Posted on 07/16/2005 3:09:35 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
American law-enforcement authorities are working closely with Israeli authorities to identify characteristics of suicide bombers, but they are finding that applying the Israeli tactic of profiling potential terrorists is fraught with difficulties.
Suicide bombings, used to lethal effectiveness in the Middle East and parts of Asia, were almost unheard of in Western countries before last week's deadly attacks in London. Now events in the United Kingdom have prompted concern on this side of the Atlantic that the U.S. isn't doing enough to prevent such attacks on its soil.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation say they have sent dozens of agents to Israel in the past decade to work with security and law-enforcement units there to study suicide bombings and try to develop a profile by studying the lives of those who committed such atrocities. The ATF and Israeli authorities meet every three months so the U.S can "keep up with emerging trends," says Sheree Mixell, spokeswoman for the ATF.
But suicide bombers -- unlike, say, serial killers -- share very few specific traits, which makes them difficult to profile, U.S. authorities have found. Architects of suicide attacks use a variety of people to be bombers and often change tactics and targets.
One seven-page U.S. document notes, for instance, that while a suicide attacker is likely to be a young adult Arabic male, that doesn't rule out women and older men. As such, it says, "behaviors are much more important than gender, age, or race/ethnicity."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
But the biggest obstacle preventing the U.S. from emulating Israeli methods is the differing cultures and mores of the two countries. In Israel, there is far less concern over ethnic and religious profiling. At Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport, Arab citizens of Israel regularly face lengthy questioning and extensive searches, while their Jewish counterparts breeze through security checks. Such tactics also are used on foreign-aid workers, journalists and sometimes even diplomats who spend time in the Palestinian territories.
Israeli profiling is employed in sometimes extreme ways during security alerts. In Jerusalem, bomb warnings are often followed by extensive roadblocks that close off Arab villages. Security agents are posted at bus stops with orders to pay special attention to young Arab men. More recently, some of these measures have been extended to Arab women as well, following a handful of successful female suicide bombings. In Israel, these measures have proved successful in limiting terror attacks and are supported by a majority of citizens, who view security as the government's single most important task.
Israelis let would-be bombers who live there know that, if they carry out their mission, their families are likely to be thrown out of the country and their homes bulldozed. "They are promoting the negative consequences that will be felt by your survivors," Mr. Bulla says. "Obviously the government in the U.S. cannot do that kind of marketing strategy within its borders."
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How long before we get these stringent measures in the U.S.? How big must the next attack be before we begin getting serious about profiling our enemies living among us? Any WHY is it "obvious" that we can't use such tactics against our enemies? And what type of blithering idiot would talke about using "marketing strategy" against our enemies? Exactly how does a "marketing strategy" win a battle to save our civilization?
Racial profiling? Forget it! Norman Mineta would never allow it.
Srry, that's not accurate. Mrs Sofa and the Sofalass got back from Israel a week ago. Israeli Arabs may be scrutinized more than others in some instances, that isn't the norm.
Jews of Middle Eastern decent (Yemeni, Moroccan, Persian, etc) "look" like Arabs...swarthy complection, etc. The profiling is very subtle. An answer to a simple "Shalom" can cause them to look at someone far more carefully. They don't just go by looks. Eye contact, accent, behavior, dress, many factors involved.
I don't know that we should be following Israel's model. How successful are they? They have constant attacks and bombings. Sometimes suicide bombings are daily there. I think the equation is just different there than it is here. There, just like in Europe, you have a large population of possible jihadists. Most palestinians and most muslims in europe are not jihadists, but enough are to create chaos. Here you don't have much of a supply of jihadists. There aren't really any sleeper cells here, and the possible extremists that are here the govt knows about and keeps track of. The problem is different (and less severe) here than it is across the ocean.
They live with millions of savages (many homicidal) in a small area the size of New Jersey. No other country does as well dealing with this threat.
How successful is Israel? Do you have any idea how many bombings are prevented? Last estimate I heard is that fewer than 5% of planned attacks actually occur.
You are probably correct that most Mulsims are not Jihadists. However, most Muslims support the concept of suicide bombings, to a greater or lesser extent. Certainly, they are not particularly vocal in their condemnation of attacks. In fact, as we both know, they very often will cheer attacks.
There aren't any slepper cells here? Really? And you know this how? If you believe that for one second, we're in bigger trouble than I thought. If you truly believe that the problem is less severe here, please remember that 9/11 happened here. Almost 3000 people lost their lives. 7/7 happened in Britain. Huge difference.
I'd rather us not follow the Israeli model of tolerating terrorism without appropriate response. We should, instead of looking to Israel on this topic, look to Saudi Arabia.
If we had a neighbor that constantly was attacking, killing and maiming our citizens and Israel told us to consider the ramifications of retaliatory action, we'd tell them to go and fly a kite.
Yet that is what we did this week to them after the Netanya suicide bombing. It's just fine and dandy for us to take action. How dare we tell them when and how to respond to acts of terror?
>>How successful is Israel? Do you have any idea how many bombings are prevented? Last estimate I heard is that fewer than 5% of planned attacks actually occur. <<
How many bombings have we prevented in the last 20 years? How many have the Europeans prevented? It doesn't matter how many bombings you prevent, all it takes is one happening. WTC 93/911 were not the first times that a terrorist attack was ever planned here.
>>However, most Muslims support the concept of suicide bombings, to a greater or lesser extent. Certainly, they are not particularly vocal in their condemnation of attacks. <<
Actually to the average muslim, suicide bombings and other acts of terrorism are viewed much like Americans view their own home-grown terrorism. Did most Americans support McVeigh?
>>There aren't any slepper cells here? Really? And you know this how? If you believe that for one second, we're in bigger trouble than I thought. If you truly believe that the problem is less severe here, please remember that 9/11 happened here. Almost 3000 people lost their lives. 7/7 happened in Britain. Huge difference.<<
What percent of this country is composed of muslims? It is about 4%. What percentage of London is composed of muslims? Over 10%. A very large minority of Europe is muslim. Muslims in this country are very moderate, possibly more moderate than anywhere else on Earth. Muslims in Europe can be very radical. How many muslims in this country publicly declare their support for jihadism? None. Many in Europe do. While 911 did happen here, where did they plan 911? Not here, but in a sleeper cell in Germany. Why has there not been another terrorist attack here since 911, but there have been attacks in Europe? Because this country is fortified and much harder for extremists to sneak into. There are few if any radicals who live here (whom in europe they often are european citizens and thus harder to monitor and jail), so it is harder to carry out attacks. However since so many live in Europe, there is no need to sneak into their countries. Did you know that you can drive a car from Iraq to Europe in less than 2 days. We still have two great oceans that protect us. So no, we don't have many sleeper cells in this country.
"Actually to the average muslim, suicide bombings and other acts of terrorism are viewed much like Americans view their own homegrown terrorism. Did most Americans support McVeigh?"That's not accurate at all. Just this morning on FR there was a report about suicide bombings. They do NOT look on it as we look upon McVeigh. That is just plain incorrect. I suggest that you look at public opinion polls taken throughout the Arab world.
Again...neither you nor I know the number of terror cells in the US, but for us to proceed on the basis that aren't any is dangerous and shortsighted. Read Steve Emerson and Daniel Pipes' writings...I think we can agree that they are probably the preeminent authorities on terrorism in this country. Both agree that the likelihood that there are terror cells in the US is very high, and I would agree with that assessment simply because it stands to reason.
The one thing that 9/11 taught us is that the world is a much smaller place than it used to be and gaining access to this country is not difficult. I live in San Diego...people cross into the US illegally every single day by the thousands.
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(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
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