TSA Airport Scanners Wouldn’t Catch an Implant Bomber

ProPublica by Michael Grabell | Jul. 6, 2011 (Special Report)

A number of news outlets are reporting today on the bizarre-sounding story of terrorist groups considering how to implant explosive devices into humans to blow up a passenger jet.

A U.S. security official confirmed the story for ProPublica, and the Transportation Security Administration released a statement that it had recently briefed domestic and foreign airlines. The agency said that passengers flying to the United States may notice additional ... Full Story »

Posted by Juan Carlos - via ProPublica

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Subjects: World, U.S., Politics, Business, Sci/Tech, Living, Health
Topics: Terrorism, Law Enforcement, National Security, U.S. Congress, Privacy, Air Travel
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Posted by: Posted by Juan Carlos - Jul 6, 2011 - 4:09 PM PDT
Reviewed by: Kristin Gorski (review), Jon Mitchell (review), Danny Franks (review)
Content Type: Article
Edit Lock: This story can be edited
Edited by: Kristin Gorski - Jul 7, 2011 - 7:18 AM PDT

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Kristin Gorski
4.0
 by Kristin Gorski - Jul. 7, 2011

Relevant. Places this issue within a solid context. Provides information that anyone who flies in an airplane and/or even works at the TSA security checkpoints would find useful in making decisions on this issue.

According to this and other news reports, there seem to be a sizable population of experts who have continually stated that these backscatter machines have their limitations. Why hasn't this expertise been taken into account in designing better airport security?

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Jon Mitchell
3.4
 by Jon Mitchell - Jul. 7, 2011
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Danny Franks
4.5
 by Danny Franks - Apr. 10, 2012

This is great journalism, and hits on every single aspect of timeliness, currency, prominence, proximity and conflict. It is relevant and timely, because flying is a phenomenon that affects thousands of Americans everyday. It invokes legitimate science authority released by the government and TSA. The issue of science technology and safety is such a pertinent one, and this article hit it on the head.

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  • TSA Airport Scanners Wouldn’t Catch an Implant Bomber

    ProPublica by Michael Grabell | Jul. 6, 2011 (Special Report)
    A number of news outlets are reporting today on the bizarre-sounding story of terrorist groups considering how to implant explosive devices into humans to blow up a passenger ...
    Posted by Juan Carlos
    3.7
     See Reviews »

  • Did Airport Scanners Give Boston TSA Agents Cancer? Pending

    Time | Jun. 30, 2011
    Posted by Kristin Gorski
    See Reviews »

  • Surgically implanted bombs: The terrorist strategy to evade airport scanners Pending

    Slate by William Saletan | Jul. 7, 2011
    For 40 years, we've been playing a game with terrorists. It's called "Hide the Bomb." We installed metal detectors in airports, so they devised nonmetallic explosives. We ...
    via Slate
    See Reviews »

  • TSA warns of implant bombers, prepares fliers for swab tests Pending

    San Jose Mercury News | Jul. 7, 2011
    The latest threat to America's skies -- explosive surgical implants that authorities have dubbed "belly bombs" -- poses a security challenge so bizarre that air travelers ...
    via San Jose Mercury News
    See Reviews »
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