Man with explosives in airport had prior incident of attempting to bring contraband on an airplane

[NNN0LHI]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2012/01/texas-airport-explosives.html

January 3, 2012 | 10:38 am

A military demolitions expert who faces charges in Texas that he tried to bring explosives onto a civilian aircraft was involved in another incident of attempting to transport contraband on an airplane, federal officials said on Tuesday.

Trey Scott Atwater, who completed three military deployments in Afghanistan, is scheduled to be arraigned in district court late Tuesday afternoon, FBI Special Agent Michael Martinez said in a telephone interview from El Paso. Martinez said he could not give any other details except that Atwater would be charged with a felony of trying to bring explosives onto a flight. snip

Atwater explained that he had not used the bag since returning from Afghanistan, but that it was standard operating procedure to keep two blocks of C-4 in it while on the battlefield. He said he had grabbed the bag, which had been stored in a garage, to carry children’s items on the flight and did not notice any explosives in the main compartment of the bag.

When investigators later asked him about the incident involving the smoke grenade, Atwater acknowledged that it had happened. He said that he had forgotten to mention it in his earlier interview with officials, the complaint states.

[rfranklin]

1. Just say to the judge, "I forgot carrying C2 was illegal."

You.. can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You say.. "Steve.. how can I be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes?" First.. get a million dollars. Now.. you say, "Steve.. what do I say to the tax man when he comes to my door and says, 'You.. have never paid taxes'?" Two simple words. Two simple words in the English language: "I forgot!" How many times do we let ourselves get into terrible situations because we don't say "I forgot"? Let's say you're on trial for armed robbery. You say to the judge, "I forgot armed robbery was illegal." Let's suppose he says back to you, "You have committed a foul crime. you have stolen hundreds and thousands of dollars from people at random, and you say, 'I forgot'?" Two simple words: Excuuuuuse me!!"

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/77/77imono.phtml

[Lurks Often]

2. C-4 is a very stable explosive

without a detonator it is so stable that you can burn it without danger. In fact, burning small amounts of C-4 was a common way to heat coffee and food during the Vietnam War.

Since he was flying back to Ft. Bragg, I don't think he was trying to steal the C-4 and he is mostly guilty of being an idiot and not checking his bag before packing it for the trip.

[NNN0LHI]

3. Yes, maybe he was planning on warming up his coffee on the plane with it

Yea, that's the ticket.

Don

[Lurks Often]

5. I see you don't have anything further useful to contribute to the discussion n/t

[MountainLaurel]

4. Good thing he's not dark and swarthy

Or he's be locked up in a dark, dank cell for a very long time, Green Beret or no.