Posted on 09/15/2002 9:49:31 PM PDT by kattracks
DAVIE, Fla., Sep 15, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- A Miami hospital says it no longer wants the three Muslim medical students who were detained for 17 hours after a woman said she overheard them discussing terror plans. The men later said the incident was simply a misunderstanding.
The head of Larkin Community Hospital in Miami said Sunday he had received more than 200 e-mails after the incident, some threatening.
"Obviously, nothing is final," said Dr. Jack Michel, president and chief executive officer of Larkin. "Our primary objective is to take care of patients. I don't know how that could be done with all this media coverage."
He said the medical school where the men are studying, Ross University, had agreed to transfer them to a different training program.
Kambiz Butt, 25, said Sunday that he and Ayman Gheith, 27, and Omar Choudhary, 23, simply want to clear their names and be allowed to continue their education in the United States.
"We're medical students. We are not terrorists," Butt said, flanked by Gheith and Choudhary. "Our concern in life is to become doctors. We want to help people. We do not want to hurt."
Butt, the only one of the students to speak at a news conference, also said all were worried about their futures but harbor no resentment toward the woman who told authorities she overheard them discussing terrorist plans Thursday at a restaurant in Calhoun, Ga.
"We're in a state of shock and we are scared," Butt said. "But I'd like to tell the American people that we are not a threat."
The woman who called authorities, Eunice Stone of Cartersville, Ga., said she heard the students talking about blowing up buildings and laughing about the Sept. 11 attacks. She also said she heard the students saying that a terrorist event was looming on Sept. 13.
"Not once did we mention 9-11. Not once did we mention anything about 9-13, nor did we joke about anything of that sort," Butt said. "She was probably just eavesdropping on our conversation and might have heard a few key words that she misconstrued."
Butt said he believes Stone was attempting to be "a patriot for America."
Stone stood by her report of what she heard and said she would do the same thing again.
"I am not a racist, and I am not ignorant," she told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I was just trying to do what's best."
Brett Newkirk, one of four attorneys representing the students, called the situation "an incident of misunderstanding."
"They are Americans, just like any other American, who are proud to be American, who want to fulfill the American dream, and who were on the road to doing that when the American nightmare happened to them," Newkirk said.
David Kubiliun, another attorney for the men, said all three are U.S. citizens. Gheith is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Jordan.
The three students were in two cars and en route to Miami on Friday when authorities stopped them on Interstate 75 after one of the vehicles allegedly went through a toll plaza without paying.
"They didn't blow the toll," Newkirk said, without elaborating.
Officials at Ross University, which is based in New York City but has a campus on the Caribbean island of Dominica, did not immediately return calls for comment on Sunday.
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On the Net:
Ross University: http://www.rossmed.edu/Medical-School/Home/home.shtml
By TIM REYNOLDS Associated Press Writer
Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved
Expel these twinks ASAP...'zero tolerance"!You'd expel three US citizens on the unsubstantiated claim of one TIPS program wannabe that they said improper things? That's scary.
-Eric
Show me this definition any time any place, and I will show you a muslim arab.
These genetically altered subhumans actually believe that they are chosen to rule the world.
According to normal anthropological experience, perhaps in a few million years.
The woman is utterly believable.Both Sinky and Hildebeast are capable of looking very believable. Appearances mean nothing.
Anyone who's ever dealt with a busybody knows that they get rather indignant when they are ignored or chastised. I suspect she was looking funny at them and they either made fun of her or glared. She grossly embellished what she heard, and is now afraid to change her story due to the reaction.
I don't think the students would have asked if anyone else had heard them say such things if indeed they had. Had they said them it could have backfired in Hartpencian fashion, while no further witnesses don't help their cause any.
-Eric
I saw one of these guys on TV and he was smarmy, arrogant, smug, condescending and belligerent.The Clintons are Muslim Arabs? Tom Daschole?Show me this definition any time any place, and I will show you a muslim arab.
-Eric
Not as scary as having a jet headed toward you while all you were doing is showing up for work!That doesn't make the idea of expulsions based on the unsubstantiated word of an informant any less scary, does it?
-Eric
SO, YOU were there?! Eunice has NOT changed her story one little bit after saying they could be trying to pull one over on her and her son. She still had the guts to call 911 because she couldn't live with herself if something were to happen. That's the way most people after 9/11 would handle a situation like that, I WOULD HOPE. Those three have absolutely NO credibility whatsoever! They have changed their stories three time already, four lawyers later. Oh, sure, Eunice is a liar and a bigot while these three "outstanding doctors" are telling the truth. /sarcasm
She grossly embellished what she heard, and is now afraid to change her story due to the reaction.It's my suspicion that she embellished. That's based on the comments of the men, the actions of the police, and personal experience with the busybody type. There's no way of proving it either way, even if other witnesses come forward.SO, YOU were there?! Eunice has NOT changed her story one little bit after saying they could be trying to pull one over on her and her son. She still had the guts to call 911 because she couldn't live with herself if something were to happen. That's the way most people after 9/11 would handle a situation like that, I WOULD HOPE. Those three have absolutely NO credibility whatsoever! They have changed their stories three time already, four lawyers later. Oh, sure, Eunice is a liar and a bigot while these three "outstanding doctors" are telling the truth. /sarcasm
The thing that bothers me is the way some are trying and convicting these guys based on the unsubstantiated word of one person, when if anything they are more credible than she is. Police states love that kind of mindset.
-Eric
Your groundless slams againts the lady's character could be true but it is even less than pure speculation on your part that she is a "busy-body" who must have attention etc...
Something as equally possibly true that we have no idea:
June 2001. Three fellows from the Middle east talk about a great disaster about to befall the US, laughing how the US deserves it.
A Waitress overhears them and calls the cops.
But it turns out they are just students studying to be airline pilots. They said nothing of the sort, they claim. The lady is roundly jeered as a busybody out for attention.
We do understand that we are to stand up for what we believe is the truth and don't back down from anyone.(including three smart ass liars who want to become doctors)
If they can't tell the truth about something this important I doubt they could be trusted to tell anyone the truth about their medical condition. Trust is very important to my family's health.
It is noi "joking" matter...perhaps you've forgotten that a lot of planning went on for 9/11?
They are not just on the board, they OWN the place. The School of Medicine and School of Veterinary Medicine.
Must be studying to be a surgeon.;^)
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