Airport Deems War Hero Security Risk

The Denver Channel ^ | Posted: 11:33 a.m. EDT May 31, 2002

[RoughDobermann]

Man Injured In Afghanistan Needed Wire Cutters

SAN FRANCISCO -- A decorated war hero from Texas ran into a security buzzsaw at San Francisco International Airport -- over a tiny pair of wire cutters.

Army Lt. Greg Miller (pictured, left) was awarded a Purple Heart after he was shot in the jaw in Afghanistan. Doctors wired his jaw shut to let it heal.

They gave the GI a small pair of wire cutters (pictured, right) and told him to always keep them with him. They would be used to cut the wires in case he was choking.

The wire cutters were confiscated at a security checkpoint at SFO Thursday because of fears they could have been used as a weapon. Miller was heading home to College Station after visiting his mother in Millbrae.

Airport spokesman Mike McCarron said it was just a misunderstanding. He said Miller could have had a crew member carry the tool for him.

Miller called it a lack of common sense. He said the blades are less than an inch long. He also said security at his local airport told him he could carry the clippers onboard -- and gave him a sticker to prove it.

McCarron said the Transportation Security Administration is looking into the matter and will contact Miller.

[RoughDobermann]

Welcome home soldier, indeed.

[DETAILER]

The maroon that insisted on taking this soldiers wire clippers should be terminated, IMMEDIATELY!

[goodnesswins]

"Transportation Security Administration is looking into the matter and will contact Miller.

There is another thread today about the idiots screening in airports - maybe we need to dedicate a threat to REPORTING IDIOTS as SCREENERS and send it to the TSA on a regular basis - enough freepers travel and have reports of the idiocy that we could MAYBE concentrate our efforts and get them to start looking at the REAL problem - ARAB MUSLIMS, probably mostly men between the ages of 17 and 40.....just a thought.

[Marobe]

For a veteran, especially one who has been decorated, there is nothing quite like coming home to Amerika to deal with friggin lefties dummies. On behalf of Freepers and other real Americans, thanks Lt Miller and our deepest apologies for the dispicable state of our National Security and the bozo's you've encountered since your return.

[Darth Sidious]

Here's an idea: DEMAND that these idiots wear a badge with their photos and full names, for all to see. And station a group of "third party observers" at airport security checkpoints. Why should these fools operate with so little scrutiny/accountability?

[Destructor]

I thought the Federal government taking over Security at Airports was supposed to make it better, and more efficent? Could this be an example of the government's failure?

[goodnesswins]

Your idea is great, in fact, all people (baggage handlers, etc.) should be REQUIRED TO WEAR NAME BADGES (maybe they are already?)....anyway, I do like your idea, but still think we need a "ROUND-UP" of the incidences we see described here to send to some who MIGHT care.....or even to send to the PRESS...

[ArrogantBustard]

Taking a necessary piece of lifesaving medical equipment from an injured man (war hero or not) is wrong. But that's not really the problem here. The real problem is the idiotic notion that disarmament equates to security. As long as governmental morons cling to that idea, we will have these stupid stories. The problem isn't the way the rules are being applied, the rule itself is bad.

AB

[Mr. Lucky]

I agree...and that's regardless of how you meant terminated to be defined.

[AAABEST]

The maroon that insisted on taking this soldiers wire clippers should be terminated, IMMEDIATELY!

So-sorry. Can't fire a federal bureaucrat. We can thank our idiot-boy RINO poliiticians for that one.

[usual suspect]

Hey, he could be a domestic terrorist, he's a white guy with a hair cut like Timothy Mcveigh

[TADSLOS]

Only slightly better than being spit on and called a baby killer, I guess...

[cake_crumb]

"He said the blades are less than an inch long. He also said security at his local airport told him he could carry the clippers onboard -- and gave him a sticker to prove it."

Shame. A d@mned shame.

[RoughDobermann]

Particulary revolting considering that most airport shops that are PAST initial security screening STILL sell items such as nail clippers and other post-9/11 prohibited items...

[cake_crumb]

"So-sorry. Can't fire a federal bureaucrat. We can thank our idiot-boy RINO poliiticians for that one."

Actually, we can thank basically the same bunch of people who think that arming pilots, who would have to physically open and leave the cockpit in order to attempt to stop a hijacker, is a better idea than having armed sky marshalls already in the cabin.

[Bahbah]

In the hope that Lt. Miller might learn of this message, thank you, soldier, so much. We cannot find words to express our gratitude. Ignore the idiots.

[lavaroise]

Yeah, they can look in our cavities, but when we try to look at the mess in their bureaucratic cavity employees, we just can't. Misunderstanding my arse!

Just the typical socialist hypocrisy. They can look in your bedroom for the children, but oh dare you not look at their behavior in the Whitehouse.

I am so angry.

[Sloth]

the same bunch of people who think that arming pilots, who would have to physically open and leave the cockpit in order to attempt to stop a hijacker

I wonder how, exactly, you think someone could hijack a plane from outside the cockpit.

[RoughDobermann]

In the hope that Lt. Miller might learn of this message, thank you, soldier, so much. We cannot find words to express our gratitude. Ignore the idiots.

ANy net heads out there that could somehow find Lt. Miller's email address? I, for one, would love to send him a note of thanks and support.

[sport]

As long as governmental morons cling to that idea, we will have these stupid stories. The problem isn't the way the rules are being applied, the rule itself is bad. AB 8 posted on 5/31/02 10:29 AM Pacific by ArrogantBustard

We will continue to have stupid stories and dead bodies.