Having worked for a now defunct airline based in Miami, I have encountered my share of gun toting Feds, DEA's, Custom's Officals, ad nasuem, filling out required paperwork and jumping through all the hoops just to carry their weapon on board.
This was during the times of Miami Vice on TV. It was "cool" to be like Sonny and Tubbs.
It wasn't "cool" to carry a weapon on my plane.
If this Ibraham was enroute to guard the president, then he wasn't actually required to carry his weapon on board in the "performance of his duties".
What if he had demanded enterance to the cockpit, claiming he was "protecting the president?"
Where does the insanity stop? If ploice escorting prisoners aren't allowed to be armed, why do "off duty" law enforcement officals feel they have a right to flex their muscles? Ego?
Well Done to the AA Capt. Rather than turn on him, the SS and Justice Dept should be concentrating on their agent's behavior. As a "professional" he no doubt realized the disturbance he was causing, and therefore surrender his weapon or leave the flight to work it out.
Obvivously this "Arab" American should be more sensitive to his country than his feelings. If in fact he is on the Presidential Detail he should be reassigned for his actions on this day, instead of held up as a martyr by his fellow came1-jockey's.
To answer Guv's question, if it was my flight he'd have been off immediately because there was no need for him to have a weapon on board. Period. Call this what you want. I call it common sense.