CNN's Drew Griffin reported on the bloating of the watch list, which an ACLU count pegged at 1,001,308 names Wednesday afternoon. Griffin's is one of those names, he says.
"Coincidentally, this all began in May, shortly after I began a series of investigative reports critical of the TSA. Eleven flights now since May 19. On different airlines, my name pops up forcing me to go to the counter, show my identification, sometimes the agent has to make a call before I get my ticket," Griffin reported. "What does the TSA say? Nothing, at least nothing on camera. Over the phone a public affairs worker told me again I'm not on the watch list, and don't even think that someone in the TSA or anyone else is trying to get even."
The TSA, which is a part of the Department of Homeland Security, said Griffin's name wasn't even on the watch list, and the agency blamed the airlines for the delays the reporter experienced. The airlines, on the other hand, said they were simply following a list provided by TSA.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Malice or Incompetence?
Maybe both. [Link]
3 comments:
Me, again. Sean and I discussed this. I think he was baiting me a little, since I always seem to come to the defense of the bureaucrats. But in Mr. Griffin's case, consider this. He wrote a piece disparaging the TSA's performance. He's a reporter. If he flies in and out of the same airport routinely, I'd be inclined to watch him like a hawk, because I wouldn't put it past him to try to get something by me, just to see if he could do it and then write another damning article. Sure, it looks a little suspicious, 11 straight secondaries, but he was never once refused boarding rights. I don't watch CNN, so I don't know who this guy is, but if he bahaves like a butthole and throws his weight around, I'd sure be inclined to keep an eye on him. And, human nature being what it is, Imight inconvenience him a little, if he was acting like a...reporter.
Except that if they are watching him like a hawk, he is on the list, and thus the TSA are at the very least being misleading about him being on a list.
The fact that he is allowed to fly doesn't mean he is not on a list as well. There are three lists and only being on the no-fly list prevent you from flying. TSA Blog on 1,000,000 people on the Watchlist
No, I didn't mean to say that every airport would "watch him like a hawk", I was only referring to my natural tendancy, in order to cover my own behind, in case he were attempting to prove my incompetence. It was a strictly personal reaction, not knowing if he was targetted at the same airport 11 times, or at various locations. The repressive standards with which TSA personnel are forced to comply do not allow for common sense. I've seen many instances where travelers who consider themselves celebrities act like prize asses when confronted with any form of authority. I don't know anything about this Griffin guy, so I can't judge, but I'm still inclined to believe that there are two sides to every story. And the operative word here is story. As in news piece.
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