Why profiling Arab men makes sense in a world where terrorism is synonomous w/ Islam

Jewishworldnews.com | June 13, 2002 | Walter Williams

[Paul Atreides]

There is one thing you are forgetting; drug dealers don't knock down buildings and pose a danger of detonating a nuclear device in a major city.

[Viva Le Dissention]

But Paul, drugs kill more Americans every year than "terrorism" does. Far more. What's the problem?

[1bigdictator]

Viva I disagree on a few points, and consider myself to be a clasical conservative. You may consider this to be a false distinction but it is valid. Refering to other terror groups, The IRA and Chechnya Muslims, you imply it is incorrect to assert almost all international terrorists are Islamic-backed. The implication of the term "international" terrorism connotates acts between two parties of differing nationalities. Yes the IRA would qualify, but when were they last active. Perhaps it is more accurate to say multinational terrorists, because militant muslims do comprise 100% of the multinational acts of terror.

The IRA attacks english interests, but they don't target english interests or protestant interests in third party soveriegn nations as the militant muslims do. The Chechnyan terrorists are militant muslims so they are a fair subset of "international" or "multinational" terrorists.

Lastly as a true believer in personal freedoms and liberties, and as a strict constructionist of the constitution, I fail to see how profiling or searching people at the airports violates these freedoms. Nowhere in the bill of rights or constitution does it define public transportation as a fundamental right, but rather it is a privalege, and one that can be regulated for public safety. Even fundamental rights can be abriged under certain circumstances, i.e. freedom of speech will not protect the prankster who yells fire in a crowded movie theater.

There are always competing interest among the many rights and privileges our citizenship provides, and that is why we must sometimes sacrifice some of one to provide for a more important one in the hierarchy of rights. If profiling arab males prevents domestic terrorism which could eventually tear our country apart, I can live w/ the inconvenience these brief searches impose upon the ppl being profiled.

[Paul Atreides]

Because, profiling involves more than just simple going out and finding a person of a different race and saying "let's question that person." Things such as behavior, past history, etc. come into it. Let me tell you, if there is a serial killer on the loose, and he is described as blonde, blue-eyed, with certain characteristics, I want the police looking for someone who fits that description.

[1bigdictator]

Kirkland maybe this will jostle some of the grannola out of your memory, it was regarding Islam on line and Imams:

Hmmmm.... very flipant Pollyanna. Keep on whistling past the graveyard.

Islam-online is one of the most progressive and moderate cites representing the Muslim perspective on the web. If these learned individuals, whom you, not I, proclaim are "Imams" (I am familiar with but don't fully understand the title i.e. does it denote some formal education level?)it clearly sends up a red flag which you are quick to dismiss.

By posting this Fatwa, I did not intend to portray Islamic cultural and political thought as monolithic. I did intend to demonstrate that if a moderate Islamic center for thought, such as this cite, could espouse such a cavalier attitude toward Islamic-backed terrorism, imagine the virulent anti-western propaganda published by the more militant outlets which have the ear of the Muslim world.

In short, this Fatwa, while not binding on any Muslim, still illustrates the great risk which Muslim scholars present considering thier aptitude for bending facts to suit thier political agenda.

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[AndyJackson]

Second, it doesn't cost them anything to harass and inconvenience millions of passengers.

Whanna bet. It is costing us $Billions to hire up professional harassers.

[BenLurkin]

But, but, I just saw the "Sum of All Fears" and the terrorists were Euros!