I don't believe this for a second!
From FoxNews.com:
"A government official said on Wednesday that (Cat) Stevens, who changed his name to Yusuf Islam, had recently been placed on the list after U.S. authorities received information indicating associations with potential terrorists, a government official said Wednesday.
The flight was diverted to Bangor, Maine, on Tuesday afternoon after U.S. officials who checked the passenger list learned the singer was aboard. Federal agents met United Airlines Flight 919 and interviewed Islam.
The government official, who spoke only on condition of anonymity, said Islam was placed on a watch list after multiple intelligence sources in recent weeks indicated the peace activist may have associations with potential terrorists. "
Why does the official speak anonymously? Is he/she some bigwig in the Bush cabinet? I'm finding it very hard to fathom that Cat Stevens, now Yusuf Islam, a peace activist, has any ties to possible terrorists. Unless, of course, just practicing the Islamic faith is considered a "tie".
The article goes on to state that Islam contributed to known terrorist groups, a charge that his brother and business manager David Gordon denies. Gordon said in a telephone interview that he could "guarantee that (his brother) does not associate with possible terrorists."
Islam was just in New York this past May, so between then and now we're to believe that he has "possible" terrorist ties? During his May visit, he was promoting a DVD set of performances during his MajiKat tour in 1976. He donated half the royalties to the victims and families of September 11th. Yeah, and Homeland Security wants us to believe he has terrorist ties...I don't think so.
He's condemned the September 11th terrorist attacks and the Beslan School hostage situation from earlier this month that left more than 300 dead, nearly half of them children.
"In a statement on his Web site, he wrote, 'Crimes against innocent bystanders taken hostage in any circumstance have no foundation whatsoever in the life of Islam and the model example of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.'"
Islam's now been deported back to Great Britian, and presumably barred from entering the US.
What's next? Barring Americans of Middle Eastern descent from flying because of their names, the way they look or what meal they order on the flight? Or the example I cited on the previous post regarding myself? While Homeland Security is looking for "possible terrorists", who is getting through undetected? I shudder to think that someone with criminal motives is getting on a plane with intentions of hijacking it into a tall building somewhere.
Note to the Department of Homeland Security: there are terrorists right here on our own shores...or have you quite forgotten about Tim McVeigh and the bombing of the Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995? While you are looking at Middle Easterners, what's stopping some home grown terrorist from doing the same thing? I'll bet they aren't any watch list.
And, I don't think this will happen, but if someone from the Department of Homeland Security would email me and explain how the watch list works, I'd appreciate it.
Meanwhile, I don't believe Cat Stevens is a terrorist, okay?
--MorelaterZ--
Note: The above post is the author's opinion only.This article from FoxNews.com is the basis for the quotations in this post, and their copyright applies. So, no nasty comments, all right? I reserve the right to edit or delete any comment posting that I deem offensive. There is no rule saying you have to agree with what I say in this post or any other on this blog. Thank you.
"A government official said on Wednesday that (Cat) Stevens, who changed his name to Yusuf Islam, had recently been placed on the list after U.S. authorities received information indicating associations with potential terrorists, a government official said Wednesday.
The flight was diverted to Bangor, Maine, on Tuesday afternoon after U.S. officials who checked the passenger list learned the singer was aboard. Federal agents met United Airlines Flight 919 and interviewed Islam.
The government official, who spoke only on condition of anonymity, said Islam was placed on a watch list after multiple intelligence sources in recent weeks indicated the peace activist may have associations with potential terrorists. "
Why does the official speak anonymously? Is he/she some bigwig in the Bush cabinet? I'm finding it very hard to fathom that Cat Stevens, now Yusuf Islam, a peace activist, has any ties to possible terrorists. Unless, of course, just practicing the Islamic faith is considered a "tie".
The article goes on to state that Islam contributed to known terrorist groups, a charge that his brother and business manager David Gordon denies. Gordon said in a telephone interview that he could "guarantee that (his brother) does not associate with possible terrorists."
Islam was just in New York this past May, so between then and now we're to believe that he has "possible" terrorist ties? During his May visit, he was promoting a DVD set of performances during his MajiKat tour in 1976. He donated half the royalties to the victims and families of September 11th. Yeah, and Homeland Security wants us to believe he has terrorist ties...I don't think so.
He's condemned the September 11th terrorist attacks and the Beslan School hostage situation from earlier this month that left more than 300 dead, nearly half of them children.
"In a statement on his Web site, he wrote, 'Crimes against innocent bystanders taken hostage in any circumstance have no foundation whatsoever in the life of Islam and the model example of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.'"
Islam's now been deported back to Great Britian, and presumably barred from entering the US.
What's next? Barring Americans of Middle Eastern descent from flying because of their names, the way they look or what meal they order on the flight? Or the example I cited on the previous post regarding myself? While Homeland Security is looking for "possible terrorists", who is getting through undetected? I shudder to think that someone with criminal motives is getting on a plane with intentions of hijacking it into a tall building somewhere.
Note to the Department of Homeland Security: there are terrorists right here on our own shores...or have you quite forgotten about Tim McVeigh and the bombing of the Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995? While you are looking at Middle Easterners, what's stopping some home grown terrorist from doing the same thing? I'll bet they aren't any watch list.
And, I don't think this will happen, but if someone from the Department of Homeland Security would email me and explain how the watch list works, I'd appreciate it.
Meanwhile, I don't believe Cat Stevens is a terrorist, okay?
--MorelaterZ--
Note: The above post is the author's opinion only.This article from FoxNews.com is the basis for the quotations in this post, and their copyright applies. So, no nasty comments, all right? I reserve the right to edit or delete any comment posting that I deem offensive. There is no rule saying you have to agree with what I say in this post or any other on this blog. Thank you.
My name is Stef, and I approve this post. Posted @ 7:20 PM
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