Should race be a factor in suspect profiling to fight terrorism?

DjaugheOld · July 22nd, 2005, 02:54 AM

Prior to the September 11 terrorist attacks, racial profiling was known as a mostly state and local law enforcement practice that unfairly targeted blacks, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos for police scrutiny solely on the basis of race or ethnicity.

The 7/7/05 London bombings recently has broken a preconceived thought that the terrorists were from other countries. The suicide bombers were not smuggled into the country from the Islamic world...they were not trained in Iraq.

Three of the four had been born in Britain
One on the Caribbean island of Jamaica.
Two had infant children.

None of the bombers fit the typical terrorist profile that existed prior to 7/7/05. However, arguably now they do: they were all European Muslim which represents about 5 percent of Europe's population.

Its been established by the courts that race should not be the only factor in suspect profiling (i.e. the four hispanic kids, NJ police pulling over only minorities at the turnpike, etc.).

However, some have pointed out that there should be a distinction regarding the war time effort fighting terrorism.

Question of the day:

Should race be a factor in suspect profiling to fight terrorism?

SirStefan32 · July 22nd, 2005, 03:50 AM

Of course it should. It should not be the only factor but it should be a major one.

Brian · July 22nd, 2005, 03:53 AM

Absolutely.

In case that was unclear,

Absolutely.

Political correctness is irrelevant in this issue.

Can I vote again?

DjaugheOld · July 22nd, 2005, 03:57 AM

The alleged terrorist shot today in London was described as a south Asian...

Dback Jon · July 22nd, 2005, 05:23 AM

It should be A factor - not the only one. My problem with racial profiling in cases like this is the minute you make it a major/main criteria, a terrorist who does not fit the profile escapes detection.

Kolo · July 22nd, 2005, 05:40 AM

More important would be religious profiling (so far as it's possible). But I agree w/ Jon, it should be a factor but not necessarily the primary one--because anti-American terrorists come in all races, and it's simply not possible to profile Filipino and Perisan and Arab and African and etc...

DjaugheOld · July 22nd, 2005, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kolobotomy

More important would be religious profiling (so far as it's possible). But I agree w/ Jon, it should be a factor but not necessarily the primary one--because anti-American terrorists come in all races, and it's simply not possible to profile Filipino and Perisan and Arab and African and etc...

How far possible is religious profiling?

Brown_Blood · July 22nd, 2005, 06:14 AM

I think it should be used somewhat, but it doesn't work to use it only at baggage screening and such. When investigating businesses, individuals, etc. I wish we didn't have to go that route, as there will be a lot of folks who fit the "profile", but don't have anything to do with anything.

I don't think we need to do things like was done during WWII and take away people's homes without thorough investigation, but asking someone a few questions and checking out their garage to look for bomb-making stuff shouldn't be that big a deal. I'm all for privacy, but how else can we fight against this kind of stuff when we have to worry about "offending" someone who wants to blow us up?

Who here is willing to die to protect the privacy of someone that meets a certain profile?

DjaugheOld · July 22nd, 2005, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brown_Blood

... but asking someone a few questions and checking out their garage to look for bomb-making stuff shouldn't be that big a deal....

Who here is willing to die to protect the privacy of someone that meets a certain profile?

I don't mind some of my civil rights getting tweaked if I'm getting on a bus or subway.

But if the police want to check my garage - they better have a warrant.

Dback Jon · July 22nd, 2005, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Djaughe

I don't mind some of my civil rights getting tweaked if I'm getting on a bus or subway.

But if the police want to check my garage - they better have a warrant.

Kolo · July 22nd, 2005, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Djaughe

How far possible is religious profiling?

Monitoring fundamentalist mosques, being aware of who's financing Islamic "charities," keeping an eye on Islamic bookstores, etc...

Brown_Blood · July 22nd, 2005, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Djaughe

I don't mind some of my civil rights getting tweaked if I'm getting on a bus or subway.

But if the police want to check my garage - they better have a warrant.

I agree warrants and such should still be necessary. I just think we sue over too many little things here rather than just not worrying about them and moving on.

40yearfan · July 22nd, 2005, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dback Jon

Did you hit the wrong button Jon?

40yearfan · July 22nd, 2005, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brown_Blood

I think it should be used somewhat, but it doesn't work to use it only at baggage screening and such. When investigating businesses, individuals, etc. I wish we didn't have to go that route, as there will be a lot of folks who fit the "profile", but don't have anything to do with anything.

I don't think we need to do things like was done during WWII and take away people's homes without thorough investigation, but asking someone a few questions and checking out their garage to look for bomb-making stuff shouldn't be that big a deal. I'm all for privacy, but how else can we fight against this kind of stuff when we have to worry about "offending" someone who wants to blow us up?

Who here is willing to die to protect the privacy of someone that meets a certain profile?

Dback Jon · July 22nd, 2005, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 40yearfan

Did you hit the wrong button Jon?

LOL - yup, I did!