Posted on 07/15/2004 6:19:30 AM PDT by Rutles4Ever
A WWS Exclusive Article
Note from the Editors: You are about to read an account of what happened during a domestic flight that one of our writers, Annie Jacobsen, took from Detroit to Los Angeles. The WWS Editorial Team debated long and hard about how to handle this information and ultimately we decided it was something that should be shared. What does it have to do with finances? Nothing, and everything. Here is Annie's story.
On June 29, 2004, at 12:28 p.m., I flew on Northwest Airlines flight #327 from Detroit to Los Angeles with my husband and our young son. Also on our flight were 14 Middle Eastern men between the ages of approximately 20 and 50 years old. What I experienced during that flight has caused me to question whether the United States of America can realistically uphold the civil liberties of every individual, even non-citizens, and protect its citizens from terrorist threats.
On that Tuesday, our journey began uneventfully. Starting out that morning in Providence, Rhode Island, we went through security screening, flew to Detroit, and passed the time waiting for our connecting flight to Los Angeles by shopping at the airport stores and eating lunch at an airport diner. With no second security check required in Detroit we headed to our gate and waited for the pre-boarding announcement. Standing near us, also waiting to pre-board, was a group of six Middle Eastern men. They were carrying blue passports with Arabic writing. Two men wore tracksuits with Arabic writing across the back. Two carried musical instrument cases – thin, flat, 18" long. One wore a yellow T-shirt and held a McDonald's bag. And the sixth man had a bad leg -- he wore an orthopedic shoe and limped. When the pre-boarding announcement was made, we handed our tickets to the Northwest Airlines agent, and walked down the jetway with the group of men directly behind us.
My four-year-old son was determined to wheel his carry-on bag himself, so I turned to the men behind me and said, "You go ahead, this could be awhile." "No, you go ahead," one of the men replied. He smiled pleasantly and extended his arm for me to pass. He was young, maybe late 20's and had a goatee. I thanked him and we boarded the plan.
Once on the plane, we took our seats in coach (seats 17A, 17B and 17C). The man with the yellow shirt and the McDonald's bag sat across the aisle from us (in seat 17E). The pleasant man with the goatee sat a few rows back and across the aisle from us (in seat 21E). The rest of the men were seated throughout the plane, and several made their way to the back.
(Excerpt) Read more at womenswallstreet.com ...
Which would make them fools in the least. Until we become omniscient, these guys ought to be under surveillance.
The reason no newspapers reported this is because it has "racist" overtones.
Heck, the WWJ, in the first line of the story admits that it almost did not run the story. The author also defends herself (against whom, I don't know) about not being a racist.
There's your answer. Also, there is no overt act here like a dude shaving. Only a bunch of Muslims on a plane peeing.
Only 6 poeple in that band.
Add 8 more instruments and maybe they were the Arabs on this flight.
Well, thats about how I'd do a dry run, I guess.
Most think of mid-air explosions. I think if you picked the right airports/flights on a busy travel weekend (like last day of Dem/Pub convention), a ground detonation would be far worse.
Good point. Whether any chemicals poured down the sink or toilet could be detected would hinge on their plumbing system and the chemicals used. Since the plumbing system is self contained, I would think forensic chemists could still be able to detect traces of suspicious substances, although that would be a most unpleasant job.
Guennie I just read it. I'm convnced this lady was a witness to a dry run. What I noticed was the number of suspects...... a team of 14. That number would overwhelm the federal marshalls.
My question would be. Had they notified anyone, what would have been done?
In the bright light of hindsight it seems that this loan officer was apathetic. Had Atta been reported for being suspicious in the pre 9/11 world he would have not have even been arrested or detained.
Not likely. It would take a copious amount of explosives to destroy a plane on the ground. In the air, if you make a small hole in the right place, the plane is doomed.
In this case, it looked as if they were attempting to, or practising, assembling a bomb on board.
Observe but without fear. If the story is true. These men were commiting an act of terror. Causing fear is an important part of terror. Actual physical acts are worse, but fear a the goal. But until we make a law against acting scary and enforce it, the best thing to do is to stand up fearlessly against these swine.
If I had my way every muslim who is not a US citizen would be deported and not allowed back in. I'd watch the Muslim citizens.
But that isn't going to happen so I'll keep my eyes open and my mind clear.
Ping.
Huh?
I wasn't thinking of the plane's destruction, necessarily, but the impact of the act.
Is fear your friend?
Airliners are not likely to be used again. My guess would be that these swine accomplished exactly what they were trying to do, the scared some people.
Yeah jump up and attack someone on an airliner. Make sure you have the card of a good Bail Bondsman and an attorney.
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