BREAKING: Air Marshals Stop Suspected Shoebomber On DC To Denver Airplane!

[BlooInBloo]

I'm sure it's all developing, and a lot more will be known later on....

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/air-marshals-stop-shoe-bomb-attempt-united-jet/story?id=10315314

"Federal air marshals subdued a man who authorities say attempted to "light his shoes on fire" on a United flight from Washington Reagan to Denver Wednesday night, federal law enforcement officials told ABC News.

Authorities say an explosive team is on the way to the airport, and that while the presence of explosives has not yet been confirmed, they believe it was an attempted "shoe bomb."

The suspect was identified by authorities as a diplomat in the Qatar embassy in Washington, Mohammed al Modadi. The FBI said the man had full diplomat immunity as the 3rd secretary and vice-consul. "

[MadMaddie]

1. So he boarded in DC and he is a diplomat

Was he searched like all passengers? Full immunity? That's bullshit!

[walldude]

10. Unreal.. so we will get to walk through full body x-rays

while Diplomats get to go around security and blow up planes? I can't wait to see the freeps on this one because George Bush would never ever pal around with Middle East Diplomats..

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

25. I went through that airport about a week ago...

had to take my shoes off, take my coat off, take my laptop out of its bag,
and all of those things went through an xray machine.

I had to walk through a metal detector.

So all of these things are just gestures to get us used to having our privacy violated
and make us think it will help.

[hlthe2b]

27. You mean Denvrer Internatonal or Washington National?

The flight originated in DC.

[XOKCowboy]

34. Dude just the idea that his status as a diplomat entitles him to smoke on a plane..

is even worse!

[walldude]

38. Hey man...

Yeah I had actually posted this when they thought he was trying to blow the thing up. I have to learn to not pay any attention to these things for a few hours till they sort the damn thing out. I read somewhere that he also made a joke about lighting up his shoes. Idiot.

I'm around over the weekend if you want to hook up for lunch or something. D has been calling me, we can run out there if you want..

[tulsakatz]

28. they just said on MSNBC.....

....that he is a diplomat but for his level, he would still be subject to searches, just like everyone else.

[bluestateguy]

2. I would send evcerybody from the Qatari embassy home until this is all resolved

nt

[Hawkeye-X]

3. Flight 663 is United Air Lines 663

9News.com and the Denverchannel.com are our local news.

[Hawkeye-X]

4. Maybe he was *ahem* adjusting his socks?

And that made the air marshals think he was trying to light a bomb?

[notadmblnd]

5. I thought they checked everyone shoes?

Is someone falling down on the job or is the bomber somebody special?

[Electric Monk]

11. Reports are he has diplomatic immunity, so he probably walked around security

but if he's a diplomat, I think that makes this an act of war on behalf of his country?

[jillan]

6. watching

[tridim]

7. Way premature to call him a shoe bomber

MSNBC is reporting it may have been a "joke".

[TwilightGardener]

9. A joke, huh? Funny!

:crazy:

[BlooInBloo]

12. Good thing I didn't call him a shoe bomber, then.

[Mudoria]

14. He may not like the punch line

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

17. or some white trash loser just making shit up

That is a common outcome too,

[Maru Kitteh]

32. why the need for racist epithets?

I understand the origin of this particular insult, but the way it's used now is to designate "other whites" - as if all whites were by default, good - as opposed to other races.

I hate hate hate that racist term.

[Abq_Sarah]

30. Attempting to light your shoes on fire

Aboard an aircraft is a joke?

Ha-ha.

[rusty quoin]

8. Was this a case of sarcasm?

[NYC_SKP]

13. This shit always happens when I'm traveling.

On the return flight of this trip I'll probably have to wear my underwear on the outside of my clothes and surrender my Q-Tips.

:mad:

[rusty quoin]

20. Or travel naked.

[Initech]

15. Great... what is the TSA gonna take away from us now?

We can only travel wearing flip-flops? :shrug:

[Xenotime]

19. As long as we are secure, I'm ok with it.

[Leftist Agitator]

42. Your attitude is repugnant.

And morally indefensible.

[BlooInBloo]

16. UPDATE: Looks like there were no explosives - the fucker was just smoking or something.

Expel him from the country I say.

[Xenotime]

22. For a smoke? A little overreaction don't you think?

[Mythbuster]

31. Who is reporting that?

All I've seen is the ABC link

[Abq_Sarah]

35. The only place I've seen it

Is blogs. No news stories yet.

[Mythbuster]

36. MSNBC is reporting there were no explosives found...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36243847/ns/us_news-airliner_security/

[HipChick]

18. No explosive..He was smoking a fucking cigarette..and was being sarcastic to the airmarshals

about the shoe bomb..

[frazzled]

24. Moral of story ...

It's not a good idea to go into the bathroom on an airplane to smoke, and then, when questioned, snidely remark that you were trying to light a bomb in your shoe. Especially if you have a long Arabic name and are from Qatar. And especially if the person questioning you turns out to be a US Air Marshal.

The air marshal did the right thing, though. When someone makes that kind of remark, you have to take them seriously.

[XOKCowboy]

33. Will his status as a diplomat keep him from prosecution for smoking in an airplane bathroom?

This might be interesting to follow.

[jberryhill]

37. Yes

We will ask the Qataris to send him home. That's all we can do.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

26. A guy that transcendently stupid shouldn't be working as a diplomat.

[NoPasaran]

41. But he was thoroughly vetted by John Bolton

[msanthrope]

43. He isn't 'working' as a diplomat. He's some rich fuck's son, here

to party.

[NotThisTime]

39. Smack him upside the fucking head and send him home

[Born_A_Truman]

21. Smoking cig in bathroom ...

and made a bad joke about lighting shoes on fire.

:smoke: :wtf:

[Bolo Boffin]

29. Yeah, that's what I'm hoping happened here.

The guy's a fooking idiot, regardless.

[LooseWilly]

23. Maybe he just ran out of nicotine gum...

became so desperate he tried to smoke his shoe...

Was it a sandal? With a hemp sole?

[izzybeans]

40. Today's Lesson: The paranoia in this society can't stand up to one man and his cigarettes.

Cower in fear of the mighty Marlboro Diplomat Man!