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Secret no-fly list had Kennedy on it
Terror no-fly list singled out Kennedy
Senator was stopped 5 times at airports - Sara Kehaulani Goo, Washington Post Friday, August 20, 2004 Washington -- Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy said Thursday that he was stopped and questioned at airports on the East Coast five times in March because his name appeared on the government's secret "no-fly" list. Federal air security officials said the initial error that led to scrutiny of the Massachusetts Democrat should not have happened even though they recognize that the no-fly list is imperfect. But privately they acknowledged being embarrassed that it took the senator and his staff more than three weeks to get his name removed. A senior administration official, who spoke on condition he not be identified, said Kennedy was stopped because the name "T. Kennedy" has been used as an alias by someone on the list of terrorist suspects. While he worked to clear himself, Kennedy kept having to wait in the terminal at Washington's Reagan National, Boston's Logan International and at least one other airport, his staff said. All the flights were on US Airways. When the senator checked in at the counter, airline employees told him they could not issue him a boarding pass because he appeared on the list. Kennedy was delayed until a supervisor could be summoned to identify him and give approval for him. Kennedy's description of his air travel troubles -- mentioned during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday on the 9/11 panel's recommendations -- gave new life to questions about the quality and effectiveness of the no-fly list. Security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies established the list after the 2001 terrorist attacks. Critics said the senator's experience served as the latest example of how a system designed to improve security is instead targeting innocent travelers. The government does not make public the names or total number of people on the list, which officials say is constantly updated. According to FBI documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union under a Freedom of Information Act request, more than 350 Americans have been delayed or denied boarding since the list's inception. The list hasn't led to any arrests, officials said. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit on behalf of six Americans who have had experiences similar to Kennedy's. "That a clerical error could lend one of the most powerful people in Washington to the list -- it makes one wonder just how many others who are not terrorists are on the list," said Reggie Shuford, a senior ACLU counsel. "Someone of Sen. Kennedy's stature can simply call a friend to have his name removed, but a regular American citizen does not have that ability. He had to call three times himself." A Kennedy aide said the senator nearly missed a couple of flights because of the delays. After the first few incidents, his staff called the Transportation Security Administration, which maintains the no-fly list. But even after those discussions about getting his name removed, the senator was stopped again, according to Kennedy spokesman David Smith. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge finally called to personally apologize about the mix-up, and the delays stopped in early April, Smith said. TSA spokesman Mark Hatfield said the no-fly system occasionally causes problems because the airlines are responsible for flagging passengers who show up on the list. "Administration of the list clearly needs to be changed and consolidated to be government-managed," Hatfield said. "This points out the weakness in having the names checked against passengers at hundreds of different airlines at thousands of different airline counters across the country." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
#2
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"George" wrote in message om... Terror no-fly list singled out Kennedy Senator was stopped 5 times at airports - Sara Kehaulani Goo, Washington Post Friday, August 20, 2004 Washington -- Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy said Thursday that he was stopped and questioned at airports on the East Coast five times in March because his name appeared on the government's secret "no-fly" list. Federal air security officials said the initial error that led to scrutiny of the Massachusetts Democrat should not have happened even though they recognize that the no-fly list is imperfect. But privately they acknowledged being embarrassed that it took the senator and his staff more than three weeks to get his name removed. A senior administration official, who spoke on condition he not be identified, said Kennedy was stopped because the name "T. Kennedy" has been used as an alias by someone on the list of terrorist suspects. While he worked to clear himself, Kennedy kept having to wait in the terminal at Washington's Reagan National, Boston's Logan International and at least one other airport, his staff said. All the flights were on US Airways. When the senator checked in at the counter, airline employees told him they could not issue him a boarding pass because he appeared on the list. Kennedy was delayed until a supervisor could be summoned to identify him and give approval for him. At which point had he not been the real Kennedy he would have made an excuse and left the building promptly. Maybe the airline employee should have kept him there, then pressed the big red button under the desk to summon immediate assistance. Some people really have no idea about security...... |
#3
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"George" wrote in message om... Terror no-fly list singled out Kennedy Senator was stopped 5 times at airports - Sara Kehaulani Goo, Washington Post Friday, August 20, 2004 Washington -- Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy said Thursday that he was stopped and questioned at airports on the East Coast five times in March because his name appeared on the government's secret "no-fly" list. Federal air security officials said the initial error that led to scrutiny of the Massachusetts Democrat should not have happened even though they recognize that the no-fly list is imperfect. But privately they acknowledged being embarrassed that it took the senator and his staff more than three weeks to get his name removed. A senior administration official, who spoke on condition he not be identified, said Kennedy was stopped because the name "T. Kennedy" has been used as an alias by someone on the list of terrorist suspects. While he worked to clear himself, Kennedy kept having to wait in the terminal at Washington's Reagan National, Boston's Logan International and at least one other airport, his staff said. All the flights were on US Airways. When the senator checked in at the counter, airline employees told him they could not issue him a boarding pass because he appeared on the list. Kennedy was delayed until a supervisor could be summoned to identify him and give approval for him. At which point had he not been the real Kennedy he would have made an excuse and left the building promptly. Maybe the airline employee should have kept him there, then pressed the big red button under the desk to summon immediate assistance. Some people really have no idea about security...... |
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"Miss L. Toe" wrote:
government's secret "no-fly" list. they recognize that the no-fly list is imperfect. the name "T. Kennedy" has been used as an alias by someone on the list of terrorist suspects. Ok - there's this list. Has it resulted in the capture of anyone? Has any bona-fide, known terrorist been captured as a result of presenting himself to an airline agent upon check-in? If not, then the Bush admin, or the Dept of Fatherland Security, or the TSA, should admit that there are known terrorists within the United States that they have not been able to capture and hence have failed to protect US citizens at home, and should cede the leadership of the country to the Democrats during the next election. Kennedy was delayed until a supervisor could be summoned to identify him and give approval for him. At which point had he not been the real Kennedy he would have made an excuse and left the building promptly. Maybe the airline employee should have kept him there, then pressed the big red button under the desk to summon immediate assistance. Is there at least 1 FBI agent stationed at all major US airports 24/7 ? Yes, it sounds logical - doesn't it. Just what does an airline agent do when their Commodore-64 or Vic-20 computer terminal flash a message that the person they're looking at is on the notorious, the alarming, no-fly-list? Is there a big red button nearby? Is there an FBI agent nearby? No. There is just a "supervisor" nearby. You want the truth? The truth is that the no-fly-list is maintained soley for the insurance companies who have gone ape-****-paranoid since 9-11 and have wanted every conceivable, if unworkable, mechanism in place to keep airline dammage claims as close to zero as possible. Note that it's a "do-not-fly" list. It's not an "arrest-on-sight" list. |
#5
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"Miss L. Toe" wrote:
government's secret "no-fly" list. they recognize that the no-fly list is imperfect. the name "T. Kennedy" has been used as an alias by someone on the list of terrorist suspects. Ok - there's this list. Has it resulted in the capture of anyone? Has any bona-fide, known terrorist been captured as a result of presenting himself to an airline agent upon check-in? If not, then the Bush admin, or the Dept of Fatherland Security, or the TSA, should admit that there are known terrorists within the United States that they have not been able to capture and hence have failed to protect US citizens at home, and should cede the leadership of the country to the Democrats during the next election. Kennedy was delayed until a supervisor could be summoned to identify him and give approval for him. At which point had he not been the real Kennedy he would have made an excuse and left the building promptly. Maybe the airline employee should have kept him there, then pressed the big red button under the desk to summon immediate assistance. Is there at least 1 FBI agent stationed at all major US airports 24/7 ? Yes, it sounds logical - doesn't it. Just what does an airline agent do when their Commodore-64 or Vic-20 computer terminal flash a message that the person they're looking at is on the notorious, the alarming, no-fly-list? Is there a big red button nearby? Is there an FBI agent nearby? No. There is just a "supervisor" nearby. You want the truth? The truth is that the no-fly-list is maintained soley for the insurance companies who have gone ape-****-paranoid since 9-11 and have wanted every conceivable, if unworkable, mechanism in place to keep airline dammage claims as close to zero as possible. Note that it's a "do-not-fly" list. It's not an "arrest-on-sight" list. |
#6
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George extrapolated from data available...
Terror no-fly list singled out Kennedy Senator was stopped 5 times at airports You know how it is. That old driver's license case just keeps cropping up... TMO |
#7
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George extrapolated from data available...
Terror no-fly list singled out Kennedy Senator was stopped 5 times at airports You know how it is. That old driver's license case just keeps cropping up... TMO |
#8
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Scott en Aztlan wrote in
: At least he COULD get it removed. What are the chances that Joe Non-Senator Citizen could get his name off the no-fly list? The average citizen wouldn't even be told he was on the no-fly list. Your only choice is to legally change your name to something uncommon. I understand that Congressman John Lewis has also been barred from flights (along with dozens or hundreds of other men named John Lewis). |
#9
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Scott en Aztlan wrote in
: At least he COULD get it removed. What are the chances that Joe Non-Senator Citizen could get his name off the no-fly list? The average citizen wouldn't even be told he was on the no-fly list. Your only choice is to legally change your name to something uncommon. I understand that Congressman John Lewis has also been barred from flights (along with dozens or hundreds of other men named John Lewis). |
#10
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Scott en Aztlan wrote in
: At least he COULD get it removed. What are the chances that Joe Non-Senator Citizen could get his name off the no-fly list? The average citizen wouldn't even be told he was on the no-fly list. Your only choice is to legally change your name to something uncommon. I understand that Congressman John Lewis has also been barred from flights (along with dozens or hundreds of other men named John Lewis). |
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