al-Soofi Flies The Coup

The Dutch have released the two Yemeni men who were recently found to be traveling light. Yes, Ahmed Mohammad Nasser al Soofi who boarded a flight in Birmingham, then in Chicago transferred his bags to a flight to Washington DC while he himself took a flight to Amsterdam, is off on his own to make his way back to Yemen, where he can report back the relative comfort with which he was able travel. And what did we find in the DC bound luggage of Mr. al-Soofi?

"Screeners discovered he was carrying $7,000 in cash. ABC said a check of his baggage found it contained a cell phone taped to a bottle of Pepto-Bismol, three phones taped together, several watches taped together, a box cutter, and three large knives."

The government has downplayed the event, saying it was apparently a mistake, and that the two men just happened to be on the same flight together, but did not in fact know each other. This appeared to be in conflict with what passengers observed on the flight to Amsterdam.

"Witnesses on the plane say al Soofi and al Murisi sat next to each other on the plane, in seats 24 H and J. Witnesses say they were laughing and carrying on as if they knew each other – and sources here in Detroit confirm that they are in fact friends."

Mr. al Soofi's attorney, Wouter Hendrickx, has said he was on his way to Yemen to visit his family when he was detained.

"He says 'I have no connections to terrorist activities whatsoever"

So there you go.

"However, a U.S. law enforcement official said Tuesday that following FBI inquiries neither man is likely to be charged in America."

Just a typical international flight.

And so ends the al-Soofi episode. Nothing to see here. There is no terrorist threat. Move along. And I hope you all feel safer, knowing that taking your shoes and belt off, being patted down and run through scanners indiscriminately is doing its job to keep you safe.

Nice work, TSA.