"... an air marshal forced his way into the lavatory at the front of his plane after a man of Middle Eastern descent locked himself in for a long period.
The marshal found the mirror had been removed and the man was attempting to break through the wall. The cockpit was on the other side."
This, and much more disturbing evidence that terrorists are casing our air transportation system in the Washington Times.
Posted by publius at July 22, 2004 11:58 PM...and still, we're more concerned about 'racial profiling' than we are with preventing another plane crash.
What is it going to take for people to pull their heads out of the sand?
Posted by: Damian at July 26, 2004 01:38 PMUnfortunately, for many it may take another attack.
Posted by: Publius at July 27, 2004 12:29 PMDepressing, but undoubtedly true, Publius.
I'm probably not the first person to have said this, but Western Society's commitment to racial plurality and freedom from discrimination shouldn't be a mutual suicide pact.
I'm a fairly stocky guy with dark hair, and I've been asked if I'm of Arabic descent in the past. Right now, if it keeps my plane from blowing up on impact with a juicy strategic target, I'm OK with getting frisked more often at airports because of the way I look. I place a higher value on my life than I do on my dignity, or on some overblown concept of 'equal rights.'
Posted by: Damian at July 27, 2004 04:49 PMI agree with you Damian, but would go further and say that I place a higher value on life. Period. Not just mine, but all passengers on a plane. If being confused with some terrorist (who happens to have an unusually anglicized name) and sitting in Immigration for several days is the price to pay for collective security then I will sit in Immigration and be thankful I grew up in the West. Not that we are getting the job done... the Times has an early posting that indicates that terror suspects under investigation in connection with the Holy Land Fund managed to leave the country.
Posted by: Publius at July 27, 2004 11:33 PM