327'ned

The New York Times has more on the flight that scared the bejezus out of Annie Jacobsen. Ms. Jacobson was convinced that Syrian musicians were actually terrorists, and wrote an account of her "ordeal" for Women's Wall Street.

However, Federal Air Marshals on the flight offer a different account:

One of the major remaining questions about Northwest Airlines Flight 327 on June 29 from Detroit to Los Angeles - the flight that was met by federal agents and local police responding to a possible terrorist incident - is this:

Did, as a passenger reported, 7 of the 13 Syrian musicians whose behavior was terrifying some passengers stand up in unison and take strategic positions by the lavatories and the exit door during final approach to Los Angeles, an act that would have been a frighteningly overt and unambiguous provocation?

They did not, according to the Federal Air Marshal Service, which had previously left unchallenged assertions by Annie Jacobsen, a freelance writer on the flight, that they did.

"What happened was, they were already standing up in the aisle before the seat belt signs became illuminated," said Dave Adams, a spokesman for the agency, which represents air marshals who travel undercover on airplanes.

"The flight attendants asked them to sit down and the men respected the orders and sat in their seats. Two gentlemen asked why they had to, and a flight attendant told them 'Because, so please take your seats.' And they obeyed," he said.

The new information, he added, came from "subsequent interviews of flight attendants on this matter by our personnel."

So there was absolutely no sudden move by the men on final approach?

"None," Mr. Adams said.

Now, I don't want to bash Ms. Jacobson further; however, "overreaction" is certainly a diplomatic, if not charitable term to describe her reactions. But I think in light of Sunday's terror warning, now revealed to be three years old, we need to examine the kind of--um, I was going to say hysteria, but that can be construed as patronizing and sexist, so how about, well, "overreaction"--that results in people seeing bombs instead of musical instruments, and government officials ordering troops to patrol streets in full military gear and M-16's. I mean, jeez, what's next? Will Ridge come out and announce that Al Qaeda is thinking of using planes as weapons? That's three years old too...

There's quite a difference between "alert" and "absurd." And, considering the history of Bushrealpolitick--that EVERYTHING seems to be influenced by how it plays into electioneering--I think Kerry's spokesperson MaryBeth Cahill had just the right statement:

"We take the pResident at his word." (link apparently was originally in the San Jose Mercury News--which I haven't registered for--I found it at Billmon's Whiskey Bar).

Which, as Billmon notes, isn't necessarily an endorsement: "Considering what we know about Bush's word, I suppose you could interpret Cahill's comment more than one way."

All things considered, about the only thing that worries me is that, while we're busy getting all worked up about Syrian musicians on airplanes, or three year old terror warnings (a friend of mine told me last night that "We're letting Al Qaeda jerk our chain"), there is the very real possibility that plans are being made for something no one has yet considered (unlike the 9/11 attacks, in spite of the Bush spin). If we REALLY get caught unprepared, lord only knows how bad the damage could be...