FBI warns of cell phones aloft

For those who travel by air frequently, you might be interested in the
following from ZDnet news -
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-5...ml?tag=nl.e539

Bob

---

› See More: FBI warns of cell phones aloft

Bob Smith wrote:
> For those who travel by air frequently, you might be interested in the
> following from ZDnet news -
> http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-5...ml?tag=nl.e539
>
> Bob

Yeah, yeah, the government wants to restrict more of our activities in the
name of national security. And security at our airports (on the ground, in
the terminal!) is *still* a joke. FBI and DHS need to get their priorities
straight. Not that I expect that to ever happen.

--
JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / [email protected] / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED

"The wisdom of a fool won't set you free"
--New Order, "Bizarre Love Triangle"

Steve Sobol wrote:
> Bob Smith wrote:
>> For those who travel by air frequently, you might be interested in
>> the following from ZDnet news -
>> http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-5...ml?tag=nl.e539
>>
>> Bob
>
> Yeah, yeah, the government wants to restrict more of our activities
> in the name of national security. And security at our airports (on
> the ground, in the terminal!) is *still* a joke.

With all due respect, what does it matter? The bad guys want to kill
lots of people; and commandeering an airplane requires a lot of work and
planning just to down one plane--from within the plane. They know that
the possibility of using multiple jet airliners as cruise missiles ended
on 9-1-1. We know this because of the actions of the passengers on
United Airlines Flight 93. Before 911, hijacking was, for the most part,
a rather benign event: stay calm and your chances of coming out if alive
are pretty good (or at least better than putting up a fight).

But after hearing about the other 911 attacks, the passengers on Flight
93 *knew* this was no longer a "normal" hijacking and they took action
("let's roll"). The bastards "flying" that plane knew they were going to
be overpowered and deliberately put it down. Their objective was most
likely to hit the White House or the U.S. Capital. They failed in that
objective. Ironically, cell phones were a factor in that.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/07/22/911.flight.93/

And does anyone think--today--that if they were on a plane being
hijacked that every passenger on board wouldn't violently resist? They
ain't gonna fall for the "there is a bomb on board" BS--they'll know
damn well *they* are the bomb and act accordingly.

Yet, we're still spending billions of dollars on yesterday's problem.
Just like the terrorists want us to do.


--
Mike

In article <[email protected]>,
Steve Sobol <[email protected]> writes:
> Bob Smith wrote:
>> For those who travel by air frequently, you might be interested in the
>> following from ZDnet news -
>> http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-5...ml?tag=nl.e539
>>
>> Bob
>
> Yeah, yeah, the government wants to restrict more of our activities in the
> name of national security. And security at our airports (on the ground, in
> the terminal!) is *still* a joke. FBI and DHS need to get their priorities
> straight. Not that I expect that to ever happen.

While I agree with the gist of your comments, Steve, I also feel that
any excuse used to keep cell phone use in-flight prohibited is a good
excuse.

--
Jim Seymour | "There is no expedient to which a man will not
[email protected] | go to avoid the labor of thinking."
http://jimsun.LinxNet.com | - Thomas A. Edison

Jim Seymour wrote:
>
> While I agree with the gist of your comments, Steve, I also feel that
> any excuse used to keep cell phone use in-flight prohibited is a good
> excuse.

Why is that, because you feel you will be annoyed? And for that you are
willing to give up one more slice of liberty? If so, color me
disgusted...

And BTW, if it weren't for the cell phones used on Flight 93 we might
lost either the White House or U.S. Capital.

If you have some valid reason for not wanting cell phones on planes, say
so. But to hide behind "national security" is, to me, pretty damn
pathetic.


--
Mike

Jim Seymour wrote:

> While I agree with the gist of your comments, Steve, I also feel that
> any excuse used to keep cell phone use in-flight prohibited is a good
> excuse.

Not when it's the government restricting more of our rights when they aren't
doing squat to actually enhance national security. For example, until the
international border three hours from my home is tightened, I reserve the
right to tell the FBI to **** off when they whimper about national security.
It's ridiculously easy for most anyone to get here from Mexico (including
terrorists, and some apparently already have). Again, DHS and FBI need to
get their priorities straight and focus on activities that really WILL
enhance security. An idiotic ban on cell phones in the air is not going to
do so when it's STILL so easy to enter the country on the ground.

--
JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / [email protected] / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED

"The wisdom of a fool won't set you free"
--New Order, "Bizarre Love Triangle"

"Tinman" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Jim Seymour wrote:
>>
>> While I agree with the gist of your comments, Steve, I also feel that
>> any excuse used to keep cell phone use in-flight prohibited is a good
>> excuse.
>
> Why is that, because you feel you will be annoyed? And for that you are
> willing to give up one more slice of liberty? If so, color me
> disgusted...

Do you advocate allowing cellphone use in theaters and churches also?
The extremely crowded environs of airplane seats makes such use
highly annoying, especially to those who want to sleep or read.

> And BTW, if it weren't for the cell phones used on Flight 93 we might
> lost either the White House or U.S. Capital.

Life or death emergency use is different than routine use.

--
John Richards

"Tinman" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> But after hearing about the other 911 attacks, the passengers on Flight
> 93 *knew* this was no longer a "normal" hijacking and they took action
> ("let's roll"). The bastards "flying" that plane knew they were going to
> be overpowered and deliberately put it down. Their objective was most
> likely to hit the White House or the U.S. Capital. They failed in that
> objective. Ironically, cell phones were a factor in that.
> http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/07/22/911.flight.93/

That article indicates Todd Beamer used an "onboard phone",
which most likely was not a personal cellphone. I'm not sure
cellphones could work properly with towers 35,000 feet below.

--
John Richards

John Richards wrote:
>
> "Tinman" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > But after hearing about the other 911 attacks, the passengers on Flight
> > 93 *knew* this was no longer a "normal" hijacking and they took action
> > ("let's roll"). The bastards "flying" that plane knew they were going to
> > be overpowered and deliberately put it down. Their objective was most
> > likely to hit the White House or the U.S. Capital. They failed in that
> > objective. Ironically, cell phones were a factor in that.
> > http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/07/22/911.flight.93/
>
> That article indicates Todd Beamer used an "onboard phone",
> which most likely was not a personal cellphone. I'm not sure
> cellphones could work properly with towers 35,000 feet below.

While I couldn't quote the exact altitude, I remember losing
a usable signal at aprroximately 10-12,000 feet. (This was
in a private aircraft, where cell phones are/were permitted.)

Notan

John Richards wrote:
> "Tinman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> But after hearing about the other 911 attacks, the passengers on
>> Flight 93 *knew* this was no longer a "normal" hijacking and they
>> took action ("let's roll"). The bastards "flying" that plane knew
>> they were going to be overpowered and deliberately put it down. Their
>> objective was most
>> likely to hit the White House or the U.S. Capital. They failed in
>> that objective. Ironically, cell phones were a factor in that.
>> http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/07/22/911.flight.93/
>
> That article indicates Todd Beamer used an "onboard phone",
> which most likely was not a personal cellphone. I'm not sure
> cellphones could work properly with towers 35,000 feet below.

Does it matter? Do you think the FBI is OK with ignoring Air Phone calls
as long as cell phone calls can be monitored (within ten-minutes)? Think
about it.


--
Mike

John Richards wrote:
> "Tinman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Jim Seymour wrote:
>>>
>>> While I agree with the gist of your comments, Steve, I also feel
>>> that any excuse used to keep cell phone use in-flight prohibited is
>>> a
>>> good excuse.
>>
>> Why is that, because you feel you will be annoyed? And for that you
>> are willing to give up one more slice of liberty? If so, color me
>> disgusted...
>
> Do you advocate allowing cellphone use in theaters and churches also?

I haven't "advocated" anything. I am saying, as clear as can be, that I
think you are a fool and a coward if you hide behind "national security"
to achieve a goal that has nothing to with said security. Clear?


--
Mike

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected]
says...
> While I agree with the gist of your comments, Steve, I also feel that
> any excuse used to keep cell phone use in-flight prohibited is a good
> excuse.
>
>
unofortunate that nothing can be done about screaming/crying babies on
board. if it can be regulated as silent/vibrating on the receiving end with
violators losing the phone for the flight with 1 verbal request to lower
the noise disobeyed. headsets covering hearing and speaking also need to be
rquired. Finally, it's just another slap in the face to the general
American public who supposedly cant' remeber that most airlines have been
carrying phones in flight for years. Are they gonna take those out also?
The FBI just gave an unfront huge clue to anyone interested in plane
jacking