A $100,000 joke?

U.S. News ^ | 09/30/2002 | John Leo

[Pokey78]

What really happened in the case of the three Muslim medical students and Eunice Stone? She is the nurse who said she overheard the students on September 12 at a Georgia restaurant, apparently talking about plans for terrorism the next day. Stone said she knew they might have been joking (her son, who was there, said, "Oh, Momma, they're just messing with you") but felt she had to report their comments, just in case the danger was real. In her account, they mentioned plans to "bring it down," which she thought might refer to an explosion, and one of the men laughingly said "if they are mourning about September 11, what will they think about September 13?"

Let's offer a probability rating, just as weather forecasters do when discussing chances of rain. Probability that the three men were terrorists who thought it was a good idea to discuss their plot loudly at a Shoney's restaurant in Calhoun, Ga., the day before an attack–under 1 percent. Probability that Stone decided to call attention to herself by making up this story or that she misconstrued a memorable line about September 13–also 1 percent or less. Probability that the students were playing a joke, then refused to take responsibility when the incident blew up into an all-day scare on cable TV–98 or 99 percent.

The students' credibility suffered greatly after authorities stopped them and shut down Alligator Alley, a major Florida highway, to check their two cars for explosives. None were found, but federal and county authorities said the three students, interviewed separately, gave accounts that didn't match. Tina Osceola, a spokeswoman for the Collier County sheriff's department, said their stories "weren't the same, didn't corroborate, and weren't consistent." This seems a polite way of saying that they were lying.

Bias card. Experience tells us that in situations like this, we are never very far from allegations of bias and racial profiling. Sure enough. One student, Ayman Gheith, said that after Stone noticed his Muslim garb, "maybe she put a little salt and pepper in her story." He said she was "flat-out lying." Gheith's sister said the three had made the mistake of stopping for a meal in Georgia, implying that the whole state is so racist that no Muslim should ever risk eating there. Muslim organizations joined in. Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the students were under suspicion "because of the way they dress."

Oddly, the media didn't buy the racial-profiling complaint. The general assumption was that the men had been caught in a prank. Perhaps because the hoax theory was so dominant, the students and their four lawyers evolved a new and softer media message. By Sunday, Nurse Stone was no longer a flat-out liar but rather a kindly though mistaken bystander who had been "trying to be a patriot." Her health was of high concern to the students (by then she'd been hospitalized for stress). One of the students, Kambiz Butt, said he and the others were good Americans, in shock, scared, and eager to clear their names.

Another change in the students' message: They had indeed used the phrase "bring it down" at Shoney's, just as Stone reported, but the reference was to bringing a car from Kansas City to Miami. Why it took three days to mention the car was not explained. The bias charge was still there, but muted. On Crossfire, Gheith shied away from the term "racial profiling" but thought his Middle Eastern appearance had caused the trouble, because "had her eyes been closed and she heard this conversation, I'm pretty sure we wouldn't be in the spot we are today." The students still seem to be manipulating the media instead of just telling the truth.

An odd comment came from Anthony Romero, the new ACLU executive director: "Satire, humor, jokes are part of our everyday lives. We shouldn't be afraid that what we say might trigger a reaction from law enforcement." Romero apparently acknowledges that this looks like a hoax yet defends it on free-speech grounds. But it is not all right to joke about staging a terrorist attack. It's dangerous, it puts great stress on law enforcement, and it can cost a lot of money–more than $100,000 in this case. Authorities said the 17-hour closing of Alligator Alley was the most expensive traffic stop in Florida history. All post-9/11 hoaxes should be taken seriously. People who mailed baby powder and other fake versions of anthrax faced criminal charges. So should hoaxers who talk of terrorist plots.

At week's end there were signs that Attorney General John Ashcroft's detractors may cite this case as a horrible example of what would happen if citizens were recruited to report suspicious activity, as called for in the TIPS program. But Eunice Stone behaved well in reporting what might have been a serious plot. It's no horrible example, just an ordinary citizen doing the right thing.

[Mike4Freedom]

these idiots should be offered a chance to pay for all of the delayed travel and law enforcement expenses that this 'prank' cost!

The idiots that should pay are the police who let this idiocy go on for anything more than 20 minutes. Every taxpayer who planned a trip across Florida that day should submit a bill to the state of Florida for any losses resulting from the closure. It is their road, they paid for it well and in full and were denied its use for 17 hours, at least 16.5 without purpose.

We can't let the word terrorist demonize millions of people and go nuts for the next few years. And we cannot let the government keep people in jail without charge like they are doing with Padilla. Conservatives, where is the outrage?

[lonestar]

The next time he's standing in line to get on a plane he should say something like...

"We'll bring it down."

[joesnuffy]

Another case of Passive Agressive Terrorism...
To harrass, to impede, to confuse, to make a couple of quick bucks in a lawsuit...
Three middle eastern looking men pile into a bath room on an inbound aircraft...
what are the knowable consequences of this act...
They have no explosives...no knves..nothing that makes them appear to be terrorists...so what was their point?...imagine millions of muslims doing this same thing across america incident upon incident...
These three bastards...made their comments...they said what they said...hoping it would be taken seriously..it was..she did the correct thing..and they immediately cry, whine, bewail and threaten law suits...
Lesson learned by islamic passive agressive terrorists... It works... you can get away with it ..and you might make a couple of bucks on the other side...
And you can cause fear...and big bucks to be spent chasing down the leads and impede commerce..tie up police fire and rescue..
moderate islam's jihad -baby.....
.imo of course..

[headsonpikes]

I hope you're sitting down, CA guy.

I am affirming your excellent post! ;^)

[A CA Guy]

Ha Ha, thanks!

Also, there was another witness in her 18 year old son who also heard much of the same conversation.
He told him mom they were pulling her chain.
But that again means they were talking as Ms. Stone said.

That has been over-looked in the press as well.

[HighWheeler]

Arab Muslim Extremists
"...One hundred percent of the successful terrorist attacks on commercial airlines for 20 years have been committed by Arabs. When there is a 100 percent chance of being hijacked by an Arab Muslim Extremist, it ceases to be a profile. It's called a 'description of the suspect...."

In 1968 who assassinated Robert Kennedy?
(a) Abbe Hoffman
(b) Tiny Tim
(c) Charles Manson
(d) Muslim male extremist between the age of 17 and 40

In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by:
(a)Olga Corbutt
(b)Sitting Bull
(c)Arnold Schwartzeneger
(d)Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

In 1979,the U.S. embassy in Iran was taken over by:
(a) Lost Norwegians
(b) Elvis
(c) A tour bus full of 80-year-old women
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by:
(a) John Dillinger
(b) The King of Sweden
(c) The Boy Scouts
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

In 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by:
(a) A pizza delivery boy
(b) Pee Wee Herman
(c) Geraldo Rivera making up for a slow news day
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.

In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked, and a 70 year old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard by:
(a) The Smurfs
(b) Davy Jones
(c) The Little Mermaid
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40.

In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a U.S. Navy diver was murdered by:
(a) Captain Kid
(b) Charles Lindberg
(c) Mother Teresa
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:
(a) Scooby Doo
(b) The Tooth Fairy
(c) Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid with dynamite left over from the train job.
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by:
(a) Richard Simmons
(b) Grandma Moses
(c) Michael Jordan
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

In 1998, the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by:
(a) Mr. Rogers (b) Hillary, to distract attention from Wild Bill's women problems
(c) The World Wrestling Federation to promote its next villain: "Mustapha the Merciless"
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

iN 1999, The USS Cole was attacked and more than 15 American Sailors were killed by:
(a) David Letterman
(b) Shaquille O'Neil
(c) The Cookie Monster
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

In 2001 Phillipene Missionaries Gracia and Martin Burnham were kidnapped, held for over a year, and Martin subsequently killed by:
(a) Mr. Rogers
(b) Scooby Doo & Shaggy
(c) Ronald Reagan
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked and destroyed and thousands of people were killed by:
(a) Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck, and Elmer Fudd
(b) The Supreme Court of Florida
(c) Mr. Bean
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against:
(a)Enron
(b)The Lutheran Church
(c)The NFL
(d)Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by:
(a) Bonny and Clyde
(b) Captain Kangaroo
(c) Billy Graham
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

On July 4th 2002, 2 Innocent Airline Passengers Were Killed, And 3 Others Injured at the ticket counter of El Al Airlines in the LAX International terminal by:
(a) Hulk Hogan after losing the WWF Title
(b) The cast of Monty Python
(c) Senator Lil' Tommy Daschole
(d) Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 41

No coincidences here, no way to profile. Just keep on frisking those 82 year old white grandmothers, and confiscating Medals of Honor from the recipients.

[HighWheeler]

"Attorney General John Ashcroft's detractors may cite this case as a horrible example of what would happen if citizens were recruited to report suspicious activity, as called for in the TIPS program."

These three "joking clowns" were released and the honorable citizen got pilloried. This idiotic response to what could have been a serious threat will now prevent people from reporting anything suspicious. And thanks to the support of the jackasses at the ACLU.

[sobieski]

Wasn't there a Croatian group that hijacked a plane in the 1980s? That would make it < 100%, no?

[southern rock]

So what are you gonna do if you overhear something indicating a terror attack? I, for one, will report it.

And you wouldnt even need a TIPS program. All you would have to do is call your local police.

[genefromjersey]

Hey : why not ! We could also form an

A nti - S tooge S ociety.

[MainFrame65]

I applaud your well-written, excellent statement of your point, but I confess to a minor quibble. Actually, a question, and possibly just faulty memory on my part. I always heard that memory was the second thing to go, but I forgot what was first....

I thought that, although the planning and preparation were done by the typical Arab Muslim Extremist, the bomb on Pan Am 103 was actually carried on board by a young woman. Am I wrong?

[lizma]

I think Ross in Dominica.

[Slewfoot]

In 1979,the U.S. embassy in Iran was taken over by:

According to the press

(d) Muslim male extremists students mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

[gPal]

what about the "dukes of hazzard", "car 54 where are you", "keystone kops"? they knew a REPORT of a CONVERSATION based on the word of one busy body was not a very good reason to stop ANYONE so they had to have an excuse for stopping them in the first place...therefore, they lied and said they "blew" the toll both!...the video tape showed those idiots were lying...outside the $100k wasted, this is the only really VERY SERIOUS issue...the fact is the damned cops will lie to cover their asses for putting us in jail in the first place...that is why the TIPS program will end up (if bush pushes it thru) being a terrible mistake if enacted...could be you or me next time

[NEWwoman]

Good quiz.

We all need to be reminded of this.

[rstevens]

I think you nailed it!

[rstevens]

Could also be a good way to test the system. See just exactly where all the LE and media consentrate their efforts, while making preparations to blow up the port of Miami, Portland, NY or Charleston or where ever. Whether or not these three stooges were connected to terrorists, the sleeper cells undoubtly gained valuable insight into how the country reacts to these preceived attacks and just how effective our Home Security does work.

[Oztrich Boy]

good point. And isn't her sister married to a Palestinian?

Perhaps the FBI might be taking a closer look into the background of this woman who claims to be a nurse.

[IncPen]

And we cannot let the government keep people in jail without charge like they are doing with Padilla. Conservatives, where is the outrage?

Mike, Mike, Mike...

If you think Padilla's getting a bad rap, why don't you ask the government to sequester him at your house, so you can keep an eye on him?

And maybe some of his friends, too?

[Intolerant in NJ]

An odd comment came from Anthony Romero, the new ACLU executive director: "Satire, humor, jokes are part of our everyday lives. We shouldn't be afraid that what we say might trigger a reaction from law enforcement." ...this ACLU puke must know that it's settled law that you can't falsely yell "fire" in a crowded theater - and be bright enough to understand that by extension, make jokes about terrorist acts in an edgy post-911 world......