I listened to a morning show program with an interview with one of Mr. Shater's attorneys and a passenger who claimed he was seated next to Mr. Shater. The attorney said that her client did not get agitated nor try and bully the flight and ground crew and that AA refused to verify the agents credentials -- all LIES. The passenger admitted that he didn't really know squat about the whole thing - he didn't see or hear what went on outside the aircraft, but that a flight attendant did check out the items left by the ss agent - pat'd down his coat (I would presume to check to be sure the agent didn't leave a weapon in it). After the pax admitted he didn't know squat - he said he called the Arab American Association and said he was sure that it was a case of discrimination . . . and the new media give coverage to nitwits like that.
Such is the spring-loaded mentality, blind stupidity, lack of knowledge and procedure that is demonstrated by the news media and people like the "Guv."