Database snafu puts US Senator on terror watch list

[LibLabUK]

US Senator Ted Kennedy (Democrat, Massachusetts) was prohibited from flying because his name sparked a terror alert, the Associated Press reports. Apparently, the Senator's name came up on a terrorist watch list, or no-fly list, while attempting to board a US Airways shuttle out of Washington.

A vigilant airline clerk refused to allow Kennedy to board. After numerous phone calls, the Senator did manage to get home to Boston, but the same comedy ensued as he attempted to return to Washington, the wire service says... - The Register.co.uk

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[Maddy McCall]

1. yuck yuck yuck. Funny joke, George.

Now would you please quit it with your practical jokes. Not so funny.

:eyes:

Snafu, my ass.

[Misunderestimator]

2. I heard this on CNN last night....

"In any event, the incident illustrates the preposterous susceptibility of national security databases to both snafus and deliberate abuse, though in this case it's not clear which to fault."

Both, I'd say.

[Journeyman]

3. And it took Kennedy 3 personal calls to Ridge, and several weeks. . .

to get himself removed from the list. Now try and imagine how long it would take you or I -- who don't have easy access to Mr Ridge's home phone number, nor the clout of a senior Senator -- how long would it take us to get our names removed from such a list. . . or if we could even prove we were on the list!

[prodigal_green]

6. this is already happening to progressive activists around the country n/t

[Brian_Expat]

4. They chose the wrong man to pick on

People who find themselves on this "list" should call Teddy and let him raise hell over it.

[fishface]

5. Snafu mah ass...

those little Nazi fucks were sending him a message.

[Bullshot]

7. What did Kennedy do?

Did he try to board the plane under the name of Teddy al-Sadr, or something?

Some people leave their brains in their cars when they go to work, I think.

[RivetJoint]

8. Somebody needs to be fired over this

Denying boarding to a UNITED STATES SENATOR? This is just plain ridiculous. Heads need to roll.

[Brian_Expat]

9. The agent is just doing his/her job

The real culprit is the FAA.

[RivetJoint]

14. Nn the REAL culprit

is the idiot at DHS (or whereever)who put T. Kennedy on the list. Another culprit IS the agent who doesn't know the Senator's name is Edward Kennedy. That agent is too stupid to have his/her job if he/she thinks a US Senator is a "terrorist." Whatever happened to common sense?

[goclark]

17. But we know they won't

because all the heads are bought and pd. for by BushCO.

[Festivito]

10. There should be an investigation. It's not funny.

If there is abuse of power, this will become very serious to the security of our Constitution and eventually the national security of We the People of the United States.

[rpannier]

11. The Wrong Person to Piss-off

Everyone knows that Kennedy is the wrong man to piss off in Washington. Heads will roll.

[prolesunited]

12. They're probably laughing their asses off at this one

Ooooh, look. See, we told you Dems are terrorists.

The list is being abused. The fact that it's being used to harass activists is unacceptable.

[sadiesworld]

13. Trying to get Kennedy to fly by (small) private plane?

:tinfoilhat:

[Bombero1956]

16. what he should do

is call a press conference and demand a government jet for his flights to and from Boston. I do think his name will disappear from that list real quick.

[Kellanved]

15. this kind of SNAFU is exactly why I don't want my data in US databases

But it ends up there and there is nothing I can do about it:
Buying a plane ticket -> My personal data goes directly to Homeland Security

Entering the US -> digital photo and fingerprint join the data already there

Sending a package -> My personal data and that of the recipient go straight to Homeland Security

Soon to come (really!) sending a letter -> My personal data and that of the recipient go straight to Homeland Security


And now I learn that they're not even able to keep their lists straight? How can they guarantee that my fingerprint will not get confused with that of someone else? And why do they give zero guarantee on the actual use of the database?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

18. I personally ain't buying the SNAFU thing...this was deliberate

think of WHO compiles the data

[Kellanved]

19. well, yes

But deliberate act or blunder makes little difference.
One way or another it is an example for faulty data entries in the database and an example for the database causing problems for honest citizens.
This means there are no safeguards in place to keep such things from happening.
A Senator was able to clear it up - for me this throws up questions about the rising number of wrongly deported people (often Europeans) and people denied entry to the US.

[ElementaryPenguin]

20. This nation has simply gone insane!! A U.S. Senator??

How the world must loathe/ridicule/fear us!!

:puke:
:argh:
:mad: