Bomb On A Flight From Namibia To Germany Was A Fake

[Pole]

Every day, we rely on the media to deliver credible information re the economy, politics and the overall situation around the globe.

Most of us on here know that the media constantly lie when it comes to housing issues (house prices, renting, future trends, etc.)

But can we trust our media at all? Here's a very recent example:

As we heard on Thursday on the BBC and other news channels - Germany was on high alert for a terrorist attack when authorities announced on Thursday that a suspicious piece of luggage had been found on a Munich-bound flight in Namibia — sparking fears that al-Qaeda operatives are getting one step closer to staging a bombing campaign that would hit Germans at home. French and British security services have also been put on a higher state of alert.

And here's a long article from TIME about 'Is Germany Europe's Next Terrorism Target?'. Obviously, people at TIME love to spread fear of terrorism.

However, this morning, we're told from various sources (e.g. Bloomberg) that the bomb was in fact a fake planted by the US authorities:

Suspected Bomb Found at Namibia Airport May Be Security Test, ZDF TV Says

So, will the BBC, TIME and other media now apologise for their fear mongering articles? Will they re-examine other past terror alerts with this new discovery in mind?

What if most 'al-Quada bombs' were in fact planted by the US operatives??? How can we know? Whom can we trust on this issue? What's the point of being scared of terrorism if some bombs appear to be planted by our governments themselves? :angry:

Strangely, this new discovery is mainly covered by mainland European media and are not reported by the BBC (as of yet) or any of the main UK TV channels or newspapers. Silence.

Is there any issue, any subject on which we can expect truthful and actual information from the media? Or is all news reporting just like the house prices reporting - all lies, bias, chaos, provocation and propaganda?

[OnlyMe]

The Yemen suspicious toner package was originally reported as NOT being a bomb. Then it suddenly became a bomb when the US MSM took hold fo the story.

[athom]

I don't think many people are actually being terrorised by the media, it's become background noise now. Still it's enough to keep people from questioning our wars too much which i presume is the desired effect.

[@contradevian]

I don't think many people are actually being terrorised by the media, it's become background noise now. Still it's enough to keep people from questioning our wars too much which i presume is the desired effect.

The BBC decided to drag out former Labour Home Secretary John Reid (remember him?) to waffle about airport security. Actually this was not to the plane "bomb" but in response to a recent statement made, that most airport security checks were pointless.

Of course what the BBC failed to point out was that (Baron) John Reid was not entirely impartial on the matter, as Group Consultant for G4 security! Ker ching!

[JustAnotherProle]

I don't think many people are actually being terrorised by the media, it's become background noise now. Still it's enough to keep people from questioning our wars too much which i presume is the desired effect.

It would be terrible for the arms trade and associated industries in the Uk & USA if the wars suddenly stopped wouldn't it? Perpetual conflict is good for business!

[Toto deVeer]

I don't think many people are actually being terrorised by the media, it's become background noise now. Still it's enough to keep people from questioning our wars too much which i presume is the desired effect.

That may vary from country to country. I don't think that Europeans are as easily spooked as the Americans, whether they read the MSM or not.

But the Americans, for some reason, are just like cattle when the MSM reports on these things...

Edit: I continue to be astonished at the level of intrusion that is tolerated over there.

[TwoWolves]

The BBC decided to drag out former Labour Home Secretary John Reid (remember him?) to waffle about airport security. Actually this was not to the plane "bomb" but in response to a recent statement made, that most airport security checks were pointless.

Of course what the BBC failed to point out was that (Baron) John Reid was not entirely impartial on the matter, as Group Consultant for G4 security! Ker ching!

Exactly. This sort of nonsense has more to do with government contracts and augmenting government powers to control us than actual fear-mongering.

[Papa Serf]

I find it very odd that a few weeks ago my local news agents were selling high explosives.

[or in excess of]

I find it very odd that a few weeks ago my local news agents were selling high explosives.

Does anyone know why the roadside bombs used by the taliban are not called bombs, rather than the ridiculously named improvised explosive device?

[athom]

I find it very odd that a few weeks ago my local news agents were selling high explosives.

What's the betting this Tree Blast 'Terror Links' Probe will turn out to be kids playing with left over fireworks suspected links to al-qaeda Yemen

[Charlie Don't Surf]

If you do not see it with your own eyes then you can't believe anything. It's fine to not believe a good proportion of what you read in the MSM. Just don't believe all the alternatives either!

Does anyone know why the roadside bombs used by the taliban are not called bombs, rather than the ridiculously named improvised explosive device?

That is a very interesting question

[SomethingHasToGive]

Does anyone know why the roadside bombs used by the taliban are not called bombs, rather than the ridiculously named improvised explosive device?

My guess is it is because of the DoD's and MoD's attachment to TLA's in order to make the military sound more professional. Bomb sounds so mundane.

TLA = Three Letter Acronym

DOD = US Department of Defense

MOD = British Ministry of Defence

[monks]

Did you notice how a recent change in attitude from both passengers and airlines about the excessive security for US bound flights from Europe (when internal US flights do not follow the same rigorous checks), was quickly followed with the discovery of a bomb in a printer cartridge a few days later??... hmmm

[Pole]

The latest developments have hit the BBC News website now... It's official - the bomb was a fake.

But I doubt we'll ever know the details.

BBC NEWS: Germany says Namibia package was security test dummy

It's a scary world...

[Number79]

So, is this a back track from unabashed scaremongering or cover story for the real deal?

Anyone got a coin I can flip?

[athom]

Surely the focus on Germany lately is linked to their public abhorrence to any involvement in Afghanistan. They're just not terrorised enough yet.

[Number79]

Surely the focus on Germany lately is linked to their public abhorrence to any involvement in Afghanistan. They're just not terrorised enough yet.

with the yanks holding their hand up to planting it?

bit obvious isnt it?

......unless the yanks planted it but it was real and they got caught out

[athom]

So, is this a back track from unabashed scaremongering or cover story for the real deal?

Anyone got a coin I can flip?

No this is a quiet press release to barely temper the "under attack" impression given out by the initial hyperbole.

Just checked, nothing about this on the BBC front page. Job done.

[Number79]

No this is a quiet press release to barely temper the "under attack" impression given out by the initial hyperbole.

Just checked, nothing about this on the BBC front page. Job done.

This wont scare the krauts. A home made bomb on one plane isnt going to make them sweat, many of them still remember spitfires and wellingtons

[athom]

with the yanks holding their hand up to planting it?

bit obvious isnt it?

A lot of Germans went to work today feeling sure they were under attack, this evening a small few will discover they aren't, the rest will continue to think they are. The Yanks have not held their hand up - from the BBC "He added that neither the US, German nor Nambian governments were aware of the package."

[athom]

This wont scare the krauts. A home made bomb on one plane isnt going to make them sweat, many of them still remember spitfires and wellingtons

It doesn't need to scare them, it doesn't even need to make them support the war, it just needs to lessen their opposition to it.

Oh and forgot to mention this aspect - He said the extra security would remain in place "until further notice"

[Pole]

It's now becoming laughable...

From the BBC article:

"The outcome is that the luggage turned out to be a so-called real-test suitcase made by a company in the United States.

"This company is a manufacturer of alarm and detection systems and these real-test suitcases are built to test security measures," he said.

Mr de Maiziere did not say who had left the suitcase, but said German agents were still involved in the investigation.

Looks like the Germans don't know how to hide the truth now. But most of us would easily guess whose suitcase it was...

[Pole]

oh, no, no... please, not the 'Current Affairs' zone...

Mods, please, can this be moved at least to the 'off-topic' secton?