Officials Defend Air Marshals' Acts

AP | Sunday, September 1, 2002 | By PATRICK WALTERS

[Squantos]

Now we know. Marshals are traveling in pairs ........as the other two or three "pairs" ect ect remain seated and unknown ? "We" know nothing IMHO and with regards to sky cops and security SOP thats a good thing.

Bad part of this "appears" to be that the sky cops were drawn out into the light by a minor incident which could have been a worm on a hook controlled by a observing terrorist team. Or my spectulation that this could have been a planned display of Yes we really are riding these commercial aircraft dog and pony show, prior to the 9-11 aniversary date.

My point being if this was a serious enough incident to make these guys go guns hot then it "should" have been serious enough to at the very least arrest and detain the alledged problem passenger versus the " Olly Olly in Free" catch an release that is reported to have taken place.

Stay Safe !

[Travis McGee]

It could have been a planned "display" intended to spread the word to terrorist planners that there may be two armed marshals on each plane.

A little math still tells me that there are only marshals on about 2% to 5% of flights max.

Except for flights into Reagan National (carrying the polidiots): they have 100% coverage.

Perhaps flights over the eastern air corridor have more. Just guessing.

[SLB]

Why let the supposed BG go? There is sure a lot more below the surface on this one.

[blam]

"While they deal with the unruly passenger, their backs to the rest of the cabin, they are set upon by 4 or more hijackers. Having your weapon drawn and trained upon the passengers is the only way to ensure control of the flight until it can be put down at the nearest airport and additional security brought in to question the other passengers."

You understand it. You can fly with me anytime.

[southern rock]

The air marshals did their job well IMHO.

Well, if the job description is jack booted thug, then I agree. They are among the best.

[Lion Den Dan]

SLB,

You are waiting for the truth to come out. It is constipated and won't come. The truth is often constipated. What happened here is a couple of wannabees who got employed to do a job panicked and did some business that could get them jailed for assault with a deadly weapon, attempted murder and a few other things. No charges were brought which explains much. RESULTS: Cops -0, PUBLIC: ???????

[Travis McGee]

NOrmally when FLEOs have an altercation with guns drawn with a civilian and press results, they make a case against him one way or the other. He doesn't just walk after all that. He was either a "protected minority" with connections, or a politico or a politico's relative, and arresting him would have been even worse for the fedgov.

[PatrioticAmerican]

"What is a legitimate social worker?"

Usually an MSW, or now an MCSW, Masters, Clinical Social Work. An MSW is a masters of science degree pertaining to the many aspects of mental therapy, case management, clinical physiology and sociology. Most people think of a social worker as a nitwit liberal. That couldn't be any farther from the truth. Most social workers are in "for profit" positions. Less than 1% are involved in child welfare. Many are in adult protection or adult care, usually elderly. How do I know? I married one. Double grad of Denver University.

[Atlas Sneezed]

"So are you the type that when the police tell you to remain in your car, you get out anyway?"

I am the type that when a person unknown to me pulls a gun, claims to be law enforcement, and tells me to sit down, does not necessarily take it at face value. Those passengers who were standing to observe the goings on were the modern militia, justly suspicious that the gunman may have been a terrorist. (How could you be certain?)

Now, if you want a scenario that is a fair analogy to the police order to remain in car, those marshalls better arrive on the scene in obviously marked vehicles with flashing lights, special equipment, and in uniforms.