Name on government watch list threatens pilot's career

[sky's the limit]

Name on government watch list threatens pilot's career

Business as usual in the good old US of A.....


From Jeanne Meserve
CNN Homeland Security Correspondent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- For Erich Scherfen, being on a government terror watch list isn't just a matter of inconvenience. It could end his career.
Erich Scherfen served 13 years in the military, including flying National Guard helicopters.

Scherfen served in the U.S. military for 13 years, as an Army infantryman in the first Gulf War and then as a helicopter pilot in the National Guard. After receiving an honorable discharge, he was hired as a pilot by Colgan Air Inc., a regional airline operating in the Northeast and Texas.

In April, Colgan informed Scherfen that he was on a government list and would be suspended from his job. He was told he faced termination on September 1 unless he was able to clear his name.

But Scherfen, of Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, has been unable to do so and said he fears that it could mean he has no future as a pilot.

"My entire career depends on me getting off this list," he said. "I probably won't be able to get a job anywhere else in the world having this mark that I'm on this list."

Witold Walczak, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Scherfen and his wife in a lawsuit, calls the government actions "unfair" and "unjust."

"It is quite clear when the government does something that takes away not just your job but your occupation, your career, they have to provide you with some means to clear your name," Walczak said.
Don't Miss

The lawsuit, filed this week in federal court in Pennsylvania, asks the U.S. government to remove Scherfen and his wife, Rubina Tareen, from any watch lists or databases that inhibit their travel.

Scherfen is a convert to Islam. His wife emigrated from Pakistan when she was 17 and is now a U.S. citizen. She runs a small business selling books and DVDs about Islam, publications she describes as nonpolitical. Video Watch the couple speculate on why they're listed »

Scherfen and Tareen have both been stopped when traveling and told by security personnel that they are on "a list." Scherfen calls it "embarrassing."

Tareen said she thinks they may be on a watch list because of their Muslim faith and her Pakistani heritage. The two said they are not terrorists and don't associate with people who are.

"I have no idea why I am on the list, and they're not telling officially that I'm even on the list," Scherfen said. iReport.com: Are you on the list?

In a statement, the U.S. Justice Department said it will not confirm or deny that the couple's names are on a watch list for national security and privacy reasons.

In May, Scherfen and his wife wrote to the Department of Homeland Security, asking for help with their case. The department referred them to the Transportation Security Administration's Traveler Redress Inquiry Program. This week, they received a number to track their case, but their complaint has not been addressed.

A TSA spokeswoman said the agency is seeking "a meaningful resolution" to the couple's case but said there is no timetable for doing so.

Meanwhile, a federal judge has the case under review. He asked that Colgan move Scherfen's termination date to October 1. The airline has done so, allowing more time for a possible resolution.

"Unfortunately, it is a problem that is shared by countless individuals who have no connection to terrorism, have no connection to crime and don't belong on this list," said Walczak, the ACLU lawyer.

Walczak acknowledged the need for the government to protect the country from threats with a watch list but said, "The problem with what the government is doing is that they really don't care about innocent casualties."
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Scherfen said the pain of his situation is accentuated by the fact that he spent 13 years in uniform protecting the country.

"We served honorably," he said. "We served in a war. And they're thumbing their noses at us, basically, and that makes me feel ... really sad about this situation."

[square]

That is APPALLING! No regard for upturning people's lives just so they can feel good about how long their useless little list is. So lost.

[Nark]

We all know how well compiling a list (register), helps to prevent crimes.

I wonder when I'm going to show up on that list...

[. ._]

I'd bet ya any money that someone could get on the list by (after beeping going through security at an airport) yelling, "I'm not a terrorist!" then running out of the airport.

I want to try it one day, but I have friends and family in the US that I might want to visit.

My suspicion is that the "list" will keep getting bigger and bigger- not because there is a terrorist threat, but because the bureaucrats must increase their budgets. "See- we have a bigger list! We need more money! I need more employees now. I need more power!"

-istp

[trey kule]

Why does everyone automatically assume the list is wrong? Because this guy says he is not a terrorist?
Because he served in the armed forces?

He converted to Islam. A perfect sleeper. Ex military. US citizen. And if someone causes him problems he can run to the media and everyone will take his side.

Interesting how when it comes to aviaition reporting we hold the media in contempt for accuracy, yet here everyone seems to automatically assume this guy should not be on the list.

And so everyone is clear, I am not defending the list, just questioning the logic of all those who read a newspaper article and then assume that all is well.

[Dash-Ate]

What exactly is a terrorist? There are 100,000's of crimes committed in the USA every year dangerous and deadly crimes that create terror. Rape, home invasion, shootings are make terror. 20% of the USA population is behind bars or on probation I have heard?
The media is showing us this fictional bogeyman of terrorist. Here's an idea get the hell out of other peoples countries and they will never want to bug you.

This is like the communist spy hysteria of the 1960s.

There must be millions of muslims in the USA? How come none of them are burning down walmarts or smashing their cars into school busses full of kids? Not even a firecracker thrown into a mall? How come their kids are not ganging up on american kids and beating them up after school? Where's the hate seething rage and death cult that we are told about?
Come on, the police can't stop the 100,000s of crimes every year how could they posible stop anything else?

[Dash-Ate]

and what happened to freedom of religion in america? There are only some countries that don't let you practice what you want without fear of persecution: america, china

[linecrew]

This is like the communist spy hysteria of the 1960s.

By far the best and most accurate decription of the curent situation in the US yet. You hit the nail right on the head.

[Conquest Driver]

US Constitution Excerpt (Abbridged)

Amendment One

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof

Hmm, this must have been abolished while I was out flying??

[swede]

Why does everyone automatically assume the list is wrong? Because this guy says he is not a terrorist?
Because he served in the armed forces?

He converted to Islam. A perfect sleeper. Ex military. US citizen. And if someone causes him problems he can run to the media and everyone will take his side.

Interesting how when it comes to aviaition reporting we hold the media in contempt for accuracy, yet here everyone seems to automatically assume this guy should not be on the list.

And so everyone is clear, I am not defending the list, just questioning the logic of all those who read a newspaper article and then assume that all is well.

I would be willing to wager that if this guy was to publicly renounce the cult of Islam, he would go a long way toward getting himself off the list.

[xsbank]

Why is there a f*cking list anyway?? "Land of the free, home of the brave...." Ha!

Turn in your neighbour, he's a muslim. Turn in the kid's teacher 'cause he dresses funny. Is Mohammed Ali on
"The List?"

I'll wager "The List" is just as useful to "law enforcement" as the Canadian Gun Registry. Morons. I mean US! Why do we put up with it? Communist spies, Cuban Missile Crisis, 911, Global Warming... if ever a government wants to do it to the population, give 'em something to be frightened of. Now we've got hybrid cars, banning plastic bags (a couple of years ago it was banning paper bags to save the trees!), carbon taxes (WTF?), making ethanol so people can starve so we can have "multi-fuel" or "green" on the back of your cars and continue just as always but with a pious look on your face as you drive your "Multi-fuel" Suburban.

We have to be the stupidest generation that ever existed.

EVERYBODY ACCEPTS IT! Baaaaaaaaaa......

edited to add: (I'm going to hate myself in the morning for this but) Thanks for your contribution, Trey Kule - your usual well-thought-out missive.

[E-Flyer]

How does this list affect canadian pilots who are from the middle east and fly their duty times in and out of the United States? Are there even any middle eastern pilots flying for our big carriers like ACA/WJA/JAZZ and so forth? or is there a reason why I don't see middle eastern pilots in Canadian based uniform at airports? cause they're too complicated if they're hired? Not bashing Canada but I am wondering if anybody knows how it would work sending middle eastern pilots down to the states cause I mean our major carriers have many flights down there. Or how about the epicentre of muslim hood, Dubai... Emirates non stop to New York, are their pilots not any risk ? or Qatar??

[ScudRunner]

20% of the USA population is behind bars or on probation I have heard?

so there are 60 Million people in the States in prison or on Probation?? did you mean 2% like 6 million I can see but dam I think your numbers don't Jive.

[small penguin]

What exactly is a terrorist?

Terrorism is the war of the poor, and, war is terrorism of the rich

[sky's the limit]

20% of the USA population is behind bars or on probation I have heard?

so there are 60 Million people in the States in prison or on Probation?? did you mean 2% like 6 million I can see but dam I think your numbers don't Jive.

2.5 million. In jail. Not sure on the probation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:US_i ... -clean.gif

stl

[square]

Why does everyone automatically assume the list is wrong? Because this guy says he is not a terrorist?
Because he served in the armed forces?

Because if they had anything on him he'd be in Guantanamo if he's lucky

[Hedley]

I woudn't know a mosque from a synagogue, but that
didn't stop Transport from having me red-flagged with
Canada Customs. What a headache that was. Took me
years to sort out that mess. Thanks so much, guys.

[LegoMan]

Mosque has the missle silos on the side, Synagogue can be any shape of building. Some have domes.

[E-Flyer]

Name on government watch list threatens pilot's career

Business as usual in the good old US of A.....


From Jeanne Meserve
CNN Homeland Security Correspondent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- For Erich Scherfen, being on a government terror watch list isn't just a matter of inconvenience. It could end his career.
Erich Scherfen served 13 years in the military, including flying National Guard helicopters.

Scherfen served in the U.S. military for 13 years, as an Army infantryman in the first Gulf War and then as a helicopter pilot in the National Guard. After receiving an honorable discharge, he was hired as a pilot by Colgan Air Inc., a regional airline operating in the Northeast and Texas.

In April, Colgan informed Scherfen that he was on a government list and would be suspended from his job. He was told he faced termination on September 1 unless he was able to clear his name.

But Scherfen, of Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, has been unable to do so and said he fears that it could mean he has no future as a pilot.

"My entire career depends on me getting off this list," he said. "I probably won't be able to get a job anywhere else in the world having this mark that I'm on this list."

Witold Walczak, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney representing Scherfen and his wife in a lawsuit, calls the government actions "unfair" and "unjust."

"It is quite clear when the government does something that takes away not just your job but your occupation, your career, they have to provide you with some means to clear your name," Walczak said.
Don't Miss

The lawsuit, filed this week in federal court in Pennsylvania, asks the U.S. government to remove Scherfen and his wife, Rubina Tareen, from any watch lists or databases that inhibit their travel.

Scherfen is a convert to Islam. His wife emigrated from Pakistan when she was 17 and is now a U.S. citizen. She runs a small business selling books and DVDs about Islam, publications she describes as nonpolitical. Video Watch the couple speculate on why they're listed »

Scherfen and Tareen have both been stopped when traveling and told by security personnel that they are on "a list." Scherfen calls it "embarrassing."

Tareen said she thinks they may be on a watch list because of their Muslim faith and her Pakistani heritage. The two said they are not terrorists and don't associate with people who are.

"I have no idea why I am on the list, and they're not telling officially that I'm even on the list," Scherfen said. iReport.com: Are you on the list?

In a statement, the U.S. Justice Department said it will not confirm or deny that the couple's names are on a watch list for national security and privacy reasons.

In May, Scherfen and his wife wrote to the Department of Homeland Security, asking for help with their case. The department referred them to the Transportation Security Administration's Traveler Redress Inquiry Program. This week, they received a number to track their case, but their complaint has not been addressed.

A TSA spokeswoman said the agency is seeking "a meaningful resolution" to the couple's case but said there is no timetable for doing so.

Meanwhile, a federal judge has the case under review. He asked that Colgan move Scherfen's termination date to October 1. The airline has done so, allowing more time for a possible resolution.

"Unfortunately, it is a problem that is shared by countless individuals who have no connection to terrorism, have no connection to crime and don't belong on this list," said Walczak, the ACLU lawyer.

Walczak acknowledged the need for the government to protect the country from threats with a watch list but said, "The problem with what the government is doing is that they really don't care about innocent casualties."
advertisement

Scherfen said the pain of his situation is accentuated by the fact that he spent 13 years in uniform protecting the country.

"We served honorably," he said. "We served in a war. And they're thumbing their noses at us, basically, and that makes me feel ... really sad about this situation."

So the government gives him an extra month of duties... wait a second, if he's on a watch list MUST HE NOT BE A TERRORIST??? does this remind you of another event that was planned by the united states?? O_____o I am seeing a trend here you guys. Bush is pushing for his final strikes to make this world a shit hole. Seriously, are they giving him the right to fly an extra month so that he can perform terrorizing duties for the united states of assholes?

On a serious note, this list is complete bull shit. End of story. If they're giving the guy an extra month to fly, they're obviously not seeing him as a threat, otherwise, why not suspend his licenses until the issue is resolved? America seems to be able to legally screw him over anyway?? This goes to tell you how bs this list is, obvs the list is just a scam for tax payers to put their money into crap versus health care and an improved economy that's driving all of us down with it.

I'm not a racist, but I hate the American Politics, not its people, but its politics. They go in, try to make a country more peaceful , and in turn create enemies for getting into something that had nothing to do with them, and then call all of middle east a terror unit?? What a bunch of hypocrits ! And we still respect these yankees?

Obviously no body takes shit from having something taken away from them. Would you just stand there and watch if some ass hole crashed into your car from behind and drove off? no you'd grab his license plate, file a lawsuit and get his ass back into reality that nothing is taken for granted.

Same thing, no body is going to take shit there. Of course there's going to be uranium plants. What right does it give the states to go in and invade, but other countries not get back at them? If you compare what the American's have done in comparison to the middle east, you will see who the true terrorist really is. But unfortunately since the largest media centre is controlled by the US of A, none of the U.S. invasions are portrayed as a negative thing, but as a "peacemaking" or "trying to make this a better world" project.

Obviously the time of forgiving is totally over; for example, our natural response to bad drivers is the finger, and it all is about shooting the other person down these days. As far as I am concerned, the American's are best known to shoot you down then ask you for your name. And that's exactly what we are seeing here, an example of unjust acts to legally to screw a pilot's life over. Dumb asses.

Remember when you sat in the sand and made your own castle and an ass came and destroyed it, you didn't take that kind of shit and probably got into an arguement with him/her. Same concept here, it isn't right for the american's to just go in there, invade for oil, call it a peacemaking project, and then call the people they are invading dangerous? Of course they will be dangerous, they're defending their country. In an ideal world, there would be one language, one country, and no racism. But since we're not in an ideal world, you have to unfortunately defend what you have.

All that in a nut shell, screw the states. I rather fly for a European airline that doesn't fly into the states and call my self a happy pilot, cause god knows what kind of bull shit they will pull.

[2R]

I would suspect him to have more mental health issues than terrorist issues .Living in the land of the free and converting to a religion that hates your country and has killed many of your soldiers .Would lead me to believe he has some serious mental health issues as nobody in their right mind could believe that bitter hatred they spew out in mosques.
They may take him off the list but he may fail his medical .If the FAA do not want you to fly they will find a way to revoke your privilage to fly.It is not a right but a privilage to fly .you have no rights to endanger others in the air if you convert to insanity.or even just hear voices now and again on odd tuesdays

"In a democratic society ,individuals must accept certain limitations for the general welfare of society .Limitations in the form of regulations and operating procedures are accepted in aviation to make flying safer for everybody and to permit expansion and development of aviation."FAA

If someone converts to a religion that is opposed to democratic principles.What makes them think that they can believe that our democratic rights can be abused and they can still retain their rights . Our rights to protection under the law from absolutist cult members with a long history of centuries of violence.Only someone suffering a serious mental illness would think that it is situation normal after they convert to such a cult.

[SeptRepair]

Islam the religion doesnt hate the americans, its the extremists who misconstrue the meaning of Islam that are the real threats. Extremists use Islam and some of its texts to justify their screwed up views, much like "Christians" who use sections of the bible to support their stance in organisations such as the KKK. Converting to Islam is not a crime nor should it be.

[2R]

Would there be any fuss if he had converted to Christianity ?Or joined the Druids ?
Or worse that paramilitary orginization the Sally Ann and got trained on a large caliber tamborine?

[E-Flyer]

I would suspect him to have more mental health issues than terrorist issues .Living in the land of the free and converting to a religion that hates your country and has killed many of your soldiers .Would lead me to believe he has some serious mental health issues as nobody in their right mind could believe that bitter hatred they spew out in mosques.
They may take him off the list but he may fail his medical .If the FAA do not want you to fly they will find a way to revoke your privilage to fly.It is not a right but a privilage to fly .you have no rights to endanger others in the air if you convert to insanity.or even just hear voices now and again on odd tuesdays

"In a democratic society ,individuals must accept certain limitations for the general welfare of society .Limitations in the form of regulations and operating procedures are accepted in aviation to make flying safer for everybody and to permit expansion and development of aviation."FAA

If someone converts to a religion that is opposed to democratic principles.What makes them think that they can believe that our democratic rights can be abused and they can still retain their rights . Our rights to protection under the law from absolutist cult members with a long history of centuries of violence.Only someone suffering a serious mental illness would think that it is situation normal after they convert to such a cult.

Right, so let's block all french people from flying cause they're so damn annoying... hows that?? lol. Really rude right?

My question is this though, the states assume every body from the middle east to be Muslim, but they're not. There are so many Christians and people of well status there it's not even funny. So I mean, what about people who travel to the states? do they also go on this list? there are MANY CANADIANS who are WHITE CAUCASIAN males who are stopped at the border for special investigation by CBP, are they all going onto this list? how does this list affect international pilots? pilot's who don't live in the states but are flying to the states as per their company's schedules?

What if a captain from Emirates decides to visit his aunt in New York but has to go through an extra step of questions b4 let into the country, is he now automatically on this list and can no longer exercise his privileges as a captain ?? lol. This is what i call complete bull shit.

[2R]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtSbnql6 ... re=related

He should have joined the brownies,buy yourself a mars bar if you can watch the whole video without pissing your pants laughing

[E-Flyer]

LOL !!!!!!!!!!