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 ...
Now that is elaborate. As long as we don't get Marvin Gaye.
Wonder if he was coming to the US to transfer some funds to his posse!
When you coming home Yusef, I don't know when, but we'll get together then...
That's cause he was All By Himself -- he don't wanna be -- All By Himself --- anymore. Did you know, that when he was young, he never needed anyone? And making love was just for fun. Those days are gone. (Boo hoo hoo)
Perhaps praising Osama and justifying 9/11 has something to do with it (watch list).
Cancer.
"Vote for me, I'm one of you."
They must be the only ones who do. I know, they're not talking 'bout moving in, and they don't want to change their life....groan.
You can find most of them at Amazon now.
That pic looks like Mel Brooks in a beard!
My mind, my mind...you have placed that heinous song in my mind...(PaMom holds, her head and runs in circles)...
"Kerry's bracelet reads: WWJFKD?"
That's after he has to read the other bracelet to find out who he is and when to take his meds. =O
He brings back vivid 70s memories to me. I can picture him on "Midnight Special" on a billing with Nicolette Larson and Andrew Gold.
He looks like a Paul Simon shiek in this picture.
Looks like the FBI caught a little Cat Scratch Fever!!
As long as he stays in his Chevy Van, that's all right with me.
Hi PA Mom -- and then there was his stuff with Raspberries -- "Go All The Way" and "Just Want To Be With You" and others I have blotted from my mind. We are dredging up a lot of bad 70s stuff here, aren't we? Sort of a post Rather blowout.
Maybe next time he'll go saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiling....
Tha canvas can do miracles.
I was surprised by this - he was strongly against the attacks on 9/11. I remember getting really stoned listening to him back in '73. I don't remember much else until around '85.
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