By Sarah O'Brien
Originally published Baltimore Sun: May 28, 2006
My home town newspaper.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.terrorist28may28,0,2723012.story
"My husband is not a terrorist.
"He's not an ex-convict, a felon or on the lam, and if you don't count the occasional Post-it notes or paper clips that come home with him from the office, he's not even a petty thief.
"But so far, he's had trouble convincing the government of this.
"Every time he flies, regardless of the airline, he gets flagged when he checks in because he's on our government's terrorist watch list. As it was explained to us the first time it happened, something about his name, Michael Patrick O'Brien, creates the need for an airline manager to clear him.
Michael Patrick O'Brien, sure sounds Iraqi or Iranian or one of those other Middle Eastern countries to me.
Hasn't anybody told the Bush Administration that the IRA have disarmed. But you gotta admire their efficiency, if not their information or up to date-ness.
Rob
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My husband is on the government's terrorist watch list
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would probably redflag him even more.
One of the problems with IT is getting various systems to talk to each other. It requires a strong leader and dedication to this requirement.
Diana
now, I could use some free market investors for an idea of mine. I believe there is a market for benign sounding false identification. unless fraud is involved, I believe you may use any name. any capitalists out there?
Get some sort of safe flyer ID passed, so that people can be pre-cleared and not have to deal with all the security? Seems if he can get in on this, and be cleared once and for all, then this won't happen every time.
Timothy McVeigh isn't terrorist-sounding either, yet he was. If that name sends up a flag, it's probably for reason.
Cindi
....then there's something seriously wrong with the system, being that he's dead.
I don't think Mark would be yawning if it was happening to him.
i guess theres only 1 name per person?
i personally know 3 people here in town same last name
i guess you never thought of that
yawn
and if 1 was listed and dead and then when i flew my name shouldnt pop up for a flag hmm
then you would complain there not checking people
In your scenario, your hoping that they noticed you died, and entered that fact in the "no fly" list.
IF they didn't THEN you have a problem.
HOW do you prove your dead, when you're trying to get on a plane?
3 people named Mark G.
1 person named Mark G dies, but his name is not removed from the "no fly" list
One, of the other 2 people, named Mark G tries to get on a plane.
Since name of DEAD Mark G is not removed.
Other 2 could be refused.
Many people are on the list and don't realize till they try to fly, many have same names as suspects, names aren't removed when corrected,
The system isn't perfect, not even close.
That's the problem.
Hope you're liking Texas. 
If you note, I referred to McVeigh in the past tense. I know he's dead, I was just using the fact that he was a terrorist with a decidedly nonmiddle-eastern name in response to
Michael Patrick O'Brien, sure sounds Iraqi or Iranian or one of those other Middle Eastern countries to me.
Hasn't anybody told the Bush Administration that the IRA have disarmed. But you gotta admire their efficiency, if not their information or up to date-ness.
in the original post. Just pointing out that not ALL terrorists are middle-eastern, so therefore it doesn't wash that a particular name shouldn't necessarily be on the list only because it's not a middle-eastern name.
Cindi
....Tim McVeigh's name shouldn't be sending up any flags, being that he is no longer a person to be concerned about.
And thanks for asking; we're loving it here. I hope NC has worked out for you as well!
Haven't read the article, but it's mentioned on the cover.
Zip USA: Mt. Airy, NC
Roger
click here to email semods4@yahoo.com
His name should be on a list, doesn't sound like a terrorist, he's been released from prison where he spent time for some involvement in Oklahama City bombing.
Evie
still has to be wanded and she has a certified letter from hospital and drs
its no biggy to be checked out
That idea might have some merit. Clearly, people of middle eastern descent are more likely to present a threat.
However, since your side criticizes profiling, other measures must be used. Flagging names is one of them. We don't really know what the IRA is doing now do we? The intelligence and security people are much more likely to know than you are.
If your name gets flagged, and you get checked, you better get used to it or give up flying. It's a minor inconvenience to help insure safety. I'm sure there are not many people who want to change that.
creating a useful list and a means to correct errors in it.
Dan
In cop shows, they use descriptive terms like "red hair, female, had a limp, wears blue jeans, was seen in a red pickup truck..."
But it seems to be PC revolt by some people against saying "he appeared to be middle eastern, had an Arabic accent, and etc..."
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