[Pan_Yans Wife]

Was the teenager who flew the plane into a building in Florida a devout Muslim, or a disgruntled, confused AMERICAN teenager? Prior to September 11th, the worst act of terrorism on American soil took place because of an angry red-headed American male. Did you call for keeping an eye on all American men with red hair after OKCity?

I'm not a liberal, and I am not a Bushbot. You make it sound like all there is to profiling is casting people into catergories. Okay, how in the world do you distinguish between a Muslim from Asia and one from the Middle East? Hmmm... you want to bet the Muslim from Asia would look more like your stereotypical vision of a tourist, than one from the Middle East?

They should be using common sense, which from your posts seems like you think means viewing everyone with suspicion. If that is the case, no one would ever get past screening in time to board the plane. They should be looking for anything and everything, within reason. I don't think they are just screening for would-be terrorists, but also drug smugglers, art smugglers, etc.

[hopespringseternal]

Was the teenager who flew the plane into a building in Florida a devout Muslim, or a disgruntled, confused AMERICAN teenager? Prior to September 11th, the worst act of terrorism on American soil took place because of an angry red-headed American male. Did you call for keeping an eye on all American men with red hair after OKCity?

Ok, we are at what, 22-2 now? Ping when the number of non-Arab, non-Muslim terrorist acts reaches 22. Besides, since the topic under discussion is TSA, neither McVeigh nor the punk teenager (who expressed Muslim sympathies) is relevant.

I don't think they are just screening for would-be terrorists, but also drug smugglers, art smugglers, etc.

Is that a Renoir in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me? Do you want cops frisking people walking into grocery stores? Smugglers generally don't take domestic flights, and those things have always been screened by customs.

I am not pro-security at all, at least not where TSA-like organizations are concerned. Ninety plus percent of all security is window dressing meant only to secure the feelings of the ignorant.

Everything real and effective is going on under the radar. TSA has a lot more to to with soccer moms than terrorism.

[quidnunc]

Pan_Yans Wife wrote: Was the teenager who flew the plane into a building in Florida a devout Muslim, or a disgruntled, confused AMERICAN teenager?

He was a Muslim whose father was a Middle-Eastern Islamist and who left letters indicating he was going on a suicide mission in support of Osama bin Laden.

Pan_Yans Wife wrote: Prior to September 11th, the worst act of terrorism on American soil took place because of an angry red-headed American male. Did you call for keeping an eye on all American men with red hair after OKCity?

His hair color had nothing to do with it; his identification with the wacko, hard-right-wingnut mentality which motivates the 'suiperpatriot' milita movement had everything to do with it.

You are aware that elements of the militia movement have expressed solidarity with al Qaeda, aren't you?