CONGRESSMAN, PLEASE DO SOMETHING!
 
 Oct 13, 2005 
 
 MICHAEL SMERCONISH 
 
IF YOU agree with this, please clip it, sign it and mail it to your 
congressman or U.S. senator. 
 
Dear Rep. ________________:
 
Washington, D.C. 20515
 
Or (cross out one)
 
Dear Sen. ________________:
 
Washington, D.C. 20510
 
I'm one of many people who believe that the forces of political 
correctness play too dominant a role in determining who is selected for 
secondary screening at airports. Current policy ignores the common traits of 
those who threaten the U.S. and wastes precious resources on 
individuals who pose no risk. 
 
To make this point, I wish to share with you the details of the recent 
commercial travel of U.S. Army Capt. Adam Cubbage. After you have 
acquainted yourself with these facts, I would like to hear from you as to 
whether you agree with me that Capt. Cubbage's story is symptomatic of an 
airport-screening system that remains misguided four years post-9/11, 
and I would like to know what you are prepared to do to bring about 
change. 
 
Capt. Cubbage is a 29-year-old soldier serving with the Army's 173rd 
Airborne Brigade. The 173rd is the smallest combat unit in the world but 
has played a frontline role in the war on terror. Nine of its 1,000 
members have recently given their lives in service to our nation. 
 
Cap. Cubbage and his fellow soldiers parachuted into northern Iraq 
shortly after the invasion began. The 173rd fought two divisions of 
Saddam's Republican Guard. It captured an air field and secured oil supplies. 
Capt. Cubbage was awarded the combat parachute badge and a Bronze Star 
for his service in Iraq. He and his unit have since been deployed to 
Afghanistan. 
 
Capt. Cubbage was recently given two weeks' leave to come home to 
Philadelphia and celebrate the birth of his first child, Adam Jr., who 
weighed in at a healthy 7 pounds, 12 ounces. 
 
At the end of his leave, on Oct. 9, Capt. Cubbage arrived at Terminal 
D, Philadelphia International Airport, to begin his long journey back to 
Afghanistan. He was taken to the airport by his parents (his father, 
Patrick Cubbage, is himself a veteran of the 173rd). 
 
These three members of the Cubbage family arrived two hours before 
Capt. Cubbage's 8 a.m. departure. The first leg of his journey was to be 
aboard a commercial flight on Air Tran. 
 
Please picture this scene: Capt. Cubbage, proud new father in his BDUs 
(battle dress uniform), with his parents! 
 
Capt. Cubbage presented his identification, orders and tickets at the 
Air Tran counter. He and his parents were given gate passes. In line, 
before reaching the next screening point, Capt. Cubbage again showed his 
ID. 
 
Upon approaching the magnetometer, and after showing identification for 
the third time, Capt. Cubbage and his parents were told by a TSA 
representative that they had been identified for secondary, or random, 
screening! This American hero was then asked to remove his combat boots and 
outer garments to be fully "wanded. "
 
I find the treatment of Capt. Cubbage to be appalling, driven by 
political correctness and disrespectful of the uniform this proud American 
was wearing. 
 
You have to wonder who is NOT being subjected to secondary screening as 
time and effort are wasted on a man like Adam Cubbage. 
 
The sad reality of 9/11 is that America was victimized by individuals 
who had ethnicity, gender and appearance in common. Capt. Cubbage 
possesses none of those characteristics. What possible justification can 
exist for subjecting a military man in uniform with his orders in hand to 
random screening? 
 
It's time to stop the charade that is airport screening and focus on 
those who present a real threat. 
 
I want to know what you intend to stop the selection of soldiers like 
Capt. Cubbage for random screening at airports, and I await your reply. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
__________________________
 
Address:
 
___________________________
 

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