[angkor]

"The man did not smile back. His face did not move. In fact, the cold, defiant look he gave me sent shivers down my spine."

I do not think this "look" is all definitive.

In fact it seems to illustrate a pervasive cultural naivete that is at the crux of this story.

The guy is an Islamic male. You know they are generally intolerant of women, and that they are completely flummoxed by Western women.

Perhaps this guy thought she was being too forward, and by his look was scolding her for that and her perceived "loose morals."

I'm sorry, the story is seeming more and more like group hysteria to me.

[Rhiannon]

I fail to see group hysteria, The writer did not show any hysteria on the plane. She was concerned of behavior that was consistent with terrrorists behavior. Also you can get an feel for a person based on a look. If you cannot read body language then you cannot percieve a lot of information from personal interaction.

If you feel this is all baloney, then perhaps you would feel comfortable being on that plane. Personally if I had to take a flight in the next 2 months, I would watch my fellow passengers carefully and if I saw more than a few middle eastern men, then I would refuse to go on that flight. If nothing happens fine, just an inconvienence to get another flight.