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 ...
You're the only light this empty room has ever seen...
It's back to his "wild world" for Cat.
I think I need to be......"Up up and away in my beautiful balloon!!!"
Only if you've never...
Let your fingers do the walkin' on the telephone man...
HOw about this
OHHHHH Jackie Blue
But are you going to follow thru and buy the world a Coke?
I kinda liked Cat's music.
I really like it when all of our systems work properly!
Hey, 10CC from the Deceptive Bends LP!! Good one. He was born on a winter's day in 1951; and with the slap of a hand he had landed as the only son. Oh whoa whoa oh waht a lonely boy.
Why does Maine get stuck with all the crap terrorist sympathizers?
...Lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz, my friends all drives Porches, I must make amends...
I thought he died.
Her name was Lola, she was a show girl, with yellow feathers in her hair, and a dress cut down to there...
You are indeed on top of your game!! Yooooo left me, just when I needed you most bump (and thanks for bringing up Maria Muldaur -- I saw her about five years ago performing at a used car lot in Ontario, CA.) Have to admit, though, back in the day, I thought her act was rather seductive. Compared to, say, "You and me against the world; sometimes I think it's you and me against the world." P-U
Rot in hell Musli puke. Or whatever foreign land you have slunk off to.
He can go back to Paris leaping and hopping on a moonshadow.
I recall his "Peace Train" song long ago. I was so naive then. I thought it was a catchy tune. Now I know what a peacenik nut he is.
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