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There are no words...

by Michael Motley
6 replies
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I read this in a local paper:
Nicholas George, a 22 year old California college student, who says he was handcuffed and detained for five hours at Philadelphia International Airport last August because he was carrying English-Arabic flashcards. George , a senior majoring in physics and Middle Eastern studies at Pomonoa College in Claremont, now has filed a lawsuit against employeees of the Transportation Security Administration, the FBI and the philadelphia Police Department. He says he was randomly selected for extra screening as he prepared to board a flight to California. When George emptied his pockets he took out the flashcards. Authorities quickly detained him. At one point a TSA supervisor asked George if he knew who committed the 9/11 terrorist attacks, according to the lawsuit. George answered, "Osama bin Laden." "Do you know what language he spoke?" the supervisor asked. "Arabic" George answered. The supervisor then held uup the flashcards and said "Do you see why these cards are suspicious?"
Yeah..i feel safer already.
  • Profile picture of the author Kelly Verge
    But those flashcards can be sharp! Think of the paper cuts...
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Kelly Verge View Post

      But those flashcards can be sharp! Think of the paper cuts...
      GOOD POINT! Funny thing, I bring lancets(MADE to draw blood) onto the aircraft, and I doubt anyone notices.

      Around the 1st or 2nd grade, some STUPID teacher STOLE an apple corer I had. It would NOT have been a good weapon. She saw me use it to cut an apple, and she just stole it. OH WELL! As for being singled out for a search? It happened to me at LEAST 6 times.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    FEW accuse the TSA of being very smart.

    Arabic is the 4th most popular language in the world. It is spoken by "allies" as well as enemies of the US. The king of jordan, for example, seems to have some resentment towards israel, and prefers most other arab countries, but they have diplomatic relations with israel and seem to be peaceful. And THEY speak arabic!

    Gee, I guess it is suspicious to have a book on learning English too, since we were once at war with the british.

    Was the guy even moslem?

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
    we have people that take our e-cigarettes on planes. I dont know how the hell that would pass an xray machine because they are nothing but battery/breadboard and wires. If i saw it going through an xray machine i'd think it to be a bomb or atleast a detonator.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      TSA and air marshalls are perhaps the worst planned and managed govt agencies (and that's saying a lot).
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Michael Motley View Post

      we have people that take our e-cigarettes on planes. I dont know how the hell that would pass an xray machine because they are nothing but battery/breadboard and wires. If i saw it going through an xray machine i'd think it to be a bomb or atleast a detonator.
      It could EASILY be a detonator. IMAGINE the underware and shoe bomber! With the right materials, and such a cigarette, they would have worked. Then again, I could make my laptop a bomb, EVEN if they required me to turn it on to prove it was real. Of course, they haven't asked for that test for about 8-9 YEARS!

      Steve
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