Spygirl

Having reviewed the transcript from the latest Scarborough show, I saw nothing said that I haven't said before: that the pax unease was taken seriously by having law enforcement meet the plane, that no one's "fears" were ignored (indeed, the citizens alert - from fisherman in the New York and Boston harbors reporting suspicious activities near airport perimeters, to fertilizer companies reporting large purchases by individuals-citizen reporting is an integral component of homeland defense)-

It has been publicly confirmed by the feds that the Syrian visas/I-94's were all in order, and that the Syrians had not posed a threat to other pax on board the flight.

Dave Adams, the head of the FAM Service recently had the following to say:
"Annie Jacobsen is entitled to her own "interpretations"...while the 19 original hijackers are known to have conducted test runs, there is no specific intelligence that terrorists are conducting test flights or surveillance activities on U.S. airliners. Period."

Salon.com's "Ask the Pilot" has another excellent (and quite amusing) follow-up to the Jacobsen story-see the 8/14/04 article.

There's really not much more to say about the story than this-except- just as things go with urban myths, there may well be more, much more, written and said about this story in the future, but it will come from different sources than the bloggers and journalists on the web. For those who are interested, watch this space.

HollyLA

Hi, I am new and have read this entire page. I want to point out a few things that I noticed. One was what Spygirl said, that everything that should have been done WAS done (re: law enforcement meeting the plane at landing, etc). Well, what if it didn't "land", what if this had been an actual highjacking? Do you really think these 2 air marshalls could have taken on 14 men and won? I'm not sure but probably not.

Next, while some of you think Anne Jacobsen's article was untrue or not validated, but then go on to say that we should report things, well, isn't that what she did? And she was scrutinized and her character was attacked by most. What is these men were terrorists who took a plan down a week later, and then after, she came forward with her report? Would you all then say she was unnecessarily hysterical and "jumpy"?

Lastly, do you really think these xray machines for carry ons are any good. NO! I just flew from New Orleans to Anchorage on June 4th, 2004 with a pocket knife in my purse. It went through xrays and 3 different airports undetected even by the xrays. I did not realize it was there until while in Anchorage, my purse strap broke requiring me to purchase a new one. While changing my belongings over, I noticed it. Surprised is not the word.

Oh, one more. We will never know the "truth" about these men. The FBI, CIA, homeland security does not want poeple panicking over anything so they will downplay it, cover it up, do whatever they have to do not to cause fear and loss of revenue for airlines. You will not hear of any true findings on the news, that's for sure!

Clifton

Those are a lot of "what ifs", but any of us could come up with 1000 times more what ifs should we desire to.

When people suggest that suspicious activity be reported, I believe they mean that it should be reported to the authorities so that action can be taken. Authoring articles about general layman impressions (while bashing the current administration security policies, by the way) and then making the talk show circuit to promote your new found fame is not the same thing.

Could 2 armed and trained air marshals "take on" 14 presumedly unarmed men, especially when the air marshals were not known to be there? Well, until the flight attendant started spreading the word. There's your real story, incidentally, since we're playing "what if". What if the actual terrorist on the plane had been Jacobson? Now she'd know who to target first.

Spygirl

HollyLA: Please look up the previous Jacobsen post that I started, where I explain that the FAMS are, BY NO MEANS, the only airborne layer of security in the post 9/11 skies. Indeed, there is an entire array of security counter-measures- from curbside to cockpit, that have demonstrably strengthened our aviation security system, not just nationwide, but far more importantly (and far less reported on) worldwide.

So when you speculate whether 14 Syrian musicians (how about 14 white European guys?)could prevent the plane from landing, well, that's a hugely unlikely scenario.

And Holly, one does have to take a bit of pity on these poor musicians (who, by the way, are highly regarded in their respective art form, and have played gigs all over the US) because, but for A. Jacobsen's completely speculative piece on what they are doing, they would be just like any of the thousands of other Middle Easterners or persons from other countries who come and stay in this country legally for whatever length of time. Fortunately for them, no publicity-seeking journalist was on their 6 1/2 hour return flight from Long Beach to NYC, so nobody has made an issue of that flight, or, all the other flights they've taken together while in the US.

But what was most amusing to Spygirl was your comment that puts you firmly in the conspiracy theory camp. Holly dear, I know there are people all over this big land of ours that want to believe there are all sorts of major govt. cover-ups going on, and that the USG can actually keep secrets about things "they" don't want "us" to know-but you gotta remember: "they-the CIA, FBI, DHS" are "us," meaning they ain't no different than you, they're your friends, neighbors, relatives. So if there's a threat out there, you're gonna know it-even when you shouldn't, you will. And if you've been paying attention to the news, whenever new threat information comes out, why, it always manages to get in the public domain, doesn't it?

What you have said about your pocket knife going through x-ray, if true, is not good. No system run by human beings is perfect, which is why security systems are always configured with multiple redundant features. However, I can tell you that an arrest was made at a checkpoint out in the L.A. area quite recently by a man carrying not only a concealed loaded weapon but a hunting knife as well (no indication whatever of terrorist intent). Teddy bears that have revolvers sown in their backs have also been interdicted. You won't hear about the vast majority of prohibited items that are detected, because it's all part of a screener's duties. In your case, perhaps Louis Armstrong Airport needs some stepped up surveillance-perhaps that will happen.

But like I say above, watch this space. The USG has not been indifferent to the tremendous public interest generated by this story, so there may be more yet to come-but nothing to do with some deep dark "terrorist dry run" plot. More like, how can we help educate the public from overreacting and speculating, so as not to make scapegoats of innocent people?

Spygirl

Holly-as an addendum- Instead of complaining about no security at the checkpoint, please report your concerns over the pocket knife to TSA at this number: 1-866-289-8673. Your call will be followed through. It's too important not to be reported.

starrsville

topping - so it was true

cmcfong

http://www.snopes.com/politics/crime/skyterror.asp

starrsville

Leelane posted this update today on another thread -

Author: leelane911
Date: 05/30/2007, 10:27 am
Remember the thread where some of us were crucified for believing this incident was for real? (Think twice before ridiculing next time.) Follow this link:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/natio...1308-3365r.htm

Dukey

The "Washington Times"?????

Sorry....

starrsville

Then, download the 51 page report yourself

Here's a link from Anne Jacobsen -
http://www.theaviationnation.com/200...ht-327-report/

The Department of Homeland Security has declassified the Inspector General's report on Northwest Flight 327 — a flight which I was a passenger on back in June of 2004. It took the US government two years and eleven months to confirm what I have been writing since the flight landed — in my 28-part series for WomensWallStreet.com and in Terror in The Skies, Why 9/11 Could Happen Again (Spence 2005) i.e:

The flight was a dry run for a future terrorist attack involving planes.
The Federal Air Marshal Service grossly mishandled what happened during the flight.
The Syrians terrified flight crew and passengers.
The Federal Air Marshal Service grossly mismanaged what happened after the flight landed in Los Angeles.
The Federal Air Marshal Service attempted to cover up their egregious incompetence by issuing false statements and misleading the public about the severity of what happened on the flight.

jetset1

Wow.. I had forgotten about this incident and never caught any of her interviews on tv.. thanks for the update.

In retrospect, this "group" exhibited actions once aboard that would have frightened any of us with a radar for out of the ordinary behavior, especially when she said the one man returned to his seat with blue hands from possible chemicals.

I imagine Annie and her husband will make commentaries now that this new info. has come to light. J.

lcuy

and I doubt spygirl will make any....