Posted on 12/30/2004 2:08:16 PM PST by Marine Inspector
Carloads of Muslim New Yorkers, all U.S. citizens, were detained for hours by federal agents after they returned from an Islamic convention held in Toronto over the weekend. A Pace University student said she was asked by a border patrol officer at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge crossing whether the wire in her bra was a weapon. A white Flushing resident said U.S. officials refused to tell her why she was being held for eight hours.
"It's just appalling," said Jean Tassi, 53. "If I didn't have on a head covering, I would have never been stopped."
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection official said agents acted on intelligence that conventioneers may have terrorists in their cars.
"We understand that most of these conferences are legitimate, but it is our duty, it is incumbent on us to verify the identity of everybody entering the U.S. - even citizens," said Kristi Clemens, a Washington spokeswoman. "I understand their frustration."
More than 30 people had attended "Reviving the Islamic Spirit" convention at the Skydome that was billed as a spiritually uplifting event.
"I refuse to be treated like this in my own country," said Miriam Soliman, 20, a Brooklyn-born finance major who said she was interrogated about her underwire bra.
And have listening devices in your house, you know, just to make sure you're not plotting anything nasty?
You, however, have not provided any solutions that I know of. Again, have I missed a post of yours giving alternatives?
Beside the point. If you make a statement of opinion you should be able to defend it without saying "Oh yeah? What about you?"
Sounds like it's your job.
>You're Muslim.... I think it's time to actively work to redeem your faith and expose the murderers we know are among you....<
Unfortunately, they redeem their faith by obeying their Qoran - by hating and killing Christians and Jews, and all other infidels who do not share their faith, PG. That is what the Western mind finds so hard to grasp.
There is no reasoning with these people. Perhaps as long as we are involved in a war against terrorists, all Islamics should either be interred or deported.
By the looks of that map, Happy2BMe, we are virtually surrounded now. Why are these clusters of the enemy allowed to exist within our shores? THAT IS THE QUESTION.
Then you know that Muslims aren't the only ones who get this treatment. They're the ones who whine about it and are guaranteed to get it published though.
They have the authority to make them submit and have for years prior to 9/11. NEVER get belligerant with a border patrol agent.
An OPINION is just that...an opinion.It's how you believe, not requiring facts and figures to back it up. I believe we need new ways to protect ourselves. I don't believe that b*tching without providing alternatives is "beside the point".
Thanks for the post. Please see mine of #104.
Thanks for the post. Please see mine of #104.
I spent thousands of hours with 13 citizen muslims around 9-11. Half basically stated that 9-11 was justified. The other half remained silent and followed the koran not taking sides against their fellow muslims. Im sorry the beyatch wasnt strip searched and had every cavity checked!!!
I assume, you would have no problem with a national ID card either.
And in assuming, you showed yourself to be the idiot I suspected from your first post. A national id has nothing to do with crossing international borders at will. Most countries already recquire a passport. What is a passport but a national id for international travel? They're not recquired otherwise
If so many of her "faith" were not mass-murderers, she may not have been stopped.
"They have the authority to make them submit and have for years prior to 9/11. NEVER get belligerant with a border patrol agent."
Argue that one out with Marine_inspector, who claims to be an agent and says they don't.
... and while you're at it, tell me the ATM pin for these cards we found in your wallet when we strip searched you and your daughter in the lobby ...
Yes it is legitimate to verify the identity of somebody entering the U.S..
They turned out to be U.S. citizens.
You seem to be getting a little "cranky". I will go as far as necessary to get control over our borders. When you go to the grocery store, do you have to wade through a bunch of illegal day laborers to get your groceries? Well, I do. I cannot see into the future to know "where I would draw the line" on identification but fingerprinting is not it. My concern is with all illegal immigration.
I remember a man years ago, an American citizen, who caused all sorts of problems when his vehicle was picked for a random search at the Canadian border. This was on the American side. The belligerant man then refused to turn out his pockets...
He was led off to a private room for a private chat about complying with regulations.
I'd like to know which one it is people want: heavier security on the borders or, as Marine Merchant appears to be saying, NO security checks AT ALL for American citizens...even those who routinely ignore Canadian laws about not letting people convicted of even minor offenses like DUIs cross the border? There is NO guarantee this group was checked before entering Canada, so there should be no problem with double checking their identities on the way back FROM Canada.
Does anyone remember Wesley Clark's bogus claim of being contacted by the White House on 9/11 at home on CNN, from a "Muslim think tank" in Canada - which had no such think tank - to lie about who was really behind the attacks? How about the guy who smuggled a trunk load of C4 across the border, caught by an alert agent? The guy who was whining because he got tagged for a having a tunkload of homemade quarter sticks he was bringing across the border? There's a pattern here.
This isn't a game. This is a war which we didn't start, and American citizens, who also happen to be Muslim, have already joined the other side in order to kill us. I'd have checked them too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.