Explain to us how real profiling works. I think that lots of us are confused as to how profiling of people at greater risk of being terrorists really works. It seems as if, up to now, everyone is considered an equal risk of blowing up the plane, because we don’t want to do any profiling. Maybe I’m mistaken.
Under the Israeli model, you know the one that actually works, EVERYONE is “profiled”. When you go to purchase a ticket, a background check is run on the purchaser. Moreover, certain indicators from the ticket purchase might trigger a flag, things like paying for the ticket in cash, purchasing a one-way ticket, originating from a high-risk area, ect... Then, before you check in, you are met by security officials trained in behavior analysis. These people will ask you questions about your destination, where you have been, your intentions, and based on your responses, and your general demeanor and nervousness, you might be selected for additional scrutiny. Security personal also walk the airport looking for behavioral indicators. Some people might even be subjected to an interrogation, in which they do not have a right to refuse to answer questions.
Something tells me that many of the folks here screaming about the TSA procedures really don’t want Israeli style procedures either, even though they do work.
The Israeli process works because EVERYONE is subjected to the behavioral analysis and profiling measures and those meeting the indicators are subjected to additional security screening.
Of course, this process doesn’t appeal to those who think that they should be free from any scrutiny, while only those who meet their amateur (TV fed) preconceived notions of what a terrorist looks like, are subject to screening.