In a measure of full disclosure I should mention that I have a B.A. Baracus type aversion to flying and have only stepped on one airplane (well technically five in one trip) in the post 9/11 era. And I usually reply to anyone who whines about the junk getting touched or the three ounce liquid rule with, “would you rather be blown up?” For those of you that are frequent fliers and wonder why you can only bring three ounces of liquids with you, well you actually have Tang to thank. Yes that horribly powder drink your mom made you consume as a kid.
The liquid limitations came out a terror plot that we would be commemorating the fifth anniversary of its attacks right about now if the terrorist were successful and would have killed more people than in the 9/11 attacks. Due to being unsuccessful, many may not know much about the plot, if at all, but are aware of the fallout because of the three ounce rule that was put in place because of the plan. Now you can learn more about the plot from the mouths of those that prevented it tonight when the National Geographic Channel premieres The Liquid Bomb Plot at 9:00.
It all started when the British found Tang in the suitcase of a friend of a known terrorist which was considered suspicious by MI5 and kicked off the largest surveillance operation ever in the history of the U.K. And the spy operation looked like something out of Alias with camera’s in lighters, agents breaking into a terrorist house to bug it, even replacing a screw in a light switch plate with one with a camera in it and many counter measure by the terrorist who were filling up soda bottles hydrogen peroxide to make bombs to explode in ten different airplanes. I found myself screaming at the television multiple times to arrest somebody and let a real life Jack Bauer loose on them.
The Liquid Bomb Plot is a compelling look at just what our, and governments around the world are doing to protect us and includes interviews from former secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and his U.K. counterpart Lord John Reid, former home security and former defense secretary, as well as arresting officers. My only complaint is that we never get an explanation as to why a three ounces limit. If twenty can take down a plane (we see an experiment of what could have happened if the terrorists were successful), what damage exactly will three ounces do?
The Liquid Bomb Plot airs tonight at 9:00 on the National Geographic Channel. Check out a clip below:
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