Author Topic: Egyptian With Airline Uniform Arrested  (Read 1546 times)

Ben

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Egyptian With Airline Uniform Arrested
« on: September 16, 2005, 03:45:15 PM »
Well, this is interesting. The evidence seems pretty cut and dry. I'm just amazed that any potential terrorists would still be plotting air transport related stuff. They've been there, done that.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/16/AR2005091601286_pf.html

Student Arrested After Pilot Uniform Found

The Associated Press
Friday, September 16, 2005; 3:22 PM

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A university student from Egypt was ordered held without bond after prosecutors said they found a pilot's uniform, chart of Memphis International Airport and a DVD titled "How an Airline Captain Should Look and Act" in his apartment.

The FBI is investigating whether Mahmoud Maawad, 29, had any connection to terrorists. He is awaiting trial on charges of wire fraud and fraudulent use of a Social Security number.

Maawad, who is in the United States illegally, told the judge during a hearing Thursday that he is studying science and economics at the University of Memphis.

"My school is everything. I stay in this country for seven years; I stay for the school," he said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Parker said Thursday that the airport-related items were found during a Sept. 9 search.

"The specific facts and circumstances are scary," Parker said.

U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Thomas Anderson ruled that Maawad be held without bond.

"It is hard for the court to understand why he has a large concentration of those (aviation) items, and nothing else to indicate Mr. Maawad plans to stay in the community," Anderson said.

Maawad had ordered $3,000 in aviation materials, including DVDs titled "Ups and Downs of Takeoffs and Landings," "Airplane Talk," "Mental Math for Pilots" and "Mastering GPS Flying," FBI agent Thad Gulczynski testified.

The company reported Maawad to authorities when he didn't pay for $2,500 of merchandise it had delivered, Gulczynski said.
"I'm a foolish old man that has been drawn into a wild goose chase by a harpy in trousers and a nincompoop."

Standing Wolf

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Egyptian With Airline Uniform Arrested
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2005, 06:41:43 PM »
Quote
Maawad, who is in the United States illegally...
Just doing a job Americans don't want to do: that's all.
No tyrant should ever be allowed to die of natural causes.

Antibubba

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Egyptian With Airline Uniform Arrested
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2005, 09:30:12 PM »
It could be an honest mistake-after all, he's a college student, and Halloween is coming up...
If life gives you melons, you may be dyslexic.

Guest

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Egyptian With Airline Uniform Arrested
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2005, 10:51:00 PM »
Quote
The evidence seems pretty cut and dry.
Does it really?

Tell me, which items did the man have in his possession that make him a criminal?



He was here illegaly, so that much is cut and dry at least.

Ben

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Egyptian With Airline Uniform Arrested
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2005, 05:45:18 AM »
He hasn't been convicted of anything, so he's not a criminal, and I never said he was. The fact is, that though law enforcement doesn't profile, I happen to do so from my armchair quarterback position. None of the stuff listed makes him a criminal. I have several of the DVDs myself. The difference is that I work in an airplane and am in flight training for a PPL.

The evidence that makes him a SUSPECT would be the illegal residence in the US, the airline Captain's uniform, the "how to act like a Captain" DVD,  no mention of an interest in flying, flight school, or commercial pilot training, and his country of origin.

If evidence emerges that shows he is enrolled in flight school, or simply has a genuine personal interest in flying, then I will modify my opinion.
"I'm a foolish old man that has been drawn into a wild goose chase by a harpy in trousers and a nincompoop."

matis

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Egyptian With Airline Uniform Arrested
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2005, 06:36:43 AM »
I was just reading about Roger Baldwin, founder of the ACLU.  Turns out he was a self-proclaimed Communist.  He said that democratic institutions should be used to undermine democracy.

The point is that the ACLU view is that the identity of those with AIDS must be kept secret because not doing so would cause more harm to society than the liklihood of more innocent people being infected. (!!)

For me, the same reasoning applies in both instances:  I think that safeguarding society from unnecessary spread of infection trumps keeping the identity of the AIDS carriers secret.

And I think that the worldwide jihad of the Islamofascists should cause us to be extra careful with those suspected of planning to attack us.  Even at the expense of watching individuals in this group extra carefully.  It's too late after they blew themselves up along with so many innocent victims.

Now go ahead and flame away.

matis
Si vis pacem; para bellum.