As I recall, after the Oklahoma City bombing it was reported that in many countries Ammonium Nitrate is not sold in pure form. Rather it is sold mixed with something that does not lower its fertilizer value but does make it hard to detonate. I guess the US never adopted this approach.

Mr. Ross - Considering the day if you pulled off your top secret immodium nitrate operation of planting it within blocks of the White House would not better judgement say to notify to authorities of this weakness instead of telling the bad guys through television that this can be done. While you are on a roll why not tomorrow night tell all the youngsters in America how to make meth in their bath tub? You can not even let your children watch the news these days as they may think that the above may be something to do to get attention. If you go out on your investigative reports the authorities should be notified before the general public and if the authorities fail to produce identifity that weakness. I thought with Charles Gibson being the news anchor that some of the twisted drama might be removed from the newscast; however, I was wrong.

It is my understanding that the fertilizer that can be bought now is not explosive grade no matter how much you buy. If that is true then your story is helping to feed my perception that the news media does not do their research before reporting what they consider "noteworthy news". Can you dispute this?

I can't beleive the details of this story. One thing we DO NOT need is telling those who would wish us ill how easy it is to get what is needed to create a massive bomb. Now, I realize that the "big time" terrorists (al Qaeda etc.) most likely figured this out but what about smaller groups or even individual people who may be out to do evil. IF this needs to be reported,(and that I think is a big IF) perhaps just a shorted story, without a lot of detail, that5 ABC News was able obtain some items to create a bomb. No need for details. Why give someone ideas or information they don't know.

Please consider this in the future.

There is a major flaw in your investigative experiment to buy mass quantities of ammonium nitrate, your men who purchased the fertilizer were working class white men. Do really expect a 75 year old experienced hardware store owner to question a large purchase of fertilizer by these men. If there were two Arabic men that barely spoke any English making this purchase, the red flags would be flying!!!
Yeah... Tim McVeigh.... blah, blah, blah,... that's the past, we're in the age of Muslim Terrorism. Please lighten up on your endless pursuit to make the Bush Administration look like they're not doing enough to prevent attacks (5 Years, 0 Attacks).

So do you want cheap tomatoes or not?
And
Why does that sound familiar?

I really appreciated the Movie "Path to 911", but was disgusted to see Brian Ross' report immediately afterward telling terrorists about more of our security weaknesses, and how they might strike us again. You talk about the lack of accountibility in our government, but who is Brian Ross accountable to?
Dale

I thought the "Path to 9/11" was a well made film, and I congratulate ABC for not capitulating under pressure to sensor the program. I am angry that Bill Clinton and the Democrats have forgotten what FREEDOM OF SPEACH means in America!!

Brian,
A sensitive issue still remains. Should we trust the information the government is supplying to the press & our people? Is the information valid? Is taxpayer funds being diverted in direct interest towards long time players in the government stature (i.e JFK's brothers). Power and money have long term consequences for the next generations.

Does the president of the U.S. have full control in informing the general public the sencere truth of current events regarding where we stand as american citizens?

There is plenty of information on the internet that will simply saturate the true events of the lawfull or leagal aspects of the american way of life. It simply scares me when the government (persay) covers up many of the operating aspects of our government. Not just Washington DC but ALL of us citizens together that make the power to mould the U.S. into the most ideal place on earth to raise families & live life life to the fullest.

I'm proud to be an american & veteran but scared with the aspects of the undisclosed truth the government may be covering up.

gary n
ft wayne, in

Should background checks be required to purchase knives, rope, plastic bags and water because people can be killed with them?

This story & it's irresponsible sensationalism is disconcerting.

While I'm no bomb-making expert...
Why do I have to register to own a gun, when college-aged kids can walk into a store and buy bomb-making materials or meth ingredients?

If we have to register for a shotgun or Sudafed, why are special-interest groups keeping a strangle-hold on Capitol Hill?

The clerk who sold the ammonium nitrate to the white men and women was far better at identifying the enemy than our own "highly-trained" TSA agents. Since they did not fit the terrorist profile he made a reasonable decision. Meanwhile, the TSA agent is forced to search the bag and shoes of an 80 year old American woman from Des Moines, Iowa. Talk about wasting tax dollars!

Mr. Ross,

In your report tonight, you repeatedly mentioned that lobbyists and the Farm Bureau continue to block bills that would restrict the purchase of Ammonium Nitrate. My US Government knowledge may not be the most complete, but from what I remember, lobbyists do not vote on bills. Why not expose those members of congress who voted against these bills? Lobbyists certainly have influence, but ultimately, each individual congressperson most vote for what is right. I want to see those who voted against these bills explain their vote(s).

Several Senators should have been arrested by the FBI for extortion when they sent the letter to ABC threatening their license unless they caved in. Although they were only mimicing Jessee Jackson et al, so I guess they were actually following the Dems regular playbook.

The next time you have some investagative report about buying ammonium nitrate and not getting caught or questioned, try using some arabic men wearing dress shoes who load the stuff in a rent a car. I put my money on the feed store owners kicking themselves and holding them until athorities arrive. Stop crying about background checks.... give me a break, if I farm a thousand acres, I need a background check to buy fertilizer?

I think you can see the quality of ABC's think tank in this event from GMA. Where a terrorist researcher did not know nor had ever heard of the mafia called "the mob" and the person is a producer that is supposed to investigate resources...its to funny not to read..

While Brian Ross and crew were able to buy ammonium nitrate, were they able to buy anything to detonate it with? The mixture won't go off by itself. How hard is it to buy blasting caps anonymously nowadays? How hard is it to buy anything that would set it off?

Mr. Ross,
I feel that we need the same type of system we use to purchase guns and explosives used for Ammonium nitrate. Americans want the Government to do everything they can to make all of us safe but they dont want any inconviences in their lives. We are acting like spoiled children. Learn and plan for these things that might take a bit longer. I would rather have a little inconvience than go thru another 9-11 again. How soon some of us forget!!! Stop criticising and do your part.
Chris

Whenever I get a cold or sinus headache, I have to fill out a form with my name and driver's license number in order to purchase pseudophedrine (Sudafed). This is because it is the main ingredient in making crystal meth.

I feel sure that more people buy Sudafed than buy ammonium nitrate, a main ingredient for simple bombs.

If you can inconvenience me at the grocery store or retail store, I think you should be able inconvenience farmers who are purchasing fertilizer. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure we all have purchased fertilizer at one time or another. The only difference is that the farmers have a lobbying group fighting on their behalf.

Yes, it's a little more time-comsuming and frustrating, but what's a little time compared to the overall safety of our country? They can just have that information ready and in-hand when they pick up their order. I don't see what the big deal is that they have a lobbying group fighting this.

Great analogy about meth Grits65. What about buying gasoline though? Shouldn't a background check be required? It seems like that could be used for bomb making. Wouldn't a Ryder truck with a few 55 gallon drums full of it go big?