Townhall.com, Where Your Opinion Counts
Talk Radio:   Bill Bennett   Mike Gallagher   Dennis Prager   Michael Medved   Hugh Hewitt   
BREAKING NEWS  LeftArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican   RightArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican  
Columns, funnies & more in your inbox!
  • Check the boxes and send us your email address to receveive your free newsletter
  • Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
  • Townhall.com’s weekly inside scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes in the world of politics. When news breaks, we report.
  • Signup to receive the latest daily Townhall cartoons
Friday, August 18, 2006
Mike Gallagher :: Townhall.com Columnist
Politically correct airport screening puts us at risk
by Mike Gallagher
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
[+] Text [-]
 
Poll
With unemployment at 10.2%, what will happen by the end of Obama's first term?



The ACLU attorney was sputtering and raging right from the beginning. I was pretty familiar with the righteous indignation that seems to be a staple of an ACLU shill like Michael Gross. I’ve interviewed him as a guest host on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity and Colmes” and I’ve debated him a few times while we both appeared as guests.

But on this day, his anger came across as soon as the topic of racial profiling in America’s airports was introduced. “It’s obscene!” he said. “Vile!” “Discriminatory!” “Prejudicial!” There was simply no shortage of adjectives he could come up with to condemn the concept of TSA security personnel scrutinizing Middle Eastern men or women who might be potential terrorists.

So when I calmly suggested that there be a “Muslims Only” line at security checkpoints in our airports, Mr. Gross, predictably, almost became unhinged. However, he was probably restrained from losing his senses altogether because of the thunderous applause my suggestion received from the studio audience on Fox’s “Dayside.”

When they’re not suing to remove crosses from public view or fighting for the rights of child molesters, the ACLU loves to complain about “racial profiling.” They don’t like the fact that privately, police officers everywhere admit that profiling is a valuable and effective tool in law enforcement. For example, when I’ve participated in police “ride-alongs” in the past, I observed various stake-outs for drug crimes in predominantly black housing projects. If a young white guy came driving through the projects in a shiny new car, the police immediately knew he was trying to score some drugs. They would watch him closely and arrest him when the inevitable transaction took place. Guess what, ACLU? That’s profiling.

One of the world’s safest airlines does it, too. It’s no secret that El Al, the official state airline of Israel, routinely gives young Arabs a more extensive security screening than the average passenger. And despite the ongoing violence and terror in the Middle East, there hasn’t been a hijacking on an El Al plane in over 30 years.

We should learn a valuable lesson from El Al. Israel isn’t concerned about stepping on toes or ticking off ACLU types. Israel knows that to conquer terrorists, they have to be tough. Racial profiling is a tough tactic that can effectively keep another 9/11 from happening again.

I was furious while reading an editorial written in the Orlando Sentinel by an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran. Steven Alvarez writes that it is a little known fact that the TSA aggressively and consistently gives American soldiers walking through America’s airports in full military uniform additional security screenings, forcing our brave fighting men and women to “assume the position” and be subjected to body scans, bag checks, and lengthy delays. Continued...

1 2
| Full Article & Comments | Next >
Share:
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
 
About The Author

Mike Gallagher is a nationally syndicated radio host, Fox News Channel contributor and guest host and author of Surrounded by Idiots: Fighting Liberal Lunacy in America.

Be the first to read Mike Gallagher's column. Sign up today and receive Townhall.com delivered each morning to your inbox.

Not all of us liberals are moonbats
As a liberal, I've got no problem with profiling. It's pretty clear what sorts of people fit any reasonable profile of potential terrorists. The ACLU doesn't speak for me. Their view of the issues involved is like a conditioned reflex. They worry about the exceptions, but in a well-run security system, these exceptions would be rare.

The ACLU's position amounts to saying: "There can never be any valid reason to screen people on the basis of their appearance, country of origin, travel patterns, or much of anything else." In a perfect world that might be true, but I haven't noticed that we live in one.

Suppose that the ACLU had taken their position on profiling in WWII. They would have had no problem with allowing German nationals onto planes or ships, and probably would have overlooked any Nazi insignias such people might have sewn into their underwear.

Speaking of stupid
This web site screens for innappropriate language in a comment. I can not use the word redicu-lous because it has a bad word imbedded in it. Thats just as redicu-lous as our not allowing lip gloss on airplanes.
Sign Up to Post Your CommentsSign Up to Post Your Comments
If you are already registered, click here to login. Otherwise, please take a few seconds to register with Townhall.com. Once you sign up, you’ll be able to post your comments immediately, use the action center, get podcasts, and more!
Note: Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.
Salutation:
First Name:
*
Last Name:
*
Email:
*
Nickname:
*
Note: Nick name will be shown when you post comments.
Address 1:
*
Address 2:
City:
*
State:
*
Zip:
*
Phone:
      
Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
(Bi-Weekly) We highlight the best opportunities from our partners for surveys, action items and more.