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!
