Iraqi Reality Show Plants Car Bombs on Celebrities

File under “S” for stupid.

Move over Punk’d, a new show on Iraq television makes unwitting contestants think they are going to jail after they are pulled over at a security checkpoint and a explosive device is found in their vehicle.

The show “Put Him in [Camp] Bucca” has received numerous protests but continues to air.

Popular public figures are tricked by being invited to the headquarters of  TV station Al Baghdadia to be interviewed, while en route a fake bomb gets planted in their car while they were being searched by Iraqi soldiers — who amazingly are in on the prank.

The unwitting celebrities are then secretly filmed, Candid-Camera-style, as they reacted with shock, disbelief and anger as fake checkpoint guards shout abuses at them: “Why do you want to blow us up?” “You are a terrorist.” “How much did they pay you to do it? You will be executed.”  Quality television indeed.

Click HERE for more on the story.

And just in case you think “how dumb is it that Iraqi soldiers are doing pranks like this in a war where untold lives are being lost“?  Meet a member of the US Military who while on active duty in Iraq, decided to film his own version of Punk’d by planting a explosive device in a car during a traffic checkpoint and filming the drivers reaction.   Nice.  Click HERE for the video.

Terrorism Dry Run?

Authorities in the Netherlands arrested two U.S. residents who arrived in Amsterdam on a flight from Chicago, after U.S. authorities raised concerns about items they considered suspicious in their luggage.

The two were passengers aboard United Airlines flight 908 on Sunday night and aroused suspicion because of items found in their checked luggage, the Homeland Security department said. “The items were not deemed to be dangerous in and of themselves, and as we share information with our international partners, Dutch authorities were notified of the suspicious items. This matter continues to be under investigation,” the department said.

A law enforcement official said investigators haven’t determined whether the items in the luggage, which included cell phones apparently attached to bottles of liquid, were an attempt at a dry run for a possible plot, or if the items were packed in that manner inadvertently. The men traveled to Chicago on flights from Birmingham, Ala., and Memphis, Tenn., then changed their flights, which prompted further scrutiny, the official said.

– Something was definitely up, and to me this sounds like a “dry run” to test the system.  Items found in one of the individuals checked luggage:

• Cellphone taped to Peto-Bismol Bottle
• Several watches taped togeter
• 3 large knives
• 3 Cellphones taped together

For the full (developing) story click HERE.

** UPDATE:  The men may not be charged as the items may have just been bundled GIFTS for relatives?

IRAN – Anatomy of a Presidential Detail

the good folks over at STRATFOR posted an excellent analysis of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s security detail as he navigated the crush of the crowds during a recent public appearance.  It was during that appearance, depending on who you ask, an explosive was detonated or a firecracker thrown.  Regardless, viewing the video shows you the challenges the Iranian presidential guard faces and the marked difference between this motorcade and that of say a US President.

To watch the analysis, as a part of their Above the Tear Line series, click HERE.

See Related:  Assassination Attempt on Iran’s President

Bulletproof T-Shirts?

First we reported Bulletproof Polo’s, and now an a Fruit of the Loom that can stop a bullet?   The University of Carolina has reportedly created a breakthrough that would allow an ordinary T-Shirt to become “wearable armor” by splicing the carbon in the cotton with boron, the third hardest material on the planet.

Me personally?

I think I’m going to wait until all the beta testing is done.

For the full story on Bulletproof T-Shirts, click HERE.

See related:  Bulletproof Polo’s

Security Guard Threatens to Blow Up the NBA?

A  private security guard has just been charged with making false bomb threats against the NBA.  19 year old Jose Quesda, Jr. provided security for the NBA’s Secaucus office and allegedly made several calls from his cell phone over a 3 day period.

On a voice mail he was stated to have left the following: “ I put a bomb outside. Gonna kill all the NBA. I put a bomb outside in the bush. No way out. Gonna blow up at 9 o’clock in the morning. Good luck.” At which time the building was evacuated and the bomb squad called in.

Yeah, that was Smart.

For the full story, click HERE.

Stunt Double

Kidnapper Tries To Hire Bodyguard Firm to Help?

Still trying to get my head around this story, but apparently a man reached out to a well regarded executive protection firm and tried to enlist their aid in kidnapping a female co-worked.  Of course the firm reported it to the police and the man, a former convict was eventually arrested and charged.

Read the strange story HERE.

Stalkers Using Social Networking to Find You

A  group of independent scientist have conducted a study that shows just how easy it is to learn your whereabouts while using the geo-tagging features now popular with social networking sites such as Twitter & YouTube.

The scientist were able to use the geo-tags which gives longitude and latitude information precisely enough to identify the home in which a particular images were shot after being placed on social networking sites.   In addition to video, these tags can also be embedded in smart-phones messages and still photos.

For the full story, click HERE.

Israeli Diplomatic Bodyguard In US Guns Stolen

File this one under Suspicious: 

Apparently workers of American Airlines lost the luggage of members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security detail.  The luggage lost at JFK Airport was recovered in Los Angles, however 4 (count them, 4) handguns which were in the bag are now missing.   Airline regulations require that firearms be declared and shipped with checked luggage. 

Hope these get recovered soon.

For HERE for the full story of the Missing Bodyguard Guns.

Millionaire Leaves Bodyguard 7 Million in Will???

Gail Posner, the wealthy daughter of Victor Posner, died at age 67.  In her will she left approximately 10 Million to her daughter.   And while that’s an amazing story, particularly for our profession, like everything else there’s more to it.  Ms. Posner, might have been, well, slightly “off” before her death, as she also willed the largest portion of her inheritance (around 20 million) to her household staff so that they can care for her 3 pets???  Her only son, got pennies.

I’m thinking this one is going to court.

Read the strange story HERE.