scrutiny. Who knew what lurked within the colorful jars of pomegranate face cream?

On board the plane now, a member of the flight crew is relating how even they were forced to throw away their lunches. There's no water on board, and we weren't allowed to bring any on board. This should be a fun six hours.

full article

[Portastorm]

I don't venture much into non-weather topics, but I felt compelled to post something here and just say how thankful I am to have law enforcement in Great Britain and the U.S. who are so good at what they do! These men and women who uncovered the plot and stopped it ... wow, what an amazing bunch of professionals who are keeping us safe. Today, I salute them!

[Stephanie]

I know this sounds negative but people are being made to throw away expensive cosmetics and baby formula at U.S. airports. Also, there is no water on some planes according to this article. I think this is seriously going to affect consumer travel.

Those who noticed them hastily shoved mouthwash, toothpaste and sunblock into their luggage, but most did not, unaware of what was playing out at security. Air travel, an Ironman-worthy test of endurance on the best of days, today will stretch every passenger and airline worker to the limit.

At the security line, the usual suspicious objects -- laptops, iPods, killer sneakers -- were all but forgotten as TSA workers shouted at people to throw away eyedrops, lotions, lip gloss, bottled water, anything at all.

One young woman chucked an entire Mario Badescu skincare kit into the trash, looking simultaneously bewildered, enraged and tearful. As a beauty product junkie myself, I felt her pain. I made a show out of jettisoning a small tube of Neosporin so they might not take the half-full tube of $50 sunscreen in my bag. All the while, bits and pieces of the story were bruited about in a strange game of "telephone": "I heard it was nuclear weapons!"

Epic screaming matches broke out over baby formula, with the dueling agendas of protective parents and those protecting us from terrorism locked in steely combat. The hapless woman who runs the day spa at the Jetblue terminal found herself and her stock the subject of intense scrutiny. Who knew what lurked within the colorful jars of pomegranate face cream?

On board the plane now, a member of the flight crew is relating how even they were forced to throw away their lunches. There's no water on board, and we weren't allowed to bring any on board. This should be a fun six hours.

full article

I agree, but until they kind find some other way...

I feel bad for the "good travelers" and especially the parents having to throw out baby formula.

[swimaster20]

The major news media have been reporting that baby formula IS allowed on flights, so I don't know where you got your media report that says baby formula isn't allowed, stormtruth.

[sunny]

I know this sounds negative but people are being made to throw away expensive cosmetics and baby formula at U.S. airports. Also, there is no water on some planes according to this article. I think this is seriously going to affect consumer travel.

Cosmetics and baby formula can be replaced. A life cannot. We have the terrorists to thank for this. Life Steph said, until they find another way.....