'BOXCUTTER-TERROR' GUY ADMITS: I WAS PLANE STUPID

New York Post ^ | 10/19/03 | NILES LATHEM and CHRIS MICHAUD

[kattracks]

October 19, 2003 -- An honors-winning college student admitted yesterday he was the one who left packages with boxcutters, bleach and other threatening items on passenger jets in a misguided attempt to call attention to what he saw as lapses in the nation's airline security system. Nathaniel Heatwole, a political science and physics major at Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., said he stashed the bags on two Southwest Airlines jets on which he flew as far back as September, according to a federal law-enforcement source. He even went so far as to send e-mails warning of his plan, according to authorities.

[rageaholic]

Another college kid out to prove he knows better than everybody else.

[coloradan]

Thou shalt not pull back the curtain on the government's "security" methods, exposing them to be weak.

[PackerBoy]

I have mixed emotions about this. While I deplore his methods, which cost a lot of money to investigate and to secure the 7,000 planes, he has highlighted taht which we all have known for years -- we canno prevent terrorists from smuggling items onto planes.

Every passenger should be issued a loaded 9mm. It would be much safer to fly and the security checkpoint farce money could be put to better use.

[Snuffington]

he has highlighted taht which we all have known for years -- we canno prevent terrorists from smuggling items onto planes.

Not when youy're spending so much time and attention frisking grannies, and babies in strollers. But of course, anything less would be insensitive to suspicious looking Arabs.

[albee]

"...Another college kid out to prove he knows better than everybody else."

Stupid is as stupid does!

[Tijeras_Slim]

Every passenger should be issued a loaded 9mm.

Wouldn't that include the bad guys?

[lelio]

which cost a lot of money to investigate and to secure the 7,000 planes

But this should have already been done as a part of routine checks. Its like a parent telling their 10 year old kid "go clean your room" and then later on saying "Now REALLY go clean your room cuz I'm going to check"

[cwb]

Whatever happened to the ABC Newsman who did something similar, to point out our security flaws? Was he prosecuted?

[Agnes Heep]

Consider the following scenario: a cold, starry night at a lonely outpost on the Western front; December, 1944. A sentry patrols the perimeter of a U.S. military encampment. He hears a noise in the distance, stops, and lowers his rife.

Sentry: Halt! Who goes there?

Spy: Ein sehr freundlich American soldier!

Sentry: Oh yeah? Who won the series in '38?

Spy: Dee New York Yankees!

Sentry: Good enough. Say! What's your name?

Spy: Heinz.

Sentry: Say, Heinz ... got any candy bars?

Spy: Nein, but I haff some marzipan and a few little gummie bears!

Sentry (hearing a noise in the distance): Halt! Who goes there?

General: It's General "Bull" Dyke of the First Infantry! Let me pass!

Sentry: Not so fast, fat boy! Who won the series in '38?

General: Who gives a s**t? Out of my way, soldier, or I'll ....

Sentry: Oh yeah? Take that, ya Natzi spy! (Shoots the general, who falls to the ground).

Spy: So perhaps he vas not a baseball fan?

Sentry: Huh? That's funny, Heinz; real funny. Come on, I'll buy ya a beer. Say, Heinz, was you ever in Brooklyn? (They walk off together).

General (dying): The Yan ... kees ... the New ... York ... Yan .... kees ....

[jungleboy]

Send the punk to the pen to show him how stupid he really was.

[pgkdan]

Another college kid out to prove he knows better than everybody else.

Wel he evidently DOES know alot more than the TSA! He may be a brash smartass but I think he's done the country, especially the flying public, a great service. Tom Ridge ought to do all he can do to get this guy working for him and call off the FBI. He sent e-mails BEFORE he ever smuggled the contraband on a plane and told the TSA what he was planning to do and when he planned to do it and the nincompoops STILL missed the stuff. He included a note in the package explaining what the package represented...He posed no threat to anyone except terrorists still planning to hijack American planes.

[joesnuffy]

Another college kid out to prove he knows better than everybody else.

Exactly...without one iota of concern for the consequences that his actions might have upon the lives of the people he decided to impact

[pgkdan]

Send the punk to the pen to show him how stupid he really was.

For what? What criminal intent did the kid have? NONE! He emailed the TSA and told them in advance what he planned to do and when he planned to do it.

[lelio]

He sent e-mails BEFORE he ever smuggled the contraband on a plane

I read a post saying that the FBI was "on to" the college kid for a couple of months based on that email. Uh huh.

From what I read he hid the contraband in a plane's restroom. Now who can do a better job of hiding something on a plane: a college kid that's probably a nervous wreck looking around the bathroom for the 3 minutes he's in there or the custodial staff of an airport that knows every nook and cranny of the plane?

If this is a wake up call, its that security measures on their own employees probably needs to be looked at.

[jungleboy]

So, if I E-mail someone telling them I'm going to commit a crime, means there is no criminal intent?

[oh8eleven]

He may be a brash smartass but I think he's done the country, especially the flying public, a great service.

I couldn't agree more.

[SouthernFreebird]

Exactly...without one iota of concern for the consequences that his actions might have upon the lives of the people he decided to impact

What impact? things could be a whole lot worse if it was an Arab who got those boxcutters on a plane. I don't understand the anger at this boy for showing the slackers working on security. Everyone involved in letting these things pass thru security should be fired.

You'd be raising cain if your family happened to be on a plane that a terrorists managed to get blades or bombs on. Demanding to know how this happened.

[NittanyLion]

I have no doubt that TSA and FBI will ensure this kid is punished severely for making them look stupid.

They, of course, will change nothing about their processes.

[JoJo Gunn]

Admittedly I have mixed emotions about this as well.

Can't help but remember the impact on all the lives from those demons who actually used those boxcutters....