College Student Detained for Having Arabic Flash Cards

[TradeNurkicNow]

George was on his way back to school in California in August 2009 when he was prompted by Transportation Security Authority (TSA) agents to empty his pockets at an airport security screening point. After producing a set of English-Arabic flashcards, which each had an English word on one side and the corresponding Arabic word on the other, George was detained by the TSA agents in the screening area for 30 minutes. A TSA supervisor then arrived and aggressively questioned George, asking him questions such as how he felt about 9/11, whether he knew "who did 9/11" and whether he knew what language Osama bin Laden spoke.

For some reason, I've never even been asked where I had traveled from when going to and from the Middle East and North Africa with tons of Arabic related shit in tow. And I know for a fact my stuff was searched.

Still, asking questions about 9/11? That's pretty minor league. Come on TSA, you can do better.

http://www.aclu.org/national-securi...rt-detention-and-interrogation-college-studen

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Send him to G-Bay!

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

 

[Natebishop3]

The entire TSA thing is a joke. Airport security was privatized before 9/11 and it was fine. It's not like there was a security letdown. The terrorists had box cutters, which were completely legal to bring on a plane at that time. Now airport security is run by the government, which is never a good idea. Every time I go to the airport I see five to ten of those blue shirted fuckers standing around doing nothing while a huge line of people try to get through security. It drives me nuts.

I've never understood why some people want bigger government. Everything the government does is completely inefficient. You should hear the stories I've been told by guys from over in Iraq about how wasteful the military is. A friend of mine is over in Iraq right now and he can pull GPS units, practically brand new, out of the garbage piles as a unit leaves the country to ship back home. Not just GPS units, but $500 flashlights, strobes, weapons parts, all kinds of stuff. It's bullshit. They just throw it away.

All the red tape, bureaucracy, and mismanagement of our government is so frustrating sometimes.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

TSA is teh ghey!

 

[barfo]

The entire TSA thing is a joke. Airport security was privatized before 9/11 and it was fine. It's not like there was a security letdown. The terrorists had box cutters, which were completely legal to bring on a plane at that time.

I don't know what the truth is here, but this website claims that box cutters were in fact prohibited before 9/11, and provides a document that they claim is a 1994 list of prohibited items, which explicitly includes box cutters.

Further, the 9/11 commission report states that the hijackers made various test flights with box cutters in their carry-on luggage to see if they could get past security. Such tests would be unnecessary if the item was legal to bring onboard.

Not to say I have any love for the TSA myself.

barfo

 

[Natebishop3]

I don't know what the truth is here, but this website claims that box cutters were in fact prohibited before 9/11, and provides a document that they claim is a 1994 list of prohibited items, which explicitly includes box cutters.

Further, the 9/11 commission report states that the hijackers made various test flights with box cutters in their carry-on luggage to see if they could get past security. Such tests would be unnecessary if the item was legal to bring onboard.

Not to say I have any love for the TSA myself.

barfo

Hmm, I had heard at the time that they were legal.

 

[Minstrel]

A TSA supervisor then arrived and aggressively questioned George, asking him questions such as how he felt about 9/11, whether he knew "who did 9/11" and whether he knew what language Osama bin Laden spoke.

Sounds like a tough, professional interrogator.

"So, how are you?"
"Fine."
"Nice day, eh?"
"I guess."
"Are you a terrorist?"
"Yes. Wait, I mean no! Damn it."
"They always crack."

 

[Denny Crane]

Sounds like a tough, professional interrogator.

"So, how are you?"
"Fine."
"Nice day, eh?"
"I guess."
"Are you a terrorist?"
"Yes. Wait, I mean no! Damn it."
"They always crack."

More like:
"Are you a terrorist?"
"Death to the USA!"
"You have the right to remain silent..."

 

[barfo]

What they left out was what was on the flash cards. English and Arabic versions of:

"Hello, I am a terrorist"

"Please do be alarmed"

"Would you help me light my bomb?"

"Bring on the virgins!"

barfo

 

[toutlaw25]

The entire TSA thing is a joke. Airport security was privatized before 9/11 and it was fine. It's not like there was a security letdown. The terrorists had box cutters, which were completely legal to bring on a plane at that time. Now airport security is run by the government, which is never a good idea. Every time I go to the airport I see five to ten of those blue shirted fuckers standing around doing nothing while a huge line of people try to get through security. It drives me nuts.

Not true. Only the hijackers on 77 had box cutters along with knives, while the rest of the hijackers used knives and mace.