Suspect in O’Hare weapons incident back in custody

Chicago Tribune ^ | November 5, 2001 | Matt O’Connor and Jon Hilkevitch

[RightRules]

A 27-year-old Chicago man was taken back into custody and is to appear today in U.S. District Court to face federal charges stemming from his weekend arrest for allegedly trying to bring nine knives and other weapons aboard an airliner at O

[HardStarboard]

>>>The seven security workers, including one supervisor, were fired Sunday <<<

How about firing the judge and/or the prosecutor that let Gurung go in the first place. Geez - the guy tries to get 8 or 9 weapons on an aircraft, he's middle eastern, and they let him go? Gross Incompetence

I'm suprised he was still around to be arrested the second time by the feds!!

[BruceS]

I agree 100%. When I say 'Federalize' the workers, I mean militarize the airport security, as though it were a US border (Hmm, crazy thought).

Right. And they can do as good a job keeping terrorists out of airports that the Border Patrol does keeping out illegal immigrants.

Seriously, I have not yet decided where I am on this issue. One of the legitimate functions of the Federal government is security of the country and regulation of interstate travel. So maybe we should hire uniformed, trained law-enforcement personnel to handle security at airports. On the other hand, the same thing can be done by hiring competent civilian companies to do the same job and hold them strictly accountable for performance.

I am willing to be convinced by either side. The argument that by adding union members it will hurt the Republicans (maybe true) is not a convincing one to me, since this is a matter of public and national safety.

[RightRules]

Just exactly how is it Uniteds fault?

Because United, in spite of the continuing lawless performance of ArgenFRAUD, continues to engage this company to pretend they're protecting our butts! That's why.

Are we to assume that United's own security people are going to locate every possible terrorist inside ORD before they board an aircraft? Hmmmmmm? I don't know about you, but that doesn't wash with me. I have precious cargo leaving ORD each week and I'm spitting PI$$ED at United for tolerating these goofs and therefore compromising the safety of their passengers!

Argonbright is probably, (I don't know for sure, but have experience w/companys who go after government contracts) a minority owned security company who has given the various local governments that operate these airports such low bids for security services that they don't have the money for proper training, or to hire decent employees.

Do a little checking. The parent company is Argenbright Holdings which -- if memory serves -- is an international firm. Its name to me suggests a conglomerate who saw the opportunity to glom onto a federal mandate with the knowledge that they could do it on the cheap.

And I frankly don't give a rat's posterior about any lack of funding for proper training. If they're going to be in the biz, they need to do the job. And if they're not gonna, then it is incumbent on United to CAN THEM! What happens to you if you don't do your job at work? This is black and white, especially after 9/11.

The real solution would be for each airline to provide it's own security. Believe me they do not want their own planes highjacked. Federalizing it would a step in the wrong direction. Security would be worse not better.

Each airline DOES provide their security. They contract with the lowest bidder.

The one thing I can agree on with you is that I fear that -- since we now have the politicians involved -- whatever the congress does about this will not be an improvement. See my earlier post; the military needs to take complete charge of this operation. Forever.

[Neanderthal]

Article can be subtitled "After CNN does background check, cops and FBI pick up perp to appear (finally) in front of judge."

What does CNN have to do with this?

[okie01]

"The one and only area where Federal workers makes sense is in the security arena."

Even if the Feds -- always an employer of last resort -- re-hire the same people, many of whom are where they are because they can't get jobs elsewhere? Thereby making it impossible to fire them for the same kind of behavior? And, in addition, rewards their incompetence by tripling their salary?

When was the last time you visited a federal government office? Say, like Social Security? Or the Wage & Hour Division of the Department of Labor?

I'm in favor of higher standards, which will require higher pay -- and justify tighter supervision. But to "federalize" these jobs and expect higher standards to follow is wishful thinking.

[Fixit]

Was that Argenbright, or Not-Too-Bright?

[Cinnamon Girl]

I can't wait until the airline security jobs are FEDERALIZED so that these excellent security personnel will be the equivalent of public school teachers: UNFIREABLE NO MATTER HOW BAD THEY ARE! Yeay!

[demnomo]

I amended my postto state that the Hindu's were in the majority. Gee, I forgot all about that recent royal scandal what with the Prince going on a shooting rampage because his family didn't like his girlfriend... Yowsa!

[Mitchell]

I can't reconcile two statements in the article:

• The agency [the FBI] also described as "not accurate" published reports Gurung had once lived in the same North Side apartment building as another man now being held as a material witness in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
• Gurung recently moved back to Chicago with his brother, Sushil, from Minnesota, said Adam Colfax, superintendent for the apartment building in the 5700 block of North Kenmore Avenue where the Gurung brothers lived until a year ago. Colfax said Gurung previously lived in an apartment at 1025 W. Hollywood Ave., where Ayub Ali Khan once lived. Khan has been detained by authorities as a material witness in the Sept. 11 attacks, but it is unclear whether he knew Gurung.

The Acxiom phone directory CD-ROM shows the following:

KHAN AYUB, 1025 W HOLLYWOOD AVE CHICAGO IL

GURUNG SUSHIL, 1025 W HOLLYWOOD AVE CHICAGO IL

There's also another Gurung at an address on the same block.

[RightRules]

bump for you

[athiestwithagun]

You might want to bring your own vaseline. O'Hare was worse than East Germany before Bloody Tuesday. It must be a nightmare to get thru now.

[thucydides]

The Gurung people (that's the group this man belongs to and why that is his last name) are the same as the famed British Ghurka fighters. And yes, they are crazy about knives. When hunting down guerillas in Malaysia with the British, they prefered to sneak up and attack with their knives to pulling a gun. The Ghurkas carry the knife known as the Kukri, a long curved blade. They are fantastically courageous and loyal. It is entirely believable that this man is telling the truth when he said he was carrying the knives for protection. Maybe we should make him a sky marshall.

[thucydides]

You are right on. The Ghurkas are drawn from the Gurung people (this man is a Gurung: that is why he has this last name).

[Endeavor]

I fly through there a lot, but haven't since September 11th. I hope it is tight security. My karate isn't that good, but you can be d*mn be sure I won't go down w/o a heckuva fight. Now that we know the drill, I think I'll have plenty of company helping, too.

[mostlyundecided]

I'm gonna be like mostlyundecided up there and put on my optimistic hat this morning. Maybe the FBI isn't doing anything about what must surely be an Argenbright cell because they want to watch them closely & take names before moving in.

Every once in a while my optimism pays off :)

No doubt that's what they were doing - kept a close eye on him and when he led them to what they were looking for, they re-arrested him on other charges.

[BunnySlippers]

The majority of people from Nepal may be Buddhists, but there is also a small Muslim population. Check your geography books.

I was always told it's wonderful to travel in Thailand because they are all Buddhists. But last night I was watching how Thailand NOW has a small but growing militant Muslim problem. Theses Muslims seem to be spreading mischief everywhere.

[Republic of Texas]

If you had to choose, who would provide better and more efficient security, the US Postal System or Fed-Ex?

Put my life in the hands of Fed-Ex EVERYTIME!

[pgkdan]

Yeah...I'd bet on him being one of the 5% Muslim. No way this was soime innocent accident. Not even an idiot would try to get on a plane with that many weapons unless he was planning to hijack the plane. It's a shame we couldn't find his accomplises on the flight.

[rolling_stone]

Wrong, Carter was a wuss who might have cancelled passports in his heart but not in this country.. another myth discussed on this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/563353/posts?page=20#20

[Dano]

They reported on WLS in Chicago tonight at 10:30 CT that 8 people were SUSPENDED, Not fired, like the earlier reports.I think they need some calls tomorrow.