Terror in the Skies, Again?

[DawnCt1]

I heard about this article on a late night syndicated radio program and looked it up. It is lengthy but well worth the time. Again, it gives rise to the discussion of profiling and screening as well as acting pre emptively on a flight. I would have been frightened if I were the passengers on Northwest Airlines flight #327. How about you? http://womenswallstreet.com/WWS/article_landing.aspx?titleid=1&articleid=711

 

[Kim&Chris]

Unbelievable.............

I must congratulate the writer for keeping her cool, as I would have become absolutely panic stricken and probably lost my composure.

I will be flying in September - - the first time since 9/11. I am terrified, and will probably disembark if I see something similar going on.

 

[cynsaun]

That is bone chilling. I hope we as a country can do more to keep our country safe. If it means profiling, so be it!

 

[bjgrazi]

That is one of the most unnerving things I've read in awhile.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Let me tell you...I have flown out of Detroit and that is how it always is.

Was I uncomfortable, yes.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by cynsaun
That is bone chilling. I hope we as a country can do more to keep our country safe. If it means profiling, so be it!

ITA.

Secretly, I think they do profile. They just don't come out and say so.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by cynsaun
That is bone chilling. I hope we as a country can do more to keep our country safe. If it means profiling, so be it!

I agree. I haven't read Ann Coulter's article but if we have to do away a "frequent flyer" clearances and have everyone wait in a security line, that is more than fine with me. Israel doesn't look for weapons or bombs alone, they profile and look for terrorists. The idea that there is a racial profile that we can't exceed per flight is outrageous.

 

[Kim&Chris]

I agree with a previous poster.....PROFILING IS A NECESSARY EVIL.

Unfortunate at it may be, it must happen to keep Americans safe.

 

[4cruisin]

I love the response from the Air Marshal Services: "Our FAM agents have to have an event to arrest somebody. Our agents aren't going to deploy until there is an actual event."
Great, so the air marshals would have arrested someone after a bomb exploded. That makes me feel much safer!

I would have been freaking out if I had been on that plane. To be honest, if I saw what the writer saw before I boarded, I probably would not have boarded the plane at all. Call me a racist...sorry. That's the way I feel.

The terrorists are going to hit us again. If giving up some of our civil liberties to really protect us will help, I am all for it. I am a 43 yo white female. I do not have a foreign sounding name, no criminal record etc. In 3 plane trips since 9/11, I have been tagged for secondary security screenings 3x's. Now, I know I do not look like a middle-eastern male, nor do I act in a suspicious manner, however, for some reason, I am tagged when my name appears in the computer. Is it a hassle, yup, do I understand the reason behind it, yup. I always thank the screener for doing their job. Explain to me why we can't secondary screen someone that does fit the profile of a terrorist?

Nancy

 

[beattyfamily]

This scares me to death and angers me too!

I would have been freaking out if I were the one witnessing this on the plane!

I am all for profiling or anything to keep us from another 9/11

It's so scary to think what they are planning and the certainly are...it's just a matter of when.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by 4cruisin
I love the response from the Air Marshal Services: "Our FAM agents have to have an event to arrest somebody. Our agents aren't going to deploy until there is an actual event."
Great, so the air marshals would have arrested someone after a bomb exploded. That makes me feel much safer!

I would have been freaking out if I had been on that plane. To be honest, if I saw what the writer saw before I boarded, I probably would not have boarded the plane at all. Call me a racist...sorry. That's the way I feel.

The terrorists are going to hit us again. If giving up some of our civil liberties to really protect us will help, I am all for it. I am a 43 yo white female. I do not have a foreign sounding name, no criminal record etc. In 3 plane trips since 9/11, I have been tagged for secondary security screenings 3x's. Now, I know I do not look like a middle-eastern male, nor do I act in a suspicious manner, however, for some reason, I am tagged when my name appears in the computer. Is it a hassle, yup, do I understand the reason behind it, yup. I always thank the screener for doing their job. Explain to me why we can't secondary screen someone that does fit the profile of a terrorist?

Nancy

Nancy, I agree with you. It wasn't just their appearance that made these men suspicious but their behavior. The "event" may occurr when its too late to have any response be of value.

 

[Eeyore1954]

I read the article and thought there was a major overreaction on the part of the author & the flight crew. I wonder if they would have reacted the same way had the individuals been Caucausian males instead of men of Middle Eastern descent. I believe in rational fear, but this is allowing fear to overcome rational thought.

 

[DoeWDW]

Very creepy! Thanks for posting this and opening my eyes.

 

[Virgo10]

That's the most frightening thing I've read in a long time.

Roberta

 

[RachelEllen]

What a frightening story.

Maybe they should have cameras in the rest rooms. Wouldn't bother me. There really shouldn't be a place in the plane that is completely private.

Rachel

 

[dumboiu]

Originally posted by The Mystery Machine
Let me tell you...I have flown out of Detroit and that is how it always is.

Can you explain how what always is??? Is there usually a lot of activity like that on the plane? If so, why was the flight crew so concerned? I would appreciate you clarifying your statement so I understand what you mean.

 

[4cruisin]

Originally posted by Eeyore1954
I read the article and thought there was a major overreaction on the part of the author & the flight crew. I wonder if they would have reacted the same way had the individuals been Caucausian males instead of men of Middle Eastern descent. I believe in rational fear, but this is allowing fear to overcome rational thought.

First, if you were the one watching this take place and did not have the same feelings...good for you. The last time I checked, the number of terrorists that have been middle eastern men is a lot larger in number than white males. When the next attack happens and it is determined that a bomb or weapon was assembled by 16 Syrian males on board a plane, remember what this author wrote.

 

[DoeWDW]

Frankly, I'd be concerned about the type of behavior, no matter WHO was doing it. It just doesn't seem like rational behavior to have a group of people systematically assembling and using the restroom consecutively, passing things to each other, taking a camera or McDonald's bag into the restroom, etc.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by dumboiu
Can you explain how what always is??? Are there usually a lot of activity like that on the plane? If so, why was the flight crew so concerned? I would appreciate you clarifying your statement so I understand what you mean.

I don't know about on the plane, but when I was waiting for boarding, (and I felt bad for thinking like this), many arab men, one in pj's carrying his fast food bag IMimg on his cell for over a hour. Also many other people of his ethic background coming up to him talking and then going to stand in a different part of the boarding area even though they were on the same flight.

Just odd and it turned out to be nothing but it makes you nervous. I guess after 911 that is just how it is going to be.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by Eeyore1954
I read the article and thought there was a major overreaction on the part of the author & the flight crew. I wonder if they would have reacted the same way had the individuals been Caucausian males instead of men of Middle Eastern descent. I believe in rational fear, but this is allowing fear to overcome rational thought.

Who was the actor, (his name eludes me right now) who was on one of the dry runs from BOS to LAX before 9/11? Maybe if someone had "over reacted" on that flight when there was a bevy of suspicious behavior, we wouldn't have had a 9/11. If you can point out to me where Caucasian males are blowinig up planes or flying them into buildings, you may have a valid point but for now, its Middle Easterners 13 for 13.