UPDATE: The article is written a little unclear. It begins by saying the X-rays won't detect liquid/gel explosives, then later on says categorically that the X-rays won't detect ANY explosives. AP needs to clarify this. Either way, the story at least makes clear that the liquid/gel explosives can't be picked up, so that still begs the question of why Bush and Co. has us giving up our shoes when the X-rays won't see the explosives?
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So, that would mean we're pretty much screwed.
What the hell has George Bush been doing the past six years? Now we suddenly find out that x-ray machines at airports can't detect explosives? Then why did the government suddenly decide to make it mandatory to put your shoes through the x-ray if it won't show anything? To make us feel better right before we all die?
The government's new order that all airline passengers put their shoes through X-ray machines won't help screeners find a liquid or gel that can be used as a bomb.Did you get that? It's been almost a year and a half, and the machines haven't been upgraded.
The machines are unable to detect explosives, according to a Homeland Security report on aviation screening recently obtained by The Associated Press....
In its April 2005 report, "Systems Engineering Study of Civil Aviation Security - Phase I," the Homeland Security Department concluded that images on X-ray machines don't provide the information necessary to detect explosives.
Machines used at most airports to scan hand-held luggage, purses, briefcases and shoes have not been upgraded to detect explosives since the report was issued.
So, basically, if you want to blow up a US airplane, simply bring the bomb in your carry-on luggage, your shoes, or your person and the x-ray won't detect it. That's nice to know. So, if this article is correct, US aviation is totally unsafe at the moment.
That's just swell. And we're finding this out now.
