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Americans OK with Passenger Profiling
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Fir3start3r
Not that I'm a huge fan of polls but this one is interesting...

quote:

Angus Reid Global Scan : Polls & Research
Americans OK with Passenger Profiling
August 31, 2006

- Many American adults believe certain passengers should be searched or questioned based on their background or appearance, according to a poll by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. 60 per cent of respondents believe authorities should be able to single out people who look like they might be of Middle Eastern origin to prevent terrorism.

On Aug. 10, London’s Metropolitan Police Service announced that more than 20 people had been arrested in connection with an alleged terrorist plot. According to the authorities, a group planned to destroy airplanes flying from Britain to the U.S. by detonating bombs manufactured with materials that could be brought on board as part of a passenger’s carry-on luggage.

Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked and crashed four airplanes in the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people. In July 2004, the federal commission that investigated the events of 9/11 concluded that "none of the measures adopted by the U.S. government from 1998 to 2001 disturbed or even delayed the progress of the al-Qaeda plot" and pointed out government failures of "imagination, policy, capabilities, and management."

On Aug. 29, homeland security secretary Michael Chertoff published an editorial on the Washington Post and called for broader access to passenger lists in foreign countries, writing, "All governments bear a responsibility to prevent terrorists from boarding aircraft, and information sharing is a critical way we can work together to limit terrorist mobility, screen for unknown threats and investigate terrorist cells." 62 per cent of respondents are very or somewhat worried that there will be another terrorist attack in the U.S. in the next few months.

Polling Data

In order to prevent terrorism at places like airports and subways, should authorities be able to single out people who look like they might be of Middle Eastern origin to search or question?

Yes
60%

No
37%

Not sure
4%

How worried are you that there will be another terrorist attack on the United States in the next few months?

Very worried
15%

Somewhat worried
47%

Not too worried
24%

Not worried at all
13%

Not sure
1%

Source: Quinnipiac University Polling Institute
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,080 registered American voters, conducted from Aug. 17 to Aug. 23, 2006. Margin of error is 3 per cent.

>>Source<<
pkcRAISTLIN
hardly a surprising result.
Fir3start3r
quote:
Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
hardly a surprising result.


True.

Wonder how the ACLU feels right about now lol :p
josh4
the bill is being drafted as we post
trancaholic
quote:
In order to prevent terrorism at places like airports and subways, should authorities be able to single out people who look like they might be of Middle Eastern origin to search or question?


Man, that's an awfully worded poll question. Is "should authorities be able to single out people" supposed to be understood as "should authorities be allowed to single out people" or as "ought authorities to have the capability to single out people"?
shaolin_Z
quote:
Originally posted by josh4
the bill is being drafted as we post


:(
LazFX
quote:
Originally posted by shaolin_Z
:(

Hey Z, check your PMs I am free tonight if ya want to meet up for drinks!!
shaolin_Z
quote:
Originally posted by LazFX
Hey Z, check your PMs I am free tonight if ya want to meet up for drinks!!


Done. :)
shaolin_Z
quote:
Originally posted by Fir3start3r
Not that I'm a huge fan of polls but this one is interesting...


>>Source<<


Passanger profiling. That's a nice little euphemism for racial profiling, which is border line racism anyways. Hey, why don't we start profiling everyone of affrican descent since there's a "high statistical correlation" between crime and being black. Cops should pull over every black guy and do a full car search along with a data base check for a criminal history. :rolleyes: (NOTE: The percentage of "Muslim terrorist" is virtually 0% ).
Fir3start3r
quote:
Originally posted by shaolin_Z
Passanger profiling. That's a nice little euphemism for racial profiling, which is border line racism anyways. Hey, why don't we start profiling everyone of affrican descent since there's a "high statistical correlation" between crime and being black. Cops should pull over every black guy and do a full car search along with a data base check for a criminal history. :rolleyes: (NOTE: The percentage of "Muslim terrorist" is virtually 0% ).


No flies on you. ;)

Wonder if it'll stick though being that America is so liberal and all that.

jdat
What I'm really curious about is what facts do they have to justify the use of racial profiling?

I mean, have they done any studies on the subject to prove it's effectiveness?



This is just another way of diverting the attention away from the real issue: the TSA!

They are run like crap and their procedures inside airports are inefficient and their screening methods unreliable, resulting in a slow and timely screening process and no real guarantee of security.

I recently read an article from some British journalist who was explaining how the "West" should learn from Israel and their screening procedures, citing his last travel experience over there with a total of 3 passenger screenings in a 30 minute period from the time he entered the airport to the time he got aboard his flight.

At this stage you are looking at well above 30 minutes if there is only one screening involved in a US airport; but I believe slow and non cooperative passenger behavior may also play a part in justifying the time difference.
Temperate
Man, this poll is racist!
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