TheMillerCircle.org

Walter Murphy , emeritus professor of law at Princeton University tried to catch a plane for a domestic flight on March 1, 2007. But he was denied a boarding pass because he was told his name appeared on a terrorist watch list. Murphy has significant military credentials as he pointed out “I should note that I am not only the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence (emeritus) but also a retired Marine colonel. I fought in the Korean War as a young lieutenant, was wounded, and decorated for heroism. I remained a professional soldier for more than five years and then accepted a commission as a reserve office, serving for an additional 19 years.”

His sin was probably condemning the president in a speech that got televised. When Murphy went to inquire further about his appearance on the terrorist watch list, he was told “”Have you been in any peace marches? We ban a lot of people from flying because of that.” I explained that I had not so marched but had, in September, 2006, given a lecture at Princeton, televised and put on the Web, highly critical of George Bush for his many violations of the Constitution. “That’ll do it,” the man said.”" But after he explained himself, a clerk took his credentials to TSA officials and they came back, allowing him to get a boarding pass, but warning him that his luggage would be ransaked. On the return flight he was given a boarding pass, but his luggage never arrived. I have heard it said that once you are on the terrorist watch list, you never get off because they have so many. You get cleared off of a few and you might pop up again on others, a kind of never ending list leading to a never ending story.

In the 1970s when many prominent citizens were critical of Richard Nixon, there was an uncommon coincidence between those critical of the president and the likelihood that their income tax returns would be audited. It was widely believed that Nixon had arranged this little treat for his enemies.