You say, "I’m a chemist with some experience with military grade high explosives. PETN has a VP similar to other organic nitrates. Trained dogs should have no trouble detecting it."
Could a dog detect it wrapped in a condom and stored inside a person's digestive or genitourinary tract?
"I doubt it is possible to outlaw or control PETN. The only alternative to looking for it systematically on air passengers and in cargo would be to just take a chance that no al-Qaeda operatives will be able successfully to detonate a PETN based explosive on an airliner."
Actually, Prof. Cole, there is another alternative. We could stop being imperialist.
Brilliant essay, Prof. Cole. Thank you. Your statement that "It is not so hard to get up a war. You position the war as inevitable. As Right. As Necessary. You reimagine the poor weak ramshackle enemy as a science fictional superpower, months away from possession of a Neutron Bomb that could Destroy the Universe. It has to be done. We are in danger" reminded me of the following quote from Hermann Göring in his prison cell after WWII: "Naturally the common people don’t want war. But after all, it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it’s always a simple matter to drag people along whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice,the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and for exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country.”
To Daryl Cobranchi:
You say, "I’m a chemist with some experience with military grade high explosives. PETN has a VP similar to other organic nitrates. Trained dogs should have no trouble detecting it."
Could a dog detect it wrapped in a condom and stored inside a person's digestive or genitourinary tract?
Mark Marshall
Toronto, Canada
"I doubt it is possible to outlaw or control PETN. The only alternative to looking for it systematically on air passengers and in cargo would be to just take a chance that no al-Qaeda operatives will be able successfully to detonate a PETN based explosive on an airliner."
Actually, Prof. Cole, there is another alternative. We could stop being imperialist.
Mark Marshall
Brilliant essay, Prof. Cole. Thank you. Your statement that "It is not so hard to get up a war. You position the war as inevitable. As Right. As Necessary. You reimagine the poor weak ramshackle enemy as a science fictional superpower, months away from possession of a Neutron Bomb that could Destroy the Universe. It has to be done. We are in danger" reminded me of the following quote from Hermann Göring in his prison cell after WWII: "Naturally the common people don’t want war. But after all, it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it’s always a simple matter to drag people along whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice,the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and for exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country.”
Mark Marshall
Toronto, Canada