Profiling is Key!

To profile, or not profile? This is a question that seems to have come to the forefront in the wake of the Christmas Day attempted terrorist attack aboard Flight 253. It was following the tragic events of 9/11 that the issue of profiling first came up. While America has suffered other terror attacks, at the hands of domestic and foreign terrorists, 9/11 seemed to bring about the very notion of profiling. I was in college when those evil doers struck those towers and killed those brave men, women and children on that crystal clear September morning. I was getting ready to go for an early morning run. I remember listening to the television as I was putting on my running shoes. I heard the anchors of the Today Show (Katie Couric and Matt Lauer) discussing how a plane had hit one of the World Trade Center Towers. I sat there in awe, but blaming this event on an act of terrorism never crossed my mind. Thinking it was pilot or mechanical error, I headed out for my run unaware of what I would return to only 45 minutes later.

When I got back, I turned on the television, and I learned that I was, in fact, witnessing an act of terrorism on American soil. I witnessed people running for their lives, screaming with tears in their eyes as they fled the scene with debris covering their business suits. These were professional, successful people. These were people who had worked hard to get to where they were professionally. Many of those who died were living the American dream. For an instant, I saw my whole life flash before my eyes. America changed that day. My America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, no longer seemed like the carefree place I once viewed it as. The young college student I was continued to watch in horror, and I suddenly realized America had enemies, as naive as that may sound.

Those terrorists who killed so many that frightful September morning were cowards. Those terrorists had no regard for human life and no regard for freedom and liberty. September 11th changed a lot of how I view myself as an American. While I have always loved being an American, 9/11 made me a more complete American because of the way in which Americans came together in the midst of tragedy. I love my country and those who live here. Do you know how lucky we are to be able to stand up and speak out? Do you know how lucky we are to be able to fly our flags proudly? Being an American is everything to me. I love my country and the founding fathers who helped to make her what she is. That is why I want to do everything in my power to protect her and to keep her the free country she is. It is because of this that I believe in profiling.

That terrorist who boarded that Detroit-bound plane would have succeeded if not for a failed detonator, as well as the bravery of the passengers aboard that plane. How could this man be allowed to board that plane? I am angered that his own father's warnings went ignored. This man had been on a watch list for goodness sake. What the hell went wrong? Once again, it all comes back to the whole "politically correct" agenda being pushed down our throats by the left. I'm sorry, but if our government's idea of political correctness is to allow a Nigerian terrorist to board a plane with his underwear full of explosives, then, I don't want to be politically correct. Janet Napolitano should be ashamed of herself for first saying that the system worked, when clearly it did not. How dare she say that especially when we live in a post 9/11 world? After 9/11, it took months for individuals to feel safe to fly. In the words of Mark Levin: "That plane was almost blown from the sky."

I fully believe that had profiling been used on Christmas Day, that terrorist would NOT have been allowed to board that flight. Fox Business Channel's John Stossel has written an excellent http://stossel.blogs.foxbusiness.com/2010/01/04/profile-away/ in defense of profiling. According to Stossel:


"In the wake of the "underwear bomber," why is it still politically incorrect to talk about profiling? The TSA makes all of us remove our shoes and surrender our shaving cream. Shouldn't they also keep a profile of what potential terrorists do and aggressively screen people accordingly? Not just obvious things like screening people whose parents have reported them as possible terrorists (DUH.), but also people buying tickets with cash, buying one-way tickets, traveling with little/no luggage (oh, wait, the underwear terrorist did ALL of those things)."

What is wrong with our government? I thought we elected a president to protect us and to do whatever it takes to keep us safe. I, for one, have no problem with being profiled. If you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't either. I am sick and tired of the liberals out there who are scared to death of offending someone. These are the same individuals who preach political correctness, yet are the most vile to individuals like Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann. I have no problem being profiled, and I say "Bring it on!" If you have nothing to hide, then, you shouldn't worry either. I would rather my flight be delayed for an hour, making sure everyone aboard was legit than for a travesty to occur. How many more Fort Hoods or Flight 253 terror acts have to occur before people realize that we have to take every measure possible to ensure an individual's safety?

I am sick and tired of the liberals saying that we have to be careful and walk on eggshells. It is very revealing that President Bush, whether you loved or hated the job he did as president, kept us safe after 9/11. He would never have thought to ease up the interrogation measures like President Obama has done. First, Obama announces that Guantanamo Bay will be closed, then he announces the dramatic change in interrogation techniques, then Attorney General Holder announces that there will be federal trials for the accused 9/11 conspirators. See the pattern here? The more we ease up on fighting terror here in America, the more we will be tested. It seems to me that President Obama is more concerned about his image abroad than keepibng us safe. There, I said it. I know I am not alone in feeling this way. Mr. Obama needs to get off this Politically Correct trip he is on and start focusing on the threats that exist. America is a strong beacon of light. Frankly, in the words Rhett Butler, one of my favorite movie characters of all time, "I don't give a damn" what other countries think of us if it means that we are safe. This does not mean that having a good relationship with other countries is not important; on the contrary, I fully believe in good relations between countries, but not if this means we compromise the freedom and safety we have as Americans.

Stossel goes on to quote David Harsanyi who writes:

"It is an unavoidable fact that these 'bad people' tend to come from certain places and subscribe to a certain religious affiliation. Focus on them."

This is exactly right. Major Malik Nadal Hasan and Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab were radical Muslim extremists. The hijackers who killed thousands on 9/11 were also radical Muslim extremists. According to Stossel:

"From the evidence, it is clear that it is impossible to cover every base, but the wasted billions shaking down the average passenger offers little more than psychological comfort. And comfort in knowing that no special interest will complain."


And for those concerned that profiling for terror suspects will lead to profiling solely based upon race alone, Stossel makes a great point and includes a personal account from a blogger:

"The anti-profiling people are usually worried that terrorist profiling will lead the TSA slippery slope to profiling based on skin color. But that hasn't been the case with the Israeli airline, El-Al, which aggressively profiles for terrorism. Here's one blogger's experience:

'I flew El Al from Los Angeles to Israel. I was a male in my 40s, traveling alone. Even though I was an American Caucasian and wasn't anything close to even looking like a Muslim, I was pulled out of the line by a security official with the Israeli airline and interrogated - in an unfriendly manner, I might add - for about 10 minutes before I was allowed to board. I was pulled out of line for interrogation because I fit a key part of the El Al profile - a male of a certain age traveling solo.'

EXACTLY!!! This is the answer, and as Stossel points out, "This is such common sense that it's unbelievable that the TSA won't utilize this tool. Then again, in government, common sense is often uncommon." When is our government going to wake up and realize it needs to up the ante to keep Americans safe. While it is commonsense to us, we are talking about the government after all. The government seems to be working against us, not for us. When we board a plane and take off, we should feel safe and secure. We shouldn't have to fear that there's a terrorist sitting next to us on the plane. I don't care what the crazy liberal left says about profiling being harmful. I only care that my family and I are safe when we fly the friendly skies. Maybe it's time for the Obama Administration and some members of Congress to stop appeasing to other countries and start working for we, the people. After all, we are the individuals who elect them to serve us.

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