I realize that.....thanks. Way to miss the point. Obviously the fact that they didn't have any luggage was relevant enough that it was included in the story. They still made alot of people uncomfortable so it really doesn;t matter.

If I indicated that I thought they were a threat....I didn't mean to. I don't think they are/were.....however, you can't tell me their actions before they boarded and while on the plane weren't very suspicious and could have easily freaked alot of people out.

I'm sorry, most European countries do not have this thing call the Bill of Rights: namely the "right to bear arms"... When I was both in Paris and in London, the military had a presence at their major airports, not a "TSA" agents who are bound by certain regulations. Which means that the average European citizenry is not strapped... They may have bombs, but they don't have Glocks with 2 clips...

And dudes carried submachine guns both at Orly and at Heathrow.

Also, most European countries don't have the "right to free assembly" or the "freedom of religion"... Which means they can record all your conservations with a microphone and have it on wide-screen in the restrooms...

US Airports are only relegated to having eyes in the sky and major entrances, thru-fares, and checkpoints. Recording for now it not allowed although they have that capability.

The question remains is how inconvenienced do you want to make the average airline business class passenger?

Prepaid Luxury Skate Thrus won't work 'cuz terrorist homies can buy those or hack into the system and look like Joe Doe. Even if we use biometrics...

One way to stop them is... Well think Rick Ross' "Hustlin'" meets TSA Bob... Most of the agents look like thugs anyway, even the women...

I don't know - I live in Minneapolis so it'll be interesting to see how this keeps playing out on the news up here. There was surprisingly little coverage of it. They could very well have been suspicious based on the other behavior - especially the changing seats. Heck, somebody got booted for breastfeeding on a Delta flight a few weeks ago. I just think that the lack of checked baggage isn't suspicious by itself - I've flown 12-15 times this year and I've checked once.

I was told by a guy who worked for the TSA that people with one way tickets were flagged to be watched carefully, especially if they had no checked luggage.

Let's look at this realistically though. The airline was damned if they did and damned if they didn't. If they hadn't acted and these guys did have a terroristic intent, and witnesses were able to say "They did some really suspicious things but nobody did anything", the whole country would be in an uproar. If they act and it turns out that they were innocent, then people are in an uproar. When it comes down to it, I'd rather they err on the side of safety. The whole liquids thing is a good example. There was a threat in Europe of liquid based bombs in innocent looking containers. Now we are severely limited in what liquids we can carry on. Initially they were more strict and now they have lightened it up a little. Was it extremely inconvenient for everybody? You bet. Was it worth it? I think so.

Is it the praying part that's most suspicious..or am I missing something else here?

It isn't suspicious by itself.....its suspicious when it is done by a group of Arab men who have one way tickets and are praying before they board the plane....then switch seats and request large seatbelts.

I have to agree.

I wonder if they knew the "system" and were just screwing with it to make people uncomfortable.

Praying is one thing, the rest of the circumstances and actions could certainly be considered suspicious given what we know about 9/11.

Brother, while I do understand what you are saying, let me play the devil:
Some people would give some thought to: Sam, Ted, Tim, Green River Killer et al.......

And I keep telling myself that I will not get into any thread started by Sock-Puppet A/K/A Ann....have to start remembering that.

Same thing with my girlfriend. Neither one of us have ever understood it. Unless of course the bags to not really stop X-Rays.

I have been stopped due to my shoes having metal supports inside as well as my C-Pap machine.

Now, I just take it everything I am carrying and put it into my travel vest and place it, my belt and shoes into the X-Ray.

Brother, while turning US airliners into cruise-missiles in the US is a new tactic here, it is not a new tactic.

Thought or idea has been around for a long time. There was a plan to crash a plane into Paris several years ago.

I agree.

When a group of Jewish rabbis blows up a plane, then people will get concerned. When a group of Jewish rabbis blows up planes often, hijacks them, etc. then Jewish rabbis will get a reputation. And when Jewish people in general either sit idle or don't consistently denounce these individuals without offering some kind of excuses (ie they were upset at American foreign policy), then Jews in general may be considered potential terrorists. That's just the way it is. People may not like it. But that's how it is. And most people are OK with infringing on a few people's civil liberties to make sure thousands don't die. Plus El Al conducts one of the most comprehensive security checks of any airline. There are armed undercover guards throughout the planes, the planes usually leave from secure terminals, and they even ask Jewish people questions on their upbringing to make sure they are who they say they are. So I doubt many people would worry about anyone praying on El Al.

-Rudey

El Al's security checks are amazing and I truly believe every airline should do it. We would never have another 9/11 again. Yes, the boarding process takes longer but it's thorough. When I flew to Jerusalem with my family, they questioned us about holidays, prayers, where we live, etc.

I'd be willing to stand in line longer and be asked a bunch of questions if it means my flight is safer.

The problem is a knee jerk reaction isn't?

How in the hell does a lady of grey/blue hair in a wheel chair try to get on an Airline and have to take her orthopedict shoes off to be checked?l

Or say a much maturer man with shorts and polo shirt have to take his shoes off for a bomb? Be scanned with a wand to see if any bombs are found in his tennis shoes?

Oh, maybe the Old lady in the wheel chair had bomb in her wheel chair or the Mature older man had explosives in his tennies?:confused:

God, I miss the good old days, when you had your pass, got on the plane, had a drink or food (Real Food) and just get to where you were going.:rolleyes: