On the Chance that You're a Terrorist...

Cal Thomas | Syndicated Columnist | Published: Aug 20, 2008

On the Chance that You're a Terrorist...


August 21, 2008

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a discrimination suit against a small commuter airline that fired one of its pilots. The airline says it received an anonymous complaint that the pilot, Mohammed Hussein, was in a drinking establishment. Hussein says he was fired because he is a Muslim and because of his Arabic appearance.

I don’t know the merits of this case, but I do know that getting terrorists into the cockpit of airplanes was the goal on September 11th and if the terrorists could recruit a pilot, they would love to do so.

Maybe Mohammed Hussein isn’t a terrorist, but how can anyone be sure? If you knew in advance that someone named Mohammed Hussein would be at the controls of a flight you were about to take, would you remain on the plane? I don’t think I would. Call that bigotry if you will, but I would play it safe. The chances of someone named Smith, or Goldberg or O’Reilly hijacking a plane are remote. The chances of someone named Mohammed Hussein doing it are higher. Recall the names of the 9/11 hijackers.

This guy may be harmless. Even if he is, the plotters never stop plotting.


Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.

On the Chance that You're a Terrorist...