Army Deserter Denied Flight by Delta

(West Palm Beach, Florida) Sgt. Karim Iraq deserted the U.S. Army because he was disillusioned with war and wasn't accepted by his fellow soldiers. On the lam, he was arrested on Tuesday when deputies found his stolen backpack containing information leading to his whereabouts. Not surprisingly, the backpack also contained a notebook with anti-American slogans. Subsequently, according to the Palm Beach Post:

U.S. Army Sgt. Karim Iraq attempted Friday to return to the Georgia military base he left six months ago, but Delta Air Lines officials turned him away because they considered him a security risk, his father said.

Iraq, 25, of Wellington was arrested Tuesday on a warrant for deserting the military. He was released from the Palm Beach County Jail two days later with orders to board Delta Flight 729 at 12:50 p.m. Friday, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said.

He showed up at Palm Beach International Airport with his father, Zayed Iraq, but airline representatives said he could not board the plane.

"The airline said they had understood someone was going to escort him, that he's not going to be all alone," Zayed Iraq said. "Some kind of security issues."

Holy moly! Until his case is adjudicated, Karim Iraq shouldn't be allowed to be anywhere near an airplane unless he's handcuffed, shackled, and escorted. A deserter with anti-American writings in his possession has to be considered a security risk. In my estimation, Delta Air Lines acted appropriately.

Interestingly, as of yesterday afternoon, Sgt. Iraq had not shown up at Ft. Stewart as ordered.

Companion post at Our Life.