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Paranoid TSA checkpoint agents arrest man over harmless Arabic flashcards
Anyone trying to learn a new language while heading through the airport beware - the TSA is apparently paying special attention to people with flashcards.
When airline passenger Nick George tried to pass through the checkpoint at Phillidephia airport, the TSA found the harmless flashcards in his bag, handcuffed him and detained him for five hours.
Given the reaction from the TSA, you'd expect that the flashcards were teaching him words like "hijack" or "bomb", but they were all completely harmless words like "graduate" or "funny".
The TSA obviously now assumes that anything in Arabic is a matter of national security, because during their interrogation of Mr. George, they demanded answers to stupid questions like "who was behind 9/11" and "what language does Osama Bin Laden speak". Worst of all, Mr. George doesn't even look like your everyday terrorist - he's just a young American guy from California. So, thanks to their utter stupidity, the TSA is now on the receiving end of a lawsuit by the ACLU.
UPDATE: According to a different report, some of the flash cards did indeed contain words like "bomb" and "terrorist", but Mr. George made it clear that he was learning those words so he could understand news stories from the Middle East.
Filed under: North America, Airports
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
rafaelc378 Feb 13th 2010 11:16PM
TSA Philadelphia eh?
Could have been worse. The TSA inspector could have pulled out a bag with a white substance in it, claiming it was drugs in the passenger's bag, then say it was all a joke and that he should have seen the look on his face.
Crissy Feb 14th 2010 7:59AM
I agree this was over the top and poorly handled; BUT,
"Worst of all, Mr. George doesn't even look like your everyday terrorist - he's just a young American guy from California."
Really, what does your everyday terrorist look like????
Malaycobra Feb 14th 2010 9:14AM
Don't be naive...
Nick Feb 14th 2010 1:51PM
I fully agree with this comment. The author's words reflect his true mentality. This is what the problem is with a lot of people in this country. All these preconceived notions only reflect their ignorance and petty-mindedness. *DISLIKE*
Mark Feb 14th 2010 6:13PM
What does a terrorist look like? How about mid-20s, English speaking Caucasian, raised as a Roman Catholic and a member of the Republican party (registered in NY) and the NRA?
Remember this guy?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_McVeigh
John Feb 16th 2010 3:25PM
Hey Nick,
The problem with so many people in this country is that they profess to know what the problem is with so many people in this country....
scootrbum Feb 17th 2010 12:32PM
"Really, what does your everyday terrorist look like????"
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney
Heidi Feb 16th 2010 9:53PM
Truely what does a terrorist look like. They arrested several men for terrorism in NC that look like your average blonde blue eyed Americans. They were Americans with their heads screwed on backwards.
Julia Feb 16th 2010 7:01PM
"Really, what does your everyday terrorist look like????"
I guess it depends on where you are... but in these United States, they have several different guises. They look like church goers (who then commit murder in said church), they look like foreigners (who blew up the World Trade Center), they look like ex-military guys (who then blew up the Oklahoma City Federal building), and then there are the many cells of the most famous terrorist organization in this country - one that is still very active to this day -the Klan.
But I don't see the TSA detaining every redneck racist they run across...
Mr. Lee Feb 16th 2010 8:24PM
Crissy..try looking at the pictures of the individuals that created most of the TSA issues and other security measures we are having to deal with today. The writer is stating fact. USUALLY white, blond/brown haired guys from California do NOT hijack planes into buildings, fields, or blow them up for the hell of it. Grow up girl
vad Feb 14th 2010 10:36AM
Crissy, if you want to know what today's terrorists look like, read the famous article "The Fear Factory", http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/18137343/the_fear_factory
Crissy Feb 14th 2010 10:59AM
I'm not, I know what we all think a terrorist looks like. That's why terrorists are actively recruiting people who don't look like terrorists. They think we're too dumb to look outside our preconceived ideas of what a terrorist looks like, they're probably right.
Paul Feb 14th 2010 1:14PM
I tend to think TSA policies are getting more and more foolish as time goes on but in this case TSA has no arrest power (They dont even have hand cuffs) so it more likely was the Philadelphia Police Department who decided to arrest and detain the person and not TSA unless you are on an aircraft with Federal Air Marshals
StonedOdie Feb 15th 2010 12:43PM
and this is why the TSA has failed miserably..
John Feb 14th 2010 11:57PM
"We are tired of living under fear", said Obama... It looks like Bush's invisible hand is still there running the show.
I had high hopes, but I would not vote for Obama unless he delivers what he has promised.
LORI Feb 16th 2010 2:23PM
LOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY TIMES THEY HAVE STOPPED HORRIBLE INCIDENTS.. WE WOULD NEVER FLY AGAIN!!! IT IS BETTER TO BE PREPARED.. OBAMA HAS NO IDEA WHAT HE IS DOING AND HAS KEPT NO PROMISES. YOUR RIGHT ABOUT THAT!!!
USAF Linguist Feb 16th 2010 12:44PM
Remind me not to bring my Arabic flashcards on class break with me! HAHA! I would hope though, that if I were travelling with my Arabic homework, they would see the Air Force uniform, the military ID card, and orders saying I am studying to be a linguist, and pass me over...but you never know...they might think I am a terrorist that much more...*sigh*
LORI Feb 16th 2010 2:20PM
GREAT JOB YOUR DOING BUT LEAVE THE CARDS AND BOOKS IN YOUR BAG TILL AFTER THE FLIGHT!!!! IN FL WE CAN'T SAY HI TO OUR FRIEND JACK BECAUSE OF THE HIJACKERS THAT USED TO GO TO CUBA!! COMMON SENSE IS WHAT PEOPLE NEED TO USE!!! THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY!!!
Mike Feb 16th 2010 3:32PM
Just like your fellow service man at Ft. Hood. I say it is better to be safe than sorry.
Cheyenne Isabella Feb 16th 2010 4:02PM
Simply because one may have on any US military uniform does not make them automatically exempt from being a terrorist -- Ft. Hood ring a bell? or, how about that fellow American soldier who threw a grenade in the tent(s) when the US first invaded Iraq?
There is NO reason to trust anyone at this point in time ~~
As for the young man from California and his Arabic flash cards -- WHY should anyone assume he may be innocent? Is he on his way to learn more for the Islamic Jihad and we may hear of him in the months or years to come...
Anyone recall another "young man" from California that actually denounced America and became a leading figure in the Islamic Jihad that we see from time to time on the tv? He is quite fluent in Arabic but also speaks in his native language when spewing his hatred for America and defending the jihad against America and all those who do not believe as he does -----
Religion and Reality can be very ugly, indeed ~