Times Square bomber

[FlyBoy2]

I would have added this thread to the Value Added news area but I could not post a new thread there.

So, we have all been reading about the Times Square bomber. But, something interesting surfaced today:
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/sigint-...uring-shahzad/

Basically that the US used some sort of spy planes to track him on his cell phone. The fact that the FBI found a phone number for him on a prepaid cell phone then based on that found out and listened into his phone conversation.

Lots of things comes to mind from this. First, I guess it is much easier than I thought to break cell phone encryption. Second, I always knew the US could track cell phones but to actually have airplanes on standby to do it is amazing. Third, is this airplane story a cover for some other method that the US tracked his cell phone?

Discuss....

[streaker69]

Re: Times Square bomber

You may want to put your TFB back on.

Working with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, NSA agents apparently tracked Shahzad’s movements by locating signals from his cell phone, possibly via a drone.

I believe that's a pretty big possibly. An anonymous person that used to work for the NSA says they could have done that?

The internet is just chocked full of people that 'work' for the NSA and the CIA.

[renderman]

Re: Times Square bomber

I would have added this thread to the Value Added news area but I could not post a new thread there.

So, we have all been reading about the Times Square bomber. But, something interesting surfaced today:
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/sigint-...uring-shahzad/

Basically that the US used some sort of spy planes to track him on his cell phone. The fact that the FBI found a phone number for him on a prepaid cell phone then based on that found out and listened into his phone conversation.

Lots of things comes to mind from this. First, I guess it is much easier than I thought to break cell phone encryption. Second, I always knew the US could track cell phones but to actually have airplanes on standby to do it is amazing. Third, is this airplane story a cover for some other method that the US tracked his cell phone?

Discuss....

I would not consider that site the most authoritative or truthful on any matter.

Considering the level of intelligence of the guy and the trail of bread loaves he left, it would not be surprising that old fashioned police work was all that was needed.

What does interest me (some facts and details still pending) is the apparent disconnect within the Airline/FAA/TSA system that allowed him to board a plane when he had been on a no-fly list for 5-10 hours. One would think that in an emergency or urgent situation that you'd want to favor searching immediately for the recent names and not legacy (20 year old) names. Not that I'm a fan of the no-fly lists or anything, but in this case, having his name flagged but still getting on a plane and almost getting off the ground shows a problem area that should be addressed.

Just my $0.02

[streaker69]

Re: Times Square bomber

What does interest me (some facts and details still pending) is the apparent disconnect within the Airline/FAA/TSA system that allowed him to board a plane when he had been on a no-fly list for 5-10 hours. One would think that in an emergency or urgent situation that you'd want to favor searching immediately for the recent names and not legacy (20 year old) names. Not that I'm a fan of the no-fly lists or anything, but in this case, having his name flagged but still getting on a plane and almost getting off the ground shows a problem area that should be addressed.

Just my $0.02

I believe that problem was addressed. The previous requirement for the TSA and airlines before this incident was that they needed to check the list every 24 hours. After this incident it was changed that they must check it every 2 hours.

Knowing that they were only required to check every 24 hours now makes sense on how people are getting caught on the no fly list while the flight is in mid-air.