Useless bomb detectors in use.

**CrossLOPER** · 01-25-2010, 17:00

The ADE-651 is a magical bomb detector that runs on the power of... you. It is seeing usage in Iraq. Aside from the likelihood that someone was simply bribed to ignore the dangers, how is it that the ADE-651 managed to become so successful? Moreover, how many more products like this are on the market?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programme...ht/8471187.stm

**Whacker** · 01-25-2010, 17:11

I'm very seriously in favor of seeking the death penalty for Jim McCormick over this.

**Banquo's Ghost** · 01-25-2010, 17:26

The security/terrorism industry is rife with such snake oil salesmen. And governments all too willing to hand over cash in biblical quantities to them.

Originally Posted by Straight Faced Honest Guv

The training manual for the device says it can even, with the right card, detect elephants, humans and 100 dollar bills.

If it wasn't so serious, the guy should get an award for the best sales line of the century.

In similar news, those multi-million dollar airport screeners don't work either. Well, not for explosives, but you can see children naked, which has to be a plus for someone.

**Vladimir** · 01-25-2010, 17:20

Major General Jehad al-Jabiri, who appeared at a press conference with Mr McCormick following the December explosions, said he did not "care about Sandia" and knew more about bombs than the Americans:

"Whether it's magic or scientific, what I care about is it detects bombs," he said.

And policemen manning checkpoints in Baghdad have told the BBC that you need to be relaxed to use the ADE-651 and that it does not work properly if the user is stressed or has a high heart rate.

That's all I need to read.

**al Roumi** · 01-25-2010, 17:30

Oh my god that is truely horrific. I honestly hope this guy has some sort of condition or disability (not just extreme venality) that might reasonably exempt him from being judged as a rational human being, in command of his faculties. Otherwise, I would be ~~ambivalent to~~ relieved for him to disappear under a bus or suffer a horrendous shaving accident. He'd better have

believed his own detectors worked... Too many have died if this is really fraud.

Then again, who on earth bought them without trials or evidence???

**rory_20_uk** · 01-25-2010, 17:55

He is selling junk. But why was the junk bought - for millions of dollars? Did they not get it reviewed - or even look to the Americans who have already stated on two occasions that it is worthless.

Now the authorities are so embarrassed they're defending the crap, lest they are seen to have wasted a moderate fortune.

**al Roumi** · 01-25-2010, 18:18

Originally Posted by rory_20_uk

Now the authorities are so embarrassed they're defending the crap, lest they are seen to have wasted a moderate fortune.

... or face a mutiny by the unfortunate people they've equipped with this junk.

**Husar** · 01-25-2010, 19:44

So if it's proven to be fraud, they can't get their money back?

But yeah, it's rather upsetting.

And Banquo, I saw that before, it's a scanner that scans for body heat IIRC and they say the guy should have been scanned from the sides as well in a realistic scenario.
It's still bogus though as someone who wants to kill himself anyway might just as well shove the explosives up his **** and hide the rest in his mouth and the scanners wouldn't see it, whether they detect heat or send something that bumps off the skin, I'm certainly not convinced.