Terrorist watch list keeps ballooning, nearing 800,000 names

[babylonsister]

Terrorist watch list keeps ballooning
Nearing 800,000 names, list called 'cumbersome'

By Mimi Hall
USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The federal government's terrorist watch list has swelled to more than 755,000 names, according to a government report that has raised worries about the list's effectiveness.

The size of the list, used to check people entering the country through land border crossings, airports and sea ports, has grown by 200,000 names a year since 2004.

Some lawmakers, security experts and civil rights advocates warn that it will become useless if it includes too many people.

"It undermines the authority of the list," says Lisa Graves of the Center for National Security Studies. "There's just no rational, reasonable estimate that there's anywhere close to that many suspected terrorists."

The exact number of people on the list, compiled after 9/11 to help government agents keep terrorists out of the country, is unclear, according to the report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Some people may be on the list more than once because they are listed under multiple spellings.

more...

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20071024/a_watchlist24.art.htm

[aquart]

1. I want that fucker burned. Take it to San Diego.

Some people may be on the list for shits and grins. I want it GONE.

[spanone]

7. reminds me of nixon's 'enemies list'. you can bet names are on there for political reasons

[progpen]

Pretty soon there will be more people on the list than off.

[shain from kane]

2. Is this a power that HRC will roll back? n/t

[tuckessee]

9. LOL! No way.

Kucinich or Paul are the only ones who would roll back terror lists.

{Of course, both of them probably are on that list for not towing the line}

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. They myust be adding everyone who ever ate cous-cous or listened to Cat Stevens.

[MADem]

4. Oh joy, I have COMPANY!!!!

I'm one of those "dangerous" types--I guess all those years in service to my country and my gubmint pension make me nefarious in some fashion!!

But hey, mah fellow Murkins...you can feel safe in the knowledge that if you board a plane, you WON'T be followed by a MOON SHADOW...because Cat Stevens is on the companion NO FLY list!!!

[Xipe Totec]

5. He's making a list, checking it twice...

wants to find out who's naughty and nice...



And you're all very very naughty!!

[babylonsister]

6. Now there's a cheery holiday picture.

:wow:

[Xipe Totec]

8. In the year 2801,

Mom's Friendly Robot Company had made up a robotic version of St. Nick himself to determine who's been naughty and who's been nice. Unfortunately, due to a programming error, the jolly robotic elf soon turns into a mad murderer when his standards are set too high and he will kill anyone who has been naughty at sundown.

"Xmas Story", fourth episode, season two of Futurama.

[mmonk]

10. Echos again.