Your very own suspected terrorist

Seriously, instead of doing a big background check and looking up all your
papers, sounds like the agent did the smart thing -- he just asked you. He
was able to learn a lot more about you and the issues involved that way.

True. He also got to look the bad guy in the eye. I suspect that that
is an important matter in his line of work.

They would have noticed if you had tried to flee.

One can only hope!

all the best -- Dan Ford
email:

see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com

In a previous article, (Michael) said:
office at 8:30 AM either - and eventually got a call back. The
special agaent (what is a special agent, anyway, and how does he
differ from a regular agent?) informed me that he needed to speak with

It's like a student in special class versus one in a regular class.


--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
10 ways to stop users mistaking you for a normal person (4): When booting
a workstation, shout out all console output 1/2 a second before it
appears. Do this with your eyes closed and fists clenched. -- Steve Mitchell

"Paul Tomblin" wrote in message
...
| In a previous article, (Michael) said:
| office at 8:30 AM either - and eventually got a call back. The
| special agaent (what is a special agent, anyway, and how does he
| differ from a regular agent?) informed me that he needed to speak with
|
| It's like a student in special class versus one in a regular class.
|

A special agent is one that does investigative work. Most of the people that
you meet in US intelligence agencies are special agents. They are the guys
(and gals) on the front lines.

"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...
A special agent is one that does investigative work. Most of the people
that
you meet in US intelligence agencies are special agents. They are the guys
(and gals) on the front lines.

So, a special agent is not really special because they are all special
agents? But, since their job is to protect us, they are indeed special!

Pilot Bob (conqueror of the air above Iowa City)

(Michael) writes:

I have often wondered, with GA under increased scrutiny, how long it
would be before one of us was investigated as a suspected terrorist.
I never thought I would be first.

How do you know you were?
http://anon.moveon.speedera.net/2802_large.mov

(what is a special agent, anyway, and how does he
differ from a regular agent?)

Just speak a little slower for 'em.

(I figure I'm on the lists already.)

--kyler

The public school system & media here in the usa is breeding nothing but
rats.





"Michael" wrote in message
m...
I have often wondered, with GA under increased scrutiny, how long it
would be before one of us was investigated as a suspected terrorist.
I never thought I would be first.

I came home from the airport last night to find a business card stuck
in the door of my apartment. It had the embossed gold emblem (which
costs quite a bit extra - I guess, unlike the company I work for, the
federal government isn't exactly watching its pennies) of the FBI, and
a note on the back asking me to call. I did, but of course everyone
had gone home for the day so all I got was voice mail.

In the morning, I left another message - seems nobody was in the
office at 8:30 AM either - and eventually got a call back. The
special agaent (what is a special agent, anyway, and how does he
differ from a regular agent?) informed me that he needed to speak with
me personally. At first he didn't want to tell me what it was about,
being vague about having to investigate a complaint, but when I
pressed him he broke down and told me I was under suspicion as a
terrorist! I nearly cracked up.

I suppose that had I actually been an international terrorist, I would
have immediately driven to the airport and taken the next flight out
of the country. Or, given that the Mexican border is only a few hours
drive South, I could have left that way. Then again, I suppose I
would have done that the previous evening, the moment I saw the card.
But since I'm not a terrorist, I simply made an appointment to meet
him at work.

He showed up at the receptionist's desk later that morning. He wore a
suit and tie and carried a briefcase, so he didn't look out of place.
I escorted him to my office, told him to take a seat, and closed the
door. He showed me his ID, and we got down to business.

The agent had NOT done his homework. He didn't know how old I was,
where I was born - anything. Since I am a naturalized citizen, I know
I have a file at the INS - but he didn't, and didn't even bother to
check. After we got through the basics, the story came out.

Seems that someone at my apartment complex had pegged me as
suspicious. I was getting packages and magazines with aviation
markings, and some of them were marked as hazardous materials. Of
course for shipping purposes, aviation paints, primers, dopes,
preservatives, and adhesives are all considered hazardous materials.
Yup, you guessed it. The stuff I had shipped to do my annual this
year (and it was a big annual) made me a terrorism suspect. A dark
tan (we don't have much of a winter in Houston, and I tan easily) and
a beard sealed the deal.

I told him about my airplane, and the annual I was doing. I even
showed him a picture. Like most people, he was amazed that the plane
was a 1965 model, and noted that they seem to hold up better than
cars. No, they don't - they require lots of care. Thus all the boxes
of parts, primers, paints, lubricants... He examined my pilot and
flight instructor certificates, and seemed confused. He said he
couldn't find an expiration date on my pilot certificate. I had to
explain to him that unlike flight instructor certificates, pilot
certificates don't expire. He carefully noted the numbers on his pad,
but I could see his heart wasn't in it anymore.

A few minutes later, I escorted him out of the building. I guess my
moment of glory as a suspected international terrorist was over, so I
returned to my desk, wondering how much tax money was wasted on this
nonsense.

Michael
The pilot formerly known as a suspected international terrorist

"MRQB" wrote in message


The public school system & media here in the usa is breeding nothing
but rats.

What label would we have applied to the neighbors of Muhammed Atta had they
raised the same question on August 11, 2001?

I agree that it's a sad state when we have neighbors spying on each other,
but this sort of thing is *normal* in Smalltown, USA. The difference there
is that everybody knows everybody - and the same concept can be applied to
neighborhoods anywhere. Get to know your neighbors and you'll start to
figure out what's normal and abnormal. Had Michael's neighbor gotten to
know him, he would have known the purpose of all those mysterious
aviation-related mailings and hazardous materials shipments.

That it has become more and more rare for neighbors to actually get to know
each other, in my opinion, is even more sad than your rats.

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_s...veloperid=4415
____________________

deleted

A few minutes later, I escorted him out of the building. I guess my
moment of glory as a suspected international terrorist was over, so I
returned to my desk, wondering how much tax money was wasted on this
nonsense.

Michael
The pilot formerly known as a suspected international terrorist
^^^^^^^^

Uh huh, right.... Has Jay got your mug shot? Just so we can all be on
the lookout for you.

Seriously, Mike, I'm glad you got the guy straightened out. You might
explore the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act). Unless you already have the
information, I think you are entitled to know who tipped off the FBI. You
might want to give him or her the same information you gave the
investigator.
As a former employee of the US government, I was the subject of
numerous background investigations related to sensitive jobs I worked on. I
had a right to, and did, request and receive a report on those
investigations, the statements made, and the list of people questioned.
The reports consisted of photocopies of the actual forms, notes and
letters pertaining to the investigations. In some cases, the material was
redacted to conceal names of certain people who were not germaine to the
investigation.

So it doesn't matter that the TIPS program was killed, there are enough
people who are either scared, informers at heart, or wannabe special
agents to do all the reporting the government could wish for.

Dave Reinhart


Michael wrote:

I have often wondered, with GA under increased scrutiny, how long it
would be before one of us was investigated as a suspected terrorist.
I never thought I would be first.

I came home from the airport last night to find a business card stuck
in the door of my apartment. It had the embossed gold emblem (which
costs quite a bit extra - I guess, unlike the company I work for, the
federal government isn't exactly watching its pennies) of the FBI, and
a note on the back asking me to call. I did, but of course everyone
had gone home for the day so all I got was voice mail.

In the morning, I left another message - seems nobody was in the
office at 8:30 AM either - and eventually got a call back. The
special agaent (what is a special agent, anyway, and how does he
differ from a regular agent?) informed me that he needed to speak with
me personally. At first he didn't want to tell me what it was about,
being vague about having to investigate a complaint, but when I
pressed him he broke down and told me I was under suspicion as a
terrorist! I nearly cracked up.

I suppose that had I actually been an international terrorist, I would
have immediately driven to the airport and taken the next flight out
of the country. Or, given that the Mexican border is only a few hours
drive South, I could have left that way. Then again, I suppose I
would have done that the previous evening, the moment I saw the card.
But since I'm not a terrorist, I simply made an appointment to meet
him at work.

He showed up at the receptionist's desk later that morning. He wore a
suit and tie and carried a briefcase, so he didn't look out of place.
I escorted him to my office, told him to take a seat, and closed the
door. He showed me his ID, and we got down to business.

The agent had NOT done his homework. He didn't know how old I was,
where I was born - anything. Since I am a naturalized citizen, I know
I have a file at the INS - but he didn't, and didn't even bother to
check. After we got through the basics, the story came out.

Seems that someone at my apartment complex had pegged me as
suspicious. I was getting packages and magazines with aviation
markings, and some of them were marked as hazardous materials. Of
course for shipping purposes, aviation paints, primers, dopes,
preservatives, and adhesives are all considered hazardous materials.
Yup, you guessed it. The stuff I had shipped to do my annual this
year (and it was a big annual) made me a terrorism suspect. A dark
tan (we don't have much of a winter in Houston, and I tan easily) and
a beard sealed the deal.

I told him about my airplane, and the annual I was doing. I even
showed him a picture. Like most people, he was amazed that the plane
was a 1965 model, and noted that they seem to hold up better than
cars. No, they don't - they require lots of care. Thus all the boxes
of parts, primers, paints, lubricants... He examined my pilot and
flight instructor certificates, and seemed confused. He said he
couldn't find an expiration date on my pilot certificate. I had to
explain to him that unlike flight instructor certificates, pilot
certificates don't expire. He carefully noted the numbers on his pad,
but I could see his heart wasn't in it anymore.

A few minutes later, I escorted him out of the building. I guess my
moment of glory as a suspected international terrorist was over, so I
returned to my desk, wondering how much tax money was wasted on this
nonsense.

Michael
The pilot formerly known as a suspected international terrorist

hazardous materials. Of
course for shipping purposes, aviation paints, primers, dopes,
preservatives, and adhesives

I will warn my daughter. She is a sailor, and she is forever getting
HAZMAT packages from UPS.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email:

see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com