Meet Mikey, 8: U.S. Has Him on Watch List

[NeoConsSuck]

Source: NY Times

The Transportation Security Administration, under scrutiny after last month’s bombing attempt, has on its Web site a “mythbuster” that tries to reassure the public.


Myth: The No-Fly list includes an 8-year-old boy.

Buster: No 8-year-old is on a T.S.A. watch list.


“Meet Mikey Hicks,” said Najlah Feanny Hicks, introducing her 8-year-old son, a New Jersey Cub Scout and frequent traveler who has seldom boarded a plane without a hassle because he shares the name of a suspicious person. “It’s not a myth.”

Michael Winston Hicks’s mother initially sensed trouble when he was a baby and she could not get a seat for him on their flight to Florida at an airport kiosk; airline officials explained that his name “was on the list,” she recalled.

The first time he was patted down, at Newark Liberty International Airport, Mikey was 2. He cried.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/nyregion/14watchlist.html?ref=nyregion

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Gee, I feel safer knowing a 2 year old is being properly scrutinized.

[Mithreal]

1. Not Obama's problem.

How come we have to shame our government even now? Maybe this will be fixed by the time he is old enough to be drafted.

[Mithreal]

2. And an even bigger disgrace for our Democratic President is Don Siegelman

WtH is he waiting for, election cycle 2012?

No one could have foreseen little children would be on a Watch List.

No one could have foreseen justice in the US is nearly irreparably broken.

And don't think I don't call and write the President and Eric Holder's office. You better be too, but these are desperate times.

[placton]

3. Obama believe that "do nothing"

works great - but then, after the 2012 election, he will have his wish

[saigon68]

24. He will have his wish

Droves will "Stay Away".

Unless something changes my whole family will too.

There is no change at all from the incompetence and sloth that the Chimp and Cheney orchestrated so well.

The lack of enthusiasm to correct these outrages, become legendary in the minds of a few of us who aren't sheep.

[DefenseLawyer]

4. My 4 year old's name was on the "Do Not Board" list

Since they started this nonsense my name has been on the "watch list". In the beginning it was a huge ordeal, but now it just means if I forget to use my middle initial when I book a flight I won't be able to use self service check-in. It's not that big of a deal. I have a very common anglo last name. A couple of years ago when my oldest son was 4 the family was catching a flight. Kiosk said "see attendant", and I knew the routine. When we went to the counter I started with "yeah I know my name comes up, here's my ID" yadda yadda. The lady at the counter said "No, it's more than that you'll need to step over here." As she's looking at my ID she said "Wait, aren't you Joseph?" "Uh no, that's Joseph (pointing to my son) He's four."
She proceeded say she was sorry but he was on the "Do Not Board" list, that she was really sorry but she had to get clearance before we could proceed. She got on the phone, giving out a bunch of what sounded like random numbers and letters (complete with the "tango, foxtrot, niner" jargon). It was by a strange coincidence that we had arrived particularly early at the airport that day because we had to wait about 45 minutes until the little terrorist was allowed to board the plane. Fortunately he only flies a couple of times a year because he's now 6 and the routine hasn't changed.

[CanonRay]

5. What a sham this all is.

[AnneD]

9. Security Theater.....

meant to make the sheeple feel safe and that all the tax dollars we have fleeced from us is accomplishing something.

[av8rdave]

6. I am on their list

I am a pilot with a major airline, and a former security - cleared military officer. It doesn't seem to concern the TSA at all that most of the names on their list are no threat and therefore their list is useless.

[hobbit709]

8. What good is a list that may not have a name on it?

They might as well put everyone on the list-it would be just as effective.

And evidently no one in charge can engage in critical thinking when they see the person whose name is on the list and it's a two year old.

[peacetalksforall]

10. Under Cheney, the longer the list, the easier to use terrorism to their pocketbook advantage. Also,

the advantage they have with spying and controls. All to our disadvantages.

Evidently, Obama doesn't have much say about Homeland Security?

Evidently, there is some policy written in cement that no changes can ever be made to the list. No corrections. No admission that anyone was wrong. That the lists were thrown together.

All showing that they do not respect us.

Ted Kennedy is another matter. What is it about his names that would link it to a terrorist? There must be some flexibility. Or did he go through the delays and pat-downu?

What per cent of the list is political?

What's going on in this country?

If anyone has knowledge about a clean up is in progress, please let us know.

[Gormy Cuss]

18. The list is classic GIGO

and the new procedure of asking for everyone's DOB before issuing a ticket is a dumb way to try to correct it.

[Skink]

7. I've been on a list since 99.

Atleast that's what a really hot flight attendant told me.

[shadowknows69]

12. Did you show her a weapon of mass destruction in the rest room or something?

[shadowknows69]

11. "We'll get Mikey to fly."

"He won't fly he hates America"

Mikey flies.

"Hey Mikey. He likes it!!!"

[Javaman]

13. moron* and his room full of dopes choose to leave common sense at the door.

now we are all subject to their legacy of stupidity.

[saltpoint]

14. The kid sounds totally ruthless to me. I say stick him in Gitmo

just to be on the safe side.

[SomeGuynTexas]

15. Is this passenger screening 101 or Healthcare? Can't tell.

One wonders what will happen to the little tyke at his first U.S. Gov't sponsored health care well kid exam.

[Cal Carpenter]

21. Good thing there's no gov't sponsored health care coming soon

:eyes:

[Piewhacket]

16. I feel so much safer, knowing idiots have been in charge of national security for the last 10 yrs...

:sarcasm: (just in case)

[Jackpine Radical]

19. Now some poor innocent sumbitch

named Marvin Plewhacket and never heard of DU is gonna get hassled next time he tries to get on a plane. Nice work.

[Piewhacket]

23. I just hope the dum sumbitch is an NSA officer trying to get home to see his dying momma.

The thing is... its all security without substance,
security for show, not for safety.

And the consequence is that
any idiot who wants to can think up 27 ways around
security designed to maximize public inconvienience
for purpose of "reassuring the public" that something is being done.
In fact, some of the "security" measures actually
make it EASIER to breach security.

It would be laughable if it wasn't MY country, and I wasn't
paying these dum f&^%s big bucks just to be morons. So I weep, instead.

For example... er... as this is an open and unsecured
channel, lets just concede I could name a few.

[LiberalFighter]

17. So all they use is just a damn stupid name. No other information about the person?

That is the most stupidest thing to create.

Whose bright idea was this? Bush? Cheney? Rice? Ridge? Lieberman?

Probably all came up with it at the same time!

[Jackpine Radical]

20. First name on the list was Albert Gore.

[newspeak]

22. wasn't Ted Kennedy on that list?

I know Quakers were on the list, green party leaders-some who were anti-war-pacifists. Ya know, those that really believe in violence and hurting others--NOT. The list, it seems, in some parts, was made by a group of cruel, infantile frats who wanted to harass anyone who didn't conform to their childish beliefs. I mean, some moran actually put Kennedy and quakers on the list--it looks like pure infantile harassment.