Man in terror scare says woman is lying

CNN ^ | 9-13-02 | Kelli Arena, Kelly Wallace, Susan Candiotti, Mark Potter and Terry Frieden

[bootless]

NAPLES, Florida (CNN) --The Georgia woman who prompted Friday's terror scare was "flat-out lying" when she told authorities she overheard three Muslim men at a restaurant laughing about September 11 and making suspicious comments, one of the men said late Friday.

[TigersEye]

Sorry, right now, we cooperate with the police in what they have to do. I know some FReepers think that this is a big encroachment on civil liberties, but where do you draw the line. What do you take seriously?

In your case the police...in mine the Constitution.

[watchwoman]

I agree with you! The lesson I learned is that unless something is happening before my eyes, like 9/11/01, I will never totally believe what the media is reporting again--even Fox News (actually, I think they were the worst of the whole bunch.)!! At least, I won't take anything seriously in the first day the story breaks. I felt as if I had wasted the entire day following this story on Free Republic and on TV.

[Wingsofgold]

Yeah I wanted ta puke to, all over Connie Chung. What a sorry a$$ display 'n jus feeds the determination of "good muslims" to slam it to Americans anyway they can, includin' bogus lawsuits.

[Wingsofgold]

What you saw was terrorist takin advantage of our system again. Those jerks luv usin our laws against us. One of them hijackers was on food stamps, even.

[texasbluebell]

I believe Eunice Stone too. She seems completely honest to me. On the other hand, the one guy I heard speak doesn't come across as truthful.

Interesting, though maybe it doesn't mean anything, but he shares the same last name as someone in this article:

Addressing 'the nation', targeting America

which quotes Al-Qa'ida spokesman Suleiman Abu Gheith

[sweetliberty]

"These boys are going to be watched, closely, for some time"

Others have been detained far longer on far less. I can't help thinking that maybe it's a ploy to make them think they got away with something. Meanwhile, it would not surprise me to learn later that they had surveillance devices in their cars and investigators on their tails to see what turns up. If you can't beat them with intimidation, play on their combination of arrogance and stupidity.

[sweetliberty]

Hi CG. Back home safe and sound?

[Texas Mom]

"They were just kind of jovial about it," she said in an interview with Fox News. "My son said, 'Oh Momma, they're just messing with you.' Then I thought about it, and I said, 'Well, you know, they shouldn't be messing around like that. That's a cruel thing to celebrate September the 11th, and to think that that was something to be happy about."

Funny... Try a prank like that in Saudi... I'll bet they would laugh their heads off.. Or yours.

This woman did exactly what she should have done. I don't believe she lied. I believe she reported exactly what she heard.

[sweetliberty]

"He's obviously talked to his relatives, and know that there is some media attention to be gained by playing the race card."

And we have to keep in mind that they were confined all that time. It is unlikely that they knew just how much national media attention was being given to this story at the time.

[justsomedude]

Well, of course she must be lying. She is a female after all. And where are the 4 male witnesses needed to back up her claims?

What planet do you live on? Where I live, all woman has to do is pick up the phone and dial one of several various hotlines in order to get a man busted on her word.

[sweetliberty]

"I thought that they told the police that they were just joking back in Georgia?"

That is the story as reported BEFORE they were released. I can't help wondering if they didn't realize after their release just what a big story it had been and then maybe they heard Jeb Bush's statement about Florida having new laws that dealt with this kind of "joke" and wanted them prosecuted. I think that is when they changed their story. Besides, I am sure in their arrogance they believe that they are ever so much more clever than any American cops, women, etc.

[justsomedude]

OK. Let's consider another view -- just for the sake of doing so, presume innocence for a moment. Waitresses never overreact, especially the ones at Shoney's in Georgia. Innocent people never resent being asked to have their personal belongings searched. And terrorists always go out to eat and discuss their plans in public where everyone can here them.

OK, thanks for indulging. I don't have enough information to settle the case. I just wanted to see it from another angle.

[Cindy]

Well now, let's see if I got this correct. Mrs. Stone, who spoke clearly, precisely, unemotionally and forthright, witnessed a conversation in a restaurant with her son as a witness. She does her patriotic duty and goes to the authorities and reports the conversation. She repeats the conversation over and over on Fox news. I repeat, her son witnesses the conversation.

I wasn't there; however I found the woman's account credible. The authorities found her account credible. Her young son was there as a witness and heard (all or part of, I'm not sure) the conversation.

No joke here, I don't believe she is the liar.

[SarahW]

That plus the rest of the story. Obviously you didn't get to hear a firsthand account. There isn't any question she reported what she observed.

[mikeIII]

They are just ordinary American Muslims, folks! Belonging to radical youngmuslims, making insensitive, anti-American threats for a joke, lying, taunting... Just being ordinary!

[Cindy]

regarding your post #67, I wonder if the FBI, HOMELAND SECURITY, COUNTER-TERRORISM DIVISION, CIA, NSA, etc. read that article, too. Doesn't sound like A JOKE to me!

[SarahW]

You sure don't have information. Eunice Stone isn't a waitress at Shoney's.

She's a nurse who had a meal there with her son.

[sweetliberty]

"Sounds like the police lied."

What does that prove? Cops lie all the time if it serves their purpose. They usually even admit to that. I think there is more to this story than meets the eye, but I do agree with you about one thing; the cops had a compelling reason for doing the about face.

[justsomedude]

You sure don't have information. Eunice Stone isn't a waitress at Shoney's. She's a nurse who had a meal there with her son.

Thank you. Correct. I heard the story second hand and read some of the thread. When I got to the part about the guy saying, "It was my prerogative to not have my car searched," I could relate, and so I posted my case.

I hope and seriously doubt my point will be taken in spite of that egregious error.

[justsomedude]

She's a nurse who had a meal there with her son.

I don't think I would have expected a nurse to overreact. If anything, I might have assumed the opposite. Either, of course, is folly.