Unlikely Terrorists On No Fly List
Steve Kroft Reports List Includes President Of Bolivia, Dead 9/11 Hijackers
-
Play CBS Video
Video
No Fly List
Steve Kroft reports on the government's inaccurate and sloppy list of people who possibly pose a threat to civilian aviation.
-
Video
Kroft's Reporter's Notebook
Only On The Web: Steve Kroft discusses how the "no fly" list is affecting average Americans with no ties to terrorism.
-
Video
Average Joe On The No Fly List
As Steve Kroft reports, the no fly list contains the names of politicians, dead people - including some of the 9/11 hijackers - and average Joes, like a group of men named "Robert Johnson."
-
Photo
(CBS/iStockphoto)
-
Interactive
America On Guard
The Homeland Security Department, the terror alert system, preparedness quiz and more.
-
Interactive
Sept. 11 And Since
Reflecting on the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the day that changed America.
-
Interactive
Inside The FBI
See the bureau's highs and lows in this interactive portrait of the crime-fighting agency.
"I mean, do you think that the president of Bolivia's gonna highjack an airplane?" Kroft asks Bucella.
"I don't know if what you're talking about is true 'cause I haven't had an opportunity to take a look at it. And quite frankly, I'm not sure if that is accurate," she replies.
It would certainly seem to be. The Evo Morales on the No Fly List has three variations of his name listed along with a date of birth, all matching the president of Bolivia.
The names on the list are Evo Morales, Juan Evo Morales Aima and Evo Morales Ayma, all born on Oct. 26, 1959.
"We've been told by a number of different people that what happened under the tight deadlines was that the CIA and various agencies just took all the names that they had floating around for one reason or another and just dumped 'em into your computer," Kroft says.
"And that's why we are undergoing the record by record review," Bucella states.
Jack Cloonan says in the headlong rush to get a list, they forgot quality control. "And, we forgot what this was about. This is to prevent an Islamic terrorist who is associated with al Qaeda from getting on a plane. It lacks efficiency and, it makes us, look ineffective and ill equipped," he says.
It also has created enormous frustration and aggravation for thousands of innocent travelers who have the misfortune of sharing a name with someone on the list and some of the names are among the most common in America. Like Gary Smith, John Williams or Robert Johnson. 60 Minutes found 12 of them and brought them to New York for an interview.
In New York, Kroft spoke to the group, all of them named Robert Johnson; all said they have trouble getting on airplanes.
They don’t look like a very dangerous group. There is a politician, a soccer coach, businessmen, even a member of the military. Yet they say they are pulled aside and interrogated, sometimes for hours until someone at the Transportation Security Administration decides they are not the Robert Johnson on the No Fly List. And they say it happens nearly every time they go to the airport.
"Oh, at least – at least 15 to 20 times. At least," one of the Robert Johnsons tells Kroft.
"Probably for close to 100 segments, every time I would go to get onto an airplane, I would have to go through the process," another says.
"I had my military ID and you know, I go on military bases all the time," Robert Johnson says. "So I can get on any base in the country, but I can't fly on a plane, because I am on the No Fly List."
The Robert Johnson meant to be on the No Fly List would seem to be the known alias of a 62-year-old black man who was convicted of plotting to bomb a Hindu temple and a movie theatre in Toronto. After serving 12 years, he was deported to Trinidad. But the airlines ticket agents don’t have any of that information on their computer screens. They just have the name, not even a date of birth.
"There's gotta be some common sense in there. Somebody behind that desk has to say, 'This isn't the guy they're looking for.' Come on," one remarks.
Asked what is the worst part of the experience, one of the Johnsons tells Kroft, "The humiliation factor. And, I get calls on my cell phone from my coworkers saying, 'You gonna make the flight? You gonna make the flight?' And, I'm sitting here in a panic sweatin' and, you know, to an extent he's thinking like 'Or, am I traveling with a criminal here?'"
One of the Robert Johnsons was even strip-searched. "I had to take off my pants, I had to take off my sneakers, then I had to take off my socks. I was treated like a criminal."
Produced By Ira Rosen
©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.


- 1
- 2
- next
See all 57 CommentsAnd they wonder why we object?
It does not surprise me at all that this administration thinks Indiana is first on the list of states that have the highest risk of a terror attack. They are about that dumb.
4 October 2006: The US Attorney%u2019s office and the FBI announced yesterday that a federal grand jury issued a 6-count indictment against Michael Curtis REYNOLDS, 47, formerly of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, for his role in trying to assist al Qaeda in conducting terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. REYNOLDS was charged with:
-Two counts of attempting to provide material support to al-Qaeda;
-One count of soliciting to use explosives to destroy natural gas pipeline facilities.
-One count of distributing information through the Internet regarding explosive devices with the intent that the information be used for, and in furtherance of, a federal crime of violence;
-Two counts of illegally possessing hand grenades.
http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/site/modules/news/
I agree that we should pay extra close attention to Middle eastern people, esp. Muslims.....but we should also be aware that we do have traitors in this country and I would gladly submit myself to be searched every time I got an airplane if they found me suspicious in the least, heck I would even miss my flight for it.
After everything the USA has done for me and the rest of the world it is the least I can do for it.
4 October 2006: The US Attorney%u2019s office and the FBI announced yesterday that a federal grand jury issued a 6-count indictment against Michael Curtis REYNOLDS, 47, formerly of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, for his role in trying to assist al Qaeda in conducting terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. REYNOLDS was charged with:
-Two counts of attempting to provide material support to al-Qaeda;
-One count of soliciting to use explosives to destroy natural gas pipeline facilities.
-One count of distributing information through the Internet regarding explosive devices with the intent that the information be used for, and in furtherance of, a federal crime of violence;
-Two counts of illegally possessing hand grenades.
http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/site/modules/news/
Don't we love it when stories like these are on local television news and a person or two has their name taken off the list? These people are so un-American! Take one [annoyance] for the U.S. of A!
I often like hearing about members of congress being stopped. Thank God we live in the land of the free, and home of the brave. (But please don't bring more than 4 ounces of shampoo on a flight. We need don't want you to get carried away; we are free, but not that free.)
At first glance it may appear stupid. But, what better way to bypass security than to use a name that everyone has removed from their lists!
I do not believe every "security agent" will remember EVERY name that has been associated with terror. I think NOT!
I am a white, middle-aged, middle class man born and raised in the USA. I have never committed a crime or even been arrested. I assure you that I have done nothing worthy of being called a terrorist.
Except that I pay cash to buy plane tickets, fly one-way in my consulting business, and take flights at the last minute due to emergencies. So I am considered a likely terrorist. Never mind the fact that real terrorists might be smart enough to buy round-trip tickets with a credit card more than a week in advance.
Or maybe they have figured out who I am from what I write on these blogs?
Fortunately I simply let them know up front that I am on the list and hand all my documentation to them up front. I have never been striped searched and within about 10-15 minutes after they make the call I am usually allowed to get my ticket and move along.
It is amost a joke now. Sad to think that they cant or wont fix those who are like me not out to bring down a plane cant get off the list but it is the nature of flying now adays.
Interestingly enough when I fly out of country I am not held up at all and allowed to move freely through the flight process.
Guess I am not on an INternational Terroriest List thankfully.
It is bothersome that the government cant fix those of us they have come to know and fly frequently cant get off the list because of a similar name.
I have gotten use to delays and phone calls across the country as they try to figure out if I am carrying a Bomb or shoe laces.
For the Government to not be able to correct on the fly the National Do Not Fly List in this day and age of Technology is a farce in my view. I do not blame bush at all for this. I blame congress for its pitiful way it conducts itself.
I simply know to tell the ticket agent in advance that I am on the List and wait my turn to get cleared. The price we pay for our freedom.
I am not upset just wish that they could get their act together.
Please let me know how citzen can best help the Public.
Sincerely,
lsl_belt@yahoo.com
Though I'm not a Bush fan, I don't blame Bush for this one - its beneath his pay grade, so-to-speak. The real responsibility lies with the heads of the CIA, FBI, etc.
The only role that congress plays here is for funding (which they clearly did, to the tune of $144 million according to the article) and oversight, which they have NOT done since Bush has been elected.
However, blaming the congress for lack of oversight is alot like blaming a referee for not calling a foul. The player is responsible for the foul, not the ref.
At least if all of the poles are right we might have a new set of refs in Washington that might call a few more fouls.
Can anyone say," political witch hunt?"
BUSH Hater= Supporter of The Bill of Rights = No Fly List! God save America from Bush!!
"I simply know to tell the ticket agent in advance that I am on the List and wait my turn to get cleared. The price we pay for our freedom."
is just so counter-intuitive that I had to register to point it out.
What you're saying is that taking away our freedom to freely circulate the country until we prove that we're not someone on a arbitrarily created government list is the price we have to pay for freedom. That is, of course, ridiculous and our founding fathers are probably rolling in their graves right now.
Let's be clear about what we're trading--freedom for a little bit of temporary safety.
Now don't get me wrong. I like safety, but I don't favor the idea of putting myself in a jail cell because I might get myself killed in a car accident.
-z
"I simply know to tell the ticket agent in advance that I am on the List and wait my turn to get cleared. The price we pay for our freedom."
is just so counter-intuitive that I had to register to point it out.
What you're saying is that taking away our freedom to freely circulate the country until we prove that we're not someone on a arbitrarily created government list is the price we have to pay for freedom. That is, of course, ridiculous and our founding fathers are probably rolling in their graves right now.
Let's be clear about what we're trading--freedom for a little bit of temporary safety.
Now don't get me wrong. I like safety, but I don't favor the idea of putting myself in a jail cell because I might get myself killed in a car accident.
-z
We are so proud of you hissteps4u. Carrying the burden of freedom for all of us.
If we had more people like you on the list, the check in lines at the airport would go so much faster.
All of you heroes would just step out of line being so brave and selfless while you pay for our freedom.
Thanks again.
Oh by the way, your attitude is what%u2019s allows a corrupt or inept government to succeed in making policy that cause all of us to loose our freedoms..
Michael Edwards
Texas
SNAFU
!
To paraphrase what Mark Twain once said, Wahington is an asylum and the inmates are running it. This is an example of getting what you paid for, incompetence on a large scale and growing.
Clyde Harris
I'm all for homeland security, but isn't there a way we can be secure without preventing ordinary US citizens from getting jobs?
Not me!
People should quit their whining and be grateful!
I feel bad for the people who have to go through extra security.So go early you should be used to it by now.
44,000 checks not to have a repeat of 9/11 is worth it!Ask the families of the victims!
I am sorry. This time you got it wrong. Are there data issues with the 'no fly list'?, undoubtedly. Does that cause problems?, sure.
Steve, I believe you may be aware that the biggest threat to the country remains the terrorist ability to import and build a nuclear weapon. These very people on that list have been attempting that for ten to twenty years. The same terrorists that bombed the world trade center in 1993, turned up again in 2001.
Do I want to be 'strip searched' at the airport? , certainly not. But i still prefer that to what existed prior to 2001, no list at all.
If you are intent on 'embarrassing' government officials, there are many places to turn, start with those who opened and run a jail in Cuba, that is there, because our President is afraid to subject the men we have arrested to the American Law system.
Please let us know when the list is repaired. Of course, it should be as accurate as possible.
There should be no private interest in security. That is godfather bs.
It is for your own good. It might help to go tho the TSA website and see the latest restrictions so it will speed your process of getting through the checkpont faster.
My boarding was delayed for the first time today, in my Department of Defense related travels from Denver to Alb, NM, apparently because I am now on a terrorist watch list. You should be aware of the following:1) I am a scientist with TOP SECRET DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CLEARANCE AND HAVE BEEN DOING WORK FOR THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT FOR MY ENTIRE CAREER OF NEARLY 30 YEARS. In fact, today I flew to New Mexico to give a talk to Government Scientists on my work. I nearly missed the flight because you have just seen fit to add me to your watch list;2) My name is not John Smith or some other common name that may be used by someone of real interest to you. There is only one Jeffrey ... in the United States.I deserve a non-form-letter reply on why my future travels will be delayed. If you believe that I may have some terrorist connection, then you MUST CONTACT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, IMMEDIATELY, AND ADVISE THEM TO TAKE AWAY MY TOP SECRET CLEARANCE. You cannot have a scientist helping his Government develop laser weapons and also put that person on some no fly watch list. (I have also received Q-clearance from the Department of Energy)
They either are or are not.
And... You don't know until they do something. The consequences far out weigh the time of inconvienience spent on extra security.
I for one am very glad that people who have been dead for ten years will have to face questioning should they ever try to board a flight.
It makes me feel so much more safer.
And heck, I never want to sit next to Osama (or Usama) Bin Laden should he ever board a flight.
Goodness gracious me - whatever would we talk about?
His suntan? His camels? His view of desert from his cave?
Thank god the Bush Admin is on top of all this terrorism business.
- 1
- 2
- next
See all 57 Comments