Student detained at airport for carrying carrying Arabic-language flashcards

[proud2BlibKansan]

A Pomona College student who was found carrying Arabic-language flashcards while flying to California is suing two federal agencies for detaining him and allegedly questioning him abusively.

Nicholas George, 22, a senior physics major considering a career as a U.S. diplomat in the Middle East, is suing the Transportation Security Administration, the FBI and Philadelphia police for jailing him after his flashcards were found during screening at Philadelphia International Airport in August.

His lawsuit was filed in federal court this week.

George says he was treated like a terrorist and interrogated for nearly five hours at the airport.

more . . . http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-student-cards-lawsuit,0,6982897.story

[Xipe Totec]

1. How is that sefey protecty thingie working out? n/t

[Chipper Chat]

2. "You BOTcha!"

[sarge43]

3. And flash cards can be used as weapons just how?

:eyes::puke::banghead:

[Stevenmarc]

15. Haven't you had a paper cut.... they really hurt

[sarge43]

17. Right. I bet Mr George had lemon juice to pour on the cut, too.

One more time :banghead:

[vegiegals]

4. They handcuffed him at the airport. whow.....

.....George says he was treated like a terrorist and interrogated for nearly five hours at the airport.

"They told me to put my hands behind my back, cuffed me and started leading me through the airport -- leading me through the terminal past hundreds of people in handcuffs like I had been caught with a bomb or something," George told KTLA.

George claims the experience violated his rights to free speech and protection against unreasonable search and seizure.

He says he planned to brush up on his Arabic vocabulary during the flight from Philly to California so he carried about 200 Arabic-English flashcards on the plane.

Three of the flashcards spelled the words "terrorist," "bomb" and "explosion" in Arabic.

George claims he tried to explain himself to TSA officers.

"I explained that the reason I had these words is because I've been trying to translate Arab news media and when you're looking at news in the Middle East, words like that tend to come up."

George says he cooperated with TSA officers, but was taken to an airport jail and questioned further -- still in handcuffs.

"At one point they asked me if I understood why I was being held and I said, 'honestly no, not really.' And they said well you're a f-ing idiot," George said.

[tanyev]

5. Good for him for suing. That is absolutely moronic.

[Echo In Light]

14. +1

[Odin2005]

6. The stupid, it BURNS!!!

Is the TSA run by morons? :banghead:

[wolfgangmo]

18. Rhetorical question?

Right?

[Swamp Rat]

7. Philadelphia International Airport is the WORST I have ever been to regarding poor treatment of

passengers. And that's saying something, especially after I could have been killed by terrorists when ETA bombed the new parking garage by Terminal 4 in Madrid-Barajas

[CBR]

8. Philly airport is the worst. Unfortunately it is my home airport. Ugh. nt

[Swamp Rat]

9. You have my sympathy.

I'd rather drive to Spain then go to that airport again.

Seriously, if I lived in Philly, I'd rent a car and drive to another airport every time.

I'd love to visit your city, but it will have to be by car, and it's a long drive from New Orleans.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Never been to Philly airport but I thought DC was horrible

The TSA agents had an elderly woman in tears. One of the worst things I have ever seen.

[ck4829]

10. K&R

[shadowknows69]

12. "Home of the Brave"

[MineralMan]

13. The USAF sent me to a total immersion Russian language

program for almost a year. So, I was flying home after the course was over and passed through JFK airport, where I found a copy of Pravda in the newsstand there. In Russian, of course. So, I bought a copy just to see whether I could actually read a Russian language newspaper. I was surprised to find that the school actually had taught me well enough to make my way through it without too much difficulty.

So, I'm sitting there in my USAF blues with the one stripe on the sleeve, in JFK, reading my copy of Pravda, when up pops a 2nd Lt, who starts reading me the riot act for reading a "Commie" newspaper while in uniform.

Well, I'm uncovered, so a salute isn't in order, but I stood up and came to a loose attention posture. I explained what I was doing, and why, and that I had been encouraged to continue to keep the Russian the USAF had taught me at great expense up to date by reading as many publications in Russian as I could find. I then volunteered that the weather in Moscow appeared to be quite pleasant and that the Kiev Tractor football team had soundly defeated the Tblisi Heavy Equipment team in a highly competitive game.

The gold bar Lt. turned red and stalked off. I believe I used the word "Sir" about 20 times during my conversation with him.

Sometimes, people are morons.

[sarge43]

19. Butter Bar and moron. You're repeating yourself, Airman.

It's quite possible Lt Moran is now in charge of security at the Phil plane patch.

[KittyWampus]

16. Note to self- Leave flashcards of words "terrorist, bomb and explosion" home when flying!

Do bring flashcards of words like "born-again, puppy, apple pie".

[wolfgangmo]

20. Not to self - BRING flashcards of words "terrorist, bomb and explosion" with me when flying.

Also bring business card (on speeddail) of a lawyer who will take the civil case on contingency.

I could use the money.