I dispute the theory that engineers are not risk-takers and tend to be conservative out of an excess of caution.
Engineers come in all flavors and political persuasions. What they do have in common is a background of scholastic discipline and the ability to analyze. Since it's obvious that Islam is using some of their engineers to attack us, perhaps it's time to use some of ours to tackle the problems of anticipating and thwarting the work of creeps who would blow airliners out of the sky.
Quite true. I've had run-ins with a very liberal engineer where I work.
He and I debated AGW (this was before "Climategate") and I pointed out the fake, phony, fraud that is James Hansen. That sent him off the deep end.
I've always been amazed how someone with engineering training can think like that. He is a good engineer though.