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"Terrorist watch list"
There have been proposals by antigunners to ban firearms receipt by those on the "terrorist watch list," which make this article quite relevant. Based on a "leak," it points out that:
(1) Between 700,000 and 1.5 million people are on the list;
(2) The standard for listing is "reasonable suspicion";
(3) More than 40% on the list, some 280,000, are not even suspected of links to any known terrorist organization;
(4) 900 times a day, a person is added to the list or information on him is supplemented.
I must wonder how useful any "watch list" can be that has 700,000 people on it. Obviously that number cannot be "watched." The list just takes on a life of its own; it is maintained because it is supposed to be maintained.
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Sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
What's the problem? Absolute widespread ignorance especially in the so-called educated.
Imagine my surprise when in 2005, I tried to get on a domestic airline flight, only to be told that I was on the terrorist watch list. The first person put into Guantanamo Bay had a similar name, so everyone with that name automatically went on the watch list. (Despite the fact that the terrorist was still in prison). If the criteria for getting on the list is so idiotic as just having a similar name, then we are all in danger of government overreach.
I wonder how many are Americans.
You're looking at it the wrong way. Think about how much more effective it will be when Federal agents threat to add people to the watchlist when they refuse to become snitches:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/lawsuit-alleges-fbi-is-using-no-fly-list-to-force-muslims-to-become-informants/2014/04/22/1a62f566-ca27-11e3-a75e-463587891b57_story.html