Terrorists... You have won the war on terror.

What bothers me is the demeanor of the police responding to this. Unless the cops are brain dead they realized this was probably just precautionary, the "real thing" only happens very far and between. They could have handled this in a more polite and professional manner instead of all the "cop show" drama that the cops love so much. These cops could have asked these three to come with them without all the rudeness and intimidation, all the while being prepared to deal with whatever reaction they got from the suspects, but no they have to be a bunch of A$$holes. Unfortunately cops in this country have a bully mentality which is not warranted 90% of the time.

You cannot treat any situation as "precautionary." The minute you do you are dead. This is reality, Terry, not reality TV.

Oh bull Skiddy, these guys could have been there with their guns and ready, the intimidation and rudeness added nothing to the capability to deal with whatever problem came up. Give me a break.

I have to agree with Terry. The plane was quarantined to a back tarmac, the plane was surrounded, and the cops were there with fatigues on and machine guns drawn. The "Terror Suspects" were two men and a woman who had been screened before they got on a plane. What were they going to do? Overwhelm the SWAT teams with airline dinnerware they squirreled away during lunch.

Give me a break. Won't be long now before we start asking people to sew on yellow, six-pointed stars onto their clothes so we can keep track of all our potential terrorists...

Terry-753375

Oh bull Skiddy, these guys could have been there with their guns and ready, the intimidation and rudeness added nothing to the capability to deal with whatever problem came up. Give me a break.

Rudeness no, but the intimidation factor has a lot to do with solving a problem. It takes the person out of their comfort zone, and puts the power in the law enforcement officers corner.

She did say the Pilot announced "Stay in your seat or there will be consequences"

Not sure I buy that, My best friend is a Captain for US Airways and this sounds a bit embelished..

It is almost made for TV drama. By the time the plane hit the tarmac they knew who the three people. The thing that boggles the mind, unless they wish for some really bizarre publicity, is they chose a blogger among those they detained.

Very curious about what message is being sent by TSA and homeland security.

What if this had happened to you? It's not just that she was profiled and questioned, it's the manner in which these people were deprived of any rights and practically black bagged and renditioned. In the absence of any real-life terrorists, it appears that ordinary Americans are now the suspects.

Of course, if this SWAT team had mobilized to arrest a banker or Wall St CEO, perhaps we would be providing better security for our economy and middle class.

I agree with you Terry. It's not just this incident. Cops seem to think they have to act like a$$holes. It seems to have gotten worse since the reality cop shows have become so popular.

They seem to have lost the ability to say "please get out of your car." They have to scream "GET OUT OF YOUR CAR...NOW!" At that point they create the confrontation that often leads to a very bad situation. We've had a huge increase in the killing of police in America and I believe this has something to do with it.

I'm sorry these three people went through this but am grateful that their "suspicious" behaviour was noticed and investigated.

ROFL.... Yea.. and Ron Paul is crazy....

No, mainstream America went coockoo crazy many years ago.

What's that Santorum? They hate us because we are free? Idiot.

Osama has gotten EXACTLY what he wanted. So have the bankers, the oil companies, and the military contractors.... Hmm... strange isn't it.... isn't it?

I am not sure of the law here so please correct me if I have got it wrong, are you not allowed to see a lawyer before being questioned and strip searched?

If you are detained on a plane for this reason can you also demand to see a lawyer? It all seems so over the top because a couple of people went to the bathroom.

It sounds like the flight crew overreacted a little here. The initial response from the cops was in-line, but they should have quickly realized that this was a false alarm and not subjected this woman to a strip search. I can understand following procedures and removing the people from the plane and detaining them for questioning. However, it should have been readily apparent that this was just a case of nerves on the part of the flight crew and wrapped things up much more quickly. With the explosive sniffing dogs not reacting to anything and the people apparently being cooperative, they should not have dragged things out and made it into a big ordeal for this woman and presumably her seatmates as well. it sounds like they took this much further than they needed to in order to resolve the concerns.

I am with Skiddy. It is easy after the fact to say law enforcement should have "toned it down", but they have to treat EVERY incident like that one in a million b/c without the benefit of hindsight, they all look sort of like "not that big of a deal".

I am shocked at the naivete of the posters. It is easy to snipe. Had you had a family member blown up b/c law enforcement THOUGHT is was no big deal, how would you feel?

I am not sure of the law here so please correct me if I have got it wrong, are you not allowed to see a lawyer before being questioned and strip searched?

If you are SUSPECTED of TERRORISM then you HAVE NO RIGHTS.

In fact, if the President had ordered this woman killed, she would be dead... legally... without ever facing evidence of her wrong doing.

Thank you Bush, thank you Obama, thank you dems, thank you pubs.

I am not sure of the law here so please correct me if I have got it wrong, are you not allowed to see a lawyer before being questioned and strip searched?

If you are SUSPECTED of TERRORISM then you HAVE NO RIGHTS.

In fact, if the President had ordered this woman killed, she would be dead... legally... without ever facing evidence of her wrong doing.

Thank you Bush, thank you Obama, thank you dems, thank you pubs.

Give it a rest. No, she wouldn't be. Here, I have an extra roll of tin-foil - you should probably re-line your hat, the radiation must be getting through to you.

That said, these cops were out of line. Anyone who has a rudimentary understanding of human psychology knows that threat and intimidation do not spark cooperation, in fact, it intends to have the opposite effect. Why can we not intensely question someone, without threats, raising our voices or physical violence? Personally, I think the idea of civility in all things is long since dead in this country.

Who knows, perhaps SWAT was itching for someone to shoot.

Make a note for yourself DO NOT EAT before flying since taking a dump will bring all this grief and wrath from the Authorities.

Mr. Rogers of course you have rights, terrorism is becoming a nice excuse for people to go over the top. Its the new communism, does this make 2011 the mew McCarthy era?

I, for one am glad, the airport police showed such restraint and good judgement. I would have thought that the cops and FBI would storm the plane in a hail of automatic gun fire, with flash-bangs going off hither and yon. Grabbed what was left of the terrorists and if any of them were still alive be taken to the nearest water-board to ring any actionable intelligence out of them. With a thank to Dick Chaney. Yep, the cops showed remarkable restraint!!

Where are the republicans on here whining about the cost of those F16's? It cost a bundle to scramble all of those F16s due to the fact that some flight attendants can't handle people of color on a flight. I think the cops probably over reacted, but you cannot blame them as they have to treat every incident the same until they are sure there is no threat. The problem here, and the lawsuit to follow, is due to a complete lack of training and sensitivity on the part of the flight crew. If you're that insecure then you shouldn't be working on an airplane. It's America people, you take a risk every time you toss off the sheets and get out of bed. People have to learn to accept a certain amount of risk in their lives or we're right where the bastards wanted us.

Security cops need to justify their jobs so they escalate the drama to prove their worth.

Welcome to the United Police States of America.

So now you get hauled away and strip searched because you happen to be sitting in the same row with strangers who acted suspiciously? Next time I fly, if I'm randomly assigned near someone who looks like they "might be" suspicious, I'll have to ask for a different seat.

Krestov,

Witness the brilliance that is the Patriot Act. Any American citizen, or in reality just plain old anyone in the country citizen or not, suspected of terrorism can be assaulted searched without any evidence.

It basically says that if you are even suspected of terrorism that all of your rights are voided and no hard evidence is necessary. It is the single most unconstitutional law ever enacted by the US and it makes a mockery of our justice system; the people that drafted and passed it need to be jailed.

Rational poster so we turn on horrendous act of terrorism into a way to continue terrorism? I don't disagree with every incident being checked I disagree with the manner in which it was conducted.

was video surveillance of the them checked in the airport to backup the report? (which could have been done as soon as they got the report to confirm that is why we have face recognizing software right?
did dogs sniff the plane inside and out while the passengers were seated?
did dogs sniff the passengers in question?

were they rescanned?

presumed innocent before guilty?

"They" won if we don't check these incidents with more civility and common sense.

Was it Franklin who said "Those who give up their freedom for security usually end up with neither." ? So true.

Yet, when big scary men with VERY BIG, very scary guns come running up to me, and point those guns at my face, you better believe I won't have to worry about using the lavatory. Although any subsequent strip search might be a little messy. Those guys are very intimidating just so they will scare the *&#% out of anybody and they won't have to use the guns.

So the TSA can't profile passengers before boarding, but it's fine for the flight crew and police to do so after they are on board.

Hummmmmmmmmmmmm ... "Montezumas Revenge" could have been deadly!

This is looking more and more like Hitlers Germany in the late 1930's & early 1940's .... We were promised in school that it could NEVER happen here ...

What happened to the America we were promised?

I totally noticed that as well.

Since no one can access the cockpit any longer, why the need to scramble the F-16's? What could they have done?

Once again, a failure of the TSA. The racial profiling should have occured at the security checkpoint, not while the plane was in the air, by then it may have been too late. Then, once past the security checkpoint, there should be no need for further worries, if the TSA were actually doing their jobs. How many more mistakes before the incompetence of the geTSApo leads to a succesful terrorist attack, or even worse, if their overreacting kills an innocent civilian?

Why did this lady continue to tweet? You just draw more attention to yourself. If all this stuff was happening around me I certainly would not be typing. Put the cell phone down, turn off your computer, etc. They probably thought she was sending messages for instructions.

dirp,

He actually said that anyone that trades freedom for security deserves neither. Implication is that he believed that people that were willing to give up their freedoms to feel more secure deserved whatever they got as a result of those choices; and he is very correct.

I am sure she was not the only one with a phone in her hand. unschedule stop i am sure a lot of people were tweeting or messaging people.

This is what we have become, and it’s ugly. Bin laden said he was going to bleed America to death, and he’s succeeding despite his death. We have become accomplices to our own destruction.

Many like to point out Ben Franklin's statements about trading freedom for security, etc. The sad truth is that we're trading freedom for only an illusion of security.

They thought the 2 guys were suspicious for staying in the lavs too long - so they waited until they got back to their seats. Then, they saw a dark skinned woman also sitting in their row so they lumped her in with their suspicions...and asked them if they had any explosives - after all that screening before the flight.

The terrorists have won. We have given up our freedom and live like fearful, sniveling cowards.

Completely useless. They have already finished the flight and landed. If the TSA did their job, then no one should be allowed on the plane if they are a threat. Then the police are completely unprofessional. I was trained as an anti-terrorist specialist, and we always speak respectfully to people, so that they co-operate with us. The cost of the F-16's before any "real" threat is made was unwarranted. They allow her to tweet after she is considered a threat? Again all of this is completely useless, all it does is impose on our lives, but does nothing to make it safer. Don't believe the hype!

I find the police mentality very comical. They go bullying their way onto the flight and grab her and the others. What did they really think was giong to happen? If there was a bomb on the flight, wouldn't they have detonated it? If they were had a bomb, wouldn't they try to take out the police along with the passengers?

What is most comical is the yelling and screaming they do trying to intimidate the "suspects" - all the while contradicting each other. Stand still- Don't move. On the ground now. Shut up - don't say a thing. Who are you? What are you doing? Straight out of Laurel and Hardy shows - the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

I agree with the points made by those blogging their criticism of what occurred, but consider this, the young lady in question, a writer and editor with her own website (a link to which has been graciously provided by MSNBC), now has media attention, increased website traffic and an interesting story to tell (sell?); and perhaps some talk show appearances are in the offing. This combined with perhaps a lawsuit, and hopefully jurors who reflect the sentiments of the foregoing bloggers, could turn this horrific incident into a windfall.

America is the land of opportunity...you just need to recognize it!

My thought would be - gee you've notified everyone on the plane that there's something going on and if the 3 suspects were real terrorists I'm sure they'd be smart enough to just do it right then. They'd figure it was still better to just blow up the plane on the tarmac - of course not sure why they wouldn't have done it earlier.

We're becoming a nation of COWARDS - let TSA do what they want - don't challenge authority because we've allowed them to strip and cavity search all they want.

What a fiasco

Fear often trumps civility and common sense.

Krestov: Welcome to the Patriot Act. The day that was signed, we lost our freedoms and we may never get them back.

Oh calm down people! HAD those people been meaning any harm and they did nothing about it, then we would be on here saying how the airline let it happen, didn't do their job of screening, blah blah blah!!!!

Sorry, call me whatever you like but if I was flying on that plane and saw one of them scratch their butts for too long, I would have been jittery! Call me a racial-profiler, don't care! They weren't questioned for sitting in their seats they were questioned for staying in the bathroom for a long period of time! I would question it too!! Can you blame our country for being paranoid!!??? Hello!!!! Protocols were followed, she was thanked for her cooperation, get over it! We are protecting what's ours!

When did everyone get so touchy???? You fit a certain profile, you're gonna get asked some questions. Does it mean these people were guilty? Nope. Just means that we aren't taking chances anymore. Kudos!!

Good Old FOX & GOP & Friends == FEAR & SMEAR..!

While The WEALTHY Get The NO TAX FREE RIDE... and RAID the TREASURY

And Blame EVERYBODY ELSE..

You Bought it. and PAY for IT.!

You Feel PROUD NOW........................................................

Kind of reminds me about that one guy who reported that the FBI put a tracking device on his vehicle then wanted it back after he discovered it, had pictures of the device on the web with serial numbers...found out that he was lying and it was a hoax.

For real...to take those sort of measures, something was creditable about that flight or something they did.

so we should profile huh? Well then I think we should profile all white men who are ex-cops from New York, no let's profile all white men because they may carry bombs and not want their bags searched. That's justice.

bologna sandwich,

Okay, fair enough. If they *were* terrorists, they'd deserve the rough treatment, insult and violation.

But they weren't. *She* wasn't. She was an American citizen, cuffed and strip-searched without cause.

The tragedies ten years ago are only compounded by actions like this. Acting accordingly when there's a threat is only half the job. We also have to act accordingly when there's none.

So you wouldn't feel the need to "calm down" if this happened to you or someone you love? If you were married to an American who was born in the Middle-East, and they were humiliated this way...you'd say, "Honey, calm down! It's because this country is paranoid!"

I don't know you, but I'd guess not. I'd guess that you'd place a call to an attorney. And you'd be justified in doing so.

These weren't exactly "normal" conditions, either. The ten year anniversary of terrorists flying plane-loads of civilians into buildings full of civilians, with threats that more is to come. You think folks might be just a wee bit touchy while flying that day? Honestly, they were acting suspicious. They both went to the bathroom at the same time and stayed in there for a long time? TSA had every right to become suspicious, and considering how many lives were at stake, I think it's justifiable to take no chances then and apologize later. As was stated earlier (in a comment collapsed by those screaming about denying people their rights, of course), had there been a real threat and something had happened, everyone would be blasting the airlines for not acting in time. If people are going to complain regardless, I'd rather they complain on the side of caution. If it were me in that situation, I'd take solace knowing that the airlines will allow hurt feelings before allowing a body count.

@Skiddy: Why they chose to collapse your comment #1.3, but not comment #1.2 (to which you were replying) says more about them, than it does about you!

Note To Self: No joining the 3 mile club on any cautionary anniversary.

plain bob 2012...

Don't blame the 'Law Enforcement'. They are doing their duty with great depth of sacrifice. They put their own lives on the front line. Their act is not only for US but also for the world citizen in this globalized environment. Don't just say 'wasting taxpayers dollars' without thinking.

And Passengers did their part, too, "See Something, Say Something." How many would be catastrophic incidents prevented by those alerted ordinary people.

I read her entire story from her blog. It's a terrible experience. Here's I think we should consider. Training flight crew members more capable to judge the situation better. If they were, I think, this kind of personal ordeal and wasting the resource of the law enforcement could've been avoided.

By the way, I had been wrongly accused, too. Raided by FBI. Someone used my wireless internet account for illegal activity. Later he was arrested, thanks to the device from Quantico they installed on our window for several months. Actually, my story was on "TODAY" Show and "Nightly News" in MSNBC back in april.

Hate to inform so many...but this has been going on for over 200 years in this country. Mistaken identity, profiling, wrong place wrong time, pulled over from highways for strange driving practices when you're completely fine.

Happens all the time.

Wonder what would have happened if it WAS a threat and no-one had done anything? No news here folks...just move along.

Funny that all of the people clamoring for more ethnic profiling and institutionalization of civil rights based on degree of skin pigmentation are so eerily silent.

Tea, anyone?

Not adding any personal opinion to the mix. Just some food for thought...

THE LAW: Policemen so cherish their status as "Peacekeepers" and "protectors of the public" that they have occasionally been known to beat to death those CITIZENS or groups who question that status.

Remember the Reichstag fire and March elections:

As chancellor, Hitler worked against attempts by his political opponents to build a majority government. Because of the political stalemate, Hitler asked President Hindenburg to dissolve the Reichstag again, and elections were scheduled for early March. On 27 February 1933, the Reichstag building was set on fire, and since a Dutch independent communist was found in the burning building, a communist plot was blamed for the fire. The central government responded with the Reichstag Fire Decree of 28 February, which suspended basic rights, including habeas corpus. In particular, activities of the German Communist Party were suppressed, and communist party members were arrested, forced to flee, or murdered.

"A lie told often enough becomes the truth." -- Vladimir Lenin

"While the State exists, there can be no freedom. When there is freedom there will be no State." -- Vladimir Lenin, "State and Revolution", 1919

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” -- attributed to Joseph Goebbels, Reich Minister of Propaganda 1933-1945, Nazi Germany.

"The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a financial element in the larger centers has owned the (US) Government ever since the days of Andrew Jackson — and I am not wholly excepting the Administration of Woodrow Wilson. The country is going through a repetition of Jackson's fight with the Bank of the United States — only on a far bigger and broader basis.” -- Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Letter to Col. Edward Mandell House (21 November 1933)

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." -- George Santayana

"In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt

"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." -- Abraham Lincoln

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"A civilization's future is inevitably doomed if its present-day glory rests squarely on the shoulders of an exalted past" -- unknown

It looks like the only way for south asians to not appear suspicious is not wear traditional clothes and try to look as European as possible, it appears anything they do will scare typical Americans. I wouldn't even go to the bathroom if I were them. It's so sad that this country has descended into fear and paranoia with little attention to professionalism.

New acronym:

FWSA - Flying While South Asian

Terry cops are trained to act and do as they act and do. Cops are the most disciplined aggregate on the planet. In all the countries that got occupied by allies and axis in WWII, the conquerors by and large left order and law, even the law of the conqueror, in the hands of the existing civilian police. And those cops? Well. they did their jobs. An eye-opener is the book-then-movie 'Is Paris Burning?'

Malcolm - Job? Yes. Duty? That's a BIG grey area.

Sorry to hear about your personal situation. But I bet the FBI had a Warrant when they came knockin'. These people didn't get that because of the Reichstag Fire Decree part Deux, er, USA PATRIOT Act. The cops may be doing what's legal, but the big question to what they doing is, is it LAWFUL? And it's up to the People
to know the law. Not the cops. Not the Sheriff. And not the attorneys.

Homework (for anyone): Get a full dictionary and look up the definition of the root word for "attorney". The word is: Attorn

This is frightening. It's bad enough we have to fear terrorists ... now we have to fear our own U.S. law enforcement?

Der fatherland must do everything to protect itself from the treat, so the rights of citizens are violated, so the constitutional protections are sweep aside,so the police can arrest without probable cause, so you can be searched without a warrant; that is just the price you must pay to live in the new world order, SIG-HEIL !

I understand why the two men were questioned after staying in the bathroom for a suspiciously long time, but clearly this woman did nothing suspicious and was singled out solely based on her ethnicity.

The only difference between then and now is that they won't make anyone sew a "Magen David" on their clothes. They'll just implant and RFID chip in their hand... All in the name of "convenience".

THE BIGGER CONCERN HAS TO BE THE TSA AND OTHER AGENCIES CRIMINALITY!!!!

Regardless of the result of this event the actions are basically warranted. With the recent exposure of the TSA and other authorities allowing millions of dollars worth of prescription drugs to be transported between Florida and New England you can bet the different agencies don't trust each other much. When the TSA sells out for a few hundred dollars to drug smugglers, you can bet someone somewhere will allow some type of device on a plane, someday.

This is not an admonition, just a concern.

On a brighter note:

Crews reported the men sitting next to Hebshi were spending "an extraordinarily long time" in the plane's lavatory, Kowalchuk said.

I'm sure this will require a few hundred more pages of regulations on how long you can spend in an airplane lavatory.

Searching and releasing 3 people to ensure the safety of over one hundred passengers is the right thing to do...get over it! Unfortunately, people of middle eastern descent are killing people almost daily for no reason so yes, people of middle eastern descent are looked at a little harder by security at airports. I'm a White male and have been padded down more than once at the airport...I don't have a race card to play...sucks to be me eh?

I'm sure this will require a few hundred more pages of regulations on how long you can spend in an airplane lavatory.

LOL. Good one, markmich.

Pretty soon, to do away with any 'potential' problems, they'll just take out the lav and give you a bag for the duration of the flight. Of course you'll have to turn that over to screeners when you exit the plane. Who knows what evidence you may be trying to hide... 0_o

bicfj

Terrorists... You have won the war on terror.

The only thing that they succeeded in is racial profiling against their own culture.

The sole reason why racial profiling is happening in this country is because of the primary ethnicity of terrorists fighting against us- that's a no brainer. When trying to prevent terrorism in a timely manner there is simply no dismissing this ugly factor.

We either want our country to try to stop terrorism before it happens or we don't. If you folks have a better and more time effective solution then feel free to let it be known. Arguing against it without a solution is pointless.

no Dman & DSVet! you just don't get it until it happens to you. None of our freedom should come at the epense of of another American! It is just that simple.

If you still don't understand, then let me put it in a simpler terms. If you have guns, then you should be detained until you can prove that you might harm anyone. If you have a drivers license, you should be detained until you can prove that you will not violate any driving laws and be able to pay off any legal ramifications. If you smoke, then you must be detained, because there is a high likelihood that you can kill yourself, and more importantly your second hand smoke can cause cancer. Until you can prove that your smoke will not cause death and damages then you are indefinintely detained.... THIS IS CALLED PROFILING.... In this case, these 3 people were detained, because 2 of them had crappy airline food and had to use the airport/airplane bathrooms...

you would not be so calleous when you are singled out...

@ Terry post number 1.3 I believe

I've known cops personally. A lot of them actually get kind of bored....so when they get a call that tells them to stop a would be terrorist, they get really excited.

Anyways, back to the article. I can kind of understand why two men of any race going to the bathroom at the same time would look suspicous...As for the woman who just happen to be sitting on the same row, they just made themselves look stupid by trying to involve her.

Next thing you know we'll be rounding up Arab Americans and putting them in concentration camps...like our country did to Japanese Americans during WWII. (Emphasis that they are both American citizens who deserve a right to defend themselves with a lawyer in court.) Loyal American citizens who happen to be of Arabic or Middle Eastern descent, I suggest you move to Canada or build up emergency finances to get away before things go to Hell, no thanks to our corrupt government and politicians...

This paranoia worked for this weekend and a good practice test for the American people. The individuals who were wrongly accused and detained should be given a very large public apology: Also a good demonstration and practice by our public

thturd-

I have been singled out many times because of the way I look. I have had guns drawn on me when I was a teenager leaving my bank- the thing is that I KNOW why they did what they did and it doesn't bother me in the slightest.

I've lived in other countries around the globe and if you think this is a police state then you're sorely mistaken. What we have is paradise in comparison to others.

None of our freedoms should come at the expense of other Americans? Who do you think gives you your freedoms? They're certainly not free.

Good thing FOX never LIES............................................................

While I agree it was a total over reaction, I have to say not too smart for a Arab or Arab looking person to fly on 911. Kind of like not wearing a expensive necklace on the subway. You can wear it but don't be surprised when someone snatches it off your neck and runs off the train.

I know this has nothing to do with the story, but let me tell you what I noticed about another story. I found the link to the story about the New Mexico cop who had sex with the woman. I cut and paste it to send it to a friend. I went back to the story to find it to listen to the interview of the woman who had sex with the cop when I got home since I couldn't listen to it at work. I clicked on the link and lo and behold I couldn't find it. I tried it again and other copies of it and it had disappeared. Lo and behold I found one of the original stories without the interview and that still played. Apparently the link I had to a radio station in the area made it disappeared. This was before he was fired, but he had been identified and I also found out that he was on leave. This is why we should be concerned as citizens in this country, because if they make a story disappear so that they won't look bad, what else can they make disappear.

@ DSVet:

I'm not sure which stereotypical or racial profile you fit in, but your attitude is a practical approach. Everybody is so down on racial profiling but if the shoe fits you have to wear it.

We all know that "all" people of middle eastern descent and Muslim are not terrorists. But, most terrorists are of middle eastern descent and Muslim. So, stereotypes and profiling have a basis in fact.

It's too bad if you belong to a group of folks that are profiled but that's life. If you don't like it then you should take every chance to separate yourself form the stereotype with your attitude, demeanor, and dress. Otherwise, why be surprised if you're singled out.

How to seperate yourself away from a sterotype may not be easy, or fair, but it wouldn't be necessary if your race or type weren't doing something to promote it!

Every stereotype has roots in observable behavior or it wouldn't exist.

"Every steroetype has roots in observable behavior or it wouldn't exist." REALLY? I once saw a three-legged dog climbing a tree. Translation: All three-legged dogs climb trees. How stupid is that?

For those who are interested in the rights that are forfeited once you become a terror "suspect", this article is very informative: http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20110325080809839

DSVet,

Reading your post simply reaffirm my original post that you don't get it. I don't compare my country with other country, because we are the only America. Your willingness to stoop down and compare the loss of our freedom is start of your willingness to give up what other fought so hard for. What does a possible bank robbery has anything to do with this? In a bank robbery, there is a crime that is taking place. In this case, there is no crime taking place, other than 2 people looking like a muslim. Well, it looks like the 2 males are not even muslims.

No, I am not willing to allow people like you compromise our American freedom on your so called securities... Has terrorist being caught because they look suspecious? Or have they been caught because of their verifiable actions?

The airline and the crew should be sued. I can guarantee that these 3 will be compensated because the airline and their staff being robots. Do you know what is interesting is that why were the 2 men assigned the same row seating or why they were assigned the same row seating? $hitty seats for minorities? Another thing, those 3 sat together, meaning that the flights being full... I looked into the flight, the flight was not full, yet the 3 minorities were assigned to the same side and the same row... Am I reading too much as more info surface???

In my mid-twenties, after I finished my enlistment, after the OK city bombing, I had to fly to NC. Being a product of the 80's and finally free after 6 years, I let my hair get really long and I liked to wear torn jeans. Needless to say, I was searched at 3 different airports; they all said they were looking for drugs, lol. I wasn't hurt in any way and the attitude changed once they realized I was clean. It sounds to me like someone else wants their 15 minutes of fame; It sounds a bit embellished to me and perhaps a bit reactionary(?). I was profiled because I was a white, longhaired male. Funny, but the profiling bit doesn't bother me a bit; Israel uses it to great effect. I just have to say that in this day and age you know to expect it, so why does EVERYBODY with a blog seem to have a huge, oppressive experience. I'm thinking maybe it is a one sided story, like so many here. My advice; if you don't like it, don't fly.

MikeC., you were not profiled because you're white. You are white. You were searched, not stripped searched. You were asked questioned, but not interregated. You were asked to stand aside or in the corner, not handcuffed and led away for 3 hours in an interregation room.

Please give me a break with your 5-15 min of attention whore, and saying that is the same with people who faced guns and machine guns drawn in their their faces. Yanked and led off the airplane in hand cuffs (with their faces all over social networks - falsely accused) by FBI or anti-terrorst commando group....

Look, we both know you have long hair because it is a symbol and a statement. It is a personal choice. Being born is not a choice. Being born of particular look is not by choice.... You on the other hand is saying that it is okay to prey on those who look different, because they look different. You are comparing that with the fact that you CHOSE to style long hair (because you wanted girl's attention), and torn jeans (because you wanted to be know for certain character).... GIVE US A BREAK with those rhetorics.

Man, so many of you people seem to be absolutely clueless. Who exactly was it that hijacked four planes and killed thousands of Americans? Stop pretending it was Christian fundamentalists, they were Arab Muslims. Of course airlines are going to profile. Why shouldn't they?

As someone who flies often, I really don't care if they are profiled. What baffles me is that you are all the same people that are up in arms when some 90 year old grandmother is searched, but at the same breath don't want profiling done. Make up your mind, you can't have it both ways.

Mike, don't think you understood the previous post that you criticize.

@thturd You are so incredibly wrong, lmfao! I was indeed profiled, it was explained to me that I was profiled! I was strip searched and I was held for almost 2 hrs. All because of Timothy McVeigh. Don't TELL me WHAT I EXPERIENCED you jacka**. I am a veteran and am comfortable with the process because I have had to do it to others myself. It isn't pleasant, but I DO suspect a bias in the story. As for my looks, I'm just a fat old guy now... but I still get the whole treatment at the airport. Oh, and BTW, the feds don't use "machine guns", lmao. They may have automatic weapons, but most are simply semi-automatic assault rifles. You got 1 point right out of all of it, though. My face wasn't posted all over the "social networks" because back then we actually talked to people face to face, lol. P.S. It is "rhetoric" not "rhetorics" and I'm not sure you are using the word correctly, just sayin'.

So what's the next security solution ... timers on the bathroom doors? Flight attendants with stopwatches? Video cameras aimed at the toilet?

What about those of us with travel-sensitive stomachs? We have to worry any time we go for any length of time that we'll be attacked by U.S. Storm Troopers?

By the way, I don't find it unusual when two seatmates go to the lavatory at the same time. With everyone squeezed like sardines into a plane, the person in the window seat often feels uncomfortable climbing over everyone to get out. It's not unusual for someone to wait until others leave to do so as well.

Aren't flight staffs aware of this?

Bottom line here, Frontier Airline overreacted... Plain and simple... 9/11 or not... From everything I've read here, you have a olive complexion young woman, who was doing nothing more than sitting in her seat and typing on her laptop...

Second, you have two olive completion men; one who simply used the bathroom and was sick... and later on, the other one used the bathroom. This is suspicious, last time I checked; people of all races, shapes and size use public toilets... I would hate to see how this airline reacts if a group of Irish Nuns had to take a pee...

It seems to me Frontier Airline needs their butts kicked for this one... Don't they train their crew properly... Instead of calling in the swat team, because a guy is barfing too long in the toilet, aren't airline personnel trained to evaluate impartially before overreacting like "Drama Queens."..... I hardly think two gentlemen, of Indian heritage, holding a simple conversation; and a young lady typing on a laptop computer, is reason enough to overreat to this extreme...

However, what I found reprehensible about this incident is Frontier Airlines, nonchalant response,'' their personnel found suspicious behavior and acted appropriately." Not once, has the airline declared what that "suspicious behavior was." Even more disgusting is the forced Stip-Search this young woman had to endure. The plane had already been thoroughly searched, as well as each of these three passengers; and nothing suspicious found. The forced stip search was the police carrying the situation way too far....

No, this is a simple case of "Racial Profiling"; plain and simple.... I hope these three people sue the pants off the airline and file a suit against the police department.. Why? Because the Airline and the Cops knew there wasn't a basis to the allegation; before the victims were taken to police headquarters and stripped searched. The bomb squad, police dogs and and swat teams thorough search of the plane proved that.. There was no need to carry that mistake any farther...

The Airline has a responsibility to back up what it alleges; or anyone will be subject to this kind of treatment... If an Airline is going to subject passengers to this kind of treatment, they had better be darn sure and not just overreating. Plus, testosterone driven cops needs to be kept on a leash or neutered....

thturd

DSVet,

Reading your post simply reaffirm my original post that you don't get it. I don't compare my country with other country, because we are the only America. Your willingness to stoop down and compare the loss of our freedom is start of your willingness to give up what other fought so hard for. What does a possible bank robbery has anything to do with this? In a bank robbery, there is a crime that is taking place. In this case, there is no crime taking place, other than 2 people looking like a muslim. Well, it looks like the 2 males are not even muslims.

No, I am not willing to allow people like you compromise our American freedom on your so called securities... Has terrorist being caught because they look suspecious? Or have they been caught because of their verifiable actions?

No, I was stopped at that bank for acting and looking suspicious- there was no robbery. Just like these people were stopped for acting suspicious. When you do business with a private establishment such as an airport or a bank then you are agreeing to their terms on their property. Just like you can't use your "freedom of speech" on an airplane to yell whatever you want. Your freedoms are not being violated because you have already given your consent in accordance to their establishment, and it was your choice to do business with them.

No, they were not stopped for looking "Muslim", they were stopped for acting suspicous and being of Middle Eastern descent, which unfortunately fits the profile of the majority of terrorists fighting against this country. If you decide to ignore the obvious link and expect to prevent terrorism with your eyes closed then you'll most likely end up a day late to the party. There have been dozens of terrorist attacks prevented in this country because the FBI relied on their suspicions.

And the Terrorists win!

@mytownworld wasn't a criticism of the previous post, just where my post ended up.

The President said "Americans do not give in to fear". I think He's wrong. This countries finger and toe nails are yet gnawed into the quick. It's a business that just keeps on giving.

We were always suspect, but they did not have any reason to hold us and strip search us, nor be able to tap our phones and our Internet!,, This is why they create 9/11, Just look at all we now have top endure in the name of security?.. Its time for us to say enough is enough. there will be a law suite for this airline!.. they went too far!..

I believe that the airline has put people in danger than what those people using the bathroom did!.. What if one of these guys was real terrorist?. and on seeing the Fighter jut they decide to do something so the fighter jet pilot shoot down the aircraft, because one buffoon is so coward that it cost him and other innocent people their lives!.. I believe the airport will come back to normal when one of these incident happen!.. then there will be no more intrusive search , it will be back before 9/11

Ashe second poster said, the terrorist win.

We all know that "all" people of middle eastern descent and Muslim are not terrorists. But, most terrorists are of middle eastern descent and Muslim. So, stereotypes and profiling have a basis in fact.

What about Norway's Breivik, who killed 77 people "in the name of wiping out Islam"? Or Irish terrorists shooting innocent people in the name of "liberation of Northern Ireland"? Or ANY terrorists of ANY nationality for that matter?

Terrorism isn't limited to Middle Eastern or Muslim descent people...and racial profiling is NOT based in fact. It is based on discrimination.

Thank you TecChic I thought I was the only one on here who knows that, When we travel and are stuck in Tourist Class and on the middle and window seats, WE go to the bathroom at the same time, that way we are not hopping over others as much.
I was profiled once, we were two men traveling on the Disney Cruise...we were invaded at about 6AM with 4 uniformed guards and large dogs, Searched top to bottom, II know we were chosen because two men traveling together on a Disney Cruise is not your typical situation. But yes two gay men can like Disney, it is all about the Mouse and I am a "Disneyiac" It was a horrible jarring experience. The barking German Shepard's terrified my significant other. The Guards did nothing to make it more pleasant, no apology for the intrusion.

Profiling is simply un-American. It is the foundation of our country:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Did the two men went into the same restroom?

Guys . . . bombs? "Ma'am, do you have a bomb?" Dumbest question of the year so far. The airplane was on the ground at its destination. I think that real terrorists would have blown it up while in the air, not sitting at a remote tarmac. Has common sense truly died this horrific death? Are cops really that stupid? I would like to think my response would be silence to the cops - no reason to cooperate, no reason to detain, no reason to react the way they reacted.

What needs to happen here is the person who tipped off the police, obviously the flight attendant - needs to be liable for a claim. Its one thing to 'see suspicious behavior' and its another to cause this type of reaction.

@ tanainkc:

one three-legged dog climbing a tree doesn't constitue a stereotype, but if it occured with as much frequency that acts of Muslim Terrorism does, then one could surmise that three-legged dogs are quite able to climb trees.

@ Aleithia:

One incedent in Norway, and all the other "less frequent" events in the U.S. and abroad, that don't involve Middle Eastern Muslim terrorists pales in comparison to the acts of terrorism committed by Middle Eastern Muslims, and anyone who can't see that is blind. So, saying that the stereotype is invalid because not all events fit is misguided. Fact is, Middle Eastern Muslims are responsible for enought acts of terror that anyone with any sense at all should be nervous if they see someone fitting the profile and doing something suspicious.

It's not fair. But it is the way the world works and smart folks who fit the profiles, who don't want to be affected by the unfortunate luck of said profile, should work very hard to portray behavior that's appropriate for the setting they are in.

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?

Patrick Henry

Obama on 9/11 speech: "We refuse to live in fear."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, YEAH, RIGHT! BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

Americans, you're a freaking joke!

A few years ago--post 9/11-- we were in the Cayman Islands on a dive trip. Day of departure hubby gets called to gate desk..requested to follow police to another room..questioned about his bags- there was an area that xray did not penetrate- it was his weights--he came out told me what happened and said they were professional but the atmosphere was a little tense.. but just a few questions; look inside the bag; check ID and sorry sir just taking precautions..what a difference.. took maybe 10-15 minutes

Goodness...the anti free speech Nazis are out in force on this thread...someone needs to take their editing buttons away.

@moondog white males are more likely to be serial killers. Should we profile all them too? Should I live in fear of all white males because of this fact?

Ginger....Yes in the case of a serial killing. I would believe that is already being done and rightfully so. You shouldn't however, live in fear of all white men...unless there are unresolved serial murders in your community. Then you might consider who you are coming in contact with because that would be reasonable.

Dousche-bags in law enforcement peeing on the names of good people wearing the badge. Good job, paranoid a-holes.

First it was just N.W.A. now its going to be M.W.A. (use your imagination for what the "M" stands for)....and im not so sure thats a great idea...and *Ginger* serial killing, which usually involves just citizens of a country, is a little different than attacks ON an actual Country BY a specific group or country, who just simply dont agree with western society/culture.....some of you need to use your head when saying stuff rather than your A$$

Again, much rhtorics.... blow back. If there are records that white people have been stopped and endured the same procedure as those 3 then many of us would not had the same reaction. Unfortunately, there weren't. As for the idiot who thinks middle east or Muslims create terrorism, then what about Timothy McVeigh? And the jerk off in Demark? and the itwisted students from Columbine?

It is so easy to blame someone else, because you are not willing to think for yourself. Disgraceful... Don't give me this bs about being vets. Being a vet simply put me grateful for serving our country, but it does not give you a right to be ignorant, and espeically stupid.

"What about the guy in Norway that killed 77 people..."

You guys need to look for keywords. He said "most" terrorists are middle eastern. If there is even ONE mass and I mean MASS killing, not a pissed war vet who decided to shoot up his work place, THEN I believe that the gov't would need to start looking at Christians as a potential terrorist threat. Every religion is going to have it's loonies. Islam just seems to get most of them.

We are clearly a Police State now.

Oh, I am certain you are right about this being a total Police State. I mean in our daily lives look how often we're told what to do and how to do it! I mean having to present papers every time we cross state borders, being screened every time we walk in to a movie theater, when will all the madness end?

/sarcasm

Agreed:

And to: NoTea and Detroit: You both need to be banned. This is not free speech, it is nothing but violence against women.

Realist-502574.... there is FREE SPEECH and then there is speech that clearly represents the author as a RAPIST and a very SICK individual... so slightlyold is correct in her note.. this is not the place to make derogatory remarks of a sexually nature... Hope you understand our FREE SPEECH and this BLOGS right to sensor !!!!!

Violence? Rapist? I thought their comments were distasteful and a little juvenile, but instead of advocating violence, I read them as "tongue in cheek" humor, expressing their opinion that the woman was attractive. I found those comments to be a lot less distasteful than a lot of what I read lately.

Free speech includes the right to express ideas and opinions that may be offensive to others. While I often see examples of "free speech" I don't like, I remember that it's not up to me to decide. Because tomorrow, I may want to say something that offends someone. Be very careful when you call for censorship, because next time it may be your voice that is supressed.

Arab Jew is fine, but half-Arab half-Jewish is a nonsense term. Arab is a race (so-called), Judaism is a religion. There is no half-n-half split possible across those two distinct domains.

...having to present papers every time we cross state borders, being screened every time we walk...

Only happens to Latinos in Arizona. And Georgia. And a few other states. Oh, and South Asians on airplanes. Or in gas stations in Arizona. And a few other states.

Don't worry. It will be your turn soon enough.

This ain't your grandpa's GOP.

Lyle Kellog
Where do you live ? In a cave ? My next door neighbor has 3 Arab-jewish children. Really nice people too. So if this woman goes somewhere by herself once, she is not a stay-at-home housewife ? I stayed home for 22 years with my kids- except for about 3 days 18 years ago. My father had a heart attack out-of-state. Does that disqualify me from being a stay-at-home mother ?

I for one hope she sues the pants off of every sorry sonofabitch involved.

Realitystinks,

Something stinks allright.

You say it was not based solely on their looks? Really! She was targeted because she looked middle eastern and was sitting acoss from them, that is the only reason. Inconvenienced? So I guess you would be allright if you were taken off a plane, told to strip and spread your cheeks?

Staged event? Did she get with the two Indian guys and tell them to spend too long in the bathroom? How did that conversation go? "You guys stay too long in the bathroom and they'll scramble F-16's, storm the plane, take you off, take me off because I'm sitting near you and look middle eastern, we'll get strip searched, then I'll blog the whole thing". Yea, staged event, you betcha!

Being threatened with automatic weapons, handcuffed and hauled off the plane and strip searched is not my idea of slight inconvenience.

All because she happens to "appear Muslim", although, honestly, I would have guessed another ethnic group all together judging from the picture provided......because she was in an assigned seat that HAPPENED to be in a row with two men who evidently were from India, at least one of whom had an upset stomach?

Just a weeee bit over the top, IMO, and I do hope that she at the very least gets a public apology from all involved. I shall not, however, hold my breath for that.

what_the_81 - Dead on the money!!!

-------------------------------

SadStateAmerica, these are for you:

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." -- George Santayana

"In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt

"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." -- Abraham Lincoln

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Obviously you are not aware just how big your electronic footprint really is. If you only knew. 0_o

"The trade-off between freedom and security, so often proposed so seductively, very often leads to the loss of both." -- Christopher Hitchens

Checking IDs to remove thieves, crooks, and evildoers (Illegals match all 3 no matter if they are awesome people or not) is well within the rights of the government. Just as road blocks are used to catch drunk drivers.

Not supporting the removal of illegals is illegal. Not supporting the protection of this nation is unconstitutional.

This whole airplane groping and predatory activities.....

This is something very Jewish in nature (Check out who head the organizations that "do" this.) and very much what Mr Hitchens warned us of.

LMAO! I was driving from San Diego to Los Angeles back about, oh, 25 or 30 year ago now, I suppose. One of my kids was in the front seat. The other was in the back seat, as was our 180 pound St. Bernard. The dog was lying down and couldn't be seen from the front of the car.

There was a roadblock, and an INS agent started toward the car to check it. Apparently there were a lot of illegals coming through that road at that time.

As the agent got almost to the back door of the car, the dog stood up. He jumped and immediately retreated, even though her tail was wagging and she was "smiling" at him. He told me to go on through. I offered to get her out and let him search the car.

His reply was, "Hell, no, lady. If an illegal wants to go to LA bad enough to ride with a dog that big, they deserve to make it!"

I guess the next time I fly, I'll take my St. Bernard with me....and to the bathroom with me too.

BG Slade:

I know it sux for some, but the last I checked.....there is almost a 100% probability that someone blowing up a plane is going to be of middle eastern descent. Well, 99.99% (if you include the underwear bomber in that percentage).

I didn't make the rules, but we are all forced to live with the consequences. You can blame Bush, blame the Republicans, or whomever you want, but it's the terrorists that have put us in this position.

Scenario: An elderly African American lady is sitting next to a middle aged white man (both unmistakenly American). They repeatedly get up (mid flight) to go to the restroom. A Chinese woman is sitting on the same aisle and is continously texting. No one would even notice for the most part, right?. But then again, how many black grandma's, white men, or Chinese women have blown up a plane lately?

Oh, by the way...I highly doubt this would happen to me. It is very evident I am American and I make it a point NOT to look suspicious on a flight (this would be times 100 on 9/11. Common sense would kick in at some point and remind me that security would be off the charts on this particular day.....I think most of America could figure that one out.

But, if I shall ever find myself in a foreign land where white Christian women are strapping bombs to themselves blowing up planes, along with other things, I shall shamfully bend over, spread my checks and welcome a big shove up my ass (if I shall find myself looking suspicious). Furthermore, I will not curse my prober I will curse those white bitches!!!

I love the way people come to our country and piss on our constitution, but when it benefits them....it's the first thing they hide behind.

cheeks that is!

PROFILING IS RACIST AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

IT is also real simple, if terrorist only use people who 'look' like terrorist they would be stupid.
Random checking makes you safer, being predictable is now what any smart terrorist would do
All it takes is some makeup to be a little whiter, start with a light skinned more 'American looking' terrorist will make you a shoe in if you rely on profiling by race/looks.

That is why Grandma gets searched too
That is why you check the kids teddy bear
That is why you search the babes blankie

Drug Smugglers have known this for years and used it to their advantage (Ever seen Goodfellas)
Terrorists are not stupid, just fanatical

HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!! Finally, someone with some common sense!!!!!! Realitystinks101, you ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!

there is no such thing as 100% safety or security. This was overreaction - pure and simple. Rights violated based on something that if it was 3 people walking down the west side of the street instead of on an airplane would clearly be unconstitutional - there was simply no probable cause here. A Terry stop may have been appropriate here - but the reaction was waaaaay house a Terry stop . . .

Very intelligent comments you have made and I agree 100%! Anyone complaining about what happened needs to watch all the recent shows on 911 or read the book 102 minutes. I am glad they are taking more precautions and who are we at war with people? You wouldn't be on her side if you worked on an airplane or had family in the Towers or a son in the miltary. If they don't like it they can go back to their country or don't fly!That simple.We need to take our country back and start that on election day.Out with the old in with the new!

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?

Patrick Henry

Repost of 1:45: I agree with the points made by those blogging their criticism of what occurred, but consider this, the young lady in question, a writer and editor with her own website (a link to which has been graciously provided by MSNBC), now has media attention, increased website traffic and an interesting story to tell (sell?); and perhaps some talk show appearances are in the offing. This combined with perhaps a lawsuit, and hopefully jurors who reflect the sentiments of the foregoing bloggers, could turn this horrific incident into a windfall.

America is the land of opportunity...you just need to recognize it!

At first I was thinking a lawsuit was a little bit harsh. Yes they were paranoid and yes they may have overreacted in hindsight (20/20) but if they were right and didn't act we'd be back at 9/11 2001 all over again.

Then the racists came out. Take our naiton back? This naiton's ideals focused on different people being able to have different beliefs (but hypocritically decided that slaves weren't people). Yeah terrorist attacks suck but guess what. Not all muslims are villains or to blame. I hear talk of denouncing radicals who preach terrorism. Well what about us? Bombing countries all over the world. Continually at war. Removing world leaders that we don't like regardless of if they have attacked us. There was one 9/11 How many other world leaders have we deposed or attempted to. The difference between us and terrorists? We have bigger guns, more money and an ego that is out of this world.

Obama on 9/11 speech: "We refuse to live in fear."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, YEAH, RIGHT! BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

Americans, you're a freaking joke!

Oh, by the way...I highly doubt this would happen to me. It is very evident I am American and I make it a point NOT to look suspicious on a flight.

Yeah the terrorists that day were very evident they were Americans with their.....American clothing.

But, if I shall ever find myself in a foreign land where white Christian women are strapping bombs to themselves blowing up planes, along with other things, I shall shamfully bend over, spread my checks and welcome a big shove up my ass

Start spreading and don't forget the lube. Her name is Colleen LaRose. Also known as Jihad Jane.

Some Americans can't be bothered to learn the differences between people of differing ethnic/religious backgrounds.

I remember that after 9/11, the US' Sikh population took a lot of harassment simply for the fact that they wore turbans - and they're not even Muslim.

Well I just wondering if those suspicious people in the airplane are much smarter than those at the checking counters, searching points, and airplane gates? How come some one body, shoes, and carry on laguges are x-ray searched, yet this person look like some one going to blow him or herself up in the airplane? Fear monger from the unknown is conquering our minds. We became like thieves always looking over our showlders.

Michael Maio

Arab Jew is fine, but half-Arab half-Jewish is a nonsense term. Arab is a race (so-called), Judaism is a religion. There is no half-n-half split possible across those two distinct domains.

Actually Arabs and Jews (most jews) are of the same race. They are both Semites.

Everyone who thinks what happened was OK, and no big deal cracks me up!

So what you are saying is, if you were on a plane with your family, friends, what or whoever, as an example let's say you were going on vacation. They drag you off the plane, throw you in a cell, then strip search you before releasing you.

Now, after all of this, you will say, "Hey, thanks buddy, have a great day..." then go on your merry way like nothing happened and not complain one bit during or after this process. Yeah, right!?!?!?!

Fed up real American citizen(born in USA)

If they don't like it they can go back to their country or don't fly!That simple.We need to take our country back and start that on election day.Out with the old in with the new!

And if they were actually born here like you, that's OK with you?

Take our country back to where? Which year would you like to go back to? Let me know which technological advances you are willing to give up in this backward process. Should we go back to slavery? How about the days when woman had no rights, couldn't vote, were basically treated like second hand citizens. Yeah, le't go back to those times!

Take our country back? You crack me up!

Dr. Joseph Jacob

If you start a fight and don't expect any repercussions from your opponent, you are living a delusion. Are you kidding me? You muslims think that killing our innocent people ten years ago was justified by the koran you are nuts. Don't be candy asses. If you want to attack us, try attacking our military installations and see what kind of an outcome you get. You are delusional mice hiding in the dark.Come out in the open, challenge us and let the camel chips fall where they may. Oh yeah, one last thought. Now that we have become a socialistic society under curious george in DC, lets first take him out by NOT re-electing him and then take you guys out. Remeber Hiroshima? Don't think that China will come to help you. They are makiing too much money off of us.

Keep the hate to yourself jacob. The world would be better off without your kind.

I think only karra mentioned the fact that these 3 "terrorist made it past the battery of tests... x-rays, metal detectors, and getting felt up... by so-called professionals to get on the plane in the first place. Eventho they got on the plane, the eagle eyed stewardesses spotted these OBVIOUS threats. Afterall, they took to long in the can!! Heaven forbid you take a dump on a plane! Oh, the woman... the woman never moved! She has to be one of them!! Come on... they were Indians... they look nothing like arabs! Ok... skin tone... other than that... no. The flight crew aren't even good bigots to pick them out like that.

For all you guys that don't see what happened as a big deal... let me drag you out of your house in cuffs in front of all your neighbors. Let me make you get naked in front of at least 3 people. Then let me make you put your elbows on a table while I lube up some gloves. If you can even say that you can get dressed after cleaning yourself up and then shake their hands before you leave, telling them... "Thanks for keeping America safe." I'll call you a friggin' liar to your face.

Flight crews need to shut up and serve their over priced peanuts, and if they are worried about hi-jackers, make sure the pilots are locked in the cockpit nice and safe. If something happens, THEY can call for help at that point. If we are going to do it this way, why are we torturing all of our law-abiding travelers with all of these security measures, if the crack flight crews can pick out the terrorists on board the planes from their bathroom habits?

Tina-293371

"I for one hope she sues the pants off of every sorry sonofabitch involved."

And I for one hope it's your family or friends that gets blown up by the next "arab/jewish/middle eastern/indian nationality individual that makes a statement in the name of some stupid leader, or worse yet, a religion.

realitystinks101, Lyle Kellogg, I agree completely.

If it was discovered one of these folks was a terrorist and had a bomb, no one would be acting like this. They would be praising the airline for saving lives and preventing a disaster. If someone would have checked any of the suspicious guys on 9\11, we would have thousands still alive.

People are no longer allowed to get sick on airplanes without being a suspect terrorist. If they had been blond with blue eyes would they have been profiled? Welcome to the new world order, the police states of America, and civil paranoia of Americans serving Americans. Not the same country or world I would envision for my children. BTW, my entire family is blond and blue eyed, Christian-Jews, and I am simply embarrassed for my work colleagues when (who look like Muslims but are not) travel with me. They are targeted for their appearances. I abhor what terrorist stand for but I abhor even more a government taking away my civil liberties. Live free.

Mark-941197, go read #2.19. And if your of middle eastern descent, either live with it or go home. Because I for one will never trust will never trust a "foreign looking" individual again.

I can not believe that this is what is happening to our own law abiding citizens in America, in my opinion this is completely out of touch of what America stands for, and it is down right absurd !! This woman was down right violated in every way just because of a few paranoid people on a plane??? just because she looked a little different then others???. Is this what we have become in this great nation??? That we have to point out people that look a little different, have all their rights taken from them in a instance, so we feel safe and better about ourselves. God Help Us!!!

I for one am ashamed of this, that we have to treat each other with a ack of suspicion and humiliate a person in this way to get the truth. Again I say this is not the America that I know and love, there must be a better way then this. Ms Hebshi if no one has respectfully given or offered you an apology, for this out rage, then this American will, you have a good day, and I hope with all my heart, this never happens to you or anyone else ever again, we are better then this. Tom And Lyn

You know what cracks me up? All the people on here invoking their first amendment rights and then calling for someone elses speech to be banned. Add to that the fact that almost every post that goes against this lady blogger has been collapsed or deleted and I'm thinking maybe these left-leaners can't think for themselves and are folowing the party line like good sheeple do. BAAAAAA! Don't you think maybe it's just a little to pat; 3 southwest asians, 1 who happens to be a blogger, just happen to have this experience on 9/11? And all these calls for lawsuits; seriously? All the more reason for tort reform in this country. One last thing, you left wingnuts; on every articles' comment board I see(no matter what the topic) constant accusations of racism pointed at the right. It is hilarious considering the left is the most racist political movement in this country. Affirmative action telling minorities that they can't do it on their own, the ACLU telling minorities that they deserve more because the evil white man is holding them down. All in all; it is the left holding back minorities and not letting them accomplish what they are capable of on their own. All so they will feel beholden to the left and vote how they are told. Tell me I'm wrong and I'll point out how the CBC and the DNC have called Herman Cain an Uncle Tom. I think there should be a new corrolary to Godwin's Law including the race card.

Peter Jacobs....I am 5"3' tall, blonde....I must fit some profile because I have never been through a international security check point, from the time I was 20 to now( that would have been back in the 80's) that I have not been singled out for addition review. Guess what...I know that there is a good chance that I will be patted down and my carry on luggage strewn about while someone goes through the contents. It happens going into the UK, France, in the US coming from Europe or Asian destinations and South American destinations...I somehow fit a profile...so just get over yourself that whites are never profiled. We just don't bitch about it and consider it part of the experience of travel.

Happens to be a blogger?!? Really? Like bloggers are such a rare breed on the internet. Yes... on 9/11, or have you been under a rock last week. Did you miss all of the attack warnings? Face it, Mike, you are just another hate spewing politico that needs to make sure that his hatred for half of America is seen by all. Come on a thread and rattle off your agenda on a topic that has nothing to do with what you're babbling about. You know what? You are acting a little strange... a little hostile... maybe you need a strip and cavity search. After all, we are just making sure that America is staying safe!

txmom32, I am happy to say that I do not share your experiences. I documented what I have lived through and seen during 25 years of flying commercially and privately. Patted down is one thing, getting handcuffed and strip searched is another. Never said that whites never get profiled. YOU DID. I am now adding that I have NEVER been singled out for further review. Straw Man much? BTW, there are times when people get singled out based on profile, documentation or simply random.

People are no longer allowed to get sick on airplanes without being a suspect terrorist. If they had been blond with blue eyes would they have been profiled?

from your post 2.1...I can attest to the fact that long before 9/11 blonde haired blue eyed people have been profiled....my guess is the profile I fit was due to drug trafficking although I'm not associated in that underworld...still a profile is a profile. I was never stripped searched, although the French are somewhat intrusive in their pat downs...

Profiled, random, or administrative?

....would they have been profiled?

A question does not attest but does just that, question! Flight attendants over reacting? Untrained personnel profiling? We know that it wasn't administrative and also know that it wasn't random. Quite a difference from being in an airplane and going through international security.

so just get over yourself

Straw Man? I learned it definition just last week. Look it up.

JEREMY-664722

Mark-941197, go read #2.19. And if your of middle eastern descent, either live with it or go home. Because I for one will never trust will never trust a "foreign looking" individual again.

Just exactly what does 'foreign looking' look like. Please post a picture of yourself so that the rest of the World can see what a 'normal' American looks like. Be careful with prejudice.

My guess is that with the frequency and consistency that I have been checked over the past 30 plus years that it is more likely to be profiled... I have never inquired as to why I am being checked with regularity doing so might just end up in handcuffs.

Random assumes that there would be some opportunity to pass unencumbered at some point, which is really not the case when I have traveled internationally, even with three kids in tow. The last trip from Gatwick really chapped my husband...we were moving back to the US and the security women both of ME appearance decided to go through all of my jewelry and personal papers that was in my carry on luggage (for a family of five mind you...health records, school records, birth certificates and other citizenship documentation, info on the home we were to close on etc. It was really very annoying as I had it all in order and they did not return it in the same organization.) twice...at the main security check point and at the gate. They left my jewelry a mess as well.

I don't seem to be targeted when traveling domestically.

More was added to your post from when I wrote this.

I am copying a post from another Viner regarding profiling.

Frankly True

PROFILING IS RACIST AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

IT is also real simple, if terrorist only use people who 'look' like terrorist they would be stupid.
Random checking makes you safer, being predictable is now what any smart terrorist would do
All it takes is some makeup to be a little whiter, start with a light skinned more 'American looking' terrorist will make you a shoe in if you rely on profiling by race/looks.

That is why Grandma gets searched too
That is why you check the kids teddy bear
That is why you search the babes blankie

Drug Smugglers have known this for years and used it to their advantage (Ever seen Goodfellas)
Terrorists are not stupid, just fanatical

I would suggest you take a look at your administrative information if you are having so many reviews at security gates. It could be that your face is recognized by a computer as a potential threat or that your name and or b-day coincides with some known criminal. Yours may not be a profiling problem. Any administrative red flag sets you up for delays.

Domestic flights assume you have already passed International security so it is usually less stringent.

For those people who say the lady should not have sat by the two guys – have you ever flown by yourself? The seats are typically two or three seats deep. You book your flight, get your seat and you have no idea who you are going to be sitting to! You don’t get to find that out until you are boarding the plane that is typically full so even if the person next to you makes you uncomfortable, smells, has a crying baby – whatever – you are stuck with that seat. She did not know the men, didn’t book her flight with the men and therefore was just sitting in her assigned seat as she was required to do! To say she was guilty by association for sitting next to the men and she shouldn’t have sat there is just plain ignorant.

The men took too long in bathroom? Hhhhmmm, I am very curious what constitutes too long, but giving the flight staff the benefit of the doubt that had a very probable cause to be suspicious, there are problems on how things were handled from there.

So the men act suspiciously and the plane ends up with a viewable escort. If the men had been up to no good and had retrieved a hidden package to blow up the plane, the escort would expedite that process, not deter it. It’s not they would be worried about get arrested if they blew up the plane with the escort – everyone would be dead! The escort serves no logical purpose as they cannot get in the cockpit of the plane with the new doors. Incidentally, if those doors were installed when originally recommended by security specialists outside the government, 9/11 would not have been able to happen the way it did.

Let’s say the plan was to blow up the plane as it arrived at the gate to create as much damage as possible (a much better plan and a more effective message than blowing up a plane mid-flight). They then see the escort, know they’re being watched and probably won’t get anywhere near the gate so as not to waste a perfectly good suicide bomb, they decide to blow up the plane while it’s flying. It is possible that the escort just caused the death of everyone on that flight.

A better plan (and more cost effective) would be to taxi the plane when it lands and have it boarded as quick as humanly possible before it gets to the gate by police disguised in the work vehicles that you see everywhere at the airport. If you keep the appearance of everything being normal, they think they are going to be able to go ahead with the terminal plan and have the least amount of time to react to being discovered and blow up the plane, giving the most probability of lives being saved.

It was wrong and an abuse of power for these three people to be humiliated with a strip search after their person, the plane, the luggage, etc. had been checked and there was no sign of any potential foul play. They should have just been held in separate rooms until the search was completed – no evidence at all – the people were inconvenienced, but not degraded. That was wrong and total overkill for the situation as it unfolded.

To me, this incident is just more proof that our government is more concerned with the illusion of safety in the interest of controlling the people of this country than with actual policies and protocols to increase our safety. Unfortunately, it seems that too many people are quite content and take consolation in believing that some of the new policies are actually keeping them safe despite safety experts that are not affiliated with the government pointing out how the new policies are not effective nor keeping us safer.

Peter Jacobs, I'm 5'10 and 190lb, brown hair, brown eyes, and have been mistaken for a Mexican a few times. But once I speak that removes all doubt of what country I'm from. As far as "foreign looking" goes, I should have specified I guess. I assumed since we were talking of middle eastern looking people it was a given. Guess I assumed too much. I am all for racial profiling when it comes to the security of our country. Because as post #2.19 states, ".....there is almost a 100% probability that someone blowing up a plane is going to be of middle eastern descent.".
I find it harder and harder to understand why people can't wake up and see what needs to be done in this country.

Laura, really liked your post, but it appears that you don't understand what terrorism is. Terrorism is the spreading of fear and terror... it has nothing to do with body count. Sure, a high body count helps drive it home, but it is the symbol/ object that they are going after.

Do you think they went after the Towers on 9/11 to kill the people? Hell no! They only racked up 2,977 deaths between both towers, the pentagon, and the plane that fell short in Shanksville. Barely anything when you have 4 fully fueled planes. They hit the Towers because they were the symbol of NYC. They made the skyline. The Pentagon... another symbol.

If they were looking for body count, they would have hit these places: Times Square when full (New Years Eve), sporting events (Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan college football stadiums all hold over 100,000 people, concerts, crowded beaches (during spring break), and I can go on! There are so many ways to chalk up body count that it is crazy. If they are going to blow up a plane, they are going to do it over a city so that more people can see it, and fear will spread about planes flying over cities...

See... it isn't about body count. It is about modifying the targets way of life and making them live in fear. Just killing people can be forgotten. We will never forget the Towers.

Thank you Peter Jacobs...I will certainly take that into consideration.

Kinkomaster, I do understand what terrorism is, but I figured enough other people have already mentioned that the terrorists win everyday as so many people here live in so much fear that they think nothing of sacrificing freedom and dignity in the name of safety.

My intention was more along the lines of trying to prove to the people living in fear, condoning the way situations like this one were handled because it "keeps them safe," that these actions did not necessarily keep them safe. In fact, if the men had been terrorists, it may have put them in more danger the way it was handled. While it is obvious that so many are so taken with fear that they will not listen to reason, I hope that maybe at least a few people will read it and think -Wow - never thought of it that way. Maybe, just maybe, a few more people will use their own brains and stand up for their rights as opposed to just succumbing to the propaganda that's being passed off as "necessary for our safety."

Also, it angered me that some people thought there was nothing wrong with these citizens being strip searched based on no evidence. Especially the woman as she didn't even do anything "suspicious." People had her guilty by association when she didn't conscientiously choose to sit by these other two men - just the luck of the draw. The strip search of them was 100% wrong based on the fact that there was no evidence at all of a threat, bomb, etc. from the searches of everything else.

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you, but much like you wanting to point out that certain actions won't necessarily keep you safe, you'd be surprised at the number of people that think terrorism is like war and all they want to do is kill us. They don't get that they are blowing up symbols... not people.

Laura, don't get mad. You have to realize that most of the people that are okay with this still believe that we are living in a democracy. They'll point to the Constitution and Bill of Rights and go see... we are free. Problem is that they don't see all the addendums in invisible ink referring you to both Patriot Acts, and a couple other bills. They won't see the problem til it hits home...

JEREMY-664722

Mark-941197, go read #2.19. And if your of middle eastern descent, either live with it or go home. Because I for one will never trust will never trust a "foreign looking" individual again.

Sorry, I'm a white guy, this is my home, and I'm embarrassed for any human being who does not find treating another fellow human like this just plain wrong.

It's obvious you have a short memory, tell me the color of skin, nationality and religions of the Oklahoma City bombers, remember them? How about the Uni-bomber, or the DC Snipers? This list could go on, and you know it!

Just a little factoid for you, domestic terrorism in the United States between 1980 and 2000 consisted of 250 of the 335 incidents confirmed as or suspected to be terrorist acts by the FBI. These 250 attacks are considered domestic by the FBI because they were carried out by U.S. citizens.

That's 250 out of 335 terrorist acts confirmed to be by your peaceful fellow Americans.

Also, don't quote me on the numbers here, but they are close. Between 2000 and today, there were 27 acts of terrorism in the US, out of the 27, 3 or 4 were not Americans. Basically, most of the terrorist acts in the US are committed by our own citizens.

So basically, what you're saying is, it's OK to be a terrorist, as long as you're not Arabic looking?

But once I speak that removes all doubt of what country I'm from.

I have Arabic friends that speak perfect English. If my English is perfect does that take me off the profiled suspect list?

Oh knock it off, whats the alternative to just ignore everything that looks suspicious? Bin Laden wanted Americans dead in addition to fear. Look at it this way, we won some - we lost some but at least many are still alive because of foiled plots.

riley

says the guy who isn't being treated in the way this woman was. if your wife or sister or mother had this happen to them you'd sing a different tune but as long as it doesn't affect you who cares.

Riley you have not been paying attention there is no recourse. Just look at any and all similar cases and their outcomes. Now I truly appreciate your service but you have been defending a new set of rules and it is time that is realized.

Back in the day, a U.S. citizen wasn't automatically considered a suspect or terrorist. To say we can't complain and protest this kind of action is to condone it. I'm not worried about terrorists anyway; I'm worried about Wall St and corporate America and the damage that's been done to this economy.

Oh knock it off, whats the alternative to just ignore everything that looks suspicious? Bin Laden wanted Americans dead in addition to fear. Look at it this way, we won some - we lost some but at least many are still alive because of foiled plots.

No.. Osama CLEARLY stated he wanted us spread out, embroiled in military conflict overseas so radicals could easily target us there while we went bankrupt at home.

As an added bonus, we have traded our civil rights for an illusion of safety. We have traded a nation of courage, for a nation of cowards.

Osama had no illusion he could kill all Americans... his plan was to break us like they broke the soviets.

riley-1759556

Oh knock it off, whats the alternative to just ignore everything that looks suspicious? Bin Laden wanted Americans dead in addition to fear. Look at it this way, we won some - we lost some but at least many are still alive because of foiled plots.

The sensible alternative is to not act like Chicken-F*cking-Little and scream hysterically whenever someone takes a long bathroom break.

For the record, how many foiled plots are you privy to?

No, not really. Osama Ben Laden didn't get everything he wanted, because you and I are still alive.

But I do believe the fear-factor has gotten way out of hand, and I do believe the government owes these people, as well as the others, a big-fat-apology and a nice dinner voucher at the resturant of their choosing. Be it a Kosher or Halal resturant.

I'm pretty sure he didn't wish for an M4 round in the snot locker and right between the peepers.

So I guess he hit the jackpot!

And then some!!! Talk about a paranoid country. Instead of using the military aggressively (Dam the civilians, full speed ahead) we cower to non-threats and search anyone who doesn't conform. Looks like 1984 (Orwell's) is fully upon us.

Hey, Riley,

If the Afghanis aren't prepared to pay the price of their 'freedom', why should we pay it for them? Freedom has to be earned through bloodshed, not forced down your throat on the tip of an American bayonet.

Yes, Osama got exactly what he wanted. I live every day without fear that my Country will be attacked. I live every day knowing that my kids will grow up in a safe Country. That was what he wanted, right?

/sarcasm

who cares better safe then sorry! we can not afford to not catch another Terrorist attack in the making. The loss of life is much too great. If they had been terrorist and smashed into a Sunday football stadium full of people, we all would be cursing the government. So let the government do it'd job! Stop crying... be thankful nothing happened.

The ONLY thing we're protecting in Afghanistan is PROFIT for military contractors. If we weren't in there meddling around right now there would be very little threat from that country. We have pretty much broken the terror networks that instigated the 9/11 attacks. Now we're just pandering to our own military industrial complex at a great expense I might add.

TSA has not caught a single terrorist with their privacy invading procedures. The ones caught have already gotten on the plane but failed at setting off their explosives. But everytime it happens, Americans lose more of their civil rights with "more airport security" imposed on them. What will they do as a result of this unwarranted scare? Time us when we use the bathroom?

riley -

...many are still alive because of foiled plots.

More likely many are still alive because of failed plots. The shoe bomber and the underwear bomber weren't foiled as much as they failed.

OBL got what he wanted - dead and scared both! He knew sooner or later his time would come.

I don't think TSA provides one bit of security to airline safety at all - 2 weeks ago a plane was delayed and all of the loaded passengers were taken off and re-screened, the plane inspected using explosive detection equipment all because one of the passengers found fire crackers in the seat back pocket. Hours late the plane took off after not having found any issue with the passengers or the plane beyond the firecrackers that were found. AND no explanation of how they got on the plane! So once again we where items have been found on an airplane that were not supposed to get past security.

It tells you that in America racism is still on! most of those people who were targeted are color people. there were incident like this in a Shopping Malls! again most of those people been targeted are either black, Pakistani or Indian looking or Arab looking or sometime your accent can be the reason! How come Timothy McVeigh 1995 Oklahoma bomber did not change the way how we look at white people!? White people always get away with things! that s not fair Yo!

Lyle, you don't get out much, do you?

I'm a right-wing tea party guy....but I've always said we shouldn't change 1 iota of how we are in this country. The minute we do that, we lose, they win. Strip searching people is a disgrace. My sister was mistreated at an airport in a similar way and she's as white as a ghost. I've always said, let em come over here and bomb us, but never change our freedom....just bomb the crap outta them tell they can't do it anymore.

The crew couldn't knock on the door? It would have taken 5 seconds to realize this wasn't a security threat.

Obama my A**,, Thank GW Bush for the BS that Homeland Security, TSA and The FBI do in harrassing AMERICAN CITIZENS. They have tried that BS with me and I make them pay the price for Bush's BS on AMERICAN CITIZENS. I stand up for my rights and the rights of all AMERICAN CITIZENS.

Gotta agree with Brian, and the initial comment. This is, in fact, what Osama wanted. He wanted to destroy or damage what America is. . .and wouldn't you know it, this is an example of how he succeeded. Probable cause has been supplanted by hysterical paranoia when two guys of a certain color skin getting up at approximately the same time results in an F-16 escort and a weapons team boarding a plane.

"Welp, Osama Bin Laden got everything he could ever hope for."

Osama Bin Laden received a bullet to the head...

"Welp, Osama Bin Laden got everything he could ever hope for."

I think you're right there, OP, I look at what they accomplished on 9/11 this way... There has been a ripple effect that began then and has never stopped spreading outward, and I think bin Laden, as much as we'd like to mock him as just another cave dweller, was intelligent enough to foresee it happening. One positive that came out of the day is that we were brought into the now, knowing that we had to apply ourselves to security more assiduously forever after. But we'd forever lost the illusion that we were a civilized people and that that sort of mindless barbarism simply had no place in our antiseptic world. It was hard enough to face the deaths that might come about as the result of natural disasters, but when they were visited upon us willingly by faceless animals, enemies to the niceties of cultured folk, the average citizen had no means of coping with that idea.

But the ripples spread from that small island in NY State, and we didn't see all of them or realize, like a tsunami's energy, that most of them were under the surface and would take months or years to evidence themselves.

Maybe I draw lines of cause and effect where there are only suggestions of them, and maybe I'm laying too much credit on bin laden and his crew, but I believe that everything, from rising food prices to draconian security, nuns being pat searched while young middle Eastern men stroll through the gates without a second look, all of it can be traced back to him.

He misread the President in office, that was his one blunder, but the rest of our reactions went as though he scripted them. He knew we'd be so painfully PC about profiling that things would end up the way they are now. He knew they'd be able to place others of their ilk in important positions in our government, even in our White House, because no one would want to believe that they could be so gullible as to let an enemy into our iinner circles. But there are at least 3 people, 4 if you count Weiner's wife, in the White House with direct ties tothe Muslim Brotherhood. And undoubtedly, thousands more in all levels of state and local govt too, working their poison against the host body, undercutting us daily. But like the murderer Hasan, we allow them to remain in place, while we cower in absolute terror of showing a pair of balls and getting rid of them.

It amazes me how readily and easily Americans have given up their rights. I traveled through O'Hare last week and saw a 40 year old soccer mom getting frisked.

This guy is right - Bin Laden won - we have given up our freedom and allowed the Party of No to also wreck our economy.

And send you back to grammar school.

honest american, you have already and you don't even know it. FOOL!!!!

Obama on 9/11 speech: "We refuse to live in fear."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, YEAH, RIGHT! BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

Americans, you're a freaking joke!

I am constantly amazed by the hypocrisy, sarcasm and back woods idealism! We are where we are because of the FOOLS "We" have elected to control this "Land of the Free"!

Who do We think we are?

I am scared to think that most "Americans" think the way some of you do!

No one was there so there are specifics we dont know. Maybe the flight crew DID knock on the door, maybe the response was threatening when they did. Maybe other passengers saw them passing hand signals (which was alluded to initially by the AP), maybe they made threatening remarks when asked why they occupied the lavatory. Everyone just assumes Goebbels and the Nazis were the direct result of nothing more than 3 innocent people watching Disney cartoons while whistling and holding hands. Have some faith in the circumstances that causes fear and unrest.

Oh and by the way buddy, contractors might make a decent daily wage but they save the military millions and if you dont believe me FOIA docs are available from any oversight government budget office. For each infantry man you need anywhere from 6 to 13 support staff in country. Get a clue.

you are sick and you need help ....

No, not really. Osama Ben Laden didn't get everything he wanted, because you and I are still alive

This is the mentality that helps many Americans believe they "won". Osama Long ago said that No matter what they did they would not be able to kill every American. The Goal of these terror attacks was to have America bankrupt ourselves fighting endless wars in the middle east or elsewhere, and to force us to give up our rights and principles to fight him. His goal was to terrorize us.

He did that and unless we put our foot down and return to helping the people and our country instead of spending over a trillion dollars a year on "defence"(you get such a number when you add up all the so called cost of defence) The terrorist will continue to win. Like the USSR Osama was trying to get us to collapse ourselves.

Bush and Cheney and now Obama gave Osama just what he wanted. Osama is likely laughing at us from the grave.

So some here are of the opinion that because she's not Anglo-Saxon with a common American name, and it isn't anyone they know it's OK.

Goes to show you how deep their respect of the Constitution runs, "Me, me, me."

riley-1759556 the alternative is for apologist like you to get the hell out of this country. We are sick and tired of having moronic cowardly types like well you screw with our freedom and our rights.

As for this woman, sue under the civil rights laws for illegal arrest. Sue the pilot, sue the airline, sue every one of the flight attendants, sue the state and local government and sue every one of those cops individually and officially.

The Devil-1138528, "As for this woman, sue under the civil rights laws for illegal arrest. Sue the pilot, sue the airline, sue every one of the flight attendants, sue the state and local government and sue every one of those cops individually and officially."
Yeah, because that's the "American way", huh. And if I were the one reporting what I thought was a suspicious person and nothing was done about it, could I sue all of the above for not serving my best interest?

I am saddened and frustrated by the humiliation that these three people had to endure because of some unfounded racial assumptions. I know personally that at times medical reasons dictate how long a person spends in a bathroom. When my husband and I travel by plane, we tend to get up at the same time to use the bathrooms to minimize the inconvenience to the passengers sitting near us while at the same time noticing if the aisle is obstructed due to drinks being served. Of course when you don't feel well planning, a bathroom break isn't possible.

I am sincerely grateful for our homeland security, most of the increased security measures, and the ongoing attempts at preventing future attacks. However, I also feel that the lingering fear that the 9/11 terrorist attacks has instilled in our memories is terribly unfortunate because it has become somewhat paralizing to out quality of life.

Taking all of that into consideration though, surely there could have been a kinder and more professional way to handle this situation. Even though I realize everyone responding to this situation had to follow the current protocols in place, lets face it those protocols were totally ineffective on many levels in this situation. Only time will tell whether this fiasco will have long lasting effects on the passengers targeted, other passengers present, potential future passengers, tourism, and the airline industry as well.

I think that given the increases in airline fares, the fact that most airlines are now charging extra for carry on luggage and in some instances also charging for some of the amenities as well, one solution that might meet everyones needs could be to have two strategically trained agents present on all flights. Because of their specialized training they could respond to (rather than react to) any problems that occur in flight including taking someone into custody without incident when necessary. I know I have heard horror stories regarding disruptive and at times verbally, emotionally, and physically abusive behavior that has taken place while planes were in flight. I don't believe in racial profiling. More specifically, I personally would not want to be judged by the behavior of any other person regardless of their sex, nationality, religious beliefs, etc. I emphatically support holding people accountable for their choces and behavior. This includes everyone including passengers on an airplane, airline companys, law enforcement, etc. If I was one of the 3 passengers that were targeted and treated so disrespectfully, I would definately hold the people who treated me that way accountable to the fullest expent of the law including a lawsuit or lawsuits. Why should we as human beings have to accept unacceptable behavior. Surely in America we shouldn't have to have these horrible indignities forced upon us.

Lastly, I would like to add that it must have been terrifying for the young children who were passengers on that flight. As impressionable as young children are, I would imagine that this frightening experience will stay with them for a long time.

Was it really a waste of taxpayer dollars? They fly daily anyway, so what is the waste? The pilots would have been paid either way, the planes still fly everyday.

Until they ram the plane into a building and then you are bitching about us not scrambling jets. It's called precautions on a day when threats were all over.

We have become the Soviet Union; our police is the KGB. The only difference is that the citizens of the old U.S.S.R. knew in their heart of hearts that this system was wrong. We USED to know it (when they were doing it). But n ow that we are doing it, we pretend it's right. And ironically, the ex-commies are shaking their heads at OUR loss of freedoms now.

Interesting. I don't recall the article specifying the race (or color) of the people reporting the incident to those on the ground.

You are assuming the behavior of going to the bathroom is actually suspicious. Or is it suspicious to be in the company of people with a mideastern appearance? Again, if they want to question them, fine. But to storm the plane with rifles and strip the three is an abuse of power. Anyone who thinks it is okay should really just bend over and have the experience!

Threat: a declaration of an intention or determination to inflict punishment, injury, etc.,

a threat is not an attack but saying that you are going to whether you do it or not.

The threats were not carried out but there were many. if you read the news leading up to the weekend, there was threats on NY and many other places.

Some of you lib commenters would be the first ones to scream why didn't someone do something if they had flown the plane into a building. You want your cake and eat it too, and unfortunately, it isn't possible. It's the world we live in.

Maybe if the ticket agent in Boston would have been paranoid then at least one of the towers wouldn't have been hit... Or how about the hijacker that spoke little to no English and had no photo ID but still got on the plane.

HATR_HURTER

oz, threats were all over? no, racist morons were. no attacks were carried out so there were no actual threats.

My guess is you are just a troll here to cause problems.

It was all over the news that there were creditable threats to DC and NY for 9/11. The specific threats were for car bomb attacks, but one cannot be too careful. Look no farther then this website to see how creditable the White House thought the threats were.

The Strip search was a bit much imho.

Skiddy mentioned libs as the first to yell why wasn't something done....sorry dude but that sounds more like tea-bagger stuff there...

And taking into consideration what I grew up learning America was supposed to be all about...anyone who profiles based on skin color or religion....or thinks safety trumps freedom...is in my mind being "un-American" and really ought to be deported....

Until they ram the plane into a building and then you are bitching about us not scrambling jets. It's called precautions on a day when threats were all over.

No one will EVER be able to ram major passenger liner into a building again.

1) Pilots are now armed (this would have certainly prevented Sept 11)

2) Doors are reinforced (this possibly alone could have prevent Sept 11)

The government will NEVER be able to guarantee our safety and in the end the BEST CHANCE to stop attacks is the SAME today as it was then.

The government was UNABLE to stop ANY of the attacks on Sept 11... instead it was every day citizens who brought down flight 93. It was also every day citizens who stopped the "underwear bomber" and the "shoe bomber".

Trading civil liberties and a "normal" American way of life for one of fear, bankcuprty, and stupidity is not something we should be proud of.

Want to know how a free people become an unfree people?

Start asking their citizens to give up a little bit of their freedom for safety concerns. Start off simple. Ask them to take off their shoes, and agree to physical searches. Then tell them they need to submit to screening technology to further enhance their safety. Now prevail upon your populace to notify the appropriate authorities if they detect anything suspicious, and detain the people behaving suspiciously (even if the suspicious activity is just taking too long in the bathroom). Use a show of military/police muscle every time vague threats present themselves.

...and there you have a freedomless people who continue to sing the praises of the phantom freedoms they enjoy. Let's talk about your freedoms you enjoy:

• Can you drive 150MPH down an empty highway past a couple of cops drinking their coffee on the side of the road? No, it's a SAFETY issue, and they'll lock you up.

• Can you take every dime that your sweat and labor produced to create your own business? No, in income taxes, sales taxes, gas taxes, property taxes, and business taxes you pay out the nose and anywhere from 10-40% of your annual efforts must go to your tax collectors. (Remember why we formed this "Free Country" to begin with? "No Taxation without Representation"? Remember that little ditty?).

• Can you grow a pot plant in a planter next to your front door, pluck off some leafs every now and then, and wander down the street puffing on your homegrown doobage? No? You're not hurting anyone (other than maybe yourself).

Frankly folks, I'm tired of hearing all these people telling me how free I am, and how I should enjoy the freedom we worked so hard to get when I'm constantly reminded that the United States of America has the highest per capita prison population. We keep close to 1 out of 100 Americans in jail and our imprisonment rate far exceeds Russia, China, S. Africa, or anywhere else in the world. If we imprison the most people, then this should come as no surprise. The United States has the most, and creates the most, laws of any other country in the world. If a law is designed to regulate the behavior of its citizens, and we have the most laws of any country, then it becomes a logical conclusion that we attempt to regulate our citizens more than any other country in the world. Does that sound like freedom to you?

Safety and Security should never be associated with freedom. Ask any biker to agree or disagree with that statement and see what answer you get.

Finally... The German people are some of the kindest, most polite people you'll meet anywhere on the planet. It only took a horrible war, a deep depression, and leadership adept at manipulating them (telling them all sorts of stories about how their safety and security was at risk) to create the Nazi regime. Think it can't happen here? Think again.

Personally, I think George Carlin had it right...

"...Besides, an airplane ride shouldn't be completely safe. You need a little danger in your life! What are you gonna do, play with your *&$# for another 30 years? Read People magazine and eat at Wendy's til the end of time? Take a $%#in' chance! And besides, if we made airplanes completely safe, the terrorists would simply start bombing other places that are crowded. Porn shops, crack houses, t%$#y bars, and gangbangs. You know, entertainment venues..."

Interesting. I don't recall the article specifying the race (or color) of the people reporting the incident to those on the ground.

Yeah I missed that too. But Michael isn't racist....noooo not at all.

Mr. Rogers, Yes the airlines could have fixed those things you mention before 9/11, but it would have cost money they didn't want to spend, tens of millions maybe. But after 9/11 they didn't have a problem losing billions of dollars, 'splain that.

I am guessing that Bill probably does have a brain but much like a good socialist he cannot exercise an independent thought but rather what everyone else on the bandwagon says "Tea Baggers this and Tea Baggers that" so let me help you out Bill the Tea Party is against any involvement of the Federal Government in the lives of Citizens therefore it is not likely to hear one complain that the Government did not do enough now write that down and keep it in your pocket for the next time you try to have an independent thought

Barlow,

that is just your average greed. They were litteraly forced to spend the money on those things because if they did not they would not be in business right now. If no one had raised a stink about how easily the cockpit wsa accessed by the terrorists they would not have spent that money.

That is just the realist of business. Spend only what you need to run the company at minimum cost to profits. This is why regulations are needed, most businesses have no moral code.

The only reason 9/11 happened was because airlines did not do the following:

1. They did not spend on proper security

2. They did not spend for security audits

Those two things alone would have stopped 9/11 from happening because while these guys were on a terrorist watch list setup by the Government, the FAA's own list only comprised of like 12 individuals, only a few were on their list but no one was checking names against it.

Also there was video of the suspects going through security and setting off metal detectors and the guards wanded them and let them pass without checking why the scanners were going off. Completely unprofessional and maybe that was because they did not have proper training or they were unafraid of internal investigations because the airlines never launched audits.

@Skippy

So you support the Patriot Act? You do know that it is as unconstitutional as a law can get without redefining the term right?

paranoid white people???? you are a scum bag... its the outlook you have that sent those 3 in the back of a cop car... cant wait 2 read about your dumb ass one day...

Lyle - Apparently this lady missed hearing about your law that housewives are not allowed to travel unless they have their husbands and kids with them. And her parents apparently also missed the law against mixed marriages, too. Look, this is America! Lots of us are mixed ethnic/race. Some of the rest of us are also mixtures that back in the "old country" would have been killing each other. So what!

Obama on 9/11 speech: "We refuse to live in fear."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, YEAH, RIGHT! BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

Americans, you're a freaking joke!

skiddy Not A good Idea to paint Liberal as reactionaries when it was the GOP who after 9/11 over reacted to cover up the fact that they didn't do a DAMN THING to fight terrorism before said event. That in fact the GOP criticized Democrats for daring to try and protect the American people.

Never forget it was the GOP who launched there "Wag the dog" campaign against Clinton.

Everyone can ignore Lyle Kellog. He's just trolling.

I would be happy to show my papers if it meant getting all of the illegals out that put a massive strain on our system. Wouldn't you?

3 people inconvienced is no issue really. Had she been a terrorist and we uncovered a new plot, you would be singing their praises.

Shodun69...where have you been?...ICE and Border Patrol agents have the authority to stop anyone, at anytime, anywhere and demand proof of citizenship. Why are complaining about Arizona? Are complaining to Obama about the authority his federal agents have?

Sorry, we aren't seeing ghosts. Are we supposed to stop being proactive for fears of offending someone? Even the best intelligence can't always anticipate a bad guy on a plane. Yes, Bin Laden got his wish: a country paralyzed by (or force-fed fears of) a bogeyman. This is the world we live in. And airplane bathrooms have been used before to prepare for nefarious acts.

I used to say that if the ATF showed up at my home, handcuffed me at gunpoint, and searched my home, that would be OK, because I have nothing to hide. However, 20 years later I have matured to understand that that is not what the United States is about. Asking for "your papers", randomly stopping people without good cause, and singling out a particular religious group for extra scrutiny, is only not constitutional, but sounds like another country I have read a lot about. Nazi German circa 1936. For all the right wingers that hold the constitution up and protest the over bloated federal government for trampling it, you should be outraged. This is as unconstitutional as anything you claim the Obama administration has ever done, and its targeted directly at individual American citizens. Oh,thats right, they look different, so it OK.

@Jeff - No I wouldn't, nor would anyone who's heritage has caused that to happen to them. It is how it began in Nazi Germany.

So SHogun, is it better to just let them kill us just so we don't "trample" their rights? What about our right to live? Or is it OK as long as you don't offend someone?

You people want protection but aren't willing to give up your little conveniences for them.

Hey Skiddy

Who ya talkin about? People that look a little different that are American citizens?Is that the "them" you are talking about? Do we have a rating systems for how a real American looks these days, and if "they"look OK? Is there a rating system for who can go to the bathroom, for how long is too long, and who can be to strip searched for doing that? Which rights are YOU willing to give up? And to what degree? Or do you think this will never effect you?

Right on Shogun ... couldnt have said it better!

All the Teapublicans harping about constitutional rights conveniently ignore this 'cos they arent affected directly by this - SO FAR. Bunch of hypocrites they are.

Skiddy .... "their rights"???? - Shogun was talking about anyone including US Citizens. When did US citizens become "they"? Or did you mean the US citizens who are not WASPs? In that case, I stand corrected-NOT

ugh, the Arizona law simply says that if you get pulled over for a traffic violation (ie speeding, running a stop sign, etc) and the police officer suspects you might be an illegal immigrant (can hardly speak english, don't have a license, registration, or insurance) then you get your immigration status checked. What about that doesn't make sense? What would happen to any other citizen if they got pulled over and didn't have their license, registration, or insurance?

And logical - Last I checked, illegal immigrants don't have too many rights in this country, seeings as they are here illegally. They should still be treated humanely, sure, but I have little respect for someone that comes here illegally, doesn't bother to learn the language, and mooches off of my tax dollars.

Yes, it's people that look like 19-55 year old individuals of Middle Eastern descent that are finally getting profiled.

It's that age group that has committed over 65,000 terrorist actions in the last 10 years.

Some innocent people are gonna get swept up with the garbage, but if they have a complaint, they can go to "Al-Quedacomplaintsdept.com" and bitch to them.

The inability of the past and current administrations to really address the Muslim problem is actually the problem. Profiling isn't PC, so we all pay.

Want to REALLY see some profiling? Be a person of color and go to France. You are gonna spend a LONG time in Border Control......

Some innocent people are gonna get swept up with the garbage, but if they have a complaint, they can go to "Al-Quedacomplaintsdept.com" and bitch to them.

No.. the VAST MOJORITY of people who will be harassed by this will be innocent. Only .001% will be actual terrorist.

Also you don't have to profile by race as much as perhaps profile by origin. That wouldn't make since either as we would stop Iranians, who have never attacked US interest and we would let through Saudis... who committed the acts on 911 AND funded them.

Our government is stupid and unfortunately they have convinced most Americans to be stupid with them.

I don't want protection. I don't want to live in a country that is paranoid, and preoccupied with wasting resources on tracking down kooks that potentially could cause harm. When I was a kid, I drove my bicycle without a helmet. Now if I send my kid without a helmet I'm told I'm a bad parent. I use to be able to drive down the road with or without a seatbelt on. It was my choice. Now I may have to pay $50-150 bucks for that privilege if I'm pulled over.

What the hell's wrong with this country? A person can no longer smoke, outside in public area because their second hand smoke may drift onto someone walking nearby? Really? Does anyone believe this amount of behavior legislation is good?

Let me list the many ways I can die today: I could get hit by a car, a meteor may land on my head, a pack of wild dogs may happen upon me while I'm out for a walk, my aorta might burst, I could have a massive stroke, a massive coronary, I might stumble off a cliff, or down a flight of stairs, my car could inexplicably blow up in large fireball, our sun may pick today to go super-nova, a drunken russian soldier (as a goof) figured out a way to launch a nuclear warhead at the city I'm living in. The list is endless and here's my point...

Anything and everything can kill us. We are a mortal race of people. Each and everyone of us will die. It's going to happen. No amount of legislation, or police protection is going to change the parameters of the end of your life.

How many Americans died (as a percentage the 3000 that died out of our 270 Million total) on September 11th, 2001? Answer: .0011% About One-Thousandth of a percentage point.

So, one thousandth of a single percentage point died on that day, and I'm suppose to get behind two wars that cost a Trillion Dollars, new draconion governmental agencies (homeland security / TSA), and more laws to further restrict my liberties. Sorry. I'd rather take my chances with living with the risks of terrorist attacks.

Arizona has started and the rest of the country should follow. I heard a comment today about a Native American school teacher being offended by some of the pro and college sports team names/mascots. Really? 3 generations from now, our descendents will be saying the same things because we let Mexicans take over our country. No offense to the Mexicans...we're letting them. We have no room to complain unless we put a stop to it. Speak, read, write our language or get out.

3 people inconvienced is no issue really. Had she been a terrorist and we uncovered a new plot, you would be singing their praises.

Exactly!

no doubt about that...I know I would be

shogun and logical, the "them" I'm talking about are terrorists. They come in all shapes and sizes. Don't throw the race card at me, I'm talking about anyone showing suspicious activity. Frankly, I don't want to get blown up when I fly because people like you want to maintain your political correctness.

To those of you calling it an "inconvenience": after it happens to you, if you still sound so proud, I will cheerfully join you in calling it an "inconvenience".

William(*)Wallace

You mean the same way your ancestors came to America and took over "your" country from Native Americans. Get a clue. If your anscestors weren't immagrants, you wouldn't be here.

Ok, you've pointed out one major issue with the USA. But the attitude of "she should hire a lawyer and sue them" is an even bigger issue with the USA.

No, she should NOT sue anyone. They should compensate her fairly for her time and that should be the end of it.

This had nothing to do with the TSA. Homeland security and the police, yes. TSA No. If you are going to insult someone, at least get your facts straight about who to blame.

No, she should NOT sue anyone. They should compensate her fairly for her time and that should be the end of it.

But they won't. What judge will rule in her favor? What jury will? Doesn't matter if Christ Himself proclaimed her innocence - she has the audacity to be born looking different from the rest of us, so she must be guilty somehow.

/sarcasm

I for one can't wait for the new law to be passed which requires those who file lawsuits to pay for all the legal fees of the defendant should they lose. That will put a stop to this sue happy country. It's pretty pathetic that 12 people actually liked 1ad's comment.

Stang Sallie, I think she needs to file legal actions every way to Sunday. What possible reason existed for this woman to be STRIP SEARCHED? She wasn't even involved in the so-called suspicious activity. She merely had the misfortune to be seated next to two non-White men, one of whom took too long in the restroom. Are you kidding me? Utterly ridiculous over reaction to absolutely NOTHING!

Why should she be compensated any more than any of the other passengers? They were all detained and questioned, luggage searched, etc.

i agree with you 100%...who plans an attack on the day you expect it to happen...compensation is fine but it is the principle

only problem with the lawsuit is that the TSA people will pay nothing. The people who had nothing to do with anything will be sent the bill.....its the government way

I am sorry but she should not get one dime!! She has no reason to sue. So what she was stripped searched and asked questions. They guys were in the bathroom and here she sits sending messages and then the cops come in and she wants to keep her phone...why?? I think they did everything they should have done. Who cares what people look like. If it was 2 white guys and a white woman who were acting suspecious no one would even know what happened and we wouldnt be talking like this. They would have been stripped searched questioned and hand cuffed for acting the same way and no one would know a damn thing. but because of her making it a racist thing we all have to act like a bunch of asses and talk about it. I am glad they did it because if they would have been planning something and they stopped them then thank god but they found nothing...THANK GOD...Glad someone did their job and so what it cause some delays but no lives were lost. Wow she was handcuffed and stripped searched...if it was me..yes I would be a little upset but I know they are doing there job. Get over it people...and guess what I am black!!! So if she sues then she is just pushing the racist thing to far...get over it honey you shouldnt have been doing what you were doing...cause if i was on the plane my ass would have been sitting there not doing anything wandering what the @!$%# was going on not blogging...and then have the balls to ask to keep her phone....think about it people..she just wants everyone to feel sorry for her and she wants money!!!

good post

whatever the whole point is that would not have happened if they were white.

As far as your claim to being black...uh you must be a gangsta drug dealing their ...right?

Oh you aren't

Silly me
I was following a common stereotype
My bad

Feel better now?

No real Black Person would EVER support racial profiling, to have decisions made about you based on your race is everything that real Blacks fought against in the 60s and still fight today.

Glad this article was written because of the comments but the article itself is pointless. We have a writer who is doing twitter of her airplane ride. The search itself made her trip interesting...otherwise it would have been rather boring. Sitting with two indian guys that both get up for the bathroom at the same time. I have to admit I would see that as a little unusual. Doubt I would call attention to it just for that but of 3 people to have 2 head for the bathroom at the same time and the same nationality that could fit a terrorist stereotype...seems logical to keep your eye on it.

Profiling is real and its logical. If someone steals a purse and is described as 6-4, male, muscular and Hispanic you don't start arresting 80 year old Indian women in wheelchairs. It is wrong to let race be your only motivating factor but it's also wrong to waste resources in checking people you know are not the ones you might be after. So I will state this clearly...you must search people that don't fit the profile because the terrorist are likely to break the stereotype if they can but you should search people that fit the racial profile even more. Yes you will search many people that are innocent but that is how searches work. MOST people will be innocent. That is why you do it in a way that is not overly obtrusive and you show respect.

Look at it this way, isn't it a rule on planes to not use Cellphones during take off and landing...so if you suspect a terrorist action why are you allowing people to use cellphones? The point here is you don't want them triggering devices via phone. The police could have probably been more polite but do you really know they weren't? We have a writer writing tweets about being on a plane. A completely boring story if nothing does happen to make it interesting. By being searched her story became more interesting and she will probably get a good bit of publicity for her career and blog.

The real problem isn't how she was treated, it is the American people buying into every article they can get upset about. Someone on the plane had to point out this behavior as suspicious. The police didn't "go after" them because of race, they went after them because someone denoted them as suspicious. The gripe is with the person that reported it. Even then, is that so wrong? We are told to look for things suspicious.

I'm sick of people playing the race card. Yes you fit the physical description of someone that COULD be a terrorist. It is more likely that a civilian passenger made note of it and reported it to someone who then escalated it so really the gripe is with that person. Everyone else was just responding to a complaint. This woman is just grabbing all the media attention she can get from the event. That is how American do after all. She might make a career for herself just out of exploiting this event. She needs it to seem like it was forced sterilization or something to milk it for all the attention.

whatever-4094250

I am sorry but she should not get one dime!! She has no reason to sue. So what she was stripped searched and asked questions. They guys were in the bathroom and here she sits sending messages and then the cops come in and she wants to keep her phone...why?? I think they did everything they should have done. Who cares what people look like. If it was 2 white guys and a white woman who were acting suspecious no one would even know what happened and we wouldnt be talking like this. They would have been stripped searched questioned and hand cuffed for acting the same way and no one would know a damn thing. but because of her making it a racist thing we all have to act like a bunch of asses and talk about it. I am glad they did it because if they would have been planning something and they stopped them then thank god but they found nothing...THANK GOD...Glad someone did their job and so what it cause some delays but no lives were lost. Wow she was handcuffed and stripped searched...if it was me..yes I would be a little upset but I know they are doing there job. Get over it people...and guess what I am black!!! So if she sues then she is just pushing the racist thing to far...get over it honey you shouldnt have been doing what you were doing...cause if i was on the plane my ass would have been sitting there not doing anything wandering what the @!$%# was going on not blogging...and then have the balls to ask to keep her phone....think about it people..she just wants everyone to feel sorry for her and she wants money!!!

Are you serious?? I'd bet cash that if YOU had been removed from an airplane by machine gun wielding officials, detained and questioned without the presence of a lawyer and then strip searched all because you were sitting in the same row as two men who allegedly spent too long in the bathroom, you would be singing a very different tune. The fact of the matter is that this was absolutely racially motivated (and no, I'm not a Democrat who cries "racist" every chance I get). The reason you would never hear about this happening to white people or black people or purple people or anyone else who "looks American" is because it wouldn't happen. Most paranoid Americans think nothing of airline behavior exhibited by white people, but they watch anyone who appears to be Arab or of Middle-Eastern descent like a hawk. Don't believe me? Pay attention on your next flight. And by the way, you're totally right about her having real balls to ask to keep her phone!! What was she thinking?? This isn't a country that used to operate under a governing document called the Constitution and is known as "the land of the free" or anything. The absolute nerve of some people! << rolls eyes >>

Please stop believing everything you're told by government agencies and those whose interests are along the same lines. I can tell that you believe thinking for yourself is highly overrated, but I promise, if you try it you can save what's left of your IQ.

Don_in_DC

I'm sick of people playing the race card. Yes you fit the physical description of someone that COULD be a terrorist. It is more likely that a civilian passenger made note of it and reported it to someone who then escalated it so really the gripe is with that person. Everyone else was just responding to a complaint.

I agree with you--I get sick of racism being tossed around as a reason for absolutely everything from the price of bread to the lack or abundance of rain. I also agree that it was likely a civilian passenger who started the whole cascade of events. But do you really think that this likely passenger complainant paid attention to how long everyone on the plane was gone from their seats, or just certain people who look a certain way? Airline officials and the flight crew made poor decisions to escalate the situation and then the FBI took it to a level that could cost American taxpayers money in a lawsuit. Every single person on that plane went through the "enhanced" screening used by the TSA to ostensibly keep us all safe (remember that they told us, and many Americans believe that these enhanced techniques are necessary). If they were virtually strip-searched like everyone else, why the level of concern? I'll give you one guess as to why, and it's not because they had blonde hair and blue eyes...

Obama on 9/11 speech: "We refuse to live in fear."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, YEAH, RIGHT! BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

Americans, you're a freaking joke!

Airport security is the hotest job for homosexuals, pedofiles, communist and racist wings, where they can realize their dream in America. Reports over human rights, privacy rights violation all over America as a result of corruption and lack of control.

By the way the US has no law for privacy rights.

Don in DC:

Seriously? You find it odd that 2 people in the same row get up at the same time to go to the loo? Have you ever flown in a plane, sitting by the window, waiting for someone in the row to get up so you can pee? It happens allllllllllll the time! The space is tiny, so having to say "Excuse me, mate-do you mind?" and have each person in your row get up for you to pee. A lot easier to go when the row goes. I find nothing odd in that!

whatever-4094250

"If it was 2 white guys and a white woman who were acting suspecious no one would even know what happened and we wouldnt be talking like this."

Are you freaking serious. If it were 2 white guyes and a white woman they would have already found lawyers and would have already filed suits! I wonder, would you be so accepting if it were you. I doubt it.

Nope. This is the country we used to denigrate - Soviet Russia. Version 2.0.

You sound unclear on just about every security concept known to the western world. Welcome to the 21st century. Israel has been dealing with this for 30 plus years to stay safe and every knew it would be our turn soon. So here it is and this is whats required to avoid bombs going off in public places and pieces of women and children laying around a Starbucks broadcast on the daily news.

Which is worse to you, fearing that the authorities might arrest and then release you or someone you know after its proven that you are not involved in a plot or fearing if you and your children will get blown apart at the grocery store? Ill take the former.

This is a response to : dapenate

Not it's not because some "Radicals" don't like the way we live and the freedom we have.

Elisabeth

yes it is, know your American History.

Yes it is, you just never heard of it before because we never had the Internet. If you think this country is so bad try some others. For the most part you people ahve never been outside of the USA and have zero frame of reference. Even in other western democratic countries you can be arrested for not carrying identification but in the USA people freak out over national ID's and scream we are approaching police state status. It is pure ignorance on your part as to what a police state is that makes you think that.

BTW, I have no idea what happened on the flight, but if 2 guys in fact did spend a lot of time together in bathrooms I am guessing they should should have on their own thought it wouldn't look right. If you are sick, tell someone. BTW, on one hand you are right, when I grew up we didn't have terrorists blowing up airliners, suicide bombers or any of the other things that started occurring about the time I was 15. Of course, until 9/11 Americans were mostly insulated from it and now they are upset they have to live like the rest of the world that has been experiencing it for 30 years or more. Welcome to how the rest of the world lives.

If 9/11 had been caused by Scandanavians you would be screwed if you looked like one but it wasn't. It was caused by middle easterners and you are now screwed if you look like one. Blame them not the rest of us, it was your peers who screwed you. Germans have been paying the price of the forebears for 60 years now but you don't hear them snivelling.......

Germans have been paying the price of the forebears for 60 years now but you don't hear them snivelling.......

Oh yes you do! Obviously you haven't been to Germany or talked to a younger German ( < 30 years old), otherwise you'd know how pissed they are over it.

Riley, you are clueless. Isreal conducts thorough screening of every passenger and bag BEFORE they get on a plane. It is exceedingly stupid to conduct such foolish shows of force (and strip searches) AFTER the plane has SAFELY LANDED!

Riley, Israel builds illegal settlements on Palestinian land uses phosphorus munitions and depleted uranium on Palestinians. Builds walls around Palestinian neighborhoods and Israeli settlers stone Palestinian children while walking to school. Israel should be scared of Terrorist as long it continues all these apartheid activities.

Unfortunately the country we grow up in didn't have as many foreigners as it does now, so...

NB820,

This didn't occur as an after thought like "oh, hey look, brown people! They must be bad!" It happened because of their actions on the plane. They drew attention to themselves because they went to the restroom one right after the other and stayed there for a long period of time. THAT'S when questions arose.

Nowayjose

Almost all "Americans" are foreigners except for us Native Americans that you call "Indians".

just because they went to the restroom one after another does not validate anything...how would you feel if that was you because, unfornately, you and your seat buddy went to the restroom at the same time...its the call of nature...that still gave them no right to pin point....that is racism...why allow them to enter in the USA to fear having them travel and live among us...a attacker will never attack when you expect them to

so called Native Americans or Indians immigrated here too... nobody is native to this country if you want to look at it that way

Navy Patriot

Almost all "Americans" are foreigners except for us Native Americans that you call "Indians".

Hate to break it to you but fossil records in this country show that the earliest known humans here were caucasian, most likely migrated from Europe.

actually, the earliest humans to migrate here(America) were the siberians that we call "native americans"..the siberians migrated from (eur)ASIA..they weren't caucasian..you dip@!$%#. if anything, they would be considered ancient ancestors of asians..

7.14 DSVet

Hate to break it to you but the Caucasus Mountains are in the area of Soviet Georgia between the Caspian and the Black Sea...... aren't those folks a little brown? That's who caucasians are........ duh.

bologna sandwich

NB820,

This didn't occur as an after thought like "oh, hey look, brown people! They must be bad!" It happened because of their actions on the plane. They drew attention to themselves because they went to the restroom one right after the other and stayed there for a long period of time. THAT'S when questions arose

Bologna, I hate to break it to you, but their actions were scrutinized because they were brown. Be honest--if you were sitting on an airplane and the two white/black/Aisan/obviously "American" people sitting next to you got up and went to the bathroom, would you time them? Would you even pay attention or give a passing thought to how long they were gone? Would you assume that a trip that's longer than what you consider "normal" could be because there was a wait for the bathroom? Or because the first guy who went in was taking a long time due to illness? Or that maybe they got trapped behind the beverage cart? I have a hard time believing that you would automatically press the little flight attendant button and "report" this. Now imagine that those two people look Arab/Middle-Eastern/Muslim/terrorist-like. Now what would you do? Right or wrong, like it or not, this was racially motivated. And let me just finish with this: these passengers all went through the virtual strip-searches and other "enhanced" TSA security everyone thinks makes us safe. If that security is so great, why the need to call the F-16s and SWAT team??

dapenate Yes it is. This country has ALWAYS been this way. 9/11 is just the excuse to target a different group of brown people. Apparently some of us were born "fitting the description". I recall the first time (yes I said first) I was pulled over for speeding--on my mountain bike. Going up hill...or that's the first excuse that came out of the cops mouth when he approached. Welcome to my country.

Hate to break it to YOU DSVet, but you are so egregiously wrong, it's not even worth a response. Please stop trying to "talk science" like you know what you are talking about.

Heah depenate ever been bused to school. This is the country I grew up in.

SJackson;

So tell me,,, How long must a people live in a land before they viewed Native, Exactly? The Choctaw have been here more than 125,000 years according to recorded history and what "scientists" tell us. Much longer than any of you "Johnny come lately" types. Other Tribes have a longer history on this continent. So spare me the "we're all immigrates" speech. Can you say incredulous?. We can.

Unfortunately, yes it is.

Racial profiling is very common, I'm African-American, so trust me on this.

It is ALWAYS WRONG and the fact that it has been done to me does not excuse it. And I will openly admit, this is far more severe than what I've experienced, such as:

• being followed in a mall - quite often, until I moved to a diverse area, and I do pretty well financially. I certainly don't have to steal (and I'm not a klepto)
• being followed and stopped on the way home by the police FOR NO REASON. He never gave a reason for stopping me, and did not issue any ticket. But he didn't have to... I grew up in a white neighborhood - I guess the officer thought I was going to the nice neighborhood... to rob my parents.
• being asked if I could read
• and many other situations I've experienced that are far to numerous to count.

What they did to her is wrong, and it should not have been done. But racial profiling is NOT new to this country. Ask anyone of color...

Daaaammmmnnnn.....There are some morons all over this country, i thought it was just where i lived, get some meaning in your lives people and focus on what actually matters...How can you stupid a$$ people say or even THINK "this isnt the country you grew up in." This country has been f*cked for hundreds of years morons. As for what happened i just think the focus shouldve been on the 2 fools who got up around the same time not the woman who was calmly sitting in her seat, I mean if anybody on that plane had bothered to say one thing to her or the 2 dudes, it probably would've been clear as day that neither of them were intending on harming anyone, but noooo this country is full of idiots who just want to assume rather than find out the facts or 1 little piece of info. why is everybody so uptight? your time will come regardless of when or where so live your life to fullest rather than in fear of what "might be"..I mean do ya'll WANT the terrorists to win? anyone who has died for this country or OUR FREEDOM sure as hell wouldnt and would be turning in there graves right now and Big Bin would be grinning ear to ear if he seen how people were acting cause 9/11 and seriously does anybody really think something is going to happen on the exact same day? yeah its possible but I highly doubt it, chances are (if somethin did happen) it'll be a whole new day to remember...and as for the response by "law enforcement/military" its just nice to see that this country is finally on top of something...

*in response to chris335678: dude, not sure how old you are but you're sounding a lil moronic....until 9/11?! you do realize there was an attack on the trade towers before 9/11 right and Big Bin has tried or been apart of numerous attacks against the U.S. since Reagan was in office(possibly prior to that). And ever hear of ANY one of numerous massacres or mass murders that have happened since decades upon decades ago(I have and Im a pretty young guy), sh!t even pearl harbor for that matter, may not be exactly the same but it really doesnt matter, violence is violence, murder is murder regardless of who, what, where or how many it is. Stuff like 9/11 happens and has been happening everywhere, everyday, even in the U.S. for many years (way way prior to 9/11 smart guy) people just dont always succeed or don't hear about it....just cause they're not "middle-eastern" doesnt mean they're not terrorists!!!! and no im not middle eastern or any part of me. To people who are middle-eastern in America, well...it just sucks to be you right now but you're not alone, hop in line...its happened to other races/cultures before YOU PEOPLE...*gasp*.....GOD bless America (not the gov't), RIP to all the innocent people who died that day and good luck to those living in fear.

Wow I can't believe no one mentioned the attacks on pearl harbor, and how the americans of japanese decent were treated during and after the war.

You are more right than you think -- this truly is not the country you grew up in. Back when you are growing up, two men would not wedge themselves into the same airplane restroom for an extended period of time. Seriously now, there is barely enough room in one of those things for one person. What the major media won't tell you (but the not so politically correct media will) is that the two men were joining the gay wing of the mile high club; and thus the unusually long period of time in the restroom. In the "country you grew up in," gay men stayed in the closet, not the restroom. In the "country you grew up in," society wouldn't tolerate gays actually practicing their gayness in the public arena; yes, they could do what the wished in private, and they really did keep it private. So, you are correct, this isn't the "country you grew up in."

If you'd actually read the article, you'd have seen that nowhere does it state they were ever in the same bathroom. Commerical airliners have more than one, Einstein.

Congratulations for so deftly working your pathetic fear of gay people into a conversation that's actually about your pathetic fear of brown people.

Seriously, I don't know how you cowardly teabaggers stop pissing your pants long enough to type.

I would just like to point out that the article says the 2 men got up to go to the bathroom at the same time. It never stated that they actually shared the bathroom. Either way I think this is insane! Since when is taking a sh*t grounds for suspicion. Hell if thats the case I could be accussed of terrorism about twice a day. What really makes no sense to me is why the women was taken off the plane? The two men get up to use the bathroom and she stays in her seat. What is it about her actions that would justify this response. I hate to pull the race card, but I will call a spade a spade, and Im guessing she was lumped in with the other 2 because a flight attendent checked the manifest and thought her last name and her appearence were just a lil to Arab. You used to get in trouble for being black after dark, but now its being middle eastern on a plane.

Really? Inconvenienced? A strip search is not an inconvenience, it is a violation. The leap the pilot took is not enough to justify a strip search. They could have interviewed the three passengers, inquired as to why so long in the bathroom and confirmed their boarding information. There are other procedures that allow a fair evaluation without stripping the passengers. I don't feel safer from the action they took, I feel threatened at the thought of flying in a plane.

I didn't realize pooping was a suspicious activity. I hope you can hold it the next time you have to use the bathroom on a plane. Oh, wait, you're probably white. Never mind. Only brown people are suspicious.

Also, you do realize there are a lot of options that fall between ignoring something and doing a strip search, right?

have you ever gone to the gym and showered afterward, OMG, you were naked in front of other people. get real. violation my a$$. and yes, going to the bathroom several times and having other get up at the same time is suspicious. Especially on 9-11 and especially being darker skinned. Sorry, this is the world that we live in.

OZ10, Really! Taking a shower, which you choose to do, in the gym , in front of other people is the same as being strip searched by the police. Really?!?! One is by your choice, the other is unconstitutional without due cause, which there was not here.

We are no safer because of these actions. Not one bit. See if you like it if it happens to you.

Do you fly enough to realize that it is completely commonplace for people in the same row to get up at the same time or within the same time frame to go to the bathroom? It's more convenient, especially when sitting in an aisle seat to time your bathroom visits with your seat mates, not to mention sometimes necessary to all go at the same time before food and beverage carts block the aisle for a long period of time.

Also, having gone to the gym and showered and having been strip-searched, I can say there is absolutely no equivalency between the two. When I'm showering at the gym, I'm not undressing at gunpoint to be intimately felt up by a person with the gun and disproportionate power over where I can go and what I can do. As another poster mentioned, there is a whole spectrum of interventions between police rushing a plane to drag people off, interrogate and strip-search them because they went to the bathroom and simply looking over people actually being suspicious.

Very simple. Don't like the new rules? Don't fly. Those that fly alot have no problem with this... and to the previous poster... yes, better safe than sorry. For sure.

OZ10

You're right - protocol was used. And the protocol has opened this country up for lawsuits. I agree that security measures must be in place. I also agree that there is profiling going on. Every singe time I fly, we're talking over 40 times, since 9/11, I have been patted down. Every single time. I'm a Hindu from India. Now, I accept that I will be subjected to this because of how I look. We aren't dealing with the brightest bulbs in the screeners and they are just following - as you put it - protocol. So to be singled out and patted down time after time, with my kids rolling their eyes and tapping there toes; with my husband, who has only been subjected to this once and is white, looking on with concern, cellphone in hand. I thank these people for keeping us safe, give them a smile and a word of encouragement, and move on. It is the law of the land and I am a law-abiding citizen.

But I guarantee that the minute I am put in a holding cell for being brown, I'm calling my lawyer. I make sure the firm's name is in my cell phone and written down in a piece of paper in my pocket, in case they take my cell phone. When I'm flying with my family, my husband is prepared to make that call for me should it ever be needed. TSA will be sued for harassment, assault, and a violation of Civil Rights. Last I checked, it was still legal to be brown in the USA. You see, when people, like the three in the article, are subjected to this type of violation, the government stops being law abiding. And they have pay for that crime.

That's MY protocol when I fly.

OZ10,

I'm glad I don't go to your gym. Being violated like that and thinking it's no big deal is why it's a big deal.

They were not questioned and released.

A saying goes somethng like this .They came for the black man, I did not help as I was not black. They came for the red man. I did not help as I was not red. They came for the jews. I did not help as I was not jewish. They came for me and there was no one else to stand up for me".

Be careful America, be very careful of what you are giving up. When the terrorists attack again, you will not know until it is over. This was just a big hateful publicity stunt to make Homeland Security look necessary.

slightlyold

I agree with your concerns; but have a more pragmatic outlook towards HSA. We did have an attack of a tremendous magnitude on our soil. There will be consequences for that simple reason; and yes, I have lost a small amount of personal freedom because of it. I am willing to give that up: what I'm not willing to do is to absolve the US government from their legal obligations.

I can't go after them profiling me because hey, my husband got checked once too. So did my daughter when she was only thirteen years old. But this article speaks volumes about what happens when people overreact. The two Indians, okay, they were in the bathroom too long and we did have the underwear bomber - ok. Check them out again if you must. And yes, expect to be sued by them when you overreach and conduct a cavity search on them. But to strip search the person sitting next to them? What for? Other than the fact that she looked Middle Eastern... that is a Civil Rights violation. I hope her family lives long and prospers on our tax dollars; because that was a gigantic FUBAR on the part of TSA.

euterpe-1641499

You sound intelligent enough to realize that if somebody got up several times, not once but several, and are of middle eaastern decent that it will look suspicious in these times. Especially with it being the 10 yr anniversary of 9-11 and the first anniversary after killing of Osama. Law enforcement was on edge and I am sure that there were meetings with every flight crew to be a little more observant than normal. There are "Americans" who have gone over and trained or trained here on how to enact terror so no, we can't be too careful. I feel for you and what you have to deal with when flying, I really do. But I care about this country and what could happen again. Unfortunately, it won't be large scale anymore but many random smaller incidents as those that happen globally on daily basis. I live in Dallas and there was a threat that the FBI got a kid who went as far as to drive a truck that he thought was filled with explosives under a dallas skyscraper with every intent on blowing it up. He was "American" supposedly. I am not naive enough to thinnk this won't happen again so I am not naive enough to think that we must be over cautious especially on a day like 9-11.

euerpe..Yes, we had a horrific incident on American soil ten years ago. But, Homeland Security really hasn't made our soil safer, but it has cost us a lot of tax payer money. TSA can strip search every one who flies and they still will not stop a terrorist attack. (And how many lives have been lost because of that attack that has nothing to do with ground zero. I sure you realize we attacked the wrong country and the wrong people.)

I am concerned that a 13 year old was stopped, and you should be to, but you give the impression of "oh, well". Yes, we had an underwear bomber, but TSA didn't get him. If not for his father, we would have oblivious to the situation. And I stand on my belief that TSA has not made our land any safer at the airport.

I hope the three also live well on our tax money as well. But, the cops involved should be released from duty forever. We do not need that low of a mentality enforcing our laws (?).

This woman did nothing wrong, she didn't get up and go with these men, she stayed in her seat. It would have taken less than a minute for the police to check the passenger logs and find out she had been assigned that seat by the airline and was not travelling with these men. But then that would have required a little common sense and some real police work, and by God we can't have that now could we?

And did any of the cabin crew bother to ASK these people if they needed assistance while they were "taking so long" or even shortly after they got back to their seats? Isn't that supposed to be standard procedure?

I'm getting very tired of all the cowards posting on here. Do any of you remember they saying, "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!"? For you it seems the new mantra is "Give Me Security or I'll @!$%# My pants!" You are not deserving of the FREEDOM that so many have fought and died for you to have.

All those that willingly served in WWII must be rolling in their graves at the simpering, yellow bellied pieces of @!$%# that permeate these vines.

OZ10, you realize that both of the men are actually Indian, right? Who is of Middle Eastern heritage? The woman who had the misfortune to be sitting in the same row, so she must be strip searched too.

As for those saying racism had nothing to do with this, how about the fact that these dummies can't tell the difference between an Asian and an Arab?

OZ10

It's a sad day indeed when you and I both agree that Americans must now put up with violations of their civil liberties. We don't live in the America of our youth any longer. I guess we are both saying that the terrorists won.

Bam! You said it Sillyson. Storming the plane? Strip searched? Really? I wonder what some of these bloggers would be saying if it was their wife, mother, or daughter that was strip searched. I have two daughters and if this happened to them I would be outraged! I spent 6 years in the Army and would have no problem taking out a real terrorist, but we can't allow the erosion of our basic freedoms because people are scared.

slightlyold

My daughter flew with her friend and her friend's family. If I had been there, I would've definitely objected. However, she suffered as much as I when I'm patted down: it was quick and obligatory; as it has been with me. She's seen me go through it often enough to not be freaked out by it too much.

I'm still up in the air about how effective TSA and HSA in general have been. I honestly don't feel that the little patting down I receive actually does anything. I do think that that little pat down serves as a deterrent to 99% of the tiny minority that would cause our country more harm. So, me going through it is a sacrifice I make for my country.

BGSlade

Thank you for your service.

I don't know what many of these cowards are thinking. Anyone who stands up on a plane these days and tries to hijack it, or attacks another passenger or flight attendant with any kind of weapon, or tries to detonate anything (shoe bomber), is going to be needing hospitalization or put in a body bag when the plane lands. And that is as it should be.

sillyson

I admire your passion and yes, admit to subjugation out of fear and to your claim that WWII vets are indeed rolling in their graves. But they never faced what we did, did they? They never had to live through a time when our own industry was used to attack us, did they? It changes things: it has changed us. Forever.

OZ

You now live in the country that you created. I am sure you feel much safer now since you have stripped everyone else of their civil liberties and gave yours to your protectors. After all. I am sure from your comments that feeling safe in your little hole is much better for you than freedom, liberty, and self determination.

euterpe-1641499

Actually I would say that yes, they did face what we have had to face, including our own industries attacking us. Many WWII vets were the same people that fought (physically sometimes) for basic employment rights such as paid overtime, days off to spend with family, and laws that required children to go to school instead of going to work in sweatshops or mines at 8 years old.

They faced a military enemy that was determined to subjugate the world and was working hard on new technologies such as atomic weapons to be delivered with long range missiles. They faced TOTAL war such as those living now have never experienced and hopefully never will.

Fear is what terrorism is all about, and to that end, the terrorists have won, by making so many so afraid that they are willing to give up their freedom for the illusion of security.

so how many people actually read her blog?

Nowajosy, your right, someone is a moron....after reading your post I know who it is. Taking your clothes off at the gym is the same as being ordered to strip? Really? Using that rationale, I guess you'd say a rape victim shouldn't be traumatized because I'm sure she's had sex with a man before.

"OZ10, you realize that both of the men are actually Indian, right? Who is of Middle Eastern heritage? The woman who had the misfortune to be sitting in the same row, so she must be strip searched too.

As for those saying racism had nothing to do with this, how about the fact that these dummies can't tell the difference between an Asian and an Arab?"

Not commenting on the story, but India, in Asia, borders Pakistan... in Asia. I don't think anyone could look at every single Indian / Pakistani on the planet and correctly attribute which country he or she is from every time - especially if dressed in western clothing. Do you think all arabs (many of which are also Asian) look the same?

Commenting on the story - I would have laughed about this with everyone I know had it happened to me, and the (time only) inconvenience would have been worth it for the story to laugh about, provided the duration of the ordeal was only a couple hours or less. However, being white, I have only had a few negative racial experiences. Perhaps if I was a minority, my life experiences would make me feel otherwise. I'd like to say I would have been treated the same had I behaved the same, but am doubting that is true. I would do an experiment the next time I flew on 9/11 for curiosity, but wouldn't want to hold up the bathroom for others, or cause a delay for others upon landing.

oh yes in the gym ...i forgot how in high school we showered and then the PE teacher would line us up and put on her gloves and and manually explore our body cavities !! REALLY? no big deal? just an inconvenience? get real people and wake up to what we are giving up ....

Suing people, now that's American!

Suing people, now that's American!

It is and if you don't like it then go back to your country!!

I definitely agree this is worthy of a law suit.

Seriously, you people writing about violation of rights. It was a violation of rights of all who lost their lives on 9/11. Because of this attack we will always remain on alert and suspicious of anyone acting out of the ordinary. And as far as racial profiling- who flew the planes on 9/11? And walked right through security at that time? Anyone of color, red/black/white, acting suspiciously on my plane better be pulled off and checked thoroughly. Its the price we all pay for 9/11. Get used to it.

Beverly, I agree with you 100%. These people want their cake and eat it too. They'd be the first ones (and probably were 9/11/01) bitching about Bush not doing enough to stop it from happening. And reporting suspicious activity on a plane has actually stopped a few terror attacks. You people forget that. Sit in your seat like sheep and do nothing. I'm not.

Why TSA or the Government? These people were in the air and cleared by TSA. The airline is who did this to her. The FBI has to respond if they are called.

I do agree that it seems like excess precautions were taken in this case. However, sueing everyone you can think of will do no good. If we scare TSA, police, etc. into believing they will be sued regularly, will they really do their job any better? Or will they start letting suspicious people go by because they fear they will suffer consequences? I know that many people were acting out of fear on the anniversary of 9/11/01, but realistically can you blame them? Do you remember how you felt that day? I feel like many people have forgotten their feelings that day and how horrible that day really was. It's very easy now that emotions have calmed down over 10 years to place blame on presidents, military, police, TSA, etc. Think back to 9/12/01, would you have felt the same way?

Mom- maybe they will learn to use some tact and common sense rather then shoving guns and strip searching. The passengers had already been screened and checked for weapons on the way it, the flight was on the ground, and there was no reason to believe that they were dangerous. At the very least they should have been smarter about the whole thing once the "suspicious" passengers were off the plane.

I can see that they got nervous, but it should have been quickly evident that nothing was going on, unless you just gotta have some fun and wield your power. Strip searching that housewife after they knew she had nothing is a voilation and a sexual one I don't care who did it to her. Not to mention they have the eqipment to look inside her body without anybody touching her. Anybody strippsearched with nothing on them should be awarded a big bundle of $$$$ for being sexually moslested by law enforcement. Come on they don't need to that in the modern age and they already knew they had a nobody who was innocent, they just didn't like her looks.

@Beverly

Seriously, you people writing about violation of rights. It was a violation of rights of all who lost their lives on 9/11. Because of this attack we will always remain on alert and suspicious of anyone acting out of the ordinary. And as far as racial profiling- who flew the planes on 9/11? And walked right through security at that time? Anyone of color, red/black/white, acting suspiciously on my plane better be pulled off and checked thoroughly. Its the price we all pay for 9/11. Get used to it.

No, I don't HAVE to get used to it. Last I checked, I'm a Natural Born Citizen, this is MY country along with all other Citizen's. I did not ASK nor do I WANT to be determined a TERRORIST until proven otherwise.

My children will NOT grow up in a state of FEAR because of the way a government of COWARDS treats them.

When they come for you - and they WILL - I'll be happy to remind you of your words - "Get used to it."

Digitalnoise

I am proud to call you a fellow American. The trolls and such on here are amazing with their follow the group and jump off the cliff attitudes.I don't understand why there are not more like you responding to these freaks..... I can imagine this in another place and time and these same people saying " It is my country right or wrong, if you don't think the Gestapo is protecting us get out of the country." " "The Gestapo and SS are only doing their job, they were called and they are doing what they should under our new laws to protect us"

Racism is a funny thing. Funny odd, not funny amusing. Back in the mid 60's in a southern town that shall remain nameless, I spent my summers, six days a week, sometimes twelve hours a day, lifeguarding and teaching swimming at a municipal pool. One day after I had had to fish some kid out, the pool manager came to me shaking his head. When I asked him what was wrong, he told me that some woman had called and demanded that this entire olympic sized pool be drained, scrubbed with disinfectant, and refilled because she saw that n***** lifeguard jump into it to save that kid.

I'm American Indian LOL. I asked him what he said to her, and he replied that he told her that if she wanted it drained, scrubbed, and refilled she needed to get her cleaning crew and her checkbook, because she was doing &/or paying for all of it and that if he ever interfered with one of his lifeguards he would have her arrested. I offered to resign, and he refused. He said he ran the pool and that although he had at that time never had a black person apply, if he should have one apply who was qualified and he felt could do the job he would hire them and anyone who didn't like it could stay home.

If memory serves, that day I was far, FAR more "brown" than this woman is, and I know my hair was darker. Wonder what would happen if I looked that way now rather than having snow white hair and I needed to fly?

Law suits? Rights? What would the comments be if the plane had been blown up? What would you comment if a bomb had been found?.... grow up beanheads.

Grant Y;

Good luck with that. Government agencies have immunity in cases of national security. You can't sue them.

Now, had these people been jihadi martyrs and blown up the plane, all you people would have been calling for their heads for NOT doing their jobs. You can't have it both ways, you either inadvertently inconvenience a few or you watch as a few kill hundreds or thousands. You act as this is something new. Talk to those who were in the country first, we can tell you it has been far worse in the past. They didn't shoot or hang them simply because they were who they are. Suck it up whiners.

Don't do things to draw attention to yourself and you won't have these problems. I'm at a lose as to why the woman was taken in with the two bath room bandits, but hey, better safe than sorry, right?

I'm OK with racial profiling If it keep America safe. A miner inconviences of three people is a small price to pay for the safety of the entire crew and passengers also the people down below if it crashes.

By the time the police got around to conducting searches they should have been able to do some basic background investigation to determine that, except for the seating, this woman didn't know these 2 guys. There isn't anything in the story that says the men knew each other but, it is possible that they did.

Additionally, a basic pat-down search would have sufficed to ensure they weren't carrying explosives or weapons and, THAT would have been somewhat redundant as all of the passengers had gone through metal detectors before boarding. I would NOT want to be the attorney who had to justify the need for a strip search in these circumstances.