[pct-l] Profiling

[g_m at mcraefamily.com (Graeme McRae)]

Since the subject of racial profiling came up (re: posts by Paul Magnanti 
and calliger at infolane.com) it is important for all of us to recognize 
that the practice of profiling gives an unintended advantage to the 
terrorists.  Here's why:  If the inspectors are busy looking for people who 
match a certain profile, they'll of necessity spend less time looking at 
everyone else, because each inspector has a fixed number of eyeballs (two, 
in most cases), and a fixed amount of time per workday.  The terrorists, 
naturally, can begin using this information by sending suicide bombers who 
don't fit the profile.  That's why women started blowing themselves up, for 
example.  The Israelis have known this for some time.  That's why their 
inspectors don't profile.  Instead, they focus on behavior.  Behavior is 
harder to disguise, and if profiling is not used, then *anyone* exhibiting 
suspicious behavior will alert the inspectors to a potential problem.
--Graeme