lurkitty

Even though I am a bleeding heart liberal, I count myself patriotic, moreso than the conservatives that keep our troops in harms way, don't bother to go to any serviceman's funerals, and don't even allow us to acknowledge the dead and maimed coming out of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But, in terms of insults to the men and women who serve our country, this takes the cake. A Marine returns from combat in Iraq with his unit. He has his written orders. He is pulled out of the boarding line by the TSA at the LA airport because he is on the no-fly list, and can't return with his unit.

Why is he on the no-fly list? Because the last time he flew, going to Iraq, they found gunpowder residue on his combat boots. Who'd have thought, an active duty Marine with gunpowder residue on his combat boots?

There is currently no way to remove a name from the infamous no-fly list. The only thing that can be done is a notation can be made to alongside a name. This list has tens of thousand of names. There is no way to find out if your name is on it. This Marine will be stopped every time he flies. What a great reward for serving your country.

His congressman is working to try to remove his name. I say good luck. But what about the rest of the people on it for other obscure reasons? And what about the next time?

This list needs oversight and procedures for removal of names from an agency outside the jackbooted authority of Homeland Security. Congress needs to use this incident to find the temerity to act.