Does Bush Admin. See Union Membership as Sign of Terrorism?

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/07/30/does-bush-admin-see-union-membership-as-sign-of-terrorism/

by Mike Hall, Jul 30, 2007





If a passenger flying from Europe to the United States is a member of a union, is gay or a Buddhist, will knowing that information help Homeland Security fight terrorism? The Bush administration thinks so. Starting in August, airlines flying from Europe to the United States will be required to provide sensitive personal passenger data about a person’s race, sexual orientation, health, religion and more if it’s in the airline reservation system.

The Washington Post reported last week that under a new agreement, approved by the European Union (EU) Parliament and signed by the United States, background information on travelers includes:

“racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership” and data about an individual’s health, traveling partners and sexual orientation.

The information will be retained for 15 years by the Department of Homeland Security and can be shared with other government agencies and nations. Airlines do not routinely keep such information in their systems, and the Post reports the personal details could end up in a passenger’s file because of requests for special services or routine questioning by airlines or travel agents about emergency contacts, traveling companions, next of kin and lodging. The Post adds:

Even a request for a king-size bed at a hotel could be noted in the database.

The agreement, which expands on a previous program, has privacy and civil libertarians on both sides of the Atlantic alarmed. When European officials balked at the breadth of the program earlier this summer, the Post reported the Bush administration threatened to turn back flights from Europe if the deal was not approved.

FULL story at link.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

1. Mike Hall. Cool.

:toast: MKJ

[panader0]

2. Hell, I can't afford to fly anywhere anyway

I'm a former member of Bricklayers and Trowel Trades Local # 1, Tucson, Az.
The union has virtually no power here in Sierra Vista, 80 miles south of Tucson. In fact, I believe there is a direct correlation between union membership and proximity to the Mexican border.

[billyoc]

3. Who was the Bush cabinet member that called the NEA a terrorist org.?

oh, yeah, Rod Paige, sec. of education. :eyes:

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. Article... and yes, many labor organizers in the southern hemisphere

have met with untimely deaths dealt by those who consider them to be a terrorist threat.


http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Bush_Gang/Manufacturing_Fear.html

According to Noam Chomsky, in Nicaragua alone, the US killed in excess of two million defenseless people with the aid of CIA sponsored death squads; a total that exceeds the per capita sum of American soldiers killed in all the wars America has ever fought. Their purpose was to suppress progressive movements in the Southern Hemisphere, to assassinate labor organizers, and indigenous leaders; to prevent the rise to power of leaders who favor people above profits. The US has a long and bloody history of suppressing populist movements wherever they occur. Perhaps they bear too much resemblance to Democracy-so they have to be destroyed. Reagan and his minions labeled them communist threats because that is what sells among the gullible American people.

[catnhatnh]

5. Correct answer is YES...

anything other than full obeisance is in fact a threat and a crime.I know that you know this, but your readers must understand that to the current powers, any objection to ongoing exploitation must be crushed.