Marshals: Innocent People Placed On ‘Watch List’ To Meet Quota
You could be on a secret government database or watch list for simply taking a picture on an airplane. Some federal air marshals say they’re reporting your actions to meet a quota, even though some top officials deny it.
The air marshals, whose identities are being concealed, told 7NEWS that they’re required to submit at least one report a month. If they don’t, there’s no raise, no bonus, no awards and no special assignments.
“Innocent passengers are being entered into an international intelligence database as suspicious persons, acting in a suspicious manner on an aircraft … and they did nothing wrong,” said one federal air marshal.
“To meet this quota, to get their raises, do you think federal air marshals in Las Vegas are making some of this stuff up?” Kovaleski asked.
“I know they are. It’s a joke,” an air marshal replied.
“Have marshals in the Las Vegas office, I don’t want to say fabricated, but ‘created’ reports?” Kovaleski asked.
“Creative writing — stretching a long ways the truth, yes,” an air marshal replied.
Do these people think this is protecting America? Where are the lawyers who can sue over this? Sounds like there is money to be made over defamation of character. I’m reminded of the early days after 9-11 when they were frisking 90-year-old lilly-white grandmas because they might be terrorists.
I would post what I think but I’d probably end up on a “Watch List” somewhere.
This has long since been political BS. Ted Kennedy was on this list once. What a joke that was. Corruption is everywhere.
Here’s the old link to the Kennedy story.
Curiously there is an easy way top get to the botom of this. Find some people who were wrongly put on the list. Track down the person who typed their name into the database. Bring them before Congress and ask them why the person was put on the list. The answer, “I dunno” would not be acceptable.
“I’m reminded of the early days after 9-11 when they were frisking 90-year-old lilly-white grandmas because they might be terrorists.”
This was because the ACLU and the ultra liberals wouldn’t let the TSA profile the likely terrorist. As a result they had to search everyone just to appear to be non bias. While profiling might not be politically correct, it is effective by letting workers concentrate less on granny and more on 20-30 year old arab males.
#3 is correct. The border patrol in Arizona weren’t allowed to target a car filled with male hispanics runing at high speed from the border because it was racial profiling.
But, that has nothing to do with this mess, if it’s true. If this true those responsable should be cleaning out houses as their next assignment.
Kennedy may have made the list because of all the IRA meetings he attended in Boston under the guise of *supporting a political solution* to the Northern Ireland reign of terror.
John, lately when Administration officials have gone before Congress, they have refused to answer questions. Not that they don’t know, or don’t remember, but have just flat out refused to answer. And as long as Congress is controlled by the Republicans, it will continue that way.
The best way to force the Administration to answer is to stop funding the NSA and Pentagon until they do answer fully and under oath. Congress should not be authorizing spending if they do not know where the money is being spent.
#3 & 4, bull !!!
Just another urban legend that the border patrol couldn’t chase a car because it might be profiling.
Mr. H. Fusion is a communist. Stop funding the Pentagon and NSA, that sounds like a brilliant idea. We should sacrafice basically all security to get to the bottom of this…for some reason it just doesnt sound worth it. What does H. stand for?
Stop funding the Pentagon and NSA, that sounds like a brilliant idea. We should sacrafice basically all security to get to the bottom of this…for some reason it just doesnt sound worth it.
Willard, if that is your name, are you a plant? After all, calling someone a communist, WOW !!!Do you know where your Federal dollars are being spent? Are they being spent as Congress intended?
Let’s see, we have the Pentagon spying on American peace groups. Is that a good use of money?
We have the NSA illegally wiretapping phones. IS that a good use of money?
We have Federal Marshals inventing phony lists of terror suspects. Is that a good use of money?
We have the Federal government sending munitions to Israel so they might continue killing Lebanese and make a few more enemies. Is that a good use of money?
We have the military giving away multi-billion dollar no bid contracts to do work the Military is capable of doing it self. Is that a good use of money?
And on and on and on…
So tell us, do you have any suggestions to make the Administration more responsive?
Six years of whiny impotent republicans and they still try to blame democrats for everything.
The border patrol in Arizona weren’t allowed to target a car filled with male hispanics runing at high speed from the border because it was racial profiling.
From snopes.com? I live and report in S. Az, and if you can provide a location and date, I can verify.
Well….?
J/P=?
Why the hell do they torment the innocent people. Can’t they go for the genuine terrorists.
The problem is that the terrorists are way smarter than people, and are really, really hard to catch. The bad guys already know phones get tapped, transactions get traced, and agents are constantly trying to catch them. The authorities use these tactics to keep us in line while appearing to be doing something useful.
8 is totally right.
The Republicans have been in control of the house senate, executive and judicial branch for the past 6 years.
If you have problems with the way the war on terror is going then it’s kinda hard to make a case against the democrats.
Aparently a bunch of you need a few civics lessons so you will actually understand how our government works.
You guys are right: The left is irrelevant in modern American politics. I’m glad we can agree on something.
Back on subject, let’s not forget that for a period of time post 9-11 the majority of Americans thought it was a good idea to move airport security from private hands to government hands. We shouldn’t be suprised with what we’re getting now.
What will happen after the next terrorist attack? All airlines are run by the government, in total?
@Mr. H Fusion
To answer your question it is my real name. If I were a plant I would prefer a roto dendrum, just because I like saying that name.To answer your other questions, probably not. But we would still be better off than not funding anything at all….lets see how many terrorist can we catch with no funding at all?
You also never answered any of my questions…
What does the H stand for?
Willard, sometimes the best way to deal with people like that are just to ignore them and let them live in “peace for everyone, all the time, can’t we just get along” little demented world.
I LOVE when neocons whine.
Re: Willard Pate. Call someone a name. Get called on it then zingo! out comes the self-rightous hat. You could have asked the same question with out the “Mr. H. Fusion is a communist.” crap. YOU started it.
I do not mind being called names…please, fire at will. (I hope everyone got that pun.)
P.S. Turn off the Alarm.
Willard, I don’t think you get the idea here. ALL Government agencies are responsible to the people. In case you didn’t know, that is us. Well, I don’t know about you, but Americans. Our Congress is charged with raising the money to pay for these agencies. With that comes the responsibility to report to Congress accurately and responsibly where the money is being spent. If they lied to Congress or misled Congress then they have no one but themselves to blame if the funding is cut. DON”T blame those charged with overseeing the raising of the money, blame those in charge of spending the money for screwing up.
The H has no meaning. It came about as a joke in a previous topic a long time ago. The same as Fusion. But at least with the handle Fusion I can say I got it together.
Now Pate, another name for the top of the head. Usually used in reference to the bald spot. So I’m wondering what else you are missing? Or, Pate could refer to a paste like food or condiment usually made from liver. You wouldn’t be a pasty bald guy would you?
http://www.dvorak.org/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif
Keep the peace bro.
#9….Arizona Republic…..2001 I believe.
did anyone go to the source for this article and then read the 4 related stories?
I don’t think much of having air marshalls. But what I basically read was several agents in Denver, contacting the media, then telling their stories to the *investigator*, but with their voices distorted and faces obscured, because they didn’t want to lose their jobs. Of course in the very next sentance they tell the reportr that most of the agents want out of the job and are actively searching for new jobs. And he also said that he would take a pay cut to get out of the job, even as much as 50,000.00 dollars a year cut. Now, how damn much are these yahoo’s getting paid?
There are four related stories, and they are all the same, a vendetta(rightly or wrongly) to *get* the manager of the Denver office and apparently now the Las Vagas office. A Senator got involved and nothing came of it so far.
The whole thing is starting to smell of ratings sweeps and employees out to get their bosses.
I think anyone would hold back on an opinion of if this stuff is true or not. It’s so far unproven, and no proof(not even a copy of the infamous memo.
I would separate the air marshals and the TSA. Draw back the TSA functions considerably, and privatize it. They don’t need to be checking on every passenger in that detail. They probably don’t even need to check ID.
#17
Never! MY ego demands it!