A couple of us had lunch today and obviously the crap surrounding the attacks against the Embassies were a discussion item. More and more reports are ‘leaking’ that in fact there WAS foreknowledge of the ‘possibility’ of attacks, and apparently even an internal cable sent by DOS to the Embassy in Egypt.
But, that segued into a discussion of the number of devout Muslims working at US and other airports. And the ‘perception’ that all of us had that the numbers are increasing and both the women wearing the Hijab and men wearing the Taqiyah (many with full beards) are either controlling access/providing ‘information’ to working security lines or working inside the SIDA with full access badges. I know IAD has a high number with many more ‘open’ about their faith.
Others we’d been through in the last month included LAX, SFO, SEA, EWR, ATL, PHL, HNL, DIA, JFK, ORD, SYD, PER, LHR, MUC, FRA, FCO and CDG. In the US, all of the airports listed seemed to have ‘similar’ sets working much like IAD does. In Europe it appears there are less, and they are more ‘closely’ watched by security/police and are fewer inside the SIDAs. In Australia, I don’t think I ever saw anyone like that with a SIDA badge…
One ‘incident’ one of the guys had last week at SFO was rather interesting, he was coming back from NRT via SFO and snuck down to have a cigarette on the lower level of SFO. He said he walked out of the terminal and saw four Muslim males with taqiyah and full beards. They were huddling in a corner out of sight of anyone from inside the terminal, and only visible from the street. He said when he ‘surprised’ the four, they immediately stopped their conversation and moved off in different directions, and ALL of them glared at him as they walked by (and all of them had SIDA badges.
I do remember running across a couple of males at LAX out in the parking lot as I walked across to the USO, and they glared at me and moved off as soon as I walked out of the stairwell in the garage. They also had SIDA badges and appeared to work for one of the airlines.
With everything going on right now, and the DOD/DOS travel warnings, and knowing how lax TSA is with folks with SIDA badges (at least at IAD), I can’t help but wonder if ‘things’ are moving in and out of secure areas without anyone being the wiser…
Are we being too paranoid???
Your thoughts/comments please!
But, that segued into a discussion of the number of devout Muslims working at US and other airports. And the ‘perception’ that all of us had that the numbers are increasing and both the women wearing the Hijab and men wearing the Taqiyah (many with full beards) are either controlling access/providing ‘information’ to working security lines or working inside the SIDA with full access badges. I know IAD has a high number with many more ‘open’ about their faith.
Others we’d been through in the last month included LAX, SFO, SEA, EWR, ATL, PHL, HNL, DIA, JFK, ORD, SYD, PER, LHR, MUC, FRA, FCO and CDG. In the US, all of the airports listed seemed to have ‘similar’ sets working much like IAD does. In Europe it appears there are less, and they are more ‘closely’ watched by security/police and are fewer inside the SIDAs. In Australia, I don’t think I ever saw anyone like that with a SIDA badge…
One ‘incident’ one of the guys had last week at SFO was rather interesting, he was coming back from NRT via SFO and snuck down to have a cigarette on the lower level of SFO. He said he walked out of the terminal and saw four Muslim males with taqiyah and full beards. They were huddling in a corner out of sight of anyone from inside the terminal, and only visible from the street. He said when he ‘surprised’ the four, they immediately stopped their conversation and moved off in different directions, and ALL of them glared at him as they walked by (and all of them had SIDA badges.
I do remember running across a couple of males at LAX out in the parking lot as I walked across to the USO, and they glared at me and moved off as soon as I walked out of the stairwell in the garage. They also had SIDA badges and appeared to work for one of the airlines.
With everything going on right now, and the DOD/DOS travel warnings, and knowing how lax TSA is with folks with SIDA badges (at least at IAD), I can’t help but wonder if ‘things’ are moving in and out of secure areas without anyone being the wiser…
Are we being too paranoid???
Your thoughts/comments please!
I used to travel to Atlanta a lot for work. The Avis rent-a-car there was owned by devout Muslims and all of the women were in full hijab, the men wore full robes. I had been using Avis and transferred to Dollar simply because I didn’t like the set-up. Am I prejudiced? Yes.
Do I embrace and love Muslims? No, I don’t. I don’t hate them, but I know that they’ll turn on me in a heartbeat (think of the Iranians at the time of the Shah).
It’s the kind of thing one discovers the truth of after it’s too late.
The PTB are just too stupid to deal with the issue. All us pleabs can do is stay out of the target zone.
I don’t think you’re paranoid; merely ahead of schedule. For whatever it’s worth, I share your sense of unease.
Not paranoia; clear thinking and understanding history.
You’re not paranoid, someone really is following you…
Or I could quote from the movie “Airplane”:
They’re everywhere, they’re everywhere…
LL- Concur, and I ‘remember’ 1979-1980 real well!
Carteach- Yeah, except I really don’t have an option (for a while yet)
Rev/WSF- Thanks
azm- Oh THANK you… 🙂
Thing is, so far, they are not (historically speaking) statistically more likely to do anything terrorist related….SO FAR.
However, they ahve a religious network and the martyrdon attitude which has the possibility of leading to much greater consequences if you are not being paranoid.
How do you know?
Innocent until proven guilty and all that, except that they don’t emigrate to a country, they colonize. The areas in the US where they live might as well be in Bagdad, Pakistan, or Afghanistan as in the States. They fail to asssimilate and seldom make this their country.
Again, we may be being unfair to many, but do we risk others to be politically correct? Their faith says they can lie to an infidel in the quest for Jihad…so who do we believe?
The “next one” will make 9/11 look like . . . . well I don’t know what. What better way to assist terrorist brothers travel the world than to work at the airports.
Way ahead of your time sir . . . well ahead.
You’re profiling.
Oh, I said that like it’s a bad thing….
I pointed this out a little over 2 yrs ago to the folks at the DFW FBI office. They told me they were aware and it is being investigated…so there is that.
Scares the CRAP out of me!
I work for a “major” Part 121 carrier at LAS. About a year ago, one of the plane cleaners brought a handful of live ammo (12 gauge) into the shop which he’d found in one of the seat back pockets. Security as watertight as a mermaid’s bustenhalter!
RAaaaaciiiist!!!eleventy!!1
See ya Saturday.
MR.B- You’re right!
Eia- Hope not…
Ed- When it’s “MY” ass, I could care less about PC… Just sayin!
Eric- Interesting that there has be NO word of this!
Pro- Not the first time I’ve heard of ammo showing up in seat backs. Remember the entire mag of 9mm that showed up on the flight to LAX?
MSgt- Not sorry! 🙂
I doubt the screening of airport workers passes muster. Looking at the mopes who TSA hires and pass review, you have to figure the bar can’t get much lower.
Add to the fact at many city airports the police assigned there are RIP.
Not good at all.
Gerry
Just because you’re feeling paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you ….. just don’t let it make you crazy, or they “win”.
justifiable concern. But TSA will continue to grope elderly women with cancer.
It’s not paranoia if someone’s actually out to get you.
Given the propensity of the state to label me a suspected terrorist over less conspicious behavior that is honestly normal for people my age and in my line of work, no one will listen because they’re looking for me, not them.
They want something that fits the narrative. Why do you think the FBI spends so much time recruiting home grown terrorists to catch them?
I will say if anything happens on a plane again a bunch of us will scream the TSA is useless, a bunch more will claim that the TSA needs more power. Guess which way big brother will go…
I use to do physical security at [REDACTED]. TSA is Security Kabuki as farce.
IAD taxi service is all Muslim.
Many retail kiosks inside the security perimeter are staffed and stocked by Muslims.
During one of IAD’s expansions after 9/11 Immigration staged a raid that netted scores of illegals working on the tarmac.
It’s not a question of “When?” but “Why not sooner.”
The Smarter Half and I drive 2,000+ miles a trip 2 or 3 times a year cause we refuse to fly.
Nope, not being racist. Just being observant of your surroundings and responding to what you find.
Are all Muslims in America terrorists? Absolutely not.
Are most Muslims in America terrorists? Absolutely not
Are a significant portion of Muslims in America terrorists? Probably not
Is there some non-insignificant portion of American Muslims who are terrorists or sympathizers? Absolutely