Do Profile; Don't Tell

Townhall ^ | 8/16/06 | Kathleen Parker

[ketelone]

Really?

I wasnt aware that Kazhkstan was a major proponent of terror. And I certainly wasnt aware that India was a terror factory of any sort.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

It isn't the countries themselves as supporters of terror, but rather the likelihood that their citizens might be involved.

Somalia doesn't even have a government, so they couldn't be listed as a "supporter of terror" either.

Let's face it, we need to profile based on what people's names are, their age and their appearance.

It wouldn't even be a freakin' debate if it hadn't been for the use of profiling to pull over drug dealers travelling between New York and New Jersey.

I had an employee who is French, but dark-skinned of Algerian origin. Whenever he travelled alone, he would always have problems. When he travelled with me, never. The reason why? - No one who looks like me would be travelling with a terrorist. Him travelling alone, however was suspicious. Less when he was wearing a suit though. Europeans profile. It makes sense.

[ketelone]

?

Again, however, I can count on my fingers the number of citizens of the CIS republics and India have been involved in international terror plots of any sort. None. Primarily because most of these people arent moslems (India has as a percentage as many muslims as france). Well the CIS citizens are, but I think theyve been effectively communistized, and arent of a radical bent of mind.

Pakistanis, yes, in fact I read just yesterday an article on FR from the Australian times detailing how every plot involving terror since 9/11 has had a pakistan connection according to the FBI.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/opinion/story/0,22049,20114041-5001031,00.html

[Molly Pitcher]

Thanks for all the comments, everyone!

Probably those who wrote about profiling certain behavior were on the right track...

We know that eventually, the terrorists will adapt to OUR adapting to their tactics...so whatever we do, we have to think and plan ahead, like a chess game.

[dirtboy]

Banzhaf argues that racial profiling is constitutional if done in accordance with U.S. Supreme Court guidelines that ethnicity not be the sole criteria. Other considerations for potential hijackers might be age, gender, behavior or clothing. He also notes that courts have upheld using race/ethnicity to further ``compelling state interest," as in considering race for college admissions.

Great point to throw in a liberal's face the next time I hear one squawking about profiling. They have NO PROBLEM profiling by race for college admissions, but not for national security?

[dirtboy]

Some good commentary from Muslims in this column.

[pointsal]

It's behavioral profiling! All a TSA officer has to do is say a person "behaved suspiciously".

Is "behaved suspiciously" going to be shortened to BS?

I like it!

[flynmudd]

I included Cuba because of the lovefest with Castro, Chavez, Assad and the Iranian Nutjob. They all want our destruction and are very vocal about it. Unfortunately, this country seems to be deaf.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

(India has as a percentage as many muslims as france)

So what, in absolute numbers they are the world's second largest Muslim country. And their muzzies are radical too.

Not sure what your point is actually.

[Molly Pitcher]

Bill Bennett is interviewing Kathleen Parker now about this issue...what about teen-age boys & car insurance???

[stockstrader]

Great post. You hit the nail RIGHT ON THE HEAD. I couldn't agree more!

Until the leaders of that religion start telling these nut-cases that,,,not only will they NOT go to heaven to get their 72 virgins--they will actually ROT IN HELL--nothing will change.

It's up to the clerics/leaders of that religion to step up--or every muslim deserves everything they get.

As you said, WHY ARE WE EVEN LETTING MUSLIMS ON AIRPLANES until that happens?

[ketelone]

?

Whats the basis or evidence for your terming Indian muslims as "radical", and terror abetting?

Last I recall, they havent been out burning cars, for an extended period of weeks. Noone in India would let them, and they pretty much know it.

The evidence in terms of Indian muslims being involved in international terror, is also underwhelming, in fact nonexistent. More muslims from germany were involved in 9/11 than from India. So I dont see how you can make such an accusation.

My point is that youre making an unfair accusation, and terming entire countries as suspect, when their record has not shown them to be.

[ScubieNuc]

For more on the Timothy McVeigh angle, read "Others Unknown." It was written by McVeigh's former lawyer before 9/11. Very eye-opening on how the Clinton government blocked McVeigh's lawyers from pursueing the AlQaida angle tied to Nichols.

Sincerely

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

So you didn't hear about the bombings in Mumbai then right?

Also, there were no German citizens involved in the terrorist attacks. So "Muslims from Germany" is a complete falsehood. Indeed they lived in Germany. And, we were talking about profiling people who "visited" a certain country. Thus, my point is absolutely correct about India and you are full of it.

[prairiebreeze]

The Muslim Council of Britain has warned the government to think ``very carefully,'' saying that including ``behavioral pattern recognition'' in passenger profiling would lead to discrimination.

That's actually a thinly veiled threat. We darned well BETTER start being more discriminating.

And if Muslims ever get their priorities straight (not holding my breath here) and stop trying to annihilate the rest of the world taking many Muslims along in the process, then they wouldn't have to worry about possibly being discriminated against, now would they.

[stockstrader]

It doesn't matter. Until good, honest, and decent muslims DEMAND that their leaders 'speak up' and DEMAND civil behavior of ALL Muslims--there will be indescriminate and unjustified consequences (i.e. profiling and discrimination) for all muslims.

It's up to the clerics of that religion to spell out LOUDLY and CLEARLY to ALL Muslims--what type of behavior is acceptable, and what type of behavior is ABSOLUTELY NOT.

[ketelone]

I dont quite understand.

you say:

So "Muslims from Germany" is a complete falsehood. Indeed they lived in Germany. And, we were talking about profiling people who "visited" a certain country. Thus, my point is absolutely correct about India and you are full of it.

You are incorrect, members of the Hamburg cell were indeed German citizens, for example Said Bahaji, who was apparently a major financier of the terror plot on september the 11th.

Also, are you telling me these German muslims of yours visited India? They didnt, as far as I know. Thus your point becomes not a point at all.

To be frank, I think European muslims are far more radicalised, and nursing an agenda against the west than those in India. Indian muslims have similar feelings, but theyre largely directed against non-muslim Indians (The rest 88%), as evidenced by the mumbai bombings.

European nations routinely harbor terror suspects who are wanted by the government of India, and others for extradition. When these very "asylees" turn around and bite the west in the rear, who is to blame? Look at the London bombers. All British born muslims. Look at the recent airliner bottle bomb plot. 21/23 suspects british born pakistanis. I regret that most of the muslim immigrants from south asia that Europe gets, are terrorists of one sort or another, under the guise of asylum. And its no surprise that their children are just as dangerous as they are.


I fear that the longer your harbor these snakes in your breast, the more damage they will cause. They subscribe to the ideology - probe with the bayonet... if you feel weakness, then push!

Should profiling be done? Of course! Should it be based on race? No... its just as easy to find a white looking suicide bomber as a black one, as a brown one, as a chinese one! Muslims are everywhere.

Finally, kindly dont badmouth my country, without knowing much about the reality on the ground.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

Actually I really love India.

Walk into my house and you are greeted by Ganesha and the smell of cumin and coriander.

But your Muslims are problems too. Especially in the north.

[ketelone]

Well, I really dont disagree with you...

Especially now.. with the emergence of SIMI, Darul-Uloom, and other such, and with the weak and appeasement minded government at the center, muslims in India are being increasingly radicalised.

Indeed, unchecked inflow of immigrants from bangladesh, money from Saudi, and agents from pakistan are doing all sorts of things to turn Indian muslims into a dangerous mix, which occasionally explodes, such as in mumbai.

[okie01]

``Obviously, the government's interest in protecting the lives of thousands of citizens from a major terrorist attack is at least as 'compelling' as a better college education," he says.

I find this argument, well, compelling.

I wonder if Sandra Day O'Connor -- squarely heist on her petard -- would, as well...