The real target of the 6 imams' 'discrimination' suit

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

The "flying imams' " federal lawsuit, filed this week in Minneapolis, has made headlines around the country. The imams are demanding unspecified damages from US Airways and the Metropolitan Airports Commission, both with deep pockets. But their suit includes other defendants, as yet unnamed. These people, unaffiliated with the airline industry or government, are among the imams' most vulnerable targets.

Recall the November 2006 incident that gave rise to the suit. The imams engaged in a variety of suspicious behaviors while boarding a US Airways flight, according to the airport police report. Some prayed loudly in the gate area, spoke angrily about the United States and Saddam, switched seats and sat in the 9/11 hijackers' configuration, and unnecessarily requested seatbelt extenders that could be used as weapons, according to witness reports and US Airways spokeswoman Andrea Rader.

After extensive consultations, the pilot asked authorities to remove the imams for questioning, which they did, releasing them later that day.

"The pilot did what he had to do," passenger Rita Snelson of Maplewood told the Star Tribune. "I told the airline afterward, 'Thank you for watching over us.' "

The imams' lawsuit, however, asserts that US Airways and the MAC acted solely out of religious and ethnic discrimination. It includes 17 separate counts.

It also rehearses a catalogue of harms allegedly suffered by the imams, including fear, depression, mental pain and financial injury. They have not only endured exhaustion, humiliation and ridicule, but also have lost sleep and developed anxiety about flying.

Their lawsuit appears to be the latest component in a national campaign to intimidate airlines and government agencies from acting prudently to ensure passenger safety. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, which is advising the imams, is also calling for congressional hearings and promoting federal legislation to "end racial profiling" in air travel. If the legislation passes, airport personnel who disproportionately question passengers who are Muslim or of Middle Eastern origin could be subject to sanctions.

But the most alarming aspect of the imams' suit is buried in paragraph 21 of their complaint. It describes "John Doe" defendants whose identity the imams' attorneys are still investigating. It reads: "Defendants 'John Does' were passengers ... who contacted U.S. Airways to report the alleged 'suspicious' behavior of Plaintiffs' performing their prayer at the airport terminal."

Paragraph 22 adds: "Plaintiffs will seek leave to amend this Complaint to allege true names, capacities, and circumstances supporting [these defendants'] liability ... at such time as Plaintiffs ascertain the same."

In plain English, the imams plan to sue the "John Does," too.

Who are these unnamed culprits? The complaint describes them as "an older couple who was sitting [near the imams] and purposely turn[ed] around to watch" as they prayed. "The gentleman ('John Doe') in the couple ... picked up his cellular phone and made a phone call while watching the Plaintiffs pray," then "moved to a corner" and "kept talking into his cellular phone."

In retribution for this action, the unnamed couple probably will be dragged into court soon and face the prospect of hiring a lawyer, enduring hostile questioning and paying huge legal bills. The same fate could await other as-yet-unnamed passengers on the US Airways flight who came forward as witnesses.

The imams' attempt to bully ordinary passengers marks an alarming new front in the war on airline security. Average folks, "John Does" like you and me, initially observed and reported the imams' suspicious behavior on Nov. 20. Such people are our "first responders" against terrorism. But the imams' suit may frighten such individuals into silence, as they seek to avoid the nightmare of being labeled bigots and named as defendants.

Ironically, on the day the imams filed their suit, a troubling internal memo came to light at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The memo revealed that our airport is at particular risk of terrorist attack because of its proximity to the Mall of America, its employment of relatively few security officers and other factors. The memo advised heightened vigilance to counter "this very real and deliberate threat."

The imams may not be the only ones losing sleep and growing more afraid of flying.

http://www.startribune.com/191/story/1055656.html

[mawilson 2,133]

Flying Imam:

[junglee069 0]

Flying Imam:

that's just wrong.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

oh yeah those guys

[junglee069 0]

that's even worse.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

that's even worse.

someone will be by shortly to raise the bar

[Sofiyya 1,687]

This thread is a mess.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

oh yeah those guys

Perpetual Outrage

[pedroh 21]

well, it's profiling if u see a dude praying in arabic and 'omgz they is the ebilz!!!'.. just cuz they are muslim

[mawilson 2,133]

well, it's profiling if u see a dude praying in arabic and 'omgz they is the ebilz!!!'.. just cuz they are muslim

Yep -- profiling Muslims is wrong. Body cavity search, on the other hand.......

Edited March 16, 2007 by mawilson

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

well, it's profiling if u see a dude praying in arabic and 'omgz they is the ebilz!!!'.. just cuz they are muslim

Some prayed loudly in the gate area, spoke angrily about the United States and Saddam, switched seats and sat in the 9/11 hijackers' configuration, and unnecessarily requested seatbelt extenders (they were not obese)

put that in your ebilz and smoke it gerilzder!!!! PWNED

[junglee069 0]

well, it's profiling if u see a dude praying in arabic and 'omgz they is the ebilz!!!'.. just cuz they are muslim

Some prayed loudly in the gate area, spoke angrily about the United States and Saddam, switched seats and sat in the 9/11 hijackers' configuration, and unnecessarily requested seatbelt extenders (they were not obese)

put that in your ebilz and smoke it gerilzder!!!! PWNED

so, you have mr. terrorist and his posse. all loaded up on al-qaeda rhetoric, awaiting their 72 virgins. they got a game plan - scoped out the entire airport, know all the intracicies of flying a jetliner, know all the security precautions, etc. right before their misison goes live they decide to:

pray LOUDLY in the gate area for ALL to hear

b!tch about american and praise saddam (as well know saddam and osama mamma were in bed all this time)

play musical chairs on the airplane

ask for seatbelt extenders as this was their masterplan

great thinking sherlock - these masterminds - the same type of minds that got past security on 9/11 and pulled off such a simple yet ingeniusly orchestrated plan - decided to absolutely blow their cover. hmm...

we could use a little common sense here folks - but i guess it's true what they say about common sense - sense isn't all that common.

[almaty 19]

can't fix stupid bro junglee

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

well, it's profiling if u see a dude praying in arabic and 'omgz they is the ebilz!!!'.. just cuz they are muslim

Some prayed loudly in the gate area, spoke angrily about the United States and Saddam, switched seats and sat in the 9/11 hijackers' configuration, and unnecessarily requested seatbelt extenders (they were not obese)

put that in your ebilz and smoke it gerilzder!!!! PWNED

so, you have mr. terrorist and his posse. all loaded up on al-qaeda rhetoric, awaiting their 72 virgins. they got a game plan - scoped out the entire airport, know all the intracicies of flying a jetliner, know all the security precautions, etc. right before their misison goes live they decide to:

pray LOUDLY in the gate area for ALL to hear

b!tch about american and praise saddam (as well know saddam and osama mamma were in bed all this time)

play musical chairs on the airplane

ask for seatbelt extenders as this was their masterplan

great thinking sherlock - these masterminds - the same type of minds that got past security on 9/11 and pulled off such a simple yet ingeniusly orchestrated plan - decided to absolutely blow their cover. hmm...

we could use a little common sense here folks - but i guess it's true what they say about common sense - sense isn't all that common.

These guys aren't terrorists. You know that. They were trying to create situation that would lead to the current lawsuit.

There.... is it clear enough for you to understand? Want me to draw pictures next time?

[Saddle Bronc 124]

well, it's profiling if u see a dude praying in arabic and 'omgz they is the ebilz!!!'.. just cuz they are muslim

Some prayed loudly in the gate area, spoke angrily about the United States and Saddam, switched seats and sat in the 9/11 hijackers' configuration, and unnecessarily requested seatbelt extenders (they were not obese)

put that in your ebilz and smoke it gerilzder!!!! PWNED

so, you have mr. terrorist and his posse. all loaded up on al-qaeda rhetoric, awaiting their 72 virgins. they got a game plan - scoped out the entire airport, know all the intracicies of flying a jetliner, know all the security precautions, etc. right before their misison goes live they decide to:

pray LOUDLY in the gate area for ALL to hear

b!tch about american and praise saddam (as well know saddam and osama mamma were in bed all this time)

play musical chairs on the airplane

ask for seatbelt extenders as this was their masterplan

great thinking sherlock - these masterminds - the same type of minds that got past security on 9/11 and pulled off such a simple yet ingeniusly orchestrated plan - decided to absolutely blow their cover. hmm...

we could use a little common sense here folks - but i guess it's true what they say about common sense - sense isn't all that common.

These guys aren't terrorists. You know that. They were trying to create situation that would lead to the current lawsuit.

There.... is it clear enough for you to understand? Want me to draw pictures next time?

On the nail, LS

These "imam" touts basically copied Farakhan's tactic used oft against Denny's (I've personally proven the latter an act of entrapment).