Infants Now Being Placed On No-Fly Lists

[matcom]

:eyes:

<snip>

WASHINGTON -- Infants have been stopped from boarding planes at airports throughout the U.S. because their names are the same as or similar to those of possible terrorists on the government's "no-fly list."

It sounds like a joke, but it's not funny to parents who miss flights while scrambling to have babies' passports and other documents faxed.

Ingrid Sanden's 1-year-old daughter was stopped in Phoenix before boarding a flight home to Washington at Thanksgiving.

"I completely understand the war on terrorism, and I completely understand people wanting to be safe when they fly," Sanden said. "But focusing the target a little bit is probably a better use of resources."

The government's lists of people who are either barred from flying or require extra scrutiny before being allowed to board airplanes grew markedly since the Sept. 11 attacks. Critics including the American Civil Liberties Union say the government doesn't provide enough information about the people on the lists, so innocent passengers can be caught up in the security sweep if they happen to have the same name as someone on the lists.

That can happen even if the person happens to be an infant like Sanden's daughter. (Children under 2 don't need tickets but Sanden purchased one for her daughter to ensure she had a seat.)

"It was bizarre," Sanden said. "I was hugely pregnant, and I was like, 'We look really threatening."'

Sarah Zapolsky and her husband had a similar experience last month while departing from Dulles International Airport outside Washington. An airline ticket agent told them their 11-month-old son was on the government list.

They were able to board their flight after ticket agents took a half-hour to fax her son's passport and fill out paperwork.

http://www.wftv.com/irresistible/4854131/detail.html

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. Hey. They could be bombs, sir. Step away from the baby.

Put down the baby.

[GOPisEvil]

2. Someone at the TSA needs to read the rules.

The "no-fly lists" don't apply to people under 12.

Idiots. :eyes:

[Coastie for Truth]

3. The TSA and the USCG are both part of Homeland Secuity

Maybe the TSA people could do with 11 months at followed by 30 months on a weather cutter. :)

<><>
<>

Semper Par-- "Coastie"

[MissMillie]

4. Don't you feel safer now?

I saw this on the news this morning and burst out laughing.

[Midlodemocrat]

5. The whole TSA thing is a joke.

My FIL was actually put on the wrong plane on Saturday. He had the boarding pass stating he was to go to Boston, but they put him on a flight to Atlanta.

How in hell did that happen? Well, according to AirTran, it happens ALL THE TIME.

People routinely get on the wrong plane, according to their VP. So why do we have to bother with the whole scanning of the boarding passes?

[nookiemonster]

6. Make no mistake,

that baby is the bomb!

:silly:

[Tyrone Slothrop]

7. Always remember: if someone tosses you a baby,

Swat it to the ground! Swat it to the ground!