9/11 Redux: 'Thousands of Aliens' in U.S. Flight Schools Illegally

[sabra]

Source: ABC News


Former FAA Inspector: TSA's Enforcement of Post-9/11 Laws 'Basically Nonexistent'

Thousands of foreign student pilots have been able to enroll and obtain pilot licenses from U.S. flight schools, despite tough laws passed in the wake of the 9/ll attacks, according to internal government documents obtained by ABC News.

"Some of the very same conditions that allowed the 9-11 tragedy to happen in the first place are still very much in existence today," wrote one regional security official to his boss at the TSA, the Transportation Security Administration.

"Thousands of aliens, some of whom may very well pose a threat to this country, are taking flight lessons, being granted FAA certifications and are flying planes," wrote the TSA official, Richard A. Horn, in 2005, complaining that the students did not have the proper visas.

Under the new laws, American flight schools are only supposed to provide pilot training to foreign students who have been given a background check by the TSA and have a specific type of visa.

But in thousands of cases that has not happened, according to the documents and current and former government officials involved in the program.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4353991&page=1

[babylonsister]

1. Wow. Rec'd. nt

[underpants]

2. Tastes just like the first Bush term

[Kikosexy2]

14. Are the students...

from Saudi Arabia?....hmmm...9/11 smells like inside job?....

[MarkR1717]

32. Hi, You're very attractive....

....can I give you a ride on my Fokker?

[lovuian]

3. Homeland Security is such a scam

its open season on America

[DesertFlower]

27. i agree.

they search us when we get on planes, but most of the cargo is not inspected. the ports are wide open.

this is how they keep us safe?

terrorists take their time and plan things very carefully.

[MarkR1717]

33. Just close that security business down...

..there's so many other things more worthwhile.

heck, I don't mind getting blown up if I have a few extra $$$$. That's the main thing.

[liberal4truth]

34. Not to mention all the foriegn truck drivers that are rolling down the highways loaded with chemical

biological and other hazardous substances.

The TSA and Homeland Security are a joke.

[tanyev]

4. TSA is too busy strip searching grannies at the airport.

[smoogatz]

6. And detaining dying babies.

[DesertFlower]

28. they took a little tiny nail scissors

away from my 84 year old mom.

[OnyxCollie]

39. They're protecting us from toothpaste and other cremes. nt

[seemslikeadream]

5. I guess they still can't imagine

[smoogatz]

7. If there's another 9/11-style attack using hijacked planes

We'd have angry mobs with pitchforks and torches at the gates of the White House, most likely. And then the DHS could try out their groovy new mass torture ray and those internment camps and trains with built-in shackles we've been reading about, and whatever the fuck else they're cooking up to quell massive political unrest in this country.

[Plucketeer]

25. If there were another attack

There'd be panic for a couple of months and then the sheeple would get back to their "reality" shows on TV. After all, if we panic and don't act like everything's just fine - the terruriss win! :banghead:

[thecrow]

47. Personally....

I'd go shopping.

[ladywnch]

8. at the end of the day, this administration WANTS another 9/11 style attack

they'll then use it to justify everything they've done and everything else they've tried to do. They point to the Dems and say "see, they've prevented us from protecting you. They're the reason."
The fact they've failed to do anything except lining their own pockets and those of their buddies will not come in to play.

[Plucketeer]

26. I agree!

What's a few hundred or thousand innocents? Hell - we've got alot of kids in uniform we can sacrafice to make it look like we're doin' somethin' in retaliation! And you can bet your sweet rear, it'll come to light that it happened because some damned do-goodies stood in the way of reading every bit of mail, e-mail, phone calls, whatever!

[NoSheep]

37. They've been threatening to pull another since the last they perpetrated.

[Phred42]

9. Makes Sense

How else are the Republican going to get their next "next Pearl Harbor" and justify their overt destruction of the Constitution?

[marias23]

10. Wow. Now I am really afraid.

Monumental incompetence.

[yorgatron]

24. it's NOT incompetence.

it's just supposed to look like it.
welcome to DU marias23! :hi:

[ConcernedCanuk]

11. in 2005 - EIGHT THOUSAND got licenced without TSA approval, now THAT's scary.

.
.
.

From the posted article:

"McNease, who retired last year, says in one year alone, 2005, he found some 8,000 foreign students in the FAA database who got their pilot licenses without ever being approved by the TSA."

Frigadee, we's just askin' for trouble . . .

Time fer me to start diggin a hole sumwhere.

[leftchick]

12. well at least they can still spy on americans with abandon

that is the priority of this administration, domestic political enemies/terrorists.

[nebula]

13. Heckuva job Chertoff...!!

[Vinca]

15. Hope the flight schools report the ones not interested in landings. nt

[LSK]

16. another day, another completely unbelieveable fuckup

[aldo]

17. Well duh, . . . why should the Republofascists care?

Of course they never closed this "threat" -- because it isn't a threat. Neither are borders, port security etc. -- because they are the terrorists. It's not the Islamofascists, it's the Republofacists.

[liberal N proud]

18. All because bu$h can't spy on us

Riiight?

:wtf:

[frog92969]

19. Real worried about national security, aren't they?

I guess there was no profit or political advantage in covering that door.

[lonestarnot]

20. Gee how sweet.

:sarcasm:

[goforit]

21. And they really think the Mihop president gives a damn?

[rasputin1952]

22. Let me see...fine to spy on US citizens...OK to allow foreign

nationals to go to flight school w/o a background check...is there anyone who does not see the insanity of this?


bush...the man who lives for terror...and to scream about the "legality" of spying on citizens who would have nothing to do w/terrorism...except be a victim of such.

No idea how much I despise that piece of crap known as the worst president EVER!!!

[indepat]

23. Junior's minions hard at work keeping us safe

[Wizard777]

29. The Bush administration is too busy counting the hundreds of billions they are making off Iraq

to worry about this.

[sarcasmo]

30. LIHOP is so obvious.

[Aviation Pro]

31. Uh, no....

...the visa in question is called an M-1 visa. It is a vocational visa that allows a foreign national to train in the U.S. for a twelve month duration. For flight training, it needs to be coupled with a TSA background investigation that needs to be submitted for every certificate or type rating that the student trains for (in this case Private, Commercial and any aircraft (or simulator) that has a gross takeoff weight of 12,500 lbs or is a turbo-jet).

Only select schools that have filed the proper paperwork and have been approved can train foreign nationals and in this case, the moron from TSA is probably complaining because some, and I mean some students, are reaching the point of overextension and are trying to finish up their ratings before they return to their country of origin. Since there is a dearth of flight instructors nowadays, many flight schools cannot complete the requisite training before the 12-month period ends and students (and their parents) in desparation try to find schools that can finish their training (this is a no-go if there is less than four months left on their visas).

Finally, the vast majority of foreign nationals are from India and China and are trying to secure pilot positions in their countries by training here in the U.S. because compared to their nations the training is relatively inexpensive and available. TSA morons, of course, are overreacting to what amounts to a non-event and no Fixed Based Operator or flight school owner in his/her right mind would train a foreign national without checking the blocks (all schools that are authorized to train foreigners are subject to unannounced inspections).

Remember, TSA stands for Thousands Standing Around.

[Lasher]

35. OK so I'll just trust 'em

After all they've earned it.

[NoSheep]

36. Naturally. I groan when I think of what an airport does with potentially hazardous

materials they confiscate as we go through security; escorted to the dumpster by an expert working for the housekeeping service.

Seen at a gas station outside DC:
Homeland Security Alert:
ORANGE
Inquire within at cashier.

These fucks don't even care if you see through the lies. It's all to scare you into behaving like a good little fascist. With every move the demonstrate their guilt. MIHOP.
:kick:

[AnnieBW]

38. Don't the aliens already know how to fly the saucers

before they get to Earth? I mean, really! No wonder they crashed in Roswell!

[Redstone]

40. Oh, this is just fucking stupid. May I quote from your post? Here you go:

"some of whom may very well pose a threat to this country"

"MAY VERY WELL?" Well? Yeah, they MAY. But DO they?

Unsupported suppositions don't mean jack shit. And they're NOT news.

Redstone

[Baby Snooks]

41. And of course by Friday the Democrats will be blamed...

The Bush Administration will find some way to blame the Democrats. They didn't pass this or that. Or didn't fund this or that. Or didn't do this or that. And all the Republicans who are still loyal to the party will wave their little flags and blame the Democrats as well.

[happygoluckytoyou]

42. MY NAME IS GEORGE W BUSH AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE

[TygrBright]

43. So, what planet are most of the aliens from?

And how can they operate all the switches and hang onto the control levers with those tentacles?

whimsically,
Bright

[donheld]

44. Thanks for the funny but,

this better be taken very seriously.

[Twist_U_Up]

45. If ABC is reporting on this, then something may be coming.

If Bushco is allowing ABC to air this story they are trying to accomplish something:

1. Fear
or
2. They want a cover-up of thier next attack on thier own people.

911 was an inside job

[bdamomma]

46. yea, our daily dose of FEAR.