April 7, 2010

The Smoking Lamp is Out: Shoe Bomber Over Denver? Nah, Just a Smoker.

Mohammed-Al-Madadi_53180783.jpg
"Finally, a Muslim has done something to offend the Left: terrorizing them with secondhand smoke." -- Gagdad

UPDATE: He skates! Diplomat released after bomb scare; charges unlikely - KDVR

A Qatari diplomat who caused a bomb scare when he was caught smoking aboard a Denver-bound flight Wednesday evening has been released from federal custody and has returned to Washington, D.C.
Of course he was. Of course they are. Of course, you would have been slapped in the hoosegow.

[A brief history of "The Joke Bomber"]

This just in @ 7:20PM: "Passenger attempts to light explosive on DC-Denver flight"

Okay, here we go again:

Federal air marshals subdued a man who apparently tried to light his shoes on fire on a United Airlines flight bound for Denver from Washington D.C.'s Reagan Airport Wednesday evening.
It just doesn't get any better, does it? Oh wait.... it does!
Officials: Diplomat tried to ignite shoes on flight | Komo News
SEATTLE -- Federal air marshals have subdued a man who tried to light his shoes on fire aboard a United Airlines flight from Washington Reagan to Denver on Wednesday night, officials told ABC News.

Officials said Mohammed al Modadi, a diplomat in the Qatar Embassy, attempted to detonate what they believe is a shoe bomb aboard Flight 663 some 40 miles from Denver.

The man was subdued by on-board air marshals, and two jet fighters were scrambled from Buckley Air Force Base to accompany the Boeing 757 jet, which landed without incident in Denver. There are no reports of injuries.

Al Modadi had full diplomatic immunity as the third secretary and vice-consul, the FBI told ABC News

Savoring that phrase "full diplomatic immunity." Odds he was searched before boarding? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?

UPDATE: Jets scrambled to intercept airliner.

UPDATE II: Fox News now reports that a source has stated there was no explosive involved, but that the diplomat was lighting something to cover "another smell." Okay, that's enough surrealism for now. I'm going out to have a drink.

UPDATE III: This just in a 10:30PM -- The bomb has now morphed into a cigarette and a joke: The Associated Press: AP source: Man on flight trying to sneak smoke

An Arab diplomat briefed on the matter identified the diplomat as Mohammed Al-Madadi.

Two law enforcement officials said investigators were told the man was asked about the smell of smoke in the bathroom and he made a joke that he had been trying to light his shoes — an apparent reference to the 2001 so-called "shoe bomber" Richard Reid.
What's not to like about this "Brave New World / that has such people in it?"

Let's review: Diplomat sneaks into john for a smoke. Check. Questioned about the smell on exit. Check. Having "immunity" and an attitude he cracks a joke about the show bomber. Check. National air security network is lit up. Check. Two fighter jets scrambled to "escort" the airliner. Check and double check.

You know, if they'd just kept the smoking rows in the back of airplanes all this could have been avoided.

Posted by Vanderleun at April 7, 2010 7:30 PM
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"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

It's Twoo! It's Twoo! Nobody do wudu like they do!

Posted by: Jewel at April 7, 2010 8:13 PM

Surely an isolated extremist unhappy over US foreign policy. No connection with any religious affiliation...

unless, of course Mohammed Al Modadi happens to be a right-wing Christian. It is like possible, you know. We mustn't pre judge anyone. Do you think he might be a TEA party member, too? That must be it!

JWM

Posted by: jwm at April 7, 2010 8:38 PM

I'm quite sure when all is known, that Mohammed Al Modadi will be proved to be a female Jewish convert to Catholicism and a racist, homophobic Fox News watcher. She will be of Scandinavian ancestry and work as an office manager in the un-evolved state of Oklahoma. The bombing was her "shout-out" to the poor oppressed minorities who can't find organic decaffeinated fair-trade coffee at the heartless fast-fooderies of America.

Because, you know, terrorists can be ANYBODY. Silly to talk about Islam again, nothing to see here, move along now.

Posted by: Raincityjazz at April 7, 2010 8:55 PM

Anybody can be a terrorist! Don't try to blame any religion.
Nobody wounded, it is very lucky tody.

Posted by: Rusia Moldova Louis O'Neill at April 7, 2010 9:51 PM

"Anybody can be a terrorist! Don't try to blame any religion."
I hope you're joking, otherwise, please list the "anybody" of which you speak, other than islamists, that have a habit of yelling "allahuh ackbar" before detonating themselves and "anybody" around?
As to this story, I smell BULLSH__!

Posted by: Cheezburgrrr at April 7, 2010 11:12 PM

They should send him a bill.

Posted by: ahem at April 7, 2010 11:47 PM

Good Lord...let people smoke on the damn plane! Seal off a couple of rows in the back and charge smokers a few bucks extra to sit there.

We bend over backwards for all other medical conditions and addictions, why not this one?

I don't smoke, but I think this leper-ization of smokers is not all that great.

Posted by: Mumblix Grumph at April 7, 2010 11:59 PM

Maybe Obama will invite him to the WH for a smoke to settle this misunderstanding.

Posted by: USS Ben at April 8, 2010 1:49 AM

SMOKING!!!
That's WORSE!
That bastard endangered every man, woman and child on that plane with SECOND HAND CIGARETTE SMOKE!!!!
They'll all need weekly cancer screenings, for the rest of their natural lives. Their health has been endangered. Call obamacare. This is jihad through second hand smoke. They'll get us any way they can, the bastards.

JWM

Posted by: jwm at April 8, 2010 3:53 AM

This was only a test. Do not adjust your well-founded skepticism.

Posted by: Joan of Argghh! at April 8, 2010 4:37 AM

That a-hole should be smoking pole in Gtmo....

Posted by: Blastineau at April 8, 2010 7:58 AM

Not all Muslims are terrorists, but nearly every terrorist has been a Muslim. IF this was a joke, it was in extremely poor taste.

Posted by: cmblake6 at April 8, 2010 8:16 AM

No bathing in blancmange!!??

What do they have against bathing?

Wait till my wife finds out about this latest encroachment on our liberties.

I'm going to sue someone.

Posted by: Lance de Boyle at April 8, 2010 9:21 AM

I thought all smoking has been banned from all commercial flights. Is that not so?

Posted by: Don Rodrigo at April 8, 2010 9:23 AM

Finally, a Muslim has done something to offend the left: terrorizing them with secondhand smoke.

Posted by: Gagdad Bob at April 8, 2010 9:24 AM

Remembering the bad old days when smoking was allowed on planes there was no such thing as "no smoking" - there was only "voluntary" and "involuntary" smoking. My ex was extremely allergic to cigarette smoke and I can confirm that really wasn't a joke - it was the way things were.

Unfortunately, given this idiot had diplomatic immunity it doesn't look like much can be done about him as an individual [I suppose they could send the bill for scrambling the fighters to his embassy - while I'm sure they can't be forced to pay putting them in the position of having to publicly refuse to pay for the idiocy of one of their staff should do a serious job on the clown's career].

Posted by: Sam Adams at April 8, 2010 10:01 AM

Gagdad: Nobody could have said it better...

Posted by: Blastineau at April 8, 2010 11:09 AM

When they banned smoking on commercial flights is when I decided that I'd rather take a fucking Greyhound bus than fly. At least they have to stop to refuel now and then, and presumably I'd be able to get out, stretch my legs, and have a smoke like a civilized human being.

If it was only a two or three hour flight I could deal with it. But when you factor in arriving early for security checks, waiting on the runway for takeoff clearance, and waiting to pick up baggage afterwards you're talking several hours. No thanks.

Posted by: rickl at April 8, 2010 5:38 PM

"when a nation is at war many things that might be said in time of peace are such a hindrance to its effort that their utterance will not be endured so long as men fight, and that no Court could regard them as protected by any constitutional right."
-Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Schenck v. United States

Posted by: Gus at April 10, 2010 9:20 AM
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