Begin forwarded message:
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: July 17, 2008 5:20:26 PM PDT
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: After criticizing TSA, CNN reporter put on no-fly
"terrorist watch list"
CNN reporter criticizes TSA,
finds self on terror watch list
David Edwards and Nick Juliano
Published: Wednesday July 16, 2008
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/CNN_reporter_wants_off_terror_watch_0716.html
The post-9/11 airline watch list that is supposed to keep terrorists
off of airplanes has swelled to more than 1 million names, including
at least one investigative reporter who had been critical of the
Transportation Security Agency, which maintains the watch list.
CNN's Drew Griffin reported on the bloating of the watch list, which
an ACLU count pegged at 1,001,308 names Wednesday afternoon.
Griffin's is one of those names, he says.
"Coincidentally, this all began in May, shortly after I began a
series of investigative reports critical of the TSA. Eleven flights
now since May 19. On different airlines, my name pops up forcing me
to go to the counter, show my identification, sometimes the agent
has to make a call before I get my ticket," Griffin reported. "What
does the TSA say? Nothing, at least nothing on camera. Over the
phone a public affairs worker told me again I'm not on the watch
list, and don't even think that someone in the TSA or anyone else is
trying to get even."
The TSA, which is a part of the Department of Homeland Security,
said Griffin's name wasn't even on the watch list, and the agency
blamed the airlines for the delays the reporter experienced. The
airlines, on the other hand, said they were simply following a list
provided by TSA.
While it wouldn't be much of a stretch for plenty of people to
believe the TSA would exercise its revenge via watch-list meddling,
an agency spokesman insists that just isn't the case.
"So if there's any thought or shadow of a thought that TSA somehow
put you on a watch list because of your reporting," spokesman
Christopher White said, "it is absolutely fabricated."
This video is from CNN's American Morning, broadcast July 16, 2008.
http://216.87.173.33/media/2008/0807/cnn_am_terror_watch_list_080716a.flv
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