Powell defends Cat Stevens move

[goodhue]

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,10863816%255E1702,00.html


Powell defends Cat Stevens move
From correspondents in New York
24sep04

US Secretary of State Colin Powell today defended a US decision to deny entry to British singer Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens.

"We have no charges against him," Mr Powell told reporters at the foreign press centre. "We have nothing that would be actionable in our courts, or in the courts in the United Kingdom, I'm sure.
"But it is the procedure that we have been using to know who is coming into our country, know their backgrounds and interests and see whether we believe it is appropriate for them to come in," he said.

"With respect to Cat Stevens ... our Homeland Security Department and intelligence agencies found some information concerning his activities that they felt under our law required him to be placed on a watch list and therefore deny him entry into the United States," Mr Powell said.

"In this instance, information was obtained that suggested he should be placed on the watch list and that's why he was denied entry into the country," he said.

* * *

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,10863816%255E1702,00.html

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. So I ask, you stupid fucking idiots

why don't you let him in and then tail him and see what kind of terrorists he contacts (using Patriot Act powers) so you can "bag" some bad guys?
You people are morons Powell.

[bahrbearian]

5. The same with Padia (sp ?) you have no evidence, get more

find their contacts , if there are any, seems suspect to me.

[Ilsa]

22. Padilla.

[goforit]

10. LOL!!!!!................Let them have it!!!Way to get it off your chest.

[slojim240]

21. Anyone who give money to Palestinian charities has to be a terrorist,

you know this. He gave money to Hamas...which the US and Israel have labeled a "terrorist" organization, although the IDF is not one. Hamas started out being a political and social organization. However, fighting against occupiers and defending yourself makes you a terrorist so that's why Cat is in the dog house.

[Buck Rabbit]

28. Not true, the Saudis give money to Palestinian charities..

and we all know they have nothing to do with terrorism. So make that "anyone except Saudis who give money to Palestinian charities has to be a terrorist" and it will get the biff .. boom .. Powell serious and stately nod of concurrence.

[Demeter]

26. On That Basis, We Should Deport Ashcroft

and strip him of citizenship, throw in two years solitary in Cuba, even, the man needs a vacation!

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. This was bizarre. Why did they ground the plane?

Why didn't they just let the plane land at it's destination and then send him back? Or, just not let him on it in the first place?
Did they figure out he was on the plane mid flight or something?

[louis-t]

4. yes, they did.

[bahrbearian]

13. Tells you alot about Passenger screening.

I work constuction at Sea-Tac, if I had to go through passenger screening I wouldn't work there. I can escort 7 people and 3 vechicles or trucks onto the AOA or Tarmac, all my escortees need is a Driver's license or state ID card. 3 trucks onto the Tarmac, but I can't take a screw driver into the passenger terminal, once on the tarmac we have access to every thing..

[goodhue]

6. yes

They reportedly made the match or "discovery" after plane had left London . . .

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040923_1063.html

Islam's United Airlines flight to Dulles International Airport was diverted to Maine's Bangor International Airport when U.S. officials reviewing the passenger list discovered he was aboard.

* * *

Islam, who was traveling with his 21-year-old daughter, Maymanah, told reporters in London he was treated well by FBI agents. He said he was bound for Nashville, although the purpose of his visit was not immediately clear.

Islam said he had been well treated by U.S. officials. "The one positive thing I can say is that a lot of security officers are pleased because they got my autograph," he said.

"People make mistakes. I just hope they made a big mistake. We'll see," he said.

[goodhue]

35. Q: Why was Islam allowed on the plane?

http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D859VF9G0-267.shtml

Q: Why was Islam allowed on the plane?

A: United Airlines and the government are investigating. But some airlines have old reservation systems that only include part of a person´s name. Sometimes names, especially Arabic ones, are spelled several different ways and don´t match the names on the lists. It wasn´t until Islam´s passenger data was forwarded to the National Targeting Center that trained law enforcement officials identified him.

[bahrbearian]

3. So with Allwali's "activities" he get's to go to the WH.

[louis-t]

7. and the * family has ties to Saudi terrorists

yet they still board planes.

edit: Allawi was an assassin for Saddam Hussein.

[Sydnie]

8. I hope Kerry invites him to sing Peace Train at his ball!!! n/t

[goforit]

12. Sydnie????........You're BRILLIANT!!!!!

LOL!!!!

[coalition_unwilling]

9. Qui custodiet ipsos custodes? (Who will guard the guardians?)

The real issue is due process and how Yusuf Islam's name got on the Watch List in the first place. Disgraceful

[goodhue]

11. He has been denied entry to Israel in the past.

On theory he donated money to hamas, which he denies.

[bahrbearian]

14. Tells you lots

Who is pulling the strings, did Sharon tell us to invade Iraq, and use F-16's to bomb civilians?

[coalition_unwilling]

16. Hamas runs a wide variety of charitable programs

That's neither here nor there. On what grounds was Yusuf denied entry as a "threat to national security". Enough of the mumbo-jumbo, where's the evidence?

[goodhue]

18. I'm not aware of any evidence.

But maybe Israel angle explains why he ended up on US list.

[saigon68]

15. Colon Bowel = Minority Lap-Dog to the Bush Criminals

So what else woould you expect?

[NeoConsSuck]

17. Isn't Cat Stevens a citizen of the usa?

[goodhue]

20. This is the question I have been wondering since the story broke.

I don't know the answer.
But I think maybe he has always been a citizen of Britain.
When he started his career in 1966 at age of 17 he was a British son of Greek parents . . .

http://www.majicat.com/articles/RS471.htm

[boxster]

19. Notice that Powell intentionally used "Cat Stevens" instead of

his current Muslim name?

[Zorra]

23. I knew the lyrics to "Peace Train" would get Cat Stevens in trouble:

These lyrics are definitely not in accordance with Bu$h/PNAC policies. My God, what could Cat Stevens have been thinking when he wrote this? Didn't he realize that someday fascists way worse than Nixon would take over our government, and that these lyrics would make him an enemy of our warmongering bloodthirsty fascist state?

Next Homeland Security will be going after Bruce Springsteen and John Fogerty.

Peace Train
by Cat Stevens

Now I've been happy lately, thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be, something good has begun

Oh I've been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be, some day it's going to come

Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again

Now I've been smiling lately, thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be, something good has begun

Oh peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train
Come on now peace train
Yes, peace train holy roller

Everyone jump upon the peace train
Come on now peace train

Get your bags together, go bring your good friends too
Cause it's getting nearer, it soon will be with you

Now come and join the living, it's not so far from you
And it's getting nearer, soon it will all be true

Now I've been crying lately, thinking about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating, why can't we live in bliss

Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again

[Beausoleil]

36. These lyrics are proof!

Cat Stevens hates America!

[MasonJar]

24. Powell is becoming more and more lap dog.

[Disturbed]

25. Evidence?

That inconvience is no longer required in the New World Order.

[theHandpuppet]

27. And I'll just bet the Bin Ladens...

... are still free to come and go as they please

[tinanator]

29. each and every one of them

take that to the bank. Osama is in every bit as much danger as Ken Lay.

[biftonnorton]

30. It's All About Protecting Us From His Shitty Music

Thank you, Mr. Powell! In the name of All That Does Not Suck, thank you!!!

[laylah]

31. What a cheneying

bunch of b.s...GAWD...have these people no conscience, integrity, HONOR????????????...nevermind... :mad:

Jenn

[steely]

32. He's more of a Mel Torme' kind of guy anyway...

dork

[LynnTheDem]

33. America; GUILTY until proven innocent.

No evidence needed. No proof of guilt required.

Hitler's laughing.

[Nicholas_J]

34. Crock

If they have a list, Yusuf Islam was not on it in July, the lasttime he was in the United States.

Being a relatively well known and relatively outspoken Islamic apologist and humanitarian, I find it hard to beleive it has taken them THREE YEARS to discover him and put him on the list.

He was also in New York City in May, to launch the U.S. branch of one of the childrens charties he runs:

Friends of Small Kindness gathered in New York and Los Angeles for the official launch of its new charity office in the USA. In Orange County, Los Angeles, where Small Kindness is registered, some two hundred guests, including journalists, eminent business people and friends, attended the launch on 22 May where Yusuf Islam talked and showed a short film highlighting the charity's activities. Attendees were visibly moved by the images of orphans and young victims of war. “Each one of us is a child deep down, and we know what it is like to be hurt,” said the Chairman, Yusuf Islam, “but prolonged hunger for days on end is something few of us have ever experienced.”

Earlier in the week in New York, the Chairman attended a similar event at the Tribeca Film Center which previewed the release of the new Majikat: Earth Tour DVD. Dr. Noel Brown, President of the Friends of the UN, gave a glowing account of Small Kindness' aid work in the Balkans and Iraq. The charity received a number of generous pledges to help fund its work and cover ongoing expenses which, even with a reduced budget, is in the region of $100K a month.

During his time in the U.S., Yusuf Islam visited an Interfaith initiative in Washington as well as the offices of USAID and was able to discuss possible co-operation on future projects

http://yusufislam.org.uk/sk/activities_updates.htm



This is more related to the election than anything. Perhaps they decided to make an example of any non-U.S> citizen who has opennly opposed the War in Iraq.

[DFWJock]

37. Thank goodness

the Bush administration is keeping us safe from Cat Stevens.
The Bush "Security Moms" will sleep better tonight.

[SKKY]

38. I thought Powell was much smarter than this...

...But again, as in the case of John McCain, I'm mistaken.