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Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

Maggot

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood"
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Minuteman
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  • Jul 27, 2007
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    29,830
    Virginia
    <span style="font-size: 20pt"> <span style="color: #FF0000">FAIL </span> </span>

    SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - A man arrested on New Years Eve at a Texas airport with explosives is an Army-trained demolitions expert and member of the elite Green Berets who served in Afghanistan and is stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, military officials said on Monday.

    Trey Scott Atwater, 30, was being held in the Midland, Texas County Jail on a federal charge of attempting to board an aircraft with an explosive, the FBI said.

    He was detained after a routine Transportation Security Administration (TSA) check noticed he had explosives in his carry on luggage while trying to board an American Eagle flight from Midland International Airport to Dallas Saturday morning, according to an FBI statement.

    Officials declined to speculate on the reason Atwater had the explosives, which city officials said were in "military grade explosives wrapping" in his bag.

    "At no time was there any danger to the people at Midland International Airport or the people of Midland Texas," Mark Morgan, Special Agent in Charge of the El Paso office of the FBI said in a statement.

    Michael Martinez, an FBI spokesman in El Paso, declined to say what type of explosive he was carrying, or the quantity of the explosive. It is not known whether he was in uniform at the time. Records show Atwater is a 1999 graduate of a Midland, Texas high school.

    The address listed for Atwater in the Midland jail records is the home of Bonnie Atwater, Trey's mother. A woman who identified herself as Bonnie Atwater at that address told Reuters "I have no comment," and then hung up the phone.

    Lt. Col. Tom Bryant, a spokesman for Army Special Operations Command at Ft. Bragg confirmed that Atwater is an Army Sergeant First Class in the elite Green Berets, assigned as an instructor at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Ft. Bragg, where he is a member of the Special Forces Engineers.

    Bryant told Reuters on Monday Atwater is an engineering and demolitions expert, and in that role would be "comfortable" with explosives, although he did not know whether he would have had explosives on his trip back home to Midland.

    "I can't say if that might have been required," Bryant said.

    Bryant confirmed that Atwater recently returned from deployment to Afghanistan. A notice in the Odessa American newspaper in March of 2010 said at that time Atwater was preparing for his third deployment to Afghanistan.

    Bryant said Atwater's arrest had surprised military personnel at Ft. Bragg.

    "We in the Special Operations Command take pride in upholding the highest standards. The entire team is disappointed," Bryant said.

    The Army is cooperating with the FBI and local authorities in Texas, and he said military punishment is also possible for Atwater, regardless of the outcome of the federal case.
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    I don't buy someone that smart, a special ops engineer/instructor would be that stupid....more to it.
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: UKDslayer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't buy someone that smart, a special ops engineer/instructor would be that stupid....more to it.</div></div>

    Agreed.
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    People this stuff is like pens and paper clips to an office geek, he always has them lying around! I bet he just forgot to take the shit out of his normal every day carry bag...No big supper secret covert testing of TSA. I mean we have all seen airplane movie were grandma gets grabbed by security after the terrorist with the RPG's walked threw in front of her!!!Yes TSA is that bad, and yes they hassle every one but the terrorist!
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Finris</div><div class="ubbcode-body">People this stuff is like pens and paper clips to an office geek, he always has them lying around! I bet he just forgot to take the shit out of his normal every day carry bag...No big supper secret covert testing of TSA. I mean we have all seen airplane movie were grandma gets grabbed by security after the terrorist with the RPG's walked threw in front of her!!!Yes TSA is that bad, and yes they hassle every one but the terrorist! </div></div>

    It aint paper clips, dude. You dont just FORGET a couple of pounds of platic explosive...or what ever it was.

    "Time to fly back to Bragg....lets see, socks, pants, shirts, toothbrush, plastic epliosive, check.....". As my wise old granddaddy used to say "Naw, naw, naw, boy, you aint thinking right."
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    Being that I work in LE, I love how the media only gets half the story then goes and blows it up(wow, no pun intended). Media in general is very good about leaving particular; usually important things out of a story causing the public to read in-between the lines....more often then not, to far between the lines. What really hacks me off is how they release where this man lives, his moms name, and where he went to school. Oh and by the way he is an ELITE GREEN BERET, and is an instructor at the SPECIAL WARFARE ACADEMY....are you kidding me. YOU(media) MORONS!!!!
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    The GB’s were tasked with doing this very thing in the 80’s and early 90’s due to the threats present at that time (and no, I am not mixing this up with marcinko either). It would not surprise me if they are doing it again.

    greyshirts, I agree. They went way too far with information presented in that news clip.
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    If it was a test then he wouldn't have had a block of C-4. He would have had something much smaller that contained no actual explosive properties that could cause any damage, but residue, and he would have been working in conjunction with a federal agency(and NOT have been arrested). Hell the TSA, can probably do that themselves, and they most likely do.

    I'm willing to bet that if he came straight from overseas to his home in Texas, that some how an accident was made and the C-4 was placed in his luggage somehow(or in a backpack or bag that he carried with him in combat), maybe in a place he didn't check.

    He did after all get caught in the airport trying to return to Bragg, which means that he probably had it with him when he flew oveerseas to the States.
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    Once you get caught with a smoke grenade in your bag, you'd think he check better for the C-4....

    http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2012/01/03/1147733?sac=Local

    <span style="font-style: italic">Atwater flew out of Fayetteville Regional Airport to Texas on Christmas Eve. Security at the Fayetteville airport detained Atwater after finding a military smoke grenade in his bag, but the security apparently did not detect the C-4. Transportation Security Administration officers allowed Atwater to continue on the flight to Midland after confiscating the grenade and admonishing him, the FBI affidavit said.</span>
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    Damn, the army hands this stuff out to enlisted without even thinking about it. There were times if I wanted too I could have taken M67 with me, I didn't. I have forgotten smoke grenades in my ruck before and never though twice about it. Also, I know guys that took flash bangs and artillery simulators with them, it never seemed like a big deal. However, I wasn't flying and it was before 9/11.
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    I would wager a breakfast sandwich that this guy was merely testing security limitations. C4 is useless without blast caps. It would probably be the safest thing to transport.
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Deputy Dawg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would wager a breakfast sandwich that this guy was merely testing security limitations. C4 is useless without blast caps. It would probably be the safest thing to transport. </div></div>

    A block of C4 is WAAAAY too fucking big for a security check. Think smaller. A lot smaller and controlled in it's use, even for a security check(If it was a check like this then even a senior TSA official would know). Imagine those little bits of drugs that they use to practice with a K-9. Plus you would think that they do routine checks on their systems all the time.

    Granted that there where no detonators, blasting caps, or anything else to set it off, but you seriously NEVER want to take a chance with any explosive.
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sinister</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Agreed.

    Pre 9-11 I'd get home (after flying commercial) to find all kinds of one-off stuff on the bottom of the kit bag. </div></div>

    I hear ya.

    I've surprised myself before, like the time my hygiene kit was inspected during the layout at ranger school and there was a buckshot round in there for some reason. still don't know how it got there. no big deal, tho. just got smoked for a bit

    I was also task saturated during SUT in the Q, forgot I had some M60 initiators in my pocket... not finishing that story

    I feel for him, I hope that SWTG doesn't do anything too rash. Damn army and those knee-jerk reactions... some people act like they've never done anything before. fuckin BS

    some dude will probably flame me, probably someone who according to them hasn't ever done anything or has never flagged their buddy on accident
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nmcclure</div><div class="ubbcode-body">he's a good dude. If Trey says it was mistake, it was. </div></div>

    +1, I know that these guys carry the stuff and probably leave it in their rucks as I would leave a PRC-77 battery. It's completely safe, safer than a PRC-77 battery in fact.

    If this goes to trial I hope the jury understands the phrase "Jury Nullification".
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    One time a few years back I rushed to the airport from the range and brought a live M60 fuse ignitor. I got to the airport late and I was hearing the last boarding call over the PA for me. Security guys found it, but luckily both were former Marines and I told them to keep or whatever I just want to get home to my family.
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    I'd like to hope that this is not a career-ending mistake, but rather a career-shifting "wise guy" operation being begun.

    Get this guy's face in your memory, and then RUN if you ever find him griping about the **** guv'mint and offering to hook you up (or asking you to connect him) with anything "interesting".

    OTOH, it may be what it appears. I doubt a test, as those are usually either totally low-profile if real, or shouted from the rooftops if fake. I for one have little tolerance for advertising our security failings.
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    It was probably a mistake. Given that he teaches demolitions, they should probably quietly sweep this one under the rug and let the guy get back to work.

    People screw up. Military packs sometimes have too many pockets. My brother once lost a pretty souvenir ULU knife with a bone handle and found it traveling through TSA.

    When they went to find it, it took several minutes. The knife was lost on the trip- we thought it was gone forever- it turned out the pack was just really hard to find things in.
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    He is on his way back to Bragg. In a news report I saw this morning the reporter stated that he didn't remember that was in his bag and he had brought that bag home from Afganastan in April.
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    When I was in service active duty; I had just been flown in from a mission and had to go to a different base than my own (different branch of service). I had too present my ID at the gate mental midget security saw I still had a non issue weapon. The head of security got called and their was a few tense moments when this gentleman demanded I had over said weapon. I told gentleman to reinsert his head back up were it came from. The security folks finally got a hold of a senior officer from my branch that was on base and had them come out and demand my hand it over. I did. I got escorted back to my base with nice guy. My base commander got me right after I got on base a very unpleasant 30 minute ass chewing. The senior enlisted man went in with me and spoke up for me. I got the why didn't you come here first and put up you mission stuff. UH it was gonna take 4 hours or more and I was only gonna make appointment if I went straight there. No charges no nothing and when we left to Base commanders office the head non com handed me back my non issue weapon and said don't get caught again. IF G-D WILLING EVERY ONE HAS THEIR HEAD OUT OF THEIR ASSES THAT IS WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN HERE!
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    Simply put: if it was a test it wouldnt be in the news, and the kid wouldnt be in jail. You sure wouldnt purposelly put the kids personal info in the news if you plan to keep using him.
    More than likely I speculate, due to the high weapon smuggling here in texas, that either he was keeping some, selling it, or carelessly forgot. Didnt we recently have that seal thay was selling ak's, due to no search proceedure for seals?
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    hmmmm....
    cool.gif


    -----
    http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/1...me=domesticNews

    By Jim Forsyth

    SAN ANTONIO | Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:54pm EST

    SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - <span style="color: #3333FF"><span style="font-weight: bold">Federal prosecutors dismissed all charges on Friday agai</span>nst</span> an Army Special Forces sergeant who was arrested at a Texas airport on New Year's Eve with 2.5 pounds of the military explosive C-4 in his carry-on luggage.

    Trey Atwater, 30, a demolitions expert stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, had been charged with attempting to board an aircraft with an explosive device, a felony carrying a punishment of up to 10 years in prison.

    Atwater told the FBI he was unaware the explosives were in his bag, which he grabbed from his North Carolina home when he prepared to fly home to Texas for the Christmas holidays. Airport screeners apparently failed to detect the C-4 on the outbound flight to his hometown of Midland.

    U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman told Reuters an extensive investigation by the FBI revealed that the explosive, widely used in demolition and urban combat missions in Afghanistan, was inserted into the backpack when Atwater was on active duty in that country.

    Pitman said Atwater, who has served three tours of duty in Afghanistan with the Army Special Forces, had apparently forgotten the C-4 was there when he grabbed the backpack out of the garage of his home in North Carolina.

    "Under the standards applicable to this prosecution, the government believes it cannot be proved that Atwater committed a criminal offense," Pitman said. He said the lot number of the C-4 in Atwater's backpack matched a lot number which had been 'exclusively shipped to Afghanistan.'

    E. Jason Leach, Atwater's Texas-based attorney, did not immediately return a call to his office requesting comment.

    "Atwater's work record shows that he has been an above average soldier in many respects, with excellent ratings in most individual categories and recent overall ratings of among the best," Pitman said. "Nothing in his records raises questions about his stability."

    Pitman said while the motion filed today will end the criminal charges facing Atwater, he "will likely face administrative or other measures by the U.S. Army."

    Atwater spent several days in jail in Midland following his arrest, and was later released by a federal magistrate to the custody of Army officials at Fort Bragg.
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    " Federal prosecutors dismissed all charges on Friday" GREAT!! This was simply a tool that was forgoten in a tool box at the end of a job. Regards
     
    Re: Green Beret tries to board airplane with explosive

    I represented an ex-federal agent only 2 weeks after 911 for taking a gun into the airport. There were only about 5 flights a day at that time and he shut the whole airport down for hours and all flights were delayed for hours. It was a nightmare. He told me he did not know the gun was in the carry-on bag. fortunately, it was unloaded. I emphasized the fact that he was an ex-federal employee and his current job was in jeopardy if he was convicted. the prosecuting attorney agreed to keep his SIG (and destroy it as a penalty). I was able to get him probation and the charges expunged if he kept his nose clean for 3 years, which he did. He was damn lucky and the prosecution was very accommodating.

    I hope the prosecution recognizes the life commitment a green beret made to safeguard our judicial system. I just have so much respect for the force multipliers that I don't want his career to be "toast" even though, I already am "Sir Toast."

    Sad.