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Readers Write: Who's Watching the Watch List?

By Laura Barcella, AlterNet. Posted July 11, 2005.


John Graham's recent article, about being on the government's 'no fly' list, sparked a number of insightful comments from alarmed AlterNet readers.

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John Graham's incisive AlterNet story of July 7, Who's Watching the Watch List? provoked a rash of intelligent reader responses.

The piece is Graham's personal account of being delayed from boarding a plane because his name was found on the government's Transportation Security Authority (TSA) "No fly" list -- of people "who posed, or were suspected of posing, a threat to civil aviation or national security."

With frustration and disillusionment, Graham -- who must fly frequently for his work as president of the nonprofit Giraffe Heroes Project -- explores the possible explanations for his inclusion on the seemingly arbitrary list... and comes up empty-handed.

A former US diplomat, Graham once worked for the government -- but that was back in 1980. "With no real information to go on, I'm left to guess why this is happening to me," he writes. "The easiest and most comforting guess is that it's all a mistake...But how? I'm a 63-year-old guy with an Anglo-Saxon name."

After playing a few infuriating rounds of trying-to-reach-a-human on TSA's automated help line, Graham is instructed to send in selected proofs of his identity. Then he's forced to wait it out for 45 days while the group investigates the reasons for his flight delays.

Our readers had a lot of thoughts on Graham's story, ranging from rage to paranoia to commiseration. A few folks commented on having traveled down the same "No fly"-sparked road -- such as Jessie BC, who writes, "I'm on the list too. Right now, I'm only Orange, so I can still fly. But in the years since September 11, I've watched my security status increase. Last time I flew, TSA informed me I'm now Orange, but of course wouldn't tell me why and I have no clue. I have to go through all kinds of crap to get on a plane now, including (because my front-clasp bra hooks set off the wand) having a TSA agent reach up under my shirt."

Reader Erinachara also reports embarrassing experiences with the TSA: "I've waited the 45 days, and here's what TSA had to say in a non-personalized form letter: 'We are pleased to report that upon further review of the information you have presented, we have determined that the delays you have encountered do not result from being mistaken for an individul on a TSA watch list.'

HUH? Does that then indicate that I experienced delays because I am actually on the list?"

Erinachara continues, "Even before I was forced to give up curb and kiosk check-in, I experienced being publicly humiliated by TSA agents at the security station, and knew that resistance, or response of any kind, placed me in jeopardy of arrest... This is NOT the USA where I grew up and was educated. Our government has begun to accelerate down the road to a fascist state."

A reader named Cyclone concurs with the notion of fascism: "Too late to wake up now, the party's over. I hope all the dumb asses that voted for the fascist party are happy with what they have created. Everyone that posts on this website is watched, I can guarantee that."

Hmm... OK. A little paranoia never killed anyone, right? A few freaked-out readers don't seem to think so -- such as Royrogers, who refers to yesterday's bombings in London: "In...Hitler's time [people said] 'they came for the Jews, but I wasn't a Jew, so I said nothing...' That's what's going on in the US RIGHT NOW!!!!! Do you not think it is possible that this attack in London is the event the powers that be have been waiting for to clamp down even more?"


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Laura Barcella is AlterNet's front page editor.

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Thank you!
Posted by: Lindie on Jul 11, 2005 7:08 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Ms. Barcella,

Thank you for distilling issues and once again calling attention to the problem - we need to keep the TSA lists in the public eye!

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Thank you!
Posted by: Lindie on Jul 11, 2005 7:18 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Ms. Barcella,

Thank you for distilling issues and once again calling attention to the problem - we need to keep the TSA lists in the public eye!

Your link to the ACLU's "Safe and Free" initiative doesn't work - here's the correct one: keep America Safe and Free


Here's their suggested "Safe and Free" toolkit for personal action -
Safe and Free Toolkit


Lindie

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maryeliz
Posted by: maryelizmc on Jul 11, 2005 7:22 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I echo the words of the previous commenter. Thank you and I intend to spread the word about this excellent "reality TSA" 2005 style article of great informaiton. It is not fun and games, it is madness and hell, we must speak out now not tomorrow.

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nazi America unfolds
Posted by: zorro on Jul 11, 2005 9:10 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There is no real security measures being taken because the threat is the US government--they allowed 911 to happen, and probably even orchestrated it with Osama. The watch list is nothing but a method to tally the dissenting voices in America--the real patriots using their bill of rights. The fascist government's plan is to sit back and wait--and let its enemies (american people--not terrorists) come to them, and then they will strike...we are seeing a palace coup for a new fascist order coming to a head, a coup that was begun ages ago--during the early eighties and before. And the Bush family has everything to do with it. A plan that was concieved after world war two--that is when democracy was destroyed. The American government assimilated dark wizards of Nazi Germany and we became Nazi America--the Bush family has strong ties to Nazis--these are facts, not paranoia. The truth will always be labelled paranoia and conspiracy by the conspiritors.

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» RE: nazi America unfolds Posted by: acaryatid
paranoia is your friend
Posted by: iremember on Jul 11, 2005 11:15 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Re: the guy who said he can guarantee that the gov't watches those of us on this site, and the somewhat patronizing comment that responded to his "paranoia". One should always be aware that. just because you are paranoid, it does not necessarily or logically follow that no one is out to get you.

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Old news
Posted by: Crazy H on Jul 11, 2005 1:28 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
In the fifties, the communist threat was so great that we had to suspend due process to combat it.

In the sixties, the threat posed by war protesters required that the government spy on its citizens without a warrant.

In the seventies and eighties it was drugs, the ninties it was pornography on the internet, which quickly morphed into kiddie porn and the double-oughts brought us terrorists. All required that due process be thrown out the window in favor of 'safety.'

When such disparate problems all have the same solution - I start to wonder whether they're actually trying to solve the problem(s) - or whether the point is to get the 'solution' in place regardless.

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"
- Benjamin Franklin (who enjoyed sex & drugs to the fullest extent possible in his time...)

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» RE: Old news Posted by: ConnecttheDots
Rep re sen ting
Posted by: Meremark on Jul 11, 2005 8:28 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
My child graduated from college in May and I refused to fly across the country to attend and we are very strained about it in our relationship. Our love abides. It is unfair that poison politics, which cannot be ignored or avoided, overwhelms young people's opportunities and energies.

I emailed the "Who's Watching ..." article -- it WAS a sensation on Alternet -- but I haven't heard if it helped explain why I refused to be at the graduation.

BOYCOTT Air Travel.

It cannot be fixed. It must be broken down and rebuilt.

As long as we put money into fascists oppressing us, guess what? -- they will oppress us. I would too if I made a profit at it. You would, too, probably.

INDIVIDUALS must break away and let it break. BOYCOTT Corporate Airlines.

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Flying, like driving, is a privilege
Posted by: FlapJackSeven on Jul 17, 2005 5:34 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Not a right.

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