How an effervescent tablet got me in terrorist hot water

[Lone_Star_Dem]

More than a half-dozen years after 9/11, little may prevent an innocent traveler from becoming an imagined threat.

NEW YORK — "So. Turns out I'm the security threat," I told my editor, calling him from my airline seat. The police with their assault rifles had left, along with the cop who moments before had shoved me against a jetway wall.

Like many regular fliers, I have a finely honed security routine. Lotions and hand sanitizer in the little plastic bag. Laptop in a form-fitting case for X-ray adventures. My shoes almost untie themselves.

But I recently found that there are still things you can't predict. Almost seven years after 9/11, little may prevent an innocent traveler from becoming an imagined threat.

<snip>

I was talking to my editor when a JetBlue worker told my row to get up. He directed me to go to the front while he gathered my bags.

Read more here: http://www.statesman.com/insight/content/editorial/stories/insight/06/29/0629travelsuspect.html

[screembloodymurder]

1. I just flew out of Denver and had a bag checked by the TSA.

After my two-week vacation, they inspected my dirty clothes bag including fourteen pair of dirty underwear. Ha! Probably didn't pass the sniff test.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

2. This story just pisses me off

"I come from a very careful family" says the blond woman. I know soooo many people like her.

[MadMaddie]

3. Now add this to Airlines charging extra for luggage, general

airfare going through the roof, long TSA lines just to get on the planes and you have and Industry who lacks common sense and will continue to lose billions in profit and customers.

This is really sad that Americans are so paranoid...the most ridiculous part of the story is that she saw him drink the drink. This is * America.....

If you haven't seen V-Vendetta you should watch the movie.

[dubeskin]

4. Thank goodness

Our tax dollars are protecting us from threatening terrorist dissolving tablets!

[Warpy]

5. This could easily have been avoided

had flight staff simply asked what he was doing.

This stuff is so stupid.

[Clovis Sangrail]

6. I'm glad it happened to a journalist

I wonder how often this happens to people who don't get an article about it published.

I know I've gotten a little extra love from airport security but never anything on the scale of what happened to Ho.
Hopefully this happens more and more until the stupidity of it is undeniable and it forces a change.

[morgan2]

7. maybe start reporting every stupid thing you see?

Probably would be thrown in jail as a terrorist for suggesting doing such a thing.

[Clovis Sangrail]

10. when they wanted to do the TIPS

thing I was advocating everybody call in about their neighbors.. for any reason.

[MikeE]

8. He's a much better person than I am

I would have seriously considered beating her ass when we got off the plane.

[Clovis Sangrail]

9. I think I would have gotten myself into worse trouble

I'd probably be temped to walk up to her and quietly say something along the lines of
"stoopid american pig-dog ... you will never stop us bwahahahahaha"