Posted on 09/21/2004 7:05:56 PM PDT by blogblogginaway
WASHINGTON - A plane bound for Washington from London was diverted to Maine on Tuesday after passenger Yusuf Islam — formerly known as pop singer Cat Stevens (news) — showed up on a U.S. watch list, federal officials said.
United Airlines Flight 919 had already taken off from London en route to Dulles International Airport when the match was made between the passenger and the watch list, said Nico Melendez, a spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration.
The plane was met by federal agents at Maine's Bangor International Airport around 3 p.m., Melendez said.
Federal officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, identified the individual as Islam.
One official said Islam, 56, was identified by the Advanced Passenger Information System, which requires airlines to send passenger information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection's National Targeting Center. TSA was then contacted and requested that the plane land at the nearest airport, the official said.
"He was interviewed and denied admission to the United States on national security grounds," said Homeland Security spokesman Dennis Murphy. He said the man would be put on the first available flight out of the country Wednesday.
Islam, who was born Stephen Georgiou, took Cat Stevens as a stage name and had a string of hits in the 1960s and '70s, including "Wild World" and "Morning Has Broken." Last year he released two songs, including a re-recording of his '70s hit "Peace Train," to express his opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq (news - web sites).
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Did he do 'Billy Don't Be a Hero,' too? (grabbing my head and resuming my running in circles)....
Well its not far down to paradise, at least its not for me..
I like that picture of Kerry. He's sure to strike fear in the hearts of our enemies. If they see that picture, they won't be able to sleep at night. They'll be up all night laughing.
That's the man officer -- the one who made the song that kept "Muskrat Love" from being the worst of all time. (And his sister Susan Jacks and the Poppy Family -- "Which Way You Goin', Billy" and "That's Where I Went Wrong."). Bad music bump.
He supported the fatwa against Salman Rushdie. 'Nuff said.
Okay, and now we call out Robert John. "Sad Eyes," come on down.
Did he do 'Billy Don't Be a Hero,' too? (grabbing my head and resuming my running in circles)....
I think he did it on the 'Night Chicago Died'
That was Bo Donaldson.
He has supported Islamic terrorism in the past. That's enough for me.
Yup
Oh, baby it’s a wild world.
Kerry to Tahhreeeeezaaaaa...."Me and you and a dog named boo, travelin and a livin off the land!!!"
No tea for the tillerman tonight!
"Don't Say You Don't Remember" by Beverly Bremers. Apropos of absolutely nothing, hadn't thought of the song in years and just throw it out there for your amusement.
Couldn't they have just opened a hatch and dropped him off instead of inconveniencing all the other passengers?
More like Catch Bull At Four.
Paper Lace did 'The Night Chicago Died."...
No doubt! Just throw a chute on him, open the hatch and give him a good swift kick right in his a$$!!
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