Log Out
Visit Mr. Roger Rabbit's column >>

MR. ROGER RABBIT

I used to be Free, I used to be Wild
Articles Posted: 8  Links Seeded: 6
Member Since: 10/2009  Last Seen: 5/16/2012

The 'Israelification' of airports: High security, little bother

Seeded on Tue Nov 16, 2010 2:10 PM EST
Read ArticleArticle Source: Toronto Star
, , , , , , , ,
Seeded by Mr. Roger Rabbit
Advertise | AdChoices

While North America's airports groan under the weight of another sea-change in security protocols, one word keeps popping out of the mouths of experts: Israelification.

That is, how can we make our airports more like Israel's, which deal with far greater terror threat with far less inconvenience.

"It is mindboggling for us Israelis to look at what happens in North America, because we went through this 50 years ago," said Rafi Sela, the president of AR Challenges, a global transportation security consultancy. He's worked with the RCMP, the U.S. Navy Seals and airports around the world.

  • Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.

Published to:

Mr. Roger Rabbit

I read the article, I listened to some ideas that they describe in there, and compared it to my own personal experience. One thing that is carefully omitted the fact that they do profile. The good old-fashioned racial (ethnic) profiling. It does work, it does work well, but the question is do we need it? CoH Please, and no bashing of Israel.

  • 3 votes
Reply#1 - Tue Nov 16, 2010 2:18 PM EST
OomYaaqub

Per the article, they go mostly by behavior. How could they manage ethnic profiling anway, assuming everyone is dressed in Western clothing? Most Israelis and Arabs look so much alike they cannot even tell each other apart. (I'm Jewish and have shared my home with Arabs. Their friends would look at me and automatically assume I was a fellow Arab.) They could go by accent, perhaps, but they obviously aren't profiling every single Arab. Good article, though.

  • 1 vote
#1.1 - Thu Nov 18, 2010 11:56 AM EST
Mr. Roger Rabbit

How could they manage ethnic profiling anway, assuming everyone is dressed in Western clothing?

You may not believe it, but in Europe people can of the same nation can tell which part of the country you're from, and in rural areas they can probably tell which village you're from, again just by looking at you. Contrary to popular liberal believe, genetics do affect people's predispositions - inwardly and outwardly alike.

Usualy an Israely who lives there can tell you who you are, where your ancestors come from (what part of the World) and where do you live in the country now. How they do that is beyond me. As for me I am invariablyseen as a Palestinian arab, and therefore always given and cozy third degree.

  • 1 vote
#1.2 - Thu Nov 18, 2010 12:42 PM EST
OomYaaqub

In that case we would have to hire the particular people who have that talent, and I doubt there are enough of them to go around. Unlike the Israelis, we have a LOT of airports. Also I suspect most people who claim they can tell what village you're from are wrong as often as not. Forgive my scepticism. Put a genuine Palestinian in a yarmulke and he'd probably be waved right through unless the behavioral cues gave him away. And that's what we need to be focusing on, it seems, the behavioral cues.

    #1.3 - Sat Nov 20, 2010 3:01 PM EST
    Mr. Roger Rabbit

    Put a genuine Palestinian in a yarmulke and he'd probably be waved right through unless the behavioral cues gave him away.

    You hit the nail right on the thumb - the gist of the article (assuming you read it beyone the title) is behavioural profiling. Facial (AKA racial) goes handy with it, but the true secret sauce is behavioural. As for the falostynian in yarmulke, they already tried that - raped and kille 5 women, 3 men and a number of children (nice people those muslim freedom fighters are). Doesn't work anymore - Israelis figured something out. Again - not a guarantee, just a better, more efficient way.

    BTW there is nothing wrong to point the finger at the perpetrator.

    • 1 vote
    #1.4 - Sun Nov 21, 2010 7:02 PM EST
    Reply
    Kshark

    Heck I've been saying that all along, do it like the Israelis, but no no what will happen

    1) The Constitution will be thrown up
    2) Civil Rights groups will go nuts (strange they are not doing that now with ALL the pat-downs)
    3) Probably Islamic threats will increase due to the fact we would 1) be like Israel which Muslims hate anyway and 2) targeting Muslims, which well they cannot accept.
    4) The Left screaming Islamophobia (when none of this would have ever happened if 9/11 did not happen and lets face is Muslims committed 9/11. Sure you can add terrorists before that, but they are still Muslims)

    If something works and it works well, WHY change it. Israel is probably the safest airport surrounded by the most unsafe places, and it works. Our current method is NOT working.

    • 4 votes
    Reply#2 - Thu Nov 18, 2010 11:54 AM EST
    Mr. Roger Rabbit

    If something works and it works well, WHY change it.

    An interesting, but somewhat practical concept. As for the supposed objections from the opposition - where is the downside?

    1. Which part of the Constitution harbors the thou shalt not profile commandment?
    2. I could be wrong - but are they not already there?
    3. Not sure how they can increase more than they are today: 3.1 Muslims hate us as much anyway, either for our support of Israel, or most likely for our being. 3.2 And we are Ok with them targeting infidels? IMO as long as we target behaviour we'd be Ok, as for targeting muslims - they are always welcome to choose to behave.
    4. As opposed to now? I am prould to be an Islamophobe. I do not hate muslims, but I sure hate islam. There is nothing wrong for being an islamophobe, in today's world it's more like being anti-fascist.

    • 3 votes
    #2.1 - Thu Nov 18, 2010 12:50 PM EST
    Kshark

    I know, logic is such a curse. LOL.

    For me I don't particularly see the downside. I mean let's really be honest, even though you already know this, prior to 9/11 we did NOT ave tis mess, we did not go through this obstacle course just to get on a plane. Little old ladies or men carrying ostomy bags, or 3-5 year old kids, or a woman with a prosthetic breast were never subject to this type of intrusion in airports. 9/11 happened, not by a random group, not by a random culture or of people, but by Muslims. Fine we can be more refined and say terrorist or extremist MUSLIMS, but they were Muslims. All further threats post 9/11 again have been by Muslims, no one else. So to then subject everyone to save face and let the Political Correct reign above the citizens of this country is ridiculous. To add insult to already festering injury we then have CAIR yes CAIR of all bloody things that is the Muslims society in the US, we have them saying you cannot pat down females, and also Muslims saying the full body scan is an insult to their religion. We would NOT even be in this bloody mess had it not been for Muslims.

    As for #1) Eh people will go with With civil rights argument there. But no there is nothing directly in the Constitution that says thou shalt not profile. Hell law enforcement does it all the time regarding catching criminals they have to. There is a unit in the FBI specifically about profiling, but you know those pesky ACLU and civil rights groups have to get their payday and 15 minutes of attention seeking fame.

    2) See that is the comedy in all of this. Civil rights groups, though not really heard of them getting involved with the latest brouhaha at the airports, but see ok people are angered over the patdowns sure lets protest and the civil rights groups will flock. If we don't do the pat downs someone will be missed, attack happens, and someone is to blame. We only pat down one certain group ie Muslims, civil rights groups will be all over like that flies to bovine excrement faster than you can blink.

    3) Exactly so why no simply profile and make us more safe like Israel. LOL. We are damned either way we will in the end only make the airlines hurt more and cause more problems.

    4) I don't like Islam at all. Muslims, well those that actually assimilate and are NOT trying to shove Islam onto the West are fine by me. If I lived in their countries I would abide by their laws and rules. If they live in the west they better get with the program or I simply say please migrate to the Middle East. I am sick of bending over backwards for them. Oh now you know it is wrong being an Islamophobe if you are a bleeding heart liberal, of course they are ignorant to the world.

      #2.2 - Tue Nov 23, 2010 2:24 PM EST
      Reply
      Leave a Comment:
      You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead.
      Newsvine Privacy Statement
      As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.