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Friday, July 15, 2005
Mike Barnicle Advocates Profiling to Help Prevent Terrorist Attacks
On this morning's 'Imus in the Morning" show on MSNBC, Don Imus and Mike Barnicle talked about several topics including problems related to security from terrorists. While I am opposed to profiling in general, when Barnicle said "..when are we going to learn...and start profiling..." Those words startled me, and immediately, I was appalled by the very thought. However, when I stopped to consider the death and destruction that New York, Madrid and London have suffered, I had to ask myself a few questions:
I really don't know the answers to the other questions, but, surely there is a point at which a consensus would overwhelmingly approve profiling in order to help avert more bombings. We know that the ACLU and other civil rights advocates would never approve, but there must be a point short of declaring martial law where profiling would be acceptable. I have visited a few ports during my Navy days where martial law was in effect, and believe me, no-one in their right mind wants that. Martial law includes a complete suspension of all civil rights, and troops armed with machine guns on every corner.
And, my final question is "Would profiling help?" I don't know! What do you think?
Gunner ~M
- At what point would it become permissible to start profiling?
- Is there a body count at which profiling would become acceptable?
- Is there a dollar cost at which profiling would become acceptable?
- How much would I personally be inconvenienced by profiling?
I really don't know the answers to the other questions, but, surely there is a point at which a consensus would overwhelmingly approve profiling in order to help avert more bombings. We know that the ACLU and other civil rights advocates would never approve, but there must be a point short of declaring martial law where profiling would be acceptable. I have visited a few ports during my Navy days where martial law was in effect, and believe me, no-one in their right mind wants that. Martial law includes a complete suspension of all civil rights, and troops armed with machine guns on every corner.
And, my final question is "Would profiling help?" I don't know! What do you think?
Gunner ~M
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