Now That's Outrageous!

Reading CNN today, I discovered that the FCC and TSA are considering removing a law to allow the use of cell phones in flight.

CNN.com : Cell phone calls in flight?

This comes at the same time that they are banning carry-on butane lighters!

MSNBC.com : Butane lighters to be banned from airline flights

It strikes me as rather ridiculous that lighters would be banned as a flight risk because of the potential they could be used to detonate a bomb, at the same time they are considering allowing cell phones.

Seems like the old men in the FCC need to wake-up to the 21st century and realize that cell-phones are a common means that terrorists use to detonate bombs.

globalsecurity.org : Cell phones jury-rigged to detonate bombs

Whereas a terrorist with a butane lighter would have to have to have physical access to his bomb apparatus (in other words it would have to be in his carry-on or on his person), a cell-phone bomb would allow the bomber to put a potentially larger bomb into the cargo hold of a plane via normal check-in baggage.

Can any of us imagine a terrorist with a lighter, trying to strike a fuse in the passenger cabin without alerting suspicion? I would think the scenario is pretty implausible. On the other hand, wouldn't it be easier for the very same terrorist to dial a cell number to detonate a bomb located in the cargo hold?

I think the problem here is that the FCC is trying to push an industry agenda, without seriously considering the security ramifications.

Another case of "idiots at the helm" of our government.

Sheesh.

-->Rascilon<--