If you study Arabic, expect delays.
That’s the case for one Pomona College student who packed his Arabic flash cards in his carry on to study on the plane ride from Philadelphia to Los Angeles.
Nicolas George is getting ready to enter his last year at Pomona where he’s studying bomb making and infidel hating — oh wait, maybe that’s how the TSA flash cards translate physics and a love of languages.
According to the LA Times, George has been a good student who would like to serve in the US foreign service, likely the Middle East, where he has traveled extensively including at semester abroad.
However, when you have flash cards that include the word “terrorism” ()أ. إرهاب, ذعر ناشئ عن الإرهاب, حكم)and “bomb” (ف. قذف بالقنابل ) you’re obviously dangerous and need additional screening. Add to that, a book that doesn’t care for U.S. foreign policy and stamps from Jordan, Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan — and obviously you’ve got Mr. Jihad walking through a security checkpoint manned by a minimum wage dolt. See, legally traveling to places outside of the U.S. is another reason to think a person is a terrorist, according to U.S. authorities.
Of course, the TSA needed government help to arrest George and hold him, so the FBI and Philadelphia police showed up to also talk to George about all of his hate for America.
George was eventually released and caught another flight to California — but now he’s suing the TSA, the FBI and the Philadelphia police for the hassle and headaches. Just wait, he’s bound to accidently appear on someone’s no fly list.
We George luck.
