hopefully this will build and lead to some changes, hopefully
http://www.washingtondispatch.com/opinion/article_9581.shtml
Terrorist Training on American Flights?
Editorial by CK Rairden
July 19, 2004
The Department of Homeland Security issues terror warnings with such regularity that many believe them to be almost counterproductive. Many theorize some have gone soft in watching for signs that terrorists are among us, scouting for new locations to kill Americans, or practicing “dry runs” on American flights for future terrorist actions. That cannot be said for “Womens Wall Street” writer Annie Jacobsen.
In an article published earlier this month Ms. Jacobsen describes in detail a harrowing flight that she and her family experienced on June 29 of this year. They were all on Northwest flight #327 from Detroit to Los Angeles on that day and according to Ms. Jacobsen the events that unfolded were a chilling reminder that Americans must remember to remain diligent in an attempt to thwart terrorist attacks. Indeed America is still at war, and there are those who still wish to do us harm.
As her family was waiting to pre-board in Detroit, she noticed that six “Middle Eastern” men were also pre-boarding. After her family is seated on the plane another large contingent of “Middle Eastern” men began to file on the plane, eight total, one in first class and the rest in coach. All totaled fourteen “Middle Eastern” men were now on board. The men looked at each other and nodded and according to Ms. Jacobsen she and her husband became very aware of the situation, as did many other passengers. And for good reason, at times the men stood and congregated at both the front and back of the airplane. They took cell phones and other items into the bathrooms of the plane, and according to Ms. Jacobsen one took a full “McDonald’s bag” into one bathroom, and then exited with a near empty bag, then all of a sudden the bag were gone once he returned to his seat.
Would you be concerned at that point?
Many on the flight were including the flight attendants, the pilots and Ms. Jacobsen’s husband. So much so that he went to speak with one of the flight attendants and was told that the flight had several Federal Air Marshals on board. Ms. Jacobsen recounted her feelings this way, “After seeing 14 Middle Eastern men board separately (six together, eight individually) and then act as a group, watching their unusual glances, observing their bizarre bathroom activities, watching them congregate in small groups, knowing that the flight attendants and the pilots were seriously concerned, and now knowing that federal air marshals were on board, I was officially terrified.”
And who could blame her?
It got worse as the fourteen men continued to move about the cabin of the plane with regularity, some at the back of the plane, and the one man in first class would rise and stand only a few feet from the cockpit door. But it got even more riveting as the plane was finally cleared for landing. Ms. Jacobsen described it this way, “Suddenly, seven of the men stood up -- in unison -- and walked to the front and back lavatories. One by one, they went into the two lavatories, each spending about four minutes inside. Right in front of us, two men stood up against the emergency exit door, waiting for the lavatory to become available. The men spoke in Arabic among themselves. One of the men took his camera into the lavatory. Another took his cell phone. Again, no one approached the men. Not one of the flight attendants asked them to sit down.”
What was going on here? If this is exactly how it happened the flight attendants had no control over the passengers on this plane. Post 9/11 there is no excuse to allow people to wander around an airplane, as it is getting ready for its final descent and especially seven Middle Eastern men. No wonder the passengers were terrified. This was no time for political correctness; this was a time for safety and the crew failed in their duties miserably. Thankfully, the plane landed without incident and the Syrians were questioned by awaiting law enforcement officials at the gate. Ms. Jacobsen and her husband also spent several hours answering questions. As it turns out--officials told Ms Jacobsen later that the group “checked out” and was a band of musicians.
Many have already labeled Annie Jacobsen as a paranoid racist. I spoke with her by telephone at her home on Sunday night, “I have ignored the negatives and am determined to concentrate on the positives.” She continued, “I write financial articles for Womens Wall Street and print publications. I don’t want this to turn into liberal versus conservative, I just wanted to get the story out.” But it has been tough. No major ‘old media’ outlet picked up the story after it ran, it really only grew legs when James Toranto of the “Best of the Web Today” led with it on Friday. The ‘new media’ of Internet blogs then jumped at the story and according to Ms. Jacobsen that has resulted in “over 2 million visits to the Womens Wall Street website over the weekend.” The ‘old media’ is catching up, as she and her husband will appear on NBC Nightly News on Monday and also Good Morning America on Tuesday. She is also scheduled on Scarborough Country on MSNBC on Monday night.
She told me she has no agenda, “I just want to show up and tell the truth.”
And thanks to the ‘new media’ she will have that chance. No matter how much skepticism you have when you read her entire story, it’s a story that needed to be told. Authorities ignored a similar tale of a “dry run” by actor James Woods just before 9/11, and that was a mistake. Too many Americans have fallen back into September 10th type thinking. Those days are long gone. This is a needed wake-up call and Annie Jacobsen knew she would be scrutinized and called anything from a racist to a paranoid profiler for telling it.
America owes her a debt of gratitude; she is a brave patriot for coming forward despite the heavy scrutiny and giving many Americans a much-needed wake-up call.
CK Rairden is the National Editor of The Washington Dispatch.
They've got a thing for the number 14, don't they? See link.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=25156
Like Ronald Reagan, Mineta has an airport named in his honor.
save for later bump
Why are any Syrians allowed in this country post-911? If the 'Rats wanted to make points with the electorate, they'd eliminate political correctness on this issue and put the safety of our country above it. I'm not going to hold my breath.
Part II: Terror in the Skies, Again? ..............PING
Bttt
This picture is haunting. For a long time I kept it in my office. I still think about this picture and I wonder about this man --- his daily life, what he did for work, what he did for play, what his thoughts were about the world. I think about this person. I think about the meaning of "dry run." And then I think about what it means to be politically correct. And I keep coming up blank.
BTTT
Bump...
Where is the orignal story? I read it from their website, I just wanted to see the comments on FR regarding this issue.
I can't believe this is the first I am hearing of this. This is outragous. We need a big round up and throw these scumbags out of the country once and for all!
THX BIG
These 14 Arab men were behaving in a threatening manner. No non-Arab on that flight was acting is a threatening manner. Wake up FBI CIA TSA Bush administration!
"This brings us to the heart of the matter -- political correctness. Political correctness has become a major road block for airline safety."
PC is more than a block for airline safety, it's one of the single biggest reasons this country is in the mess it is in. I shouldn't have to like or tolerate any leftist liberals degenerate lifestyles or socialist/communist politics and I damn sure should not have to pretend like it's "ok" so I don't get arrested for a supposed "hate crime" all for saying I think they are idiots.
bump for later read.....
What we discussed re Quinn's radio show this morning - looks like we missed this (and part one) posted on FR while our internet was down last week.
Nobody stopped the 13 Syrians from boarding with those out-of-date visas. The federal agents involved all along the route, did not stop the 13 Syrians.