Itching for revenge on your business competitor, raucous neighbors, or mother-in-law? Just tell the FBI or other police agency your enemy is a terrorist, sit back, and savor the results.
That's what recently happened to a man in Sweden traveling to the United States The man's father-in-law was angry with him for divorcing his daughter. When the man had to travel on business to the United States, the father sent an e-mail message to the FBI accusing his son-in-law of having links to al-Qaeda.
Upon his arrival in Florida, authorities arrested the son-in-law. Police handcuffed him, placed him in a detention cell, and interrogated him for 11 hours. Police finally convinced themselves the man wasn't a threat to U.S. national security. But even then, authorities refused to allow the man to enter the United States. He was unceremoniously expelled and placed on a flight back to Europe.
Confronted by Swedish authorities for sending a libelous e-mail, the father-in-law admitted playing a dirty trick. He said he didn't think, "the authorities were so stupid that they would believe anything. But apparently they are."
If accusing your enemy of being a terrorist isn't enough, you need to think bigger. Think money laundering. Simply accuse your enemy of laundering money for terrorists.
That's what happened to Naresh Goyal, the founder and chairman of Jet Airways, India's biggest private airline. In 2005, Jet applied for a license to fly to the United States. After a series of delays, Mr. Goyal learned that he was suspected of laundering money for al-Qaeda. Later, he learned that local competitors were behind the claim.
After a two-year investigation, U.S. authorities approved Jet's application for U.S. landing rights. But Goyal holds no grudge against his accusers. “Indians are very creative,” he says.
And that's the best way to get your revenge. Simply be creative. Yes, it's illegal to make false accusations against your enemy or competitor. And, yes, it might get you into trouble. But, that apparently hasn't stopped many people from making false accusations.
The bigger question, of course, is what happens after the FBI or other police agency completes its investigation. I suspect that the Swedish man interrogated and denied entry into the United States is now on the government's terrorist screening database. Mr. Goyal may be a proud member as well.
Nor is getting off the watchlist easy. Even dead people can't get off of it. Saddam Hussein, executed in 2006, apparently remains on the watchlist. The watchlist also reportedly contains the names of several of the Sept. 11, 2001 hijackers killed in the attacks of that day.
In other words, if you finger someone as a terrorist, the likely result is that wherever they travel, for years if not decades to come, they'll experience delays, detentions, and possible denial of entry rights. Sweet revenge indeed, for their false accusers.
Copyright © 2007 by Mark Nestmann
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