Cat Stevens, on Watch List, Diverts Plane

[gldstwmn]

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/ap20040921_2176.html

Flight Diverted After Singer Formerly Known As Cat Stevens Found to Be on U.S. Watch List

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON Sept. 21, 2004 — A plane bound for Washington from London was diverted to Maine on Tuesday after passenger Yusuf Islam formerly known as pop singer Cat Stevens showed up on a U.S. watch list, a federal official said.
United Airlines flight 919 had already taken off from London en route to Dulles International Airport when the match was made between the passenger and the watch list, said Nico Melendez, a spokesman for the Transportation Security Administration.

The plane was met by federal agents at Maine's Bangor International Airport around 3 p.m., Melendez said.

Federal officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, identified the individual as Islam.

[gldstwmn]

More...

"He was interviewed and denied admission to the United States
on national security grounds,” said Homeland Security spokesman
Dennis Murphy. He said the man would be put on the first available
flight out of the country Wednesday."

[Hawkeye]

why the hel did Cat Stevens have to go crazy like that. Why couldn't he stay a perfectly normal gy who wrote some great songs.

[celestenadia]

It's a wild world...
I wonder what the darn justification is?

[cliffdweller]

Is he on the watch list because he's Muslim? Or because of the Rushdie controversy years ago?

I think a combination of both. Remember all the hooplah surrounding his support of the Ayatolah Khomeni's Fatwah (sp?) on Rushdie? I think since he openly supported the Ayatolah (who was not a favorite of the U.S. government) record stores in the U.S. wouldn't sell his albums for years after that.

[gldstwmn]

As for this story, I think it's odd. Is he on the watch list because he's Muslim? Or because of the Rushdie controversy years ago?



That's the only thing I can think of. :shrug:

[Lisa1769]

OT: trackaghost, Is your sig the clip on SNL, Blue Oyster Cult's, Don't Fear the Reaper??

If so, I just heard that song yesterday and thought of this clip. It's hilarious.

I just thought, whats the odds of me thinking about that clip and seeing it on The Ledge today? :lol:

[strandinthewind]

OT: trackaghost, Is your sig the clip on SNL, Blue Oyster Cult's, Don't Fear the Reaper??

If so, I just heard that song yesterday and thought of this clip. It's hilarious.

I just thought, whats the odds of me thinking about that clip and seeing it on The Ledge today? :lol:

Romeo and Juuuuliettttt
(Romeo and Juliet)

:laugh:

One of my fav. songs in the world!!!!!!!!!!!

[greatdarkwing]

It is based on his ties to possible terror related groups.....at least thats what cnn told me :laugh:

~Alex

[ThePenguin]

Gosh he was great in his day. Teaser and the Firecat was on my turntable all the time. 'How Can I Tell You', oh boy I used to sob to that one. 'Rubylove' and 'Bitterblue', how great are those songs...gotta go play him now. ;)


-Lis

[cliffdweller]

Teaser and the Firecat was on my turntable all the time.

:thumbsup: That's a great album.

[gldstwmn]

Yes it is! I love that clip. "Gotta have more cowbell!"
:D

That skit is hilarious. :laugh:

[Livia]

Nakomis, on Big Brother, was wearing a SNL cowbell skit t-shirt last week. I want one!!!

[amber]

I'm not sure he went crazy. He discovered the Muslim faith and decided that he had to make a choice between "the material and the spirtual". From the sounds of it he hasn't regreted the decision. I'm not sure of the Muslim religion personally, as it seems to look down on women, but I think Cat Stevens really had a 'Road to Damascus' experience. It was a positive decision for him, just not for us mere pop fans.

As for this story, I think it's odd. Is he on the watch list because he's Muslim? Or because of the Rushdie controversy years ago?

If so it's weird that he hasn't been denied access before. He was over in the States earlier this year promoting his DVD. Flew all over the States for interviews and stuff, if I recall correctly.
I NEED MORE COWBELL!!!!! :laugh:

[amber]

OT: trackaghost, Is your sig the clip on SNL, Blue Oyster Cult's, Don't Fear the Reaper??

If so, I just heard that song yesterday and thought of this clip. It's hilarious.

I just thought, whats the odds of me thinking about that clip and seeing it on The Ledge today? :lol:
:laugh: It was a highlight for me, but I always think about the clip - and i love that song. And the radio station i listen to has one ad that says "we give you more cowbell classics...." :laugh: then they play the clip of Walken from SNL, then they play a couple snippets of songs with cowbell (including Gold Dust Woman)...I'm just so happy to see it come full circle for me on the ledge... :laugh:
AMber

[amber]

Guess what? I gotta fever and the only prescription is more cowbell!
:lol:

Who knew this thread could go soooo off-topic! I apologise, I do. :D
:lol: :laugh: :lol: :laugh: :lol: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
That will NEVER not be funny to me :xoxo: much love for best sig. ever!
AMber

[Livia]

If so it's weird that he hasn't been denied access before. He was over in the States earlier this year promoting his DVD. Flew all over the States for interviews and stuff, if I recall correctly.

Maybe he was being followed by a moon shadow. :laugh:

[DeeGeMe]

Well I feel so much better that this dangerous terrorist is off the streets, don't y'all? Meanwhile, two Americans have been beheaded in the past three days in Iraq and it looks like the British hostage will be next. I heard one of the CNN correspondents in Baghdad say today that he won't leave his hotel for any reason because he knows he'd be instantly kidnapped. Yes, great things are happening in Iraq and they are really embracing democracy, aren't they?

[gldstwmn]

I hope it's a mistake too. Somehow, I don't think it is. :(

[strandinthewind]

No - cnn.com is running an article where Ridge (I think) says they have some "information," which he will not disclose, on Islam (formerly Cat) and that the information is credible. He asks us to trust him on that even though the reason Islam was not detected before getting on the plane was that Islam's name was misspelled :eek: :laugh: :rolleyes:

[shackin'up]

the guy who wrote "Father and Son" will be a hero forever. If he was looking for spiritualism I think he overlooked his own poetry and songwriting skills, as well as his performance-skills. The man had "reflection and depth" written all over his work. Another victim of religion. Barf. I just hope the guy stays cool and I hope he's not driven into the arms of dogma's. I hate to see great spirits who get captured and get imprisoned by themselves.

[amber]

the guy who wrote "Father and Son" will be a hero forever. If he was looking for spiritualism I think he overlooked his own poetry and songwriting skills, as well as his performance-skills. The man had "reflection and depth" written all over his work. Another victim of religion. Barf. I just hope the guy stays cool and I hope he's not driven into the arms of dogma's. I hate to see great spirits who get captured and get imprisoned by themselves.
Well said as usual, B-day boy....
AMber

[irishgrl]

I remember feeling the loss when he converted...but this struck me as just plain wrong:
he shelved his singing and songwriting career and became a Muslim
As I recall, he promoted his former hit PEACE TRAIN last year from his latest Majikat album??? Maybe his musical career isnt shelved after all? He certainly still benefits from it, because there are a lot of people (including me) who remember what an AWESOME talent he was....

Still think Hard Headed Woman was awesome, and Sad Lisa.......... :(

[gldstwmn]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3686992.stm

Yusuf Islam, the British singer formerly known as Cat Stevens, is taking legal action after he was refused entry into the US.
Mr Islam said the decision to deny him entry on grounds of national security was "very serious and wholly unfounded" and he wants an explanation.

His Washington-bound flight was diverted to Maine on Tuesday and he was told to leave the country by the FBI.

He said a legal process had been put in place to find out what had happened.

In a statement Mr Islam said: "Never would I believe that such a thing could happen in the 'land of the free' - unfortunately, it did.

"I was not given (and have still not been given) any explanation as to what it is I am accused of, or why I am now deemed an apparent security threat.

"I was simply told that the order had come from 'on high'.

"We have now initiated a legal process to try to find out exactly what is going on, and to take all necessary steps to undo the very serious, and wholly unfounded, injustice which I have suffered.

"I am a man of peace and denounce all forms of terrorism and injustice; it is simply outrageous for the US authorities to suggest otherwise."

Action was taken against the musician, who converted to Islam and changed his name to Yusuf Islam in the 1970s, after US officials realised he was on a security "watch list".

As singer Cat Stevens he had a string of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, including Moon Shadow, Wild World and Morning Has Broken.

He abandoned his music career in the late 1970s.

[gldstwmn]

Spelling Mistake To Blame for Cat Stevens Terror Scare


Hmmm...just like when Ted Kennedy couldn't fly?

[strandinthewind]

Hmmm...just like when Ted Kennedy couldn't fly?

AND - it took the Teddy boy actually going to Ridge to get it fixed!!!! :laugh:

Plus, we are supposed to feel safe with people who make spelling mistakes on NATIONAL SECURITY LISTS :eek: