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Removed agent honorable: Bush
Daily Telegraph (Australia) ^ | 08jan02

Posted on 01/09/2002 3:39:27 AM PST by Byron_the_Aussie

US President George W. Bush is sceptical about American Airlines' claim that it removed an Arab-American agent in Bush's security team from a plane for being "hostile".

"I know the man, I am most appreciative of his service to me and my wife. He is an honorable fellow," Bush said.

"I would be surprised if he was hostile."

The US Secret Service, which is responsible for presidential security, said in late December it had launched an inquiry into why the agent, headed to Texas to protect a holidaying Bush, was removed from the aircraft.

The agent, speaking through his lawyers, said he was barred from the Baltimore (Maryland) to Dallas (Texas) flight because of his ethnicity, amid fears sparked by the September 11 terrorist strikes.

"If he was mistreated because of his ethnicity, I'm going to be plenty hot. That means angry," Bush said.

But he added: "I wasn't there, so it's hard for me to comment on something which I did not see."


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To: one_particular_harbour
If you've paid attention, he left the plane because he was directed to by the pilot as they went over his paperwork.

how come all the people arguing against the pilot don't read any of the facts ?

Armed passenger * flight 363 BWI/DFW. Flight was scheduled to leave at 1715. I was notified that due to a mechanical at the next gate - they would hold our push for approximately 30-40 minutes to try to accommodate those pax going to DFW. A few moments later the *1 flt attendant brought to my attention that she and other flt att were concerned about the actions of one of the pax. This pax left the aircraft with carryon bags still in his seat. He told the flt att. Please don’t leave without him. While the pax was away a flt att observed books in the individuals seat which were written in what she assessed was Arabic style print. Upon further investigation - when the individual came back it was determined that he was in fact our ‘armed passenger’.

201 posted on 01/10/2002 5:11:26 AM PST by VRWC_minion
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To: one_particular_harbour
If you haven't kept up with the story at all (and it is apparent you haven't from your comment), please refrain from making stupid statements. If you've paid attention, he left the plane because he was directed to by the pilot as they went over his paperwork.

Allow me to correct you and help you keep up with the story. Portion of text of captain's written statement already posted on this thread.

"Armed passenger * flight 363 BWI/DFW. Flight was scheduled to leave at 1715. I was notified that due to a mechanical at the next gate - they would hold our push for approximately 30-40 minutes to try to accommodate those pax going to DFW. A few moments later the *1 flt attendant brought to my attention that she and other flt att were concerned about the actions of one of the pax. This pax left the aircraft with carryon bags still in his seat. He told the flt att. Please don’t leave without him. While the pax was away a flt att observed books in the individuals seat which were written in what she assessed was Arabic style print. Upon further investigation - when the individual came back it was determined that he was in fact our ‘armed passenger’. I then decided to stop my pre-flt and review the AA E2. The form was unreadable because it was a carbon-copy and there were missing items.

202 posted on 01/10/2002 5:21:18 AM PST by a_witness
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To: Leisler
Referencing the agent's boss, its clear he needs some lessons in how to submit to authority, when you are not in charge. Remember the DUI thing before the election and the point that GWB didn't pull rank or ask for special treatment when he was pulled over, but took his lumps and the consequences? The agent no matter how in the right he may or may not have been tried to trump the the pilot's authority, and that was unprofessional. His behaviour reflected badly on his service and his boss. Now if it were a life and death situation, and the pilot had been behaving in a threatening and abusive manner then the agent would have had every right to make a scene since he might reasonably assume the pilot was a danger to his flight and others. (this is a wildly exaggerated scenario for argument's sake only). Clearly the only problem here was the agent's own sense of self importance. He was not using his authority to serve any purpose but his own.

regards

203 posted on 01/10/2002 5:21:49 AM PST by okiedust
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To: a_witness
I have a further thought about the agent's sensitivity to what he felt was "racial profiling." What better way to breach the president's security than to identify the agents' guarding him weaknesses? If you have a guy who's going to hit the hot button when he thinks you are insulting him, what better way to distract him? When you put on the gun and the SS badge, then you have one agenda, that is the protection of the president. If you want to go to battle over your own agenda, then perhaps you need another job. Kind of like the guards at Buckingham Palace, nothing gets them to break, nothing. There's a reason for that philosophy to be in place, even tho its a tourist game to try to get a reaction, the idea behind it is sound. If the agent wanted to act as Joe Citizen and go to bat over his own feeling of being dissed, then don't pull rank, deal with it as any citizen would. He would have to deal reasonably with the pilot and make sure he did the required things to be boarded. Like the rest of us, he would have to deal with the situation cooly or not get on.

regards

204 posted on 01/10/2002 6:01:41 AM PST by okiedust
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To: Zorobabel
Bush is making supportive remarks re: the Secret Service agent for a reason.

If Bush were to even remotely suggest or imply any criticism of this ninny agent, the ACLU, People for the UnAmerican Way, Action Jackson, and the rest of the Race-Baiting Clymers would begin an all-out new "Bush is a racist" assault in the media. It's totally unproductive for Bush to hand these Clymers a bat to beat him over the head with, especially during a time of war.

I understand EXACTLY why Bush is making these comments, and it just goes to show Bush keeps foiling his enemies by ignoring their rather transparent traps.

205 posted on 01/10/2002 6:15:25 AM PST by RooRoobird14
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To: Byron_the_Aussie
I can see where you thought I was referring to you, but my comment was directed towards President Bush. He should have said merely "No comment" rather than second guessing the actions of the pilot.

We, here, do not affect overall airline security on a national basis with our rantings amongst ourselves. Bush does, and should have shut up, at least until all the facts are out.

206 posted on 01/10/2002 6:30:51 AM PST by dead
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To: dead
Bush does, and should have shut up, at least until all the facts are out.

All Bush said was the agent was honorable and that he would be surprised. That is hardly a show of support.

In fact, that was almost the precise words I used when I was confronted with a dishonest act done by an employee of mine. I wasn't supportive of her behavior. I was surprised and up until then I would not have expected that.

207 posted on 01/10/2002 6:42:15 AM PST by VRWC_minion
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To: VRWC_minion
All Bush said was the agent was honorable and that he would be surprised.

Nice selective editing on your part. Of course that is not ALL he said. He added:

"If he was mistreated because of his ethnicity, I'm going to be plenty hot. That means angry," Bush said.

There was no need to make that sort of speculation without the facts. It was an irresponsible thing to say.

208 posted on 01/10/2002 6:59:19 AM PST by dead
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To: Leisler
You will be eating crow when they find it was the airline that was abusive and racial profiling. I suspect you support racial only when it is not used against you.
209 posted on 01/10/2002 7:16:15 AM PST by Texbob
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To: UberVernunft
We just want security measures in place that (hopefully) will make it (relatively) safe to fly

Right on! We know for certain the group responsible, they are muslin male mideasterners. I would feel a lot safer if they included a voice analyzer at the gate to ferret these guys out. Why hassel 99% of the passengers ( shoe checks, pat downs) for no safety effective reason.

IMO and many others, the 1% we're talking about range from religious fanatic to intimidated supporter. They are the clear and present danger.

210 posted on 01/10/2002 7:18:58 AM PST by duckln
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To: dead
If I remember the sequence, his first reaction was the mistreatment quote and a few days later he made the one that is the subject of this thread which I read as back tracking.
211 posted on 01/10/2002 7:40:59 AM PST by VRWC_minion
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To: VRWC_minion
That sequence is believable. I just thought he shouldn't have said that. It wasn't a biggie though.
212 posted on 01/10/2002 7:51:33 AM PST by dead
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To: VRWC_minion
Do you feel like you're talking to the wall? I've given point by point rebuttals to OPH, colorado tanker, Dave S and few others. Most come back with the same old thing without facts to back them up. They complain about customer service or that security is not making them safe at the same time they complain about the pilot enforcing regs concerning armed passengers. Doesn't make sense and it sounds like an authority problem. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion. I think I'll talk to my wall for a while-less time and less disheartening...
213 posted on 01/10/2002 8:08:39 AM PST by sandlady
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To: sandlady
I think they reacted emotionally first. I happen to get pretty upset about authority issues too but at the outset I determined I would evaluate this issue on the premise that the if the pilot had the authority and if he erred on the side of caution I would support that.

As the facts have come out, it appears the pilot not only erred on the side of caution with good reason, he went too far in trying to be accomdating. The pilot should have simply said that the notice of 45 minutes is too short to clear any gun toting passenger. Also, I would like to hear that the airlines try and institute a minimum time rule.

214 posted on 01/10/2002 8:20:20 AM PST by VRWC_minion
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To: Who is George Salt?
"I wasn't even responding to any posts directed at citizenY2K."

It's quite clear that YOU WERE.

Wrong. Based on the total disconnect between your bizarre response, "Welcome to FR. What brings you here - is the "Storm Front" website down?" and the content of ANYTHING anyone else has posted, my comments were a general observation. You're a bigot and you've already outed yourself as an anti-semite. You've also engaged in some strange rantings over mental health issues -- presumably reflecting some sort of personal experience of yours.

Just read over your posts -- you sound like a total loon.

215 posted on 01/10/2002 8:32:28 AM PST by UberVernunft
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To: Who is George Salt?
BTW, what was your former screen name?

More paranoid rantings.

216 posted on 01/10/2002 8:35:52 AM PST by UberVernunft
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To: Alas
he president seems to think abortionsit, homosexuals and lesbians are pretty honorable too. He has more homosexuals and anti-life pro-abortionist on his list of high appointments than he does Christians.

This is a joke or an exageration, right?
217 posted on 01/10/2002 8:36:06 AM PST by Stone Mountain
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To: Texbob
Sorry, being an adult I don't let the problems of others determine my future. So, why don't you go down to Ace Hardware and get a 20lb bag of mortar mix and fill that crevice on your shoulder.
218 posted on 01/10/2002 11:31:56 AM PST by Leisler
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To: okiedust
double bump!
219 posted on 01/10/2002 12:41:21 PM PST by Leisler
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To: Leisler
Got your Liberal Goat, Huh?
220 posted on 01/10/2002 1:34:38 PM PST by Texbob
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