"9/11 Redux: 'Thousands of Aliens' in U.S. Flight Schools Illegally"

[Prada]

http://www.abcnews.go.com/print?id=4353991

Former FAA Inspector: TSA's Enforcement of Post-9/11 Laws 'Basically Nonexistent'
By BRIAN ROSS, VIC WALTER and ERIC LONGABARDI

Feb. 27, 2008—

Thousands of foreign student pilots have been able to enroll and obtain pilot licenses from U.S. flight schools, despite tough laws passed in the wake of the 9/ll attacks, according to internal government documents obtained by ABC News.

"Some of the very same conditions that allowed the 9-11 tragedy to happen in the first place are still very much in existence today," wrote one regional security official to his boss at the TSA, the Transportation Security Administration.

"Thousands of aliens, some of whom may very well pose a threat to this country, are taking flight lessons, being granted FAA certifications and are flying planes," wrote the TSA official, Richard A. Horn, in 2005, complaining that the students did not have the proper visas.

Under the new laws, American flight schools are only supposed to provide pilot training to foreign students who have been given a background check by the TSA and have a specific type of visa.

But in thousands of cases that has not happened, according to the documents and current and former government officials involved in the program.

"TSA's enforcement is basically nonexistent," said former FAA inspector Bill McNease, in an interview for ABC News' "World News With Charles Gibson."

Watch the full report tonight on "World News With Charles Gibson" at 6:30 p.m. ET.

McNease, who retired last year, says in one year alone, 2005, he found some 8,000 foreign students in the FAA database who got their pilot licenses without ever being approved by the TSA.

"And a flight school wants the money to teach 'em. And they are gonna teach 'em how to fly and get their ratings, and then they just slip through the cracks," McNease said.

In another internal e-mail obtained by ABC News, Monty Thompson, an official in the TSA Flight School Inspections section, complained in 2005 to his bosses in Washington, "I fear we are 'danger close' to losing sight of the mission and the intent of the 'Flight School Security' provisions."

The new laws were passed after it was learned that all of the 9/ll hijackers, including ringleader Mohammed Atta, who were involved in flight operations had trained at U.S. flight schools with improper visas.

The FAA and Homeland Security are now starting to crack down on a number of flight schools suspected of training students illegally.

Just last month, agents raided a flight school outside San Diego, Anglo-American Aviation International, as part of an investigation of alleged fraud and misuse of visas.

A lawyer for the school said the raid only involved a technical, paper-work issue and that the school was "cooperating" in the investigation.

But federal officials say the so-called paper-work is extremely important.

"What happened in 9/ll we don't want to happen again or anything like that so something has to be done," said McNease.

No one from the TSA or Homeland Security would agree to be interviewed for this story, but officials said they were preparing an official statement in response.

The Department of Homeland Security would not provide an official from the flight school program to be interviewed for this story.

In a statement, the DHS said, "We have a high degree of confidence that our layered security measures, both seen and unseen, have raised the level of security in our aviation sector."

The statement did not address the issue of the thousands of students who have received pilot training and licenses with improper visas, other than to say they "are only one of the multiple layers of security" that the government relies on to "ensure that foreign nationals approved for flight training do not pose a threat to U.S. aviation security." The DHS said it conducts security threat assessments "on all non-U.S. citizens seeking flight training."

Read a letter from Aviation Safety Inspector Edward H. Blount on foreign students in U.S. flight schools.

Eric Longabardi is a freelance journalist based in Los Angeles who is a frequent contributor to the Blotter on ABCNews.com.

Click Here for the Investigative Homepage.

Copyright © 2008 ABC News Internet Ventures

[Act of God]

Make that stuff like the Series 7 and associated tests...need a sponsor

[Pooks]

Well no terrorist attacks since 9/11

so it does not really seem to be broken.

Anymore regulation, will just hurt aviation school business' which will lead to higher costs passed to the consumer and also jobs losses.

If we have to pay more for a service, that leaves us less money to support other industries also.. meaning job losses there too..

only one who will gain a job is some idiot working for the gov't whose way overpaid, and serves no purpose to anyone, except to add to our tax bills.

[Hoggage_54]

I was in flight school when I lived in the US, and I even flew near the World Trade Center while touring NYC along the Hudson River. I was a legal resident though

[soulstealer]

If you havent noticed the government has done everything in its power to destory the civil liberties of its citizens but nothing even comes close to have ANY impact on the events leading up to the SUPPOSED terrorist attacks of 9/11 yet we havent had any problems since... makes total sense right?

[Prada]

Well no terrorist attacks since 9/11

so it does not really seem to be broken.

Anymore regulation, will just hurt aviation school business' which will lead to higher costs passed to the consumer and also jobs losses.

If we have to pay more for a service, that leaves us less money to support other industries also.. meaning job losses there too..

only one who will gain a job is some idiot working for the gov't whose way overpaid, and serves no purpose to anyone, except to add to our tax bills.

Well no terrorist attacks since 911, is not an excuse to become complacent. The terrorists sure as hell aren't. I wouldn't apply stricter regulations but have those already in place, in lieu, applied. Id rather pay a little more being safe and knowing that the pilot is not a terrorist or maniac. Also would pay a little more knowing that thousands of people wont die because a plane is guided into a building. Unfortunately it is a reality of today.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

[thegodfather]

Well no terrorist attacks since 911, is not an excuse to become complacent. The terrorists sure as hell aren't. I wouldn't apply stricter regulations but have those already in place, in lieu, applied. Id rather pay a little more being safe and knowing that the pilot is not a terrorist or maniac. Also would pay a little more knowing that thousands of people wont die because a plane is guided into a building. Unfortunately it is a reality of today.

Terrorism is a tactic, not a label. However, we in America twist the word to suit our own agenda. The British called our founding fathers "terrorists," and we called them freedom fighters. The majority of the insurgents in Iraq just want us off their land, out of their country, and out of their affairs.

Unfortunately, it is a reality that we have very much created for ourselves. Our foreign policy is the biggest greivance that the terrorists have with us. Anyone who believes that these people commit suicide bombings because we are "Infidels," "Free," or "Prosperous" needs to lay off the heavy drugs and rejoin everyone here on planet Earth. There are 190 countries around the world, over half have some form of free Democracy, and many are very prosperous. The key difference between those countries and ours? Foreign policy.

[Prada]

Terrorism is a tactic, not a label. However, we in America twist the word to suit our own agenda. The British called our founding fathers "terrorists," and we called them freedom fighters. The majority of the insurgents in Iraq just want us off their land, out of their country, and out of their affairs.

Unfortunately, it is a reality that we have very much created for ourselves. Our foreign policy is the biggest greivance that the terrorists have with us. Anyone who believes that these people commit suicide bombings because we are "Infidels," "Free," or "Prosperous" needs to lay off the heavy drugs and rejoin everyone here on planet Earth. There are 190 countries around the world, over half have some form of free Democracy, and many are very prosperous. The key difference between those countries and ours? Foreign policy.

I wish I could believe that to be so simplistic but I doubt that. Yes I do believe it is our foreign policies that ignite these vicious feelings. Yet fact of the matter is our foreign policies are perhaps not favorable elsewhere in the world. Theoretically shouldn't Pakistanis, N. Koreans, Japanese, Venezuelans, Cubans, Russians, Iranians be doing likewise? It just seems Arab Muslims that have hatred inbred and instilled in them. They are completely oblivious and brainwashed. Hence I am not sure that these arab terrorists would be ever so peaceful, pacifist and dignified to leave as alone IF we were to leave their land. Central Asia and middle east has always had barbaric attitude ever since the days of the Mongols, Gen***s Khans and the ruling Khans. Has the are evolved much since then? No. Also it is for them to look at their own governments if malcontent.

[Pooks]

I wish I could believe that to be so simplistic but I doubt that. Yes I do believe it is our foreign policies that ignite these vicious feelings. Yet fact of the matter is our foreign policies are perhaps not favorable elsewhere in the world. Theoretically shouldn't Pakistanis, N. Koreans, Japanese, Venezuelans, Cubans, Russians, Iranians be doing likewise? It just seems Arab Muslims that have hatred inbred and instilled in them. They are completely oblivious and brainwashed. Hence I am not sure that these arab terrorists would be ever so peaceful, pacifist and dignified to leave as alone IF we were to leave their land. Central Asia and middle east has always had barbaric attitude ever since the days of the Mongols, Gen***s Khans and the ruling Khans. Has the are evolved much since then? No. Also it is for them to look at their own governments if malcontent.

I agree, we are lucky we have the stronger hand, or otherwise they would be invading us..
The caliphs of the past, that attempted to invade europe, and at one point threatened to attack Paris, from Spain.. and had pretty much all of Eastern Europe at their mercy in the middleages. These are good examples of Muslims trying to impose thier will on our culture.
Not to mention endless wars between themselves.. iran-iraq.. afghanistan, iran, pakistan, tensions.. etc etc..
iraq on kuwait.. these are just recent events.

[Prada]

I agree, we are lucky we have the stronger hand, or otherwise they would be invading us..
The caliphs of the past, that attempted to invade europe, and at one point threatened to attack Paris, from Spain.. and had pretty much all of Eastern Europe at their mercy in the middleages. These are good examples of Muslims trying to impose thier will on our culture.
Not to mention endless wars between themselves.. iran-iraq.. afghanistan, iran, pakistan, tensions.. etc etc..
iraq on kuwait.. these are just recent events.

I wouldn't be willing to risk and find out. Even again in the times of G Khan, they didn't just invade and conquer. They ransacked, killed, burned, destroyed and murdered anything they viewed as threatening. Yes it was a long time ago but just buy looking at their attitude and culture one cant help to ponder if they are just the same.

[Kärnfysikern]

I wish I could believe that to be so simplistic but I doubt that. Yes I do believe it is our foreign policies that ignite these vicious feelings. Yet fact of the matter is our foreign policies are perhaps not favorable elsewhere in the world. Theoretically shouldn't Pakistanis, N. Koreans, Japanese, Venezuelans, Cubans, Russians, Iranians be doing likewise? It just seems Arab Muslims that have hatred inbred and instilled in them. They are completely oblivious and brainwashed. Hence I am not sure that these arab terrorists would be ever so peaceful, pacifist and dignified to leave as alone IF we were to leave their land. Central Asia and middle east has always had barbaric attitude ever since the days of the Mongols, Gen***s Khans and the ruling Khans. Has the are evolved much since then? No. Also it is for them to look at their own governments if malcontent.

To be fair the middle east was more civilised than europe during the dark ages. Europe has for a very very long time been war torn and we could turn things around after ww2.

If germany could be de naizifed and japan turned into a peacefull country I dont se why the middle east can become a peacefull region. I dont think there is anyone in the world as fanatic as the japanese where. But as long as they have plenty of oil the dictators and religious assholes will have plenty of money to use to supress the people.

[Pooks]

If germany could be de naizifed and japan turned into a peacefull country I dont se why the middle east can become a peacefull region. I dont think there is anyone in the world as fanatic as the japanese where. But as long as they have plenty of oil the dictators and religious assholes will have plenty of money to use to supress the people.

It took pretty much complete annihilation of germany and Japan to establish this.. plus U.S military bases are still active in both nations.
+ a mutual fear of Communism and the Soviet Union.

[Kärnfysikern]

Well my main point is that things can and do change. Sweden and Denmark was waring for hundreds of years, england and france aswell. It didnt take the complete destruction of any of those countries for them to become civilised.

[Prada]

But as long as they have plenty of oil the dictators and religious assholes will have plenty of money to use to supress the people.

Well thats where the problem is J. That is why I say they have to look at themselves. Get their freedom and get rid of these good for nothing "feudal system". I mean for the love of god Saudi monarchy is totally just fuc*ing their own people over...yet they want to annihilate Americans.

[Kärnfysikern]

Well thats where the problem is J. That is why I say they have to look at themselves. Get their freedom and get rid of these good for nothing "feudal system". I mean for the love of god Saudi monarchy is totally just fuc*ing their own people over...yet they want to annihilate Americans.

Well we are supporting all that by using oil, aslong as we are funding dictatorships we prevent people from becoming free. How much longer would the soviet union have lasted if they had a constant influx of western money?

[Prada]

Well we are supporting all that by using oil, aslong as we are funding dictatorships we prevent people from becoming free. How much longer would the soviet union have lasted if they had a constant influx of western money?

Ahhh yes and there is where we may be part of the problem as well. Being complacent just since we have cordial relations.

I'm exited about Iraq and Pakistan if things keep going positively we can have role model democratic Muslim nations. Secular and developing nations. Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan, Indonesia, etc. Are the Arab monarchs going to cede authority? I doubt it. Revolution? Perhaps.

[Panzerfaust]

Well no terrorist attacks since 9/11

so it does not really seem to be broken.

Anymore regulation, will just hurt aviation school business' which will lead to higher costs passed to the consumer and also jobs losses.

If we have to pay more for a service, that leaves us less money to support other industries also.. meaning job losses there too..

only one who will gain a job is some idiot working for the gov't whose way overpaid, and serves no purpose to anyone, except to add to our tax bills.

Of course there are no more "terrorist" attacks since 9/11. The goal was accomplished and we are now a strong presence in the middle east. No more "terrorist" attacks are needed for now.

[Pooks]

Of course there are no more "terrorist" attacks since 9/11. The goal was accomplished and we are now a strong presence in the middle east. No more "terrorist" attacks are needed for now.

Cool, I always wanted a vacation home in sunny Iraq.

[Kärnfysikern]

Ahhh yes and there is where we may be part of the problem as well. Being complacent just since we have cordial relations.

Id say we are beeing complacent because we have no chooise. Just like many EU countries are now kissing Putins feet because we need the gas.
Its disgusting how for instance Gerhard Schröder during his political life opposed nuclear power and after he resigned as Chancellor he started working for Gazprom as head of the new gas pipeline project, no conflict of interest there at all . Its obvious that fossil fuel companies/countries has a strong grip on us. How many politicians in europe is on a payroll?

When OPEC say jump the west asks how high.

I'm exited about Iraq and Pakistan if things keep going positively we can have role model democratic Muslim nations. Secular and developing nations. Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan, Indonesia, etc. Are the Arab monarchs going to cede authority? I doubt it. Revolution? Perhaps.

It would be great if it goes that way. EU should step into Iraq.

[Prada]

Of course there are no more "terrorist" attacks since 9/11. The goal was accomplished and we are now a strong presence in the middle east. No more "terrorist" attacks are needed for now.

Oh oh!!

[Prada]

Id say we are beeing complacent because we have no chooise. Just like many EU countries are now kissing Putins feet because we need the gas.
Its disgusting how for instance Gerhard Schröder during his political life opposed nuclear power and after he resigned as Chancellor he started working for Gazprom as head of the new gas pipeline project, no conflict of interest there at all . Its obvious that fossil fuel companies/countries has a strong grip on us. How many politicians in europe is on a payroll?

When OPEC say jump the west asks how high.



It would be great if it goes that way. EU should step into Iraq.

Well perhaps if Putin has the armed forces equivalent to Azerbaijan perhaps a few world leaders would pay him a nice "diplomatic" visit. Saddam was defiant and well he is gone. Iran is defiant and guess what, he is poster boy for axis of evil. It was a toss up...Iraq or Iran. I've always stated that the caspian sea is a strategic location and Russia....well I just cant see it allowing the US in their immediate backyard. Its always been like that thoughout history. Persia, Afghanistan and the Khyber pass...the gateway to the India and the east. Today add the fact of oil around the caspian.

[Kärnfysikern]

Well perhaps if Putin has the armed forces equivalent to Azerbaijan perhaps a few world leaders would pay him a nice "diplomatic" visit. Saddam was defiant and well he is gone. Iran is defiant and guess what, he is poster boy for axis of evil. It was a toss up...Iraq or Iran. I've always stated that the caspian sea is a strategic location and Russia....well I just cant see it allowing the US in their immediate backyard. Its always been like that thoughout history. Persia, Afghanistan and the Khyber pass...the gateway to the India and the east. Today add the fact of oil around the caspian.

Oil and gas, the root of all problems of today. Empowers dictators and weaken democracies.

[Prada]

Oil and gas, the root of all problems of today. Empowers dictators and weaken democracies.

Yup!

Just like in the other thread as you stated, once we rid ourselves of these chains of dependancy can we move on to other things. Right now oil is primordial.