What do you think about profiling? Would it make a difference....

[meloneyb21]

or cause more trouble than what already is?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060816/ap_on_re_eu/britain_passenger_profiling_1

 

[CathrynRose]

Yes, it most certainly *would* make a difference, and that is exactly what they should be doing.

They profile in U.K. - theyre still a "free" society. U.K also allows "reasonable suspicion" for a search, as opposed to "probable cause".

IMO - during this day and age - yes, profile.

 

[ducklite]

As I've said in other threads, there is an appearance by the Islamic community of not speaking up against terrorism, not doing enought to prevent it within their own rank and file.

For the Muslims screaming they are peaceful people, what better way to prove it?

Anne

 

[Disney Doll]

Since the majority of terrorist activites that have been perpetrated outside of the middle east seem to be perptrated by males of a certain age range, and of middle-eastern descent, then I would say yes, profile them.

That being said, I don't think we an ignore other folks or factions. Not every single terrorist act has been carried out by the "profile" person, so we still have to randomly look at other folks...women, children, elderly and so on. Remember the shoe bomber...he did not fit the "middle eastern male" bill.

Quite frankly, if chubby,white, middle-aged women with salt & pepper hair had carried out the terrorist actions on 9/11, and many of the ones prior to it, I would expect to be stopped at the airport and searched.

Fair? No. But, as my very wise father once said "Life isn't always going to be fair. Get used to it".

 

[JMD]

Not profiling is just plain stupid. Its really said that political correctness is being put ahead of national security.

 

[poohandwendy]

Since the majority of terrorist activites that have been perpetrated outside of the middle east seem to be perptrated by males of a certain age range, and of middle-eastern descent, then I would say yes, profile them.

That being said, I don't think we an ignore other folks or factions. Not every single terrorist act has been carried out by the "profile" person, so we still have to randomly look at other folks...women, children, elderly and so on. Remember the shoe bomber...he did not fit the "middle eastern male" bill.

Quite frankly, if chubby,white, middle-aged women with salt & pepper hair had carried out the terrorist actions on 9/11, and many of the ones prior to it, I would expect to be stopped at the airport and searched.

Fair? No. But, as my very wise father once said "Life isn't always going to be fair. Get used to it".

I agree, I am all for profiling. They do it when they are trying to catch serial killers (typically white, 20-40 yo males), I am not sure why it is ok for that but not for terrorists.

 

[antmaril]

Quite frankly, if chubby,white, middle-aged women with salt & pepper hair had carried out the terrorist actions on 9/11, and many of the ones prior to it, I would expect to be stopped at the airport and searched.

Fair? No. But, as my very wise father once said "Life isn't always going to be fair. Get used to it".

I have said this so many times, I couldn't believe it when I read your quote. I feel that way too. If middle aged, overweight white women were responsible for these terrorist attacks, then stop me at the airport, search through my things and give me the once (or even twice) over - I have no problem with that. If I fit the profile, then I will just have to live with the inconvenience of it.

 

[bicker]

I have been profiled (I look like an Arab, to Arabs, incidently), and as antmaril indicated, I just live with the inconvenience of it. I have nothing to hide, so it's a minor price to pay for security.

 

[salmoneous]

We do profile - it's just a matter of what basis we use. Right now we profile anyone who, say, has traveled to or made contacts with people in Syria. That sort of profiling is good.

Buy I think it's a very dangerous road to go down to subject people to profiling based on what church they attend.

A question for those in favor of broad profiling - we've had a number of attacks in this country from former member of the military. Do you think we should single out all former service men for profiling?z

 

[Kendra17]

I heard a debate regarding profiling yesterday. I can't find the link to it now, but it was quite interesting. The one guy was for profiling, the other one was not and was stating how just last week a woman with her 6 month old baby was part of the thwarted attack! His point was, "see? she didn't fit the "profile". He also refused to call terrorists Muslim terrorists, or Islamists, or anything other than "terrorists".

Just thought he was so representative of many here.

Anyways, I am obviously for profiling. I don't think those who fit the profile are the ONLY dangerous people, mind you. I also think that those planning the attacks may change tactics so that the potential terrorist would not fit the profile and be more likely to succeed at an attack. That said, we still have to be vigilant, but we also should be profiling.

 

[bicker]

Profiling is, itself, inherently unbiased. It isn't about persecuting any specific ethnic groups, for example. Rather, it is about identifying what are the characteristics of those that transgress. When there is a strong correlation between such characteristics and transgressors, that's when a profile can be useful for identifying people for futher scrutiny. If that includes former members of the military, as one of the many characteristics within the profile, then I would expect that it would be applied to them as well.

 

[Charade]

I agree, I am all for profiling. They do it when they are trying to catch serial killers (typically white, 20-40 yo males), I am not sure why it is ok for that but not for terrorists.

But don't forget, one time a white American man blew up a building in OK.

 

[Charade]

A question for those in favor of broad profiling - we've had a number of attacks in this country from former member of the military. Do you think we should single out all former service men for profiling?z

When that becomes as commonplace as Islamic terrorism, why not?

 

[froglady]

But don't forget, one time a white American man blew up a building in OK.

But he didn't travel on a plane to do it. And you are absolutely correct: in the past decade, a small minority of white, Christian, US born and raised men comitted terrorists acts. The recent majority have been Muslim men between the ages of 15-35.

So that's why white, middle aged women have to wait in line, take their shoes, belts, earrings, etc off, empty their bags, and be subjected to random personal searches.

I'm not looking forward to my upcoming trip with my 85 year old mother. She'll have to get out of her wheelchair, and probably won't be allowed to use her cane to walk through the metal detector. And I probably won't be allowed to walk with her, so I'll have to wait on the other side (if they let me) to catch her.

And don't get me started on my SIL who had to endure a body search because she wouldn't take off her shoe. She has OBVIOUS MS, with a special leg brace built into her sneaker. It is a real effort for her to put it on every morning, so she didn't want to remove it. TSA gave her a hard time (but knowing her, she probably gave them one right back ) and ended up poking and prodding her. The searcher even questioned the hard object under her clothes...her hipbone! SIL is very, very skinny due to the medication she takes...makes her nauseated and sometimes causes vomitting.

But let's not profile and speed up the process. Maybe the solution would be for TSA to randomly wave people who in no way, shape, or form fit the profile through an express lane? So instead of picking on "suspicious" looking people, you target those who appear harmless.

 

[salmoneous]

When that becomes as commonplace as Islamic terrorism, why not?

We're already there.

 

[Charade]

We're already there.

Really? Other than McVey and a few others, how's that?

 

[Disney Doll]

I have said this so many times, I couldn't believe it when I read your quote. I feel that way too. If middle aged, overweight white women were responsible for these terrorist attacks, then stop me at the airport, search through my things and give me the once (or even twice) over - I have no problem with that. If I fit the profile, then I will just have to live with the inconvenience of it.

Great minds think alike!!!!!

 

[Disney Doll]

But don't forget, one time a white American man blew up a building in OK.

And the other 17 times it has been a male of Middle-Eastern descent between the ages of 17-40. So, based on that, who do you think is actually going to be more likely to commit a terrorist act?

Again, profiling doesn't mean excluding every other possibility. It means that you create a profile of the most likely, but also keep vigilant for the unexpected.

 

[Charade]

Again, profiling doesn't mean excluding every other possibility. It means that you create a profile of the most likely, but also keep vigilant for the unexpected.

 

[meloneyb21]

Again, profiling doesn't mean excluding every other possibility. It means that you create a profile of the most likely, but also keep vigilant for the unexpected.

Perfect!