Fake Bomb Detectors

[Bongolation]

$40,000 bomb detectors in Iraq and elsewhere are 100% fake...and OBVIOUSLY fake:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programme...ht/8481774.stm

I remember someone running the identical scam on American law enforcement some years ago. They sold thousands of these as "drug & bomb sniffers" to credulous cops all over the country.

90%+ of "security" is placebo at all levels, but this is actually getting people killed.

What astonishes me is that no one in procurement or OED ever tested these or even gave them any serious thought. When one of these was disassembled in the original US scam to which I referred, there was nothing inside the device but a couple of dead insects.

[Jimmy Bones]

Not unusual for some scam artist to capitalize on terror.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Bones

Not unusual for some scam artist to capitalize on terror.

I know, it's certainly a growth industry.

But how on earth can that many people be so impenetraby stupid as to not catch such a GIGANTICALLY blatant scam?

How did EOD sign off on this? Didn't anyone TEST these? EVER?

[jmattbassplaya]

I'll one up you and even go as far as to say a lot (not all) of these security measures taken by many airports are pointless and for the most part have done nothing to make us safer.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

I'll one up you and even go as far as to say a lot (not all) of these security measures taken by many airports are pointless and for the most part have done nothing to make us safer.

Sure. They're just a show, and DHS and the airlines are 100% aware of it. Those measures exist almost exclusively for purposes of public reassurance. Real security happens elsewhere.

In security, this is called "selling the perception of security" rather than security itself.

Security is mostly a racket, but selling these things at $40,000 a pop in a situation of real and imminent threat is beyond the pale. Security is full of dummy devices, but they don't pay $40,000 for them.

[Munjibunga]

The problem is that they were designed to detect only fake bombs, which is not too helpful. The Pentagon should've read the label and held out for real bomb detectors.

[bongomania]

Geez. I am not "surprised" exactly, given the depths that I know humans often sink to, but I am still very disappointed and aghast that people would fall for it and suffer/die as a result.

[Jimmy Bones]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

Sure. They're just a show, and DHS and the airlines are 100% aware of it. Those measures exist almost exclusively for purposes of public reassurance. Real security happens elsewhere.

In security, this is called "selling the perception of security" rather than security itself.

Security is mostly a racket, but selling these things at $40,000 a pop in a situation of real and imminent threat is beyond the pale. Security is full of dummy devices, but they don't pay $40,000 for them.

Not just the perception of security - that's for the people being 'protected.' It's for visibility too, a deterrent for the casual person considering doing something bad.

[GeneralElectric]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

Sure. They're just a show, and DHS and the airlines are 100% aware of it. Those measures exist almost exclusively for purposes of public reassurance. Real security happens elsewhere.

In security, this is called "selling the perception of security" rather than security itself.

Security is mostly a racket, but selling these things at $40,000 a pop in a situation of real and imminent threat is beyond the pale. Security is full of dummy devices, but they don't pay $40,000 for them.

+1

I just came back from Salt Lake City and when through the airport there (SLC International?) and was subjected to some weird kinda xray where I had to hold up my arms as the walls of the tube spun around me. Very fancy looking.

Unfortunately, I also bought a full size Ka-Bar in Utah (not sure how long it is, but its longer than my hand, maybe 7 inches?) in a sheath that also held my zippo. I took it off my belt and dropped it in my messenger bag earlier in the day with the intention of putting it in my camping bag, but I forgot to take it out. Went straight through the xray machine and they didn't say anything. I didn't find out it was in there until I got to Vegas and was looking for my boarding pass.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by bongomania

Geez. I am not "surprised" exactly, given the depths that I know humans often sink to, but I am still very disappointed and aghast that people would fall for it and suffer/die as a result.

I only have one word on this:

Extradition.

The Iraqis will assuredly see he gets justice.

But...here's the other shoe: How many procurement officials looked the other way on this for a cut? Considering the terrific corruption of the governments to which these devices were sold, someone had to have bypassed the usual evaluation processes for "a consideration."

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Bones

Not just the perception of security - that's for the people being 'protected.' It's for visibility too, a deterrent for the casual person considering doing something bad.

Drunks, halfwits and drama queens...nuisances rather than genuine threats, sure. But this doesn't excuse the nonsense about grandma Jones having to take off her shoes at the airport, nor does it make her safer.

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

When one of these was disassembled in the original US scam to which I referred, there was nothing inside the device but a couple of dead insects.

Maybe they were Bomb-Sniffing Insects?

[DudeistMonk]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

+1

I just came back from Salt Lake City and when through the airport there (SLC International?) and was subjected to some weird kinda xray where I had to hold up my arms as the walls of the tube spun around me. Very fancy looking.

Unfortunately, I also bought a full size Ka-Bar in Utah (not sure how long it is, but its longer than my hand, maybe 7 inches?) in a sheath that also held my zippo. I took it off my belt and dropped it in my messenger bag earlier in the day with the intention of putting it in my camping bag, but I forgot to take it out. Went straight through the xray machine and they didn't say anything. I didn't find out it was in there until I got to Vegas and was looking for my boarding pass.

My cousin once brought a marine issue knife aboard a plane post 911 by accident, as it was in his carry on...Went right through.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

$40,000 bomb detectors in Iraq and elsewhere are 100% fake...and OBVIOUSLY fake:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programme...ht/8481774.stm

I remember someone running the identical scam on American law enforcement some years ago. They sold thousands of these as "drug & bomb sniffers" to credulous cops all over the country.

90%+ of "security" is placebo at all levels, but this is actually getting people killed.

What astonishes me is that no one in procurement or OED ever tested these or even gave them any serious thought. When one of these was disassembled in the original US scam to which I referred, there was nothing inside the device but a couple of dead insects.

The purveyors of this phony contrivance should be made to go to Iraq and personally search for bombs, by hand.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Bob Lee (QSC)

The purveyors of this phony contrivance should be made to go to Iraq and personally search for bombs, by hand.

...with a large hammer...blindfolded.

[Bocete]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

The problem is that they were designed to detect only fake bombs, which is not too helpful. The Pentagon should've read the label and held out for real bomb detectors.

Post of the day

[Jimmy Bones]

Originally Posted by DudeistMonk

My cousin once brought a marine issue knife aboard a plane post 911 by accident, as it was in his carry on...Went right through.

It' not as hard as people think to get things through airport security.

[Let It Fall]

Why didn't they ever test it?

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

Drunks, halfwits and drama queens...nuisances rather than genuine threats, sure. But this doesn't excuse the nonsense about grandma Jones having to take off her shoes at the airport, nor does it make her safer.

My thought as well. I`ve gotten stopped twice... thing is, both times I was under 14 years old...

It`s ridiculous.