Inflight cellphone usage, chapter 834: could be a terrorist threat
posted May 28th 2005 2:57PM
The whole debate over whether or not the FCC should lift the ban on inflight cellphone use is still raging, and the latest word in the "no" camp is something so predictable that we have to wonder why we didn't hear about it earlier: the U.S. Justice Department, FBI and the Department of Homeland Security feel that cellphones could be used in flight to communicate with accomplices in the coordination of terrorist attacks. They also worry that cellphones could be used to trigger remotely-controlled bombs in order to bring down an aircraft. This puts us in the awkward position of being strange (very, very, strange) bedfellows with Homeland Security because of our position in favor of the ban, though we really just want to prevent getting wedged between two incessant yakkers on our next flight and could care less for the anti-terrorist hysteria.
Don't most planes have inflight phones? what's to stop a terrorist from using that to coordinate attacks etc?
this makes no sense at all. Cellphone are allowed on planes and so how are you going to enforce that they are not used? Let's take your "PDA" smartphone like the iMate... You could easily make some leasurely sms messages with this puppy or even put on some sterio "headphones" and carry a conversation. Most stewardesses will look at a phone like the imate and not think of it as phone. If you have a pair of headphones on with a concealed mic you could easily be passed off as a lunatic or maybe pretent you are dictating some medical notes. The treo however is a give-away with the antenna. In fact I had to put it away even though I told the stewardesses that I had dissabled the wireless mode (which I really did). No luck, I had to put away my treo and couldn't play Asteroids! Talk about tick me off!
Though the bigger problem is not the authorities but the technology itself. You'd probably have a hard time getting good/if any reception inside a plane.
Let me say first, that I no longer believe in this country's two-party politcal system. Like the local news, it has become, in my view, obsolete. But to intimate that all terrorism is hysteria is a naive and dangerous assertion. Even as the apolitcal beast that I am, I understand that the global threats currently gripping the world are authentic, and therefore, require contingency plans that embrace this reality. In this regard, the cellphone ban makes sense. By way of example, if you live in California, and you're any kind of a self-aware person, you stock up on canned goods and water. Not because the big one will hit tomorrow, but because when one eventually strikes, you'll be more like to survive it.
You're not one of those conspiracy freaks who believes 9/11 was a staged event are you? That would be depressing. Look, the political pendulum swings back and forth. That's by constitutional design. There will be a moderate/liberal in the white house next time, so you'll be happier. But regardless of who the elected offical is in 2008, our country will face escalating threats of violence. Terrorism has been on the rise since the cold war. It is not a new phenomenon.
*ahem* this is dumb.
1) There's nothing stopping a terrorist from using his or her cellphone on a plane currently. Remeber, they are terrorists, they'll just ignore the flight attendant telling him or her to shut it off.
2) Remeber how those people on the flight on 9/11 used their cellphones to talk to family? They found out about the pentagon and the WTC and stopped a second Washington attack. So it works both ways.
and why do you think terrorism is on the rise? would it be because people are controlled at an ever increasing level.
Geez, who were the ones using cellphones on 9/11/2001?
The DHS / TSA is all about the illusion of security, rather than real security. Any terrorist who wanted to set off a cellphone triggered bomb right now could either do it discretely at his seat, or in the lavatory. Same thing with "attack coordination." (as if uncoordinated attacks are any better).
#4: You're 2nd point is a good one, actually. You're right. But some kind of effective strategy is still necessary.
#5: You wrote: "people are controlled at an ever increasing level."
Be more specific. That's too broad a generalization.
You also wroite; "Geez, who were the ones using cellphones on 9/11/2001?"
I don't understand what that sweeping generality means, either.
What's the hell's going on with that plane?
Why don't we just keep people off those planes alltogether? That should cut down on terrorism (and speed up those lines at the airport, too).
The ones using the cellphone on 9/11 in the plane were not the terrorists ;-)
a bunch of people are wrong...this has nothing to do with being able to take your cellphone on a plane and trying to use it. it has to do with installing a cell mini tower on each plane.
have you tried to use your cellphone in flight? it doesnt work. you're going too fast and are too high. the whole point is they're going add a miami celltower on the airplane so it actually does work.
this has nothing to do with if you're allowed or not to take cellphones on plane. this is already allowed, but they barely work.
on a further note, what next? banning internet on board planes? this is what terrorists want. we need to stop giving up freedoms to "protect" ourselves. do what we can without comprosmising freedom... ie more intelligence, border control, etc...
we need to stop wasting so much money protecting the airlines cause then they'll just attack trains. improve intelligence and protect the borders is what i think works.
btw i'm def against cell phones on board but not for the terrorist reason
"we need to stop wasting so much money protecting the airlines cause then they'll just attack trains. improve intelligence and protect the borders is what i think works."
Totally agree with you!
Ever seen the first episode of "The Lone Gunmen"? That spin-off of the X-files that dealt with conspiracy theory?
First episode, I kid you not, was about somebody remotely taking control of a Boeing 767 and flying it remotely into the Twin Towers. They didn't base that episode on nothing, there really was a plan, created in the late 80's, to remotely pilot large "Fly by Wire" aircraft back to airports in the event of Terrorist take overs. Boeing said they never implemented the control devices, but all it would take is a software "upgrade" to certain models of Boeing aircraft in order to make remote piloting happen. And guess what? ALL of the aircraft involved in 911 crashes were part of that remote piloting program. Box-cutters my ass!
So when you say "Anti-terrorist hysteria", you have NO idea just how right you are. And there's so many people that have benefited from these attacks, it's hard to count them all. Military, Intelligence Agencies, American backed foreign powers such as Israel, Oil Companies, Military hardware producers including Boeing, the list is VERY long.
And all of you saps flying your Red, White, and Blue, looking for Terrorists under every rock, should cram that little US flag on your SUV up your butt, because that's where your heads are. Go ahead and believe in some racist fantasy about crazy Muslims with sharpened butterknifes behind every corner. I'm certain it will keep you warm at night when Homeland Security has declared marshal law and starts filling the Camps with "Terrorist Sympathizers", you goose-stepping twits!
You want to call it a terrorist tool? Yah. OK. Im good with that. Anything to keep the damn phones turned OFF on a plane. Hell I'd be good with claims that phones could attract UFO's and cause a midair collision I'd be good with that as well.
The first time I get someone chatting on their phones next to me I'm going to take said phone and whip them to death with the phone antenna. Or if it doesnt have a retractable antenna I will bludgeon them to death with the thing.
Great post maxsmoke... and that comes from someone who knew a person aboard flight 11.
Barb,
In your post you said "could care less for the anti-terrorist hysteria".
This is a common and annoying grammatical error. I believe you meant to say "couldn't care less".
Thank you for correcting your future posts.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I could care less for Tom Dubya's grammatical corrections...
the problem with your theory, MaxSMoke, is that people aboard flight 93 used their cellphones to describe the situation with family. They described the hijackers and their weapons to relatives, which makes your X-Files conspiracy theory about remote operation contrary to the evidence at hand.
See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight_93#Passenger_and_crew_phone_calls
MaxSmoke. Prove it. Otherwise, you're just another asshole with a theory.
Whether you care or not, here are my opinions on the posts so far:
#1 Good point
#2 Very good point and sorry to hear about the Asteroids game. I guess theres a reason why shes a stewardess.
#3 Maybe you should move out of California
#4 Maybe the best point
#5 True, but maybe you should put down the copy of 1984. Maybe theyll make you.
#6 Ok, but what is all this concern about a terrorist on a plane remotely triggering a bomb on the same plane. Has anyone heard of a timer? I thought the idea was to keep the explosives off the plane.
#7 Try reading a newspaper sometime
#8 Good question. What you are seeing are contrails. A contrail forms when hot, humid air from jet exhaust mixes with the ambient air causing evaporated water to condensate. If you didnt know, a product of combustion is water.
#9 Sarcasm, I like it!
#10 Thank you for giving #7 a clue.
#11 You lost me until the last two paragraphs
#12 Ill agree with both of you.
#13 Is this the worlds worst joke or do you live in a shack in Montana with a whole lot of guns and your woodland creature friends?
#14 Theres nothing like looking out for #1, screw everyone else!
#15 Im sorry to hear you knew someone on flight 11. I knew someone in the WTC. I still think maxsmoke forgot to take his meds.
#16 Its the internet. No one besides you cares about grammar. Please stop being a know it all.
#17 Here Here
#18 Finally, a voice of reason in a crowd of fools.
Thank you all for letting me waste a few minutes of my precious life. I apologize if you wasted any of your life reading this.
In response to Ted:
The same could be said for another...
*cough* WMD's *cough*
Unfortunately that particular ass has a bit more to say in the world's affairs.
MaxSmoke, I used to believe things like that. Then I grew up.
And Robert, you're anal retentive.
I'm for keeping the ban, mainly because it's a highly unejnoayble experience without hundreds of people yapping away into phones. I think a better solution would be a phone built in to every seat in the plane (although i still don't like this idea). Maybe you could buy credit off the stewardess or it'd be charged to your card. Terroists have reasons for doing what they do. Us westerners need to try and improve the situation at the root of the problem. 'Terrorists' do things for a reason, to get attention and try to make people see their point. Maybe if we tried to improve relations and do less things to piss these people off the world would be a better place. All of this "We are America and they threw a stone at us so we're going to throw some missiles back" stuff really gets to me. 9/11 was upsetting. Seeing any people die is upsetting, especially when they're in a large group. But this was inevitable. I don't know the answers but I don't think the right things are being done. I'm losing what i'm trying to say now anyway. Thanks.
Terrorism is a piece of cake to pull off if you want to.
I love the fact that we in this Nation have become so hysterical and allowed ourselves to be made children out of while daddy government has no problem taking away our rights.
Matthew has it nailed.
The 9/11 actions did not require massive coordination and expensive equipment. It took a few months of flight school for four or five people and some box cutters.
As for protecting your borders, guys, no matter what you do - the fact that SOMEONE can get in means there's a way for terrorists to. Terrorists don't have a big T tattoed on their foreheads. They're not all wearing Arabic clothing - heck, they're NOT ALL ARABIC OR EVEN MUSLIM.
Shutting down the borders and going around blowing up other countries isn't helping your situation. It's just scaring everyone else and making them want to get some distance from you.
That can't be helpful.
bwahahaaa that would be the major teerrorist threatt
bwahahaaa that would be the major teerrorist threatt
if you r looking for the sizzle fou no k now h w h?whers the trraerkjkjasdsa?rrr
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and yes, fuck those terrorist ss in the fuck
DEAR GOD, NO!!! Mr. President, please save us from the Cell-Phone Bandits! They are armed with pocket lasers, toe-nail clippers and cell phones! What can we do?
Wait...we must be careful. Who can we trust? My neighbor has well-manicured handsnot as though they were torn off with pliers the way Good Mericans do it What if hes an unlicensed toe-nail clipper carrier? Dear God And Ive seen him talking into a weird metallic device He must be reported immediatelybefore someone gets hurt!
If only I had some way to contact the proper authorities...
your a fucking ediot. you fuck. when the cellie gets the call its only one fucking surge to the midi core and you are eeerr... dead
ah... maybe its not too badd to be dead.. ehh...
I'd rather die a man than a frightened little pussy. I'm not afraid of cell phones, toe-nail clippers or even laser pointers. I know that I am mortal, and that, someday, I will die--and neither duct tape nor colored alerts will save me.
Terrorism is control by fear. I am not afraid. I cannot be controlled.
Watch out--I carry my toe-nail clippers in a holster.
Well at least we know that no planes will be blown up via cell phones remote controled bombs, beacuse they are banned.
Duh
Hey, instead of speculating if cell phones are terrorist threats, why not rather consider the BREAD KNIFE and FORK used to eat your in-flight meals????? They can be used as a dangerous weapon.
Any modern convenience being used by other citizens which mildly annoys or inconveniences me personally should be banned. That's what freedom is all about.
"14. Posted May 28, 2005, 6:26 PM ET by MaxSMoke
Ever seen the first episode of "The Lone Gunmen"? That spin-off of the X-files that dealt with conspiracy theory?"
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...You lost me from hello.
And ban martial artists too. They can just take a boat, bus or walk to the next tournament!
Still nothing stops ninjas from getting on these planes and like totally flipping out.