CNN's Drew Griffin

Drew Griffin is a CNN investigative reporter. Recently he did a piece about former US Assistant Attorney General Jim Robinson being on the terrorism watch list. This was followed by a story about air marshals and the fact that very few of the flights originating in the US are manned by air marshals. Drew Griffin is now on the terrorism watch list. Coincidence? I don't think so.

This is yet another example of someone speaking out against a Bush administration policy and then getting the trouble that goes with that. Remember Dan Rather?

Every time Drew goes to the airport, he has to stand in the long line at the ticket counter, produce multiple forms of identification and go through the humiliation of proving he is who he is just to get on a flight. He cannot use the electronic check in. He cannot carry on luggage. He cannot check in online. He has to go through these procedures every time he flies. He is a CNN investigative reporter. He flies very often. Jim Robinson has to do the same thing. He was in the Clinton administration.

Both Robinson and Griffin have been told to go to the TSA website to fill out a form that will get them off the watch list. Robinson did this in 2005, but he is still on the list. Griffin did it in May. His wait is just beginning.