People who man the suicide hotlines recognize that the profile of a suicidal person involves estrangement from family, significant others, and friends; availability of the lethal means, closure-like activities such as closing out bank accounts, giving things away for no obvious reason, and so forth. Nobody accuses suicide hotline counselors of profiling. They’re trained to do it, and while they are sometimes wrong, they are correct often enough to make the effort worthwhile.
The underwear bomber fits a certain obvious profile: He is a young islamic male; he has had contact with Imam’s who preach jihad, he often has travelled to a Moslem country where calls for jihad and all that crap is rampant or comes from one. He has no real friends. He rejects his family and his place in society, which is often middle class or better. He is travelling alone. He buys his ticket virtually at the gate. He pays cash. His ticket is one-way. He is travelling to the United States where he has no relatives, no purpose, and no particular interests. His name shows up on watch lists, etc.
All of these profile characteristics were apparent with the underwear bomber, but the one that has to do with being an Islamic young man trumps the rest. Our pathetically politically correct bunch of liberals just can’t offend these people by profiling them, no matter how many times the people fitting the aforementioned profile murder us and people fitting our profiles in the name of jihad. Innocent until proven guilty, bullshit.
That courtroom mentality doesn’t apply with respect to how a nation secures its borders. Profile, profile, profile, and don’t let anyone in who fits the terrorist profile come here at all. Why would we want to?
And kick out those who are here... starting with CAIR officials.
Well stated. Bravo...
I agree. We need to profile. It's either profile or die as our weakness encourages more people to join the other side...