Removed agent honorable: Bush

Daily Telegraph (Australia) ^ | 08jan02

[Alberta's Child]

I have to laugh at this complaint from a Secret Service agent about his treatment at the hands of another group. Secret Service agents have more leeway than anyone else when it comes to harassing law-abiding citizens, and I, for one, am quite happy to see one of them run through the wringer for a change.

[a_witness]

I'm too busy beating my wife to answer silly questions like that, okay?

Yep, you're probably pro-Islamic Terrorist, anti-Israel, and pro-SouthWest to boot

[Byron_the_Aussie]

....they can rip out the metal detectors and do away with the pat downs and searches, for you will stand on a platform and gaze Sphinx-like over the mass of humanity as it passes below you.

As you spot each real terrorist, you can snap your fingers and alert a security agent standing by to violently tackle and arrest the terrorist....

Kevin, a little bulletin for you : I don't share your childlike faith in the security services.

Todd Beamer did more to disrupt the terrorist's plans than the CIA and the FBI combined.

[kcvl]

ROFLOL!

[jwalsh07]

Why would the terrorists call the WH ahead of time if AF1 was a target?

Huh? I have no idea, you're the guy with the direct line to the terrorists. But really, answering a question with a question leads me to believe you have no idea what they intended while logic screams to me that Bush was a primary target no matter where he was and people who claim differently are not to be taken seriously.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..yep, you're probably pro-Islamic Terrorist, anti-Israel, and pro-SouthWest to boot...

Witness, we're having a robust-yet-mature disagreement here, okay?

Unless you've got something intelligent to contribute, how about sitting this one out.

[a_witness]

Unless you've got something intelligent to contribute, how about sitting this one out.

Unless you are willing to back up your ostensible American ally, I suggest you sit this one out.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...but he doesn't know how to fill out forms properly, it took him 3 times and he's a federal agent...

Fitz, I really want to see those forms, somehow.

Because right about now I've got a picture in my head of Marge Simpson's two sisters.

You know how they can make life difficult for form filler-outs, if they want to?

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...Secret Service agents have more leeway than anyone else when it comes to harassing law-abiding citizens, and I, for one, am quite happy to see one of them run through the wringer for a change....

A few here have said that, but I still remember all the after-action Freep reports, during the Clinton years. And the impression conveyed by authoritative Freepers then was that SS agents were pretty good guys who had a dirty job to do; ie, ducking HRC's thrown ashtrays.

So pardon me if I'm a bit cynical about the way so many are turning on this Arab one.

[okiedust]

Ok, I hate to weigh in on an already robust discussion, cause everyone involved is doing a great job. I would like to know however, what the agent's background is. How long has he been with the service, what his previous duties were and how long has he been on presidential protection? In other words, if he was promoted after 9/11 is it not possible that the president thought it important that an American of Arab descent be seen on one of the most sensitive and trustworthy duties in the service? He seemed at best immature and unprofessional, so perhaps he just wasn't ready for the job? maybe there was a profiling going on already, but not the kind you think?

It's just a question which if answered could change my view of the situation.

regards

[jwalsh07]

YOU are the guy whos said Bush was NOT a target. Now, it is incumbent n you to prove that statement and I'm going to enjoy another guy dancing around proving negatives.

As for your claim that Air Force 1 was not a target, VP Cheney has reiterated that it was, only of course while Bush was on it.

I look forward to your "proof".

PS: we can declare a truce on the font war if you'd like. :-}

[jwalsh07]

Byron, would you care to explain to me how this SS agent can do his job without profiling? And if he refuses to profile, he shouldn't be protecting POTUS, he should be chasing wasp counterfeiters.

I guess he doesn't.

[a_witness]

He has been with the Secret Service about 7 or so years. President Bush thinks he is a good agent but it seems he lost his cool while trying to catch a flight to Texas. He then turned this into a media war against American, possibly because he realized he had already burned his bridges by immature belligerent behavior in front of witnesses.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..Byron, would you care to explain to me how this SS agent can do his job without profiling?...

Sure. Tomorrow. It's 2:00AM here, and I'm hitting the rack. G'nite.

[He Rides A White Horse]

Say goodnight to Nurse Ratchet for me.

[jwalsh07]

I'll be waiting with bad breath.

[Who is George Salt?]

Pilots need to be immunized against such harassment.

Perhaps they should start wearing sheets over their heads and change their name to KKK airlines.

[duckln]

Why would an minority pilot kick off a white guy?

[norton]

The report said at least one of those forms wasn't signed - that does not suggest a difficult form.

As an SS agent it seems likely that this guy had seen the forms before and by all rights should have been able to fill them out in his sleep.

The station chief or another third party called for confirmation but not to the number the agent gave - because he could not confirm it to be an SS office.

The agent got up and left the plane when it was delayed, leaving carry on luggage behind and that luggage included a book in arabic or concerning islam which another passenger and stewardess noted during his absence.

How comfy might you feel sitting next to an abandoned black bag and a copy of "Islam for morons"?
How long before you started to hear it ticking?
How then would you react (as the stew) when you discovered the guy's mandatory paperwork was not kosher?

Finally, aircraft captains share the responsibility and authority of a ship's captain - they get to make the decision when passengers become a problem. Versus - anyone who goes armed into society at society's behest has an obligation to do so with proper respect for the society and not with the arrogance that so often accompanies a badge.