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Mickey Z
Cool Observer
the Department of Homeland Security.
Thursday, November 11, 2004
Yasser Arafat vs. My Dad
Some 30+ years ago, my father (a federal agent at the time) was called into duty as a Sky Marshal to protect passenger jets during a rash of hijackings. This resulted in countless stories and episodes he has shared with me...but one in particular comes to mind today.
It was about 1971 or 72...a time when Yasser Arafat was viewed by many in the world as nothing more than a dangerous terrorist. Thus, when he and his entourage strolled onto the flight my Dad was guarding, a buzz spread through the plane. My father settled in for what looked like a long, anxious flight.
(TIME magazine cover, December 13, 1968)
With the practiced eye of someone perpetually being tailed, Arafat zeroed in on my Dad...instantly ID-ing him as an undercover agent. He sauntered over, between two bodyguards, and leaned down to where my father was seated...whispering:
“Don’t worry, agent, I’m not going to take the plane.”
He smiled widely, found his seat, and stayed there for the remainder of an otherwise uneventful trip.
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