Posted on 07/16/2005 9:41:46 AM PDT by Arkie2
Bassam Khalaf was paid to help keep US air travel safe as a baggage screener. His alter ego, the Arabic Assassin, rapped about flying a plane into a building.
The Transportation Security Administration could not reconcile the two and fired him last week, saying his free speech rights as an aspiring rap singer did not extend to his right to check luggage at Houston Intercontinental Airport.
"I was one of the ones screening the bags thoroughly," Khalaf said on Friday. "I wouldn't let a bomb get on a plane."
He also was the self-proclaimed "Arabic Assassin," who didn't do songs about love but preferred to sing about killing, raping and blowing things up.
Khalaf, a Houston native of Palestinian descent, said the incendiary lyrics about rape, murder and mass attacks were meant only to get attention and help get his first album, "Terror Alert," a distribution deal.
Instead, the TSA fired Khalaf, 21, after six months on the job and gave his name to other federal agencies for investigation, spokeswoman Andrea McCauley said.
"There is a certain level of integrity employees are asked to maintain," she said. "He's been tasked with protecting the very people he's talking about harming. We wonder what the public would think if we didn't fire him."
Khalaf believes his Arab-American ethnicity played a role in the firing, but McCauley said that was not true.
Khalaf said publicity about his controversial rapping had brought lots of phone calls from both admirers and detractors, but none from record distributors.
He also admitted to being a little worried about his future employment possibilities now that word is out about his music.
"I better make it (as a rapper) now because there ain't no turning back," he said.
Some guys get their jollies trolling this board looking for reposts. He's probably a rentacop at WalMart with lots of time on his hands.
LOL. You might want to check "his" homepage.
Your finger doesn't have to click on a repeat thread unless you just have a need to b*tch. Were you in danger of exploding before finding this thread on which to vent?
Welcome to the land of diversity.
Thanks. That explains a lot.
What, a scolding?
Each posting received considerable interest.
75, 13, 28, 16, 111 and 75 comments.
Don't you think you've missed the point?
This nitwit isn't Arabic.
Arabic is a language.
He's not likely Arabian either (any more than most Arabic speaking people are).
What a maroon.
Jeez, this guy must have one heck of a PR department to get this much publicity!!!
Oh, well, keep in mind that the TSA is carefully searching your grandmother from Des Moines when she flies, so obviously we are all much safer from the terrors of little old ladies from Des Moines.
Bump for later
I also think this clown is going to go into the wrong area and get his a$$ blown off.
What a maroon.
it's nice to know that the billions of dollars of taxpayer money being spent on homeland security is being used to find the most qualified personnal to keep us safe
So is he a muzzie or what? Can't really tell from the info. If he is, send him to GITMO for a little aR and aR to go along with his EMinEM. If not, cite him for inciting.
I saw it this AM on FOX and haven't seen it posted here.
Thanks!..I wanted to read more details.
Xenalyte, take a chill pill :))
Before you get her autograph, you ought to get a clue.
I went to "its' home page if that's what you're referring to. I had to wash my keyboard after.
As for asking for the auto, you must recognize sarcasm when you see it if you've been a Freeper for long.
Perhaps creative, intelligent, assertive, conservative and beautiful woman just are not your type.
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.