Originally Posted by
rickair7777
We don't know the full story here. It could have been anything from a TSA employee with a vendetta, to an anonymous tip, to association with known bad guys at the mosque, or legitimate but classified intelligence information. In the case of that latter, they would not legally be able to let the guy have access to the information against him...he obviously doesn't have a security clearance.
Exactly. I also reserve judgment, but the whole thing smacks of abuse of TSA privilege, a government agency, without due process or even knowing charges, which is *fundamentally* un-American.
After the fact, if the pilot is no longer deemed a threat, he should at least know the nature of the charges. If the "anonymous source" needs to be still protected (after false or unsubstantiated information?) they should just say as much. Perhaps they want to continue to monitor the guy.
Paradoxically NOW the pilot is probably much more of a threat, now he might be pi$$ed off at the government for abusing his livelihood. Obviously the vast, vast majority of people wouldn't / can't do anything about it, but the TSA could even provide fuel for some terrorists at this point, providing stories like this for the small minority that want to paint America as an oppressor of the Muslim world.
For the other cases you mentioned, they should just come clean (rogue TSA employee, anonymous tip, etc.) We need an open and responsible government that does not trample rights for "security."