Shots Across The Bow

Let's Talk About TracFones

I don't want to rain on anybodies parade or anything, but can anybody tell me why you would need thousands of cell phones to blow up a dozen or so airplanes?

I didn't think so.

So why the barrage of young Islamic men buying thousands of these things? Try this theory on for size.

The phones were not bought as trigger mechanisms for bombs. Instead they were bought precisely for the reason those buying them have said.

For resale at a high profit.

They also told officers they get stopped frequently and say they buy the phones for $20 and sell them elsewhere for $38. They sell them without the packaging or charger.

Sell the charger for an additional small fee, and you've doubled your money.

Now, this begs the question, who would pay twice the going rate for a phone?

The obvious, but uninformative answer is "Someone who can't buy one through a regular outlet." So let's try a little deduction to see if we can narrow this group down a bit.

So, can anybody think of a large population (thousands) in the US who might want an untraceable cell phone? That might not feel comfortable, or able, to go into a store and buy one on their own? That might need a phone with low cost international rates?

The picture begins to clear now, doesn't it? You don't need thousands of phones for triggers unless you're going to make thousands of bombs. On the other hand, thousands of phones, sold for a $20 profit under the table, means thousands of dollars of untraceable cash for our Islamic buddies (Don't call them terrorists or fascists!) to fund their next practical joke.

By dealing with illegals, the transaction is off the grid, evading all the surveillance methods DHS, and the NSA are using.

This makes more sense and is a bit less frightening than the idea of thousands of terrorist bombs spread all over the US, ready to explode at the touch of a speed dial button.

Posted by Rich at August 11, 2006 8:40 PM | TrackBack