Profiling at Airports

[flip-flop]

Why don't we simply stop and search ALL young Muslim like men travelling alone and subject them to rigorous searches at airports?

Let's face it, the chances of my blowing up a plane (white, mid 30's, travelling with my Wife and our three year old daughter) are, I would suggest, siginificantly less than a Muslim man in his early 20's travelling alone.

If this is classed as racist by the hand wringers, then fine, I'd much rather be a racist and prevent a plane being blown up, than allowing a bomber on board for fear of being called racist by singling them out.

[flip-flop]

.............beacause, presumably, you are not prepared to compromise your wolly liberal beliefs to try and ensure these ******* scumbags aren't a lickle wickle bit upset.

Its people like you that are playing the rest of us right into their hands.

Well thanks.

Cretin.

[Pippa68]

All Muslims are scumbags? good grief....

There are plenty of Christian Asians. There are plenty of Muslim white people. Search us all throughly, it's the only way!

[Pippa68]

*thoroughly*

[sp1814]

flip-flop

Please tell me how airport security are going to be able to identify Muslims.

[flip-flop]

You profile the most likely candidates - young asian looking men travelling alone - and then you subject them to rigorous searches.

Yes, there are, as has been shown, some young white men who appear to hate us for some inexplicable reason, but these are few and far between - the vast majority who want to kill us are as described

If this action prevented even one act of terrorism, it is absolutely and unequivocally justified.

[sp1814]

flip flop

But that's too generic...young Asian men I mean. That would encompass anyone of Asian appearance, which would cover Hindus and other non-Muslims.

Rather than racial profiling, would it not make more sense to install, admittedly expensive, 'sniffer' machines in airports which could detect trace elements of explosive materials.

Of course, this would increase the cost of air travel, but wouldn't you want this, rather than potentially alienating young Muslims...I mean, if there are a minority of young Muslim men who feel aggreived at the west, don't you think that singling them out as potential murderers is going to confirm their feelings?

[flip-flop]

If such technology is available (I have absolutely no idea whether it is or not) then fine. If it isn't available, what would you suggest? The only solution I can see is singling out young asian men travelling alone - if that alienation saves even one life, then I feel the end justifies the means.

[WaldoMcFroog]

...and the moment they introduce profiling "young asian looking men travelling alone" then you instantly stop "young asian looking men travelling alone" being used to carry out the next terrorist autrocity.

Also, can we please stop cacking our pants in fear and consider the fact that these halfwits had been identified and infiltrated months and month ago. There was not the slightest chance they could have carried out their plan, but some of you are desperate to start eroding your own freedoms at the merest mention of the word 'plot' thus doing the terrorist's jobs for them.

[sp1814]

flip flop

The machines are available, but are very expensive. �50,000 as compared with �2,500 for metal detectors.

[Kim A]

As I understand it, Islam is a religion, not a racial type. Therefore Muslims can be people of any colour or of any appearance, and it is a little short-sighted to try to introduce a policy of stopping and searching young Muslim men. How can anyone be sure about who is a Muslim or not? Not all Muslim men (radicalised or otherwise) wear beards, nor are they all inclined towards terrorist activities. And Shami Chakrabarti of Liberty agrees with me, because I heard her say exactly that on the television. Even a white, mid 30's man, travelling with his Wife and their three year old daughter could be a terrorist or a Muslim. Who better to arouse little suspicion in times like these when the authorities are out looking for people of 'Muslim' appearance? Everyone should be subject to the same level of security checks, regardless of who they are, or what they look like, or where they come from. So what if your plane is delayed because you get through check-in more slowly? Live with it!

[flip-flop]

hmmmm, yes, that is just the sort of pony I expect Liberty in general and Chakrabarti in particular, to come out with.

[Kim A]

No more pony than you came out with, in your original quaestion and subsequent narrow minded answers.