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About Those Imams: Why US Air Kicked Them Off »
Posted by: stephen-johnson 1 year, 10 months agoBy RICHARD MINITER December 2, 2006 -- THE notorious case of U.S. Airways Flight 300 gets stranger by the minute, as more facts emerge about why six traveling Muslim clerics were asked to deplane. A passenger on that flight - I'll call her "Pauline" - has inadvertently publicized some facts via a much-forwarded e-mail; she gave me m
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Comments: 201
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Minuteman
Dec. 3, 2006, 9:54 a.m.I Think they did everything correctly. and as for racial profiling it only makes sence to look harder at the people from which the attacks came not 80 year old Iowa grandmothers. Racial profiling is logical and it has no racizm just common sence. Anyona who does not see that is plan blind.
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stephen-johnson
Dec. 2, 2006, 11:27 a.m.If what Miniter says is true, a picture is emerging of these imams not being the victims of profiling. This could be the start of a series of similar actions to intimidate airline security into not doing their job.
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berbles
Dec. 2, 2006, 11:45 a.m.Why were they cuffed than? If all they were doing was talking in arabic and looking 'nervous', than what the hell reason did they have to cuff all these men a half hour after they were removed from the plane?
Plus, looking nervous and speaking in arabic? Well, I'll bet all the other people were looking nervous and talking in English. Why isn't that suspiscious? I bet the Muslims were suspiscous of all these white people sweating, looking at them, whispering. I would be.
The fact is this is bull, there's a proper way to do things and they didn't do it that way. If airport security was doing its job, the should be no reason to be suspiscious.
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stephen-johnson
Dec. 2, 2006, 12:15 p.m.Is this the proper way to act - to ignore suspicious behavior?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,149635,00.html
SCARBOROUGH, Maine - A former U.S. Airways ticket agent who issued boarding passes to the terrorists who later hijacked a plane out of Boston on Sept. 11, 2001, says he felt guilty afterward.
Michael Tuohey, of Scarborough, said he was suspicious of Mohamed Atta and Abdulaziz Alomari when they rushed to make their flight out of Portland International Jetport early that morning.
Atta's demeanor, his angry-looking eyes and the pair's first-class, one-way tickets to Los Angeles made Tuohey think twice.
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jeffery1
Dec. 2, 2006, 4:46 p.m.The article did provide details about that suspicious behavior provided by other passengers who spoke the Imam's language. Cuffing isn't necessarily going overboard. It is used, in many cases, to merely ensure everyone's safety included that of the cuffed suspect. I don't trust cops but can see it's use if used for legitimate reasons and not abused.
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Nowalive
Dec. 3, 2006, 9:44 a.m.This was a publicity stunt to incite Muslim anger towards America, and airline security as being anti-Muslim. "We are being singled out because of our beliefs". Or as noted by some NPR commentators, "It could be a dry run, but I don't think they would do that again".
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PinkyPie
Dec. 2, 2006, 12:59 p.m.A report on tv last night said they were lying about being handcuffed.
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stephen-johnson
Dec. 2, 2006, 2:28 p.m."Well the author is froma well known right wing institution, so probably his "story" should be taken with a large grain of salt"
Just like your posts need to be taken with the whole darn salt shaker.
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stephen-johnson
Dec. 2, 2006, 2:45 p.m.I only know that you're full of it. You never stay on topic. That's why most people ignore your posts.
Which is what I'll do from now on.
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jehovahjones
Dec. 3, 2006, 1:42 a.m.the agenda of the person making the statement is completely relevant; it's completely illogical to say it's not. if they have been bankrolled by a right-wing rig like Hudson, what, exactly, do you think their conclusions will be?
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Nowalive
Dec. 3, 2006, 10 a.m.Yes, you are completely correct. All the Jews WERE told not to report to work on 9/11; the Jews faked ALL the evidence, intelligence, statements, and votes for going to Iraq (even to the point of capturing and replacing ALL the key politicians [especially ALL the DEMOCRATS that voted] with doubles); the Jews actually own and operate Al-Jezeera which is why their reporting of the war is far less acurate than CNN, MSNBC, CNNHN, NPR, PRI, AP, UPI, et al.
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stephen-johnson
Dec. 2, 2006, 3:13 p.m.Masked Protestor:
I've given up on having a dialogue with diogenes12. He's a classic troll who tries to take over threads with BS.
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jehovahjones
Dec. 3, 2006, 1:48 a.m.frankly, it's ******. The NY Post manufactured all of the assertions, and anyone who quotes them is probably of the opinion that aliens talk to the leaders of this country regularly, and that the National Enquirer is the only one to get pictures of them...
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Nowalive
Dec. 3, 2006, 10:19 a.m.You dare question the left's primary means of dividing the country, and making ANY common sense non PC actions, heinous anti-humanity attacks.
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m-simon
Dec. 3, 2006, 3:56 a.m.Well one of the imams was connected with a "charity" that was on the government terrorist supporter list.
This looking has to go both ways.
All ways in fact.
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kboy
Dec. 2, 2006, 2:43 p.m.Is it possible that it was done to get a reaction to then sue for profiling? Look a lot like it to me. When in doubt, protect the majority of the people.
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stephen-johnson
Dec. 2, 2006, 2:54 p.m.I wouldn't be surprised if this incident isn't a probe of our securities. They'll try to see what they can get away with, and then keep pushing the envelope.
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tobeybarnes
Dec. 2, 2006, 4:06 p.m.I feel the way this situation was handled was the correct way. Better safe then sorry.
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jeffery1
Dec. 2, 2006, 4:42 p.m.My guess is against 2. They were let go and so it seems that they had nothing to use to take over the plane.
First, if you sent every Muslim home, many would stay in the U.S. because they're citizens.
Second, not all Muslims are willing to kill regular every day Americans, which should be obvious to even the dumbest right-winger (assuming he or she has at least those two brain cells) as evidenced by the fact that Americans are not being killed every day by Muslims except in Iraq.
Why not just stop the hyperbole? Aren't any of you right-wingers capable of being the least bit reasonable?
Intelligence requires proper profiling, which is precisely what the crew and passengers of this flight seemed to do.
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stephen-johnson
Dec. 2, 2006, 4:49 p.m.Most right wingers ARE being reasonable on this matter. It is the PC crowd that is complaining against US Air personnel doing their jobs to keep the public safe
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jehovahjones
Dec. 3, 2006, 1:45 a.m.That bit about seat-belt extension is laughably stupid. Weapons, my ass. You'd have just as much luck with a coke can, even more if you put it in a pillow case.
You are way too gullible...
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stephen-johnson
Dec. 2, 2006, 4:44 p.m.I'm opposed to indiscriminantly rounding up and deporting every muslim in this country. That's an overreaction to the PC stuff. But any muslim in this country who openly voices the opinion that Sharia trumps the US Constitution should be deported, and those who have associated with him should be watched.
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AKintheUK
Dec. 2, 2006, 4:47 p.m.why is everyone so quick to yell profiling, and discrimination? These guys werent exactly acting inconspicuously.
1. they sat in a pattern that placed them in control of the exits in the front, middle and back of the plane.
2. they went back and forth to the back of the plane many times.
3. they asked for extension lap belt and placed them under the seats (none were overwight, and didnt need extension seatbelts)
other things that may have raised flags would be one of the imams has conncetions to hamas, they were loudly chanting "Allah", and taking in mixed English/Arabic about Osama and Iraq.
whith all this info It sounds like they were trying to provoke airline security.
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jehovahjones
Dec. 3, 2006, 1:52 a.m.as always, you manufacture or overstate 'facts'...
1. How many passengers were they trying to stop from leaving via the exits?
2. says who? were you there? and how many times have you tried to speak to people travelling with you if you wree not seated together?
3. One man asked for one. One. No reliable source claims anything else.
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Harbeas
Dec. 2, 2006, 4:55 p.m.We live in a post 9/11 world. It is better to be safe than sorry. According to the article there was sufficient reasons to do what they did. If the Imams felt they were wronged, tough! I was their countrymen that created this problem in the first place.
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mamasan
Dec. 2, 2006, 6:17 p.m.yes these religious clerics need to do some spiritual house cleaning.
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1stMarDiv
Dec. 2, 2006, 6:18 p.m.Just read a Yahoo and MSNBC report on the incident and I am inclinded to agree with you. It was their fellow Muslims who murdered, hijacked and destroyed. By default all Muslims become suspicious to the world. Ain't right, but it is how it is. Basic fear.
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bigeric
Dec. 2, 2006, 6:10 p.m.This is an obvious case of proper behavioral profiling, not a case of racial profiling.
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mamasan
Dec. 2, 2006, 6:16 p.m.Until these same immam get just as riled about the way thier religion is being used to kill people,,,no one is going to care how badly they get treated.
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1stMarDiv
Dec. 2, 2006, 6:30 p.m.Your message here makes me remember something about the 9/11 attack. Yes, the attackers were Muslim, but more importantly I believe 17 of them were Saudi. What is/has Saudi doing/done to bring in Osama. If a group of our citizens coordinated something like what they did we would hand them over on a platter. Just an observation. But you are right. Where are all the Muslims that should be sholder to sholder with us in the fight. Afganistan was pretty good with this philosophy.
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Hobe
Dec. 2, 2006, 6:30 p.m.Staphen Johnson Great Post....
'I wouldn't be surprised if this incident isn't a probe of our securities. They'll try to see what they can get away with, and then keep pushing the envelope'.
These are my very thoughts... Why would they perform this action?. wouldn't you think they know this would provoke a counter reaction from Our security sustem..
They do this right under our security system, and all we do is worry about their feelings???
Are we stupid or what???
Sincerely????
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terpmaniac
Dec. 2, 2006, 7:06 p.m.While the imams were soon released, Pauline is fuming: "We are the victims of these people. They need to be more sensitive to us. They were totally insensitive to us and then accused us of being insensitive to them."
What the hell is she fuming about? She wasn't the target, she was taken off the damn plane, she wasnt labeled a potential terriorist,but she is fuming? God, how typically American. Anything or anyone who trumps our feeling of superiority gets our panties in a bunch. I wonder if this would have happened if it were a group of middle-aged white men! NO!
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trackmeister
Dec. 3, 2006, 10:07 a.m.hhmmmmmm white roman catholics didnt bomb the uss cole...the embassies...and hijack planes of innocent people into the wtc....
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stephen-johnson
Dec. 2, 2006, 11:20 p.m." What the hell is she fuming about? "
If I had to waste 4-5 hours in an airport for this, I would be fuming, too.
But in your world, any inconvenience to the law-abiding passengers doesn't count.
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slate
Dec. 2, 2006, 8:23 p.m.witnesses reported the men were making anti-American statements involving the Iraq war, asked to change seats once inside the cabin, that one requested an extender to make his seat belt larger even though he did not appear to need it and that in general "there was some peculiar behavior."
If they did these things they would have. Or bared to break out a bible and pray the Jehovah.
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trueamerican
Dec. 2, 2006, 8:24 p.m.just some more "good" practicioners of the "religion of peace" possibly planning a "peaceful" hyjacking,we can't hold that against them especially considering they are muslim,their rights override the lives of the passengers,since this country has gone muslim happy we should allow every muslim to thumb their noses at our laws and do whatever they feel like doing,after all doing so will make us feeel good it will show that we caaaare
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slate
Dec. 2, 2006, 8:43 p.m.Muslims appear to love to use our sense of political correctness against us. They cry racism when we are leery of their behavior in planes even after what happened on 9/11. So cry all you want, it doesn't wash with most white people these days. We have already allowed little old 80 year old white women to be subjected to searches along with the rest of us and not one old lady has ever hijacked a plane. So buy your tickets, stay in your assigned seats, and don't talk about your hatred of America then call us racists because we want the right to be on a flight and not be suspicious of your zany behavior.
Allah won't mind if you don't prostrate yourselves to the east in the isles of the plane you're on for a few hours.
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felipe
Dec. 3, 2006, 9:41 a.m.Well stated, slate!
The Manchestor document they found after ther London bombings that considered to be the al-qieda manual advocates to 'cry out' torture, racial profiling or whatever to score points with the American politicians and the media.
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farmerman
Dec. 3, 2006, 9:57 a.m.As always, right on the mark.
These people want us dead. We are in a religious war and it is their religion (Cult) that we are fighting. They knew what would happen due to the intentional actions they took. Either a hijacking was averted or more likely this was just a stunt to try to intimidate crew members from doing their job. We will probably see more of this.
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babynoi
Dec. 2, 2006, 8:54 p.m.Sh**** f*** up, all of you!It's all our fault,why?Because we allowed these MotherF****** RAMADANDADINGDONGS board the same airplane together,not one,but total of SIX,why,why?What does that tell us?One thing that we ever done yet is to load all these F****** floor and ground kissers in one airplane together,that is what we want? Don't we ever learn any lesson?6 of them in the same airplane? I mean,again?Com'on now! Are we out of our mind? This is unbelievable! My suggestion is, next time if they wanna fly,just only one Mister MuhamBUTTT(or whatever his name is)allow in one airplane, that's it, f**** them. No exception! Only one of them DINGDONGS in one airplane with us, why we have to be scare of? He wanna pray all day all night? Let him pray, let him bend over and kiss the airplane's floor clean right off.If he asks for seatbelt entender, give him 10 not 1.What he's going to do now? He's only one VS 100 of us, even only 3 f****** faggets can beat his a** up very easily,I guarranteed.
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mr-sir
Dec. 3, 2006, 3:28 a.m.You know, I could possibly agree with the sentiment of what you're trying to say, but you need to find a much better way of saying it.
This one is quite difficult to read.
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