[a_witness]

Tariq Raja Tariq is an Arabic name.

[TheOtherOne]

"We don't want to put dogs all over the airport. They are living beings, not machines, and they can't work 24 hours a day," the expert said on condition of anonymity. Dogs are best used to inspect individual passengers who arouse suspicions, he said

I suggested we use bomb sniffing pigs. They are good with scents, and I somehow think it may be an extra deterrent.

[mountaineer]

we're trying to determine whether it was falsified

The fake name might be a clue, Clousseau.

[freedom_from_socialism]

From CIA World Factbook:

Religions: Buddhist 70%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 7% (1999)

[randog]

"We don't want to put dogs security guards all over the airport. They are living beings, not machines, and they can't work 24 hours a day," the expert said on condition of anonymity.

[a_witness]

Tariq is the name of a star, or the name of a famous Moslem general who attacked Spain.

[EggsAckley]

And yesterday he was called "not middle-eastern."

[EggsAckley]

What I still don't "get" is what he thought he would accomplish
by giving himself a hotfoot. IQ test called for here, IMO.

[Incorrigible]

But is he a Tamil Tiger?

The LTTE (Deadly Lankan terror group) got a pass from the administration's terrorist list. If this guy is a Tiger, then there might actually be some relief in Columbo tonight.

[week 71]

Allow me to suggest we strip search everyone that looks even remotely Muslim.

[TheOtherOne]

The man (R) in federal custody accused of attempting to blow up American Airlines Flight 63 is taken from the Massachusetts State Police barracks at Logan International Airport in Boston in this image taken from Reuters TV footage, December 22, 2001. The flight was diverted to Boston after the man allegedly tried to set off an explosive in his shoe on the flight from Paris to Miami. The person on the left is not identified. (Reuters TV/Reuters)

RETRANSMISSION FOR IMPROVED QUALITY--An FBI agent, left, sits next to a suspect identified by authorities as Richard Reid, right, as he is transported in a car from State Police barracks at Logan International Airport in Boston Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001. Reid has been charged with interferring with a flight crew aboard American Airlines Flight 63 enroute from Paris to Miami after he tried to ignite an improvised explosive device, according to authorities. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) CAPTION -->

The man in federal custody accused of attempting to blow up American Airlines Flight 63 is taken from the Massachusetts State Police barracks at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, December 22, 2001. The flight was diverted to Boston after the man allegedly tried to set off an explosive in his shoe on the flight from Paris to Miami. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

[Trust but Verify]

This is a bit off-topic, but I found a video interview with a French passenger on Flt 63 on the BBC website that is a hoot. I'd post the link, but don't know how.

[Dane]

MSNBC's correspondent in London is reporting, that the name on the passport, Richard Reid, is name of a person who has a criminal background in England.

[MosesKnows]

the man who boarded a jetliner with possible explosives

Until the possible part of "possible explosives" is revealed what possible interest could there be in this person?

[waxhaw]

And this is where NO RACIAL PROFILING gets you. This guy's mere appearance should have rung alarm bells all over the place... instead they allowed him to board the plane. From what I've read of the passengers' response to the stewardess's call for help the passengers had already profiled the guy and had planned accordingly. Good on them (bad on the government "security" efforts/jokes/farce).

[angkor]

identified by French police as Tariq Raja

Interesting. He may be Sri Lankan, but Tariq is a Pakistani name.

[T'wit]

> tried to ignite what authorities called an improvised explosive in his sneakers.

Weirdest hotfoot of the week :-)

[cidrasm]

Dogs are best used to inspect individual passengers who arouse suspicions, he said.

A passenger who doesn't have any luggage getting on a transatlantic flight isn't suspicious?