Not So Funny: Qatari Diplomat’s Shoe Joke
“It is better to be wrong than to be vague,” nuclear physicist Freeman Dyson once said.
This came to mind after I read news reports regarding the Qatari diplomat who caused a bomb scare on a United Airlines flight from Washington, D.C., to Denver on Wednesday night. The man, 27-year-old Mohammed al-Madadi, was initially feared to be a terrorist — according to three consecutive Department of Homeland Security (DHS) internal memos read to me by a DHS official on the condition of anonymity. NORAD sent fighter jets aloft, the White House was notified, and a small battalion of federal and local law enforcement met the airplane.
But by the following morning, federal officials confirmed that Mohammed al-Madadi was a diplomat and that he was not carrying explosives. His lighting something on fire in the first-class lavatory was an attempt to smoke, they said. These officials also said that al-Madadi was joking when he told air marshals he “was trying to light his shoes on fire.”
Initial news reports danced around the severity of the incident, offering a litany of old adages about just needing a smoke. “Smoking while Arab” jokes flooded the blogs. Along with the “good news” that “nobody panicked” came the vague suggestion that the decision to scramble Air Force’s F-16 fighter jets to “escort” the commercial aircraft and its 157 passengers into the Denver airport was somehow the reaction of an overzealous military — and not a justified response to the unexplainable actions of the smoking man from Qatar. Al-Madadi’s boss, the Qatari ambassador, released an official statement saying the whole thing was one big “mistake.”
I spent quite a bit of time at Nellis Air Force Base this past year and examined a number of fighter jet weapons bays. I can tell you that the thought of inadvertently winding up in the cross hairs of one such dogfighter ought to make anyone think twice before accepting this event as some kind of a smoker’s joke. But this is the power of the press. Never mind that for a brief period of time Wednesday night United Airlines Flight 633 was the potential military target. There is nothing vague — and yet there was nothing written — about that.
Why did you waste your time writing this non-story? Diplomatic immunity applies to everything, a diplomat can make whatever joke he/she wants to a law enforcement officer without penalty and they know it. Doesn’t matter if they are white/brown/yellow or purple.
Exactly why do you see this as a “non-story”, Tom? If I’d been a passenger on that plane, seeing missile-armed F16s scrambled outside my window, I wouldn’t think it was a non-story. Also, diplomatic immunity aside, making jokes about bombs on planes these days is guaranteed to get you in trouble, whether or not you are white/brown/yellow or purple. Either the diplomat knew that and deliberately wanted to create terror, or he’s as dumb as a box of hammers (my particular view).
I doubt that the fighter pilots consider it a ‘non-story’ either. I can’t imagine what it would be like to fly a jet toward that plane knowing what my orders might be. I can’t imagine what it would be like for the person who would have to give that order either.
Besides, the issue isn’t really about immunity. It’s about what that scum just put a lot of people thru. Only a few of the passengers even knew anything was going on until they led the guy out in handcuffs. But the pilots, their superiors etc, law enforcement, emergency crews and a whole host of folks just got put through an emotional wringer (not to mention the financial cost of all of this) and it happens everytime some dumb-ass runs through security or makes a stupid joke.
Personally, like a few others around here, I don’t think he was just ‘smoking’. Like comment 12. the Root ’83, I think it was a recon mission.
I bet that Airlines could make a fortune on selling Guaranteed Muslim Free flights. That has to be worth quite a bit for peace of mind.
EV: A Guaranteed Muslim Free flight could also have an express security lane at the airport – perhaps making flying appealing again. If my destination is a 10-hr drive or less, I don’t even bother to fly anymore, thanks to the idiotic political correctness of the TSA, making ordinary U.S. citizens remove their shoes, belts and more – it’s ridiculous!
Americans are the spoils in a contest to see who makes us submit first–socialism or islam.
I smell a rat. How does someone get to be a diplomat at the age of 27? How many Muslims smoke cigarettes? I live around many and have yet to see one puffing away. How many people are ignorant of the no-smoking rules on planes? Especially a “diplomat”?
Even Fox News seems to want to drop this. Thanks Annie and Pajamas for once again printing what others ignore.
It seems that apart from the “federal officials” cited the media is also ignorant about no smoking in the toilets being permitted especially after various tragic accidents have occurred.
That should have been the first thing brought to the publics’ attention of how a “diplomat” could flaunt international flight rules and risk the safety of plane and passengers. He wouldn’t have to blow up anything; just set fire to the paper in the toilets.
I think that this incident is over, he’s gone , good!The White House has yet to make any strong comment on acceptable behavior from diplomats in general and when our limits on their behavior will get them kicked out.
The President has yet you explain why an Arizona rancher , an American citizen is dead and Mr. Obama’s administration has done nothing to correct the serious flaws in border security. He is worried about the feeling of illegal aliens, Muslim terrorists, one idiot in Venezuela and a second idiot in Iran. He is kissing the hand of a dictatorial Prince in Saudi Arabia, and bowing to a useless King in Japan. He has bribed Congressmen and is going to try and buy the future votes of the criminal aliens by giving them citizenship. He is giving money, health care and support the the dregs of America. He is increasing taxes to small majority of people that pay taxes. He is kissing the ass of any radical Muslim he can find. Does he think this course can continue??
The United States Air Force was going to shoot down the aircraft and thus slaughter its 160-odd passengers and crew. In order to prevent their mass-murder by an alleged on-board Islamanazi bomber.
Nice misdirection, but let’s examine the premise.
The plane was five to ten minutes away from destination (same distance as the Detroit panty-bomber was). He might have had a dirty bomb on board, which would have spread over the whole city of Denver (something the air marshals and everyone else involved could not know one way or the other, which way would you choose?). He might have tried to ignite something else in the toilet that failed (also something nobody could know at the time), which could have sent flaming debris all over Denver. Or, the least destructive, he’s just a cocky, macho little arsehole from Qatar who took umbrage at being questioned by an entirely-justified air marshal (smoke, remember?) and gave out a smart-arse answer.
Next time you get elected God, give us a better answer.
How clever of you to attempt misdirection and defense of a Muslim Brian or should we call you by your real name Mohammad . What if the the guy REALLY had a bomb or if he was just running cover for a REAL bomber and what if the plane crashed in to Denver. I know its not a nice decision to have to make but just think what could have happened. But then closet Muslims and left wing moonbats never THINK do they.
So he is a diplomat and won’t be charged with a crime I am sure, but where is the lawyer to sue the Hell out of him for the emotional trauma that he caused the other passengers? Seems like an easy case to win.
Nice idea Cliff, but as a Diplomat he can’t be sued! And if he is in fact out of the country how are you planning on serving him with the court papers?
Are you sure he can’t be sued in civil court? It may depend on the level of his diplomatic immunity. It may also depend on whether he was conducting official diplomatic business when the incident occurred; I would say being on his way to see an Al Quaeda terrorist does not constitute diplomatic business, but that’s me. A jury may or may not see it differently. Why would a Qatari diplomat need to see an incarcerated terrorist to conduct his business?
One question I have is how did he get a lighter/matches on the plane? If he is sued civilly, TSA should also be named as a Defendant for letting him get through security with a lighter or matches, sovereign immunity notwithstanding – heck, I’ve had bottled water and those small (1″) Swiss-army multi-tools taken from me before boarding a flight. In addition, I would argue that diplomatic immunity in civil cases only applies when the rules are followed: clearly, he broke the no-smoking rule, even by his own story.
This incident ought to result in a revamping of diplomatic, consular, and ambassadorial immunity rules & regs. Hard-working, tax-paying ordinary U.S. citizens don’t get the privileges of diplomats, consuls, and ambassadors – I would imagine they and the other passengers on that plane might agree with me on that. Hopefully, some or all of the passengers will sue the pants off the little twerp.
Sounds to me like he was casing airline security for a later flight by himself or someone else. Recall a diplomat from Qatar or something.
Hmm. Very good questions! This definitely doesn’t pass the smell test.
The gentlemen is a smart-mouthed little prick. After assuring themselves of the safety of the situation, the FBI should have given the gentleman 5 minutes alone with his fellow passengers. They could have taught the little f&#*er that a modicum of human decency may be more effective than diplomatic immunity.
Please, don’t bestow such a title on that turd. It’s an insult to real gentlmen.
Duh, HELLO?
This was a Recon Mission:
Question: Can we get a Cigarette Lighter, or some type of flame producing object, through security and onto an airplane?
Answer: Yes.
Question: Our operatives Reid and Underpants Boy were stopped by passengers in the main cabin area. Can we get enough privacy on board the aircraft, while in flight, to ignite something flamable?
Answer: Yes.
Question: Are their any instant, alarm sounding smoke detectors or similar devices that would IMMEDIATELY alert the crew and give away the process away?
Answer: No
Question: How fast does the crew respond to a small fire while in flight?
Answer: The time frame to initiate/use a small, “smuggleable” flame producing device on the aircraft was several munutes. We can use the “life span” of a common cigarette as the yardstick for time available to use a flame/smoke producing ignition device.
Question: Could you have ignited a device, such as the one Ried carried, in sufficient uninterrupted privacy, to cause its succesful detonation?
Answer: Yes
Question: Would an ignition device that produced LESS smoke/heat than a common cigarette be more likely to succeed.
Answer: Yes
Anyone that doesnt see this for what it is, is a danger to themself and others.
As a minimum:
1)Revoke this man’s diplomatic credentials
2)Place his name permanently on the NO FLY list
3)Inform the Saudi ambassador that a repetition of this will result in the revocation of ALL Saudi diplomatic credentials
FYI: al-Madadi is from Qatar, not Saudi Arabia. Small difference in the grand scheme of Islamic extremism, I know, but let’s keep our flavors distinct.
Annie-what I would like to know is this-Isnt our only prison in Colorado supposed to be the SECRET? Because the type of prisoners that are held there, its location is supposed to be CLASSIFIED. What i the “diplomat” doing visiting an ALQUEDA syncophat in this secret prison in Colorado, period??????
The Florence ADX facility (or SuperMax as most like to call it) isn’t and never was a secret. It not only houses islamist terrorists like Moussaoui and Reid but also has other types of Federal prisoners such as Tim McVeigh, gang members, drug trafficers and the Unibomber, who under our laws still have certain rights such as to have counsel and visitors. This would make it impossible to be a ‘classified’ prison.
By the way-Thats a great idea-MOSLEM FREE FLIGHTS. Of course, I can already see the ACLU,CAIR and the Moslem “student” Association suing in the 9th district circus court for marxism over something like that, where anti-american scum like Steven Reinhart and Gordon Liu will see to it that the treasounous Islamic supremacists will win.
It is to bad the story did not end with the passengers of the flight ripping off his head.
A much better HEAD line.
Qatar besides being the regional base for CENTCOM, and the home of Al Jazeera, is also where KSM was hiding out for a few years under the ‘Black Prince’. The prisoner in question, Al Marri, although from Qatar, is related by family to Mohammed Al Quahtani, the
20th Hijacker
“What would compel a diplomat of the Persian Gulf sheikhdom to act in such a reckless manner on an airplane? Had this diplomat gone rogue? ”
Get over yourself. The guy lit a smoke, apparently not realizing he was in a totalitarian state whose state organs follow us into the bathroom.
This is funny on so many levels. For over twenty years smoking has been prohibited on any flight inside the United States. I am with Alice let repeal all the totalitarian regulationsl let anarchy rule. Alice Wigglebottom for president.
This chucklehead can only be thankful that plane was not headed to Texas… In a plane full of Texans. He would have been scrapped off the tarmac.
Something stinks to high heaven here.
The rush to sweep this under the carpet by all sides is frightening.