Bruce Schneier reports TSA Warns of Terrorist Dry Runs. It seems based on some suspicious incidents, the TSA has issued warnings to airports to be on the lookout.
Schneier lists some of the details of the suspicious incidents and this AP story sums it up nicely: "Citing four incidents since last September at the San Diego, Milwaukee, Houston and Baltimore airports, the agency said screeners had found in checked and carry-on luggage various combinations of 'wires, switches, pipes or tubes, cell phone components and dense clay-like substances,' including block cheese. 'The unusual nature and increase in number of these improvised items raise concern.'"
Schneier points out "Note that profiling didn't seem to help here. Three of the incidents involved U.S. persons," and from the report, "Individuals involved in these incidents were of varying gender, and initial investigations do not link them with criminal or terrorist organizations. "
In San Diego on July 7 the memo cites: "A U.S. person -- either a citizen or a foreigner legally here -- checked baggage containing two ice packs covered in duct tape. The ice packs had clay inside them rather than the normal blue gel." The AP article says it was "A female U.S. citizen in her late 60s" and it turns out they were 10-15 year-old ice packs and she wrapped them to prevent leaking. "She had a legitimate medical reason for carrying ice packs and did not appear to be able to afford to buy new ones"
Even if this all turns out to be innocent false alarms, this is the kind of things (finding suspicous items, issuing warnings based on facts) that the TSA should be doing instead of confiscating nail clippers and banning liquids (though now breast milk is allowed again).
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