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So what's the solution for airport security? The arguments about what measures we should be taking to filter out bombers are being batted back and forth before Transport Secretary Lord Adonis announces new policies later this week. Everyone seems agreed that “intelligence-led” screening of passengers is the way to go. Weeding out young men whose fathers have warned the US embassy that their boy wants to be a suicide bomber would be a start.
Then there's the Israeli approach: scrutinising the body language of would-be passengers for giveaway signs such as sweating profusely and failing to make eye contact. That's pretty straightforward. Where the screening idea gets tricky is when we're talking about picking on people on the basis of their ethnic and religious background for extra special checks.
Already there's a row in the US about the proposal to subject passengers from states associated with terrorism to extra frisking and questioning. And what if we go further? What if in Britain we single out young men of Pakistani origin from Bradford, Africans with Islamic names and women in burkas for the humiliation of taking off their shoes and getting full body searches?
Personally, I wouldn't mind. Not, mark you, as the sole means of identifying potential bombers — I mean, probably no sensible terrorist here would wear a burka — but as a means of moving on from making life miserable for everyone.
Once, this wouldn't have been an academic issue as far as I'm concerned. In the Seventies, it was the bombing campaign of the IRA (remember them?) that was the chief security problem in London. The Irish, collectively, were a suspect group. And had I been around in London then, I suppose I too would have merited extra attention by virtue of my ethnic and religious background, not to mention my nationalist sympathies.
Which would have been pretty reasonable, when you think about it. The IRA bombing campaign was almost entirely conducted by first- and second-generation Irish people — though, being Catholic, they didn't go in for the suicide bombing lark. They were obviously a tiny percentage of the whole but they constituted nearly 100 per cent of the people who planted bombs in Britain. So when the security services instituted extra checks — they were very intermittent — at Holyhead to examine passengers coming off the Irish ferry, while signally failing to do the same at Dover for people disembarking from France, they were behaving in a rational way.
It was, by all accounts, pretty difficult being Irish in Britain during the Seventies. I remember one poor Irish cleaner saying later that she would have given anything to have had a different accent. It was OK if you lived in a solidly Irish area and worked in the construction business but if you didn't you were the target of all manner of abuse whenever the IRA pulled off some attack or other. The thing to do, as one friend told me, “was to keep your mouth shut when you were on the Tube”.
All very deplorable. But if you ask me whether, if the IRA had gone in for plane bombing, I should have been singled out for a full body search and close questioning when I boarded a flight to London, the answer would be yes. It's not racism; it's pragmatism.
Reader views (16)
Here we go again, this pathetic ignorant obsession with racism. The overwhelming majority of actual and attempted terrorist outrages have been committed by young Muslim males of an Asian/East/North African origin. Why should aged white women be penalised for this? Racial and religious profiling should be used until the threat of Islamic terrorism has been reduced significantly. If Catholic inspired suicide bombers were running large, I as a Catholic would not complain if people of my religious persuasion were paid more attention to in security clearances.
- Dominic, london, 12/01/2010 00:01
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Profiling and/or predjudice....I have another word for it, common sense. For all of you who say you don't have a predjudice bone in your body, take this example. You are put in a room full of snakes. I'll bet not one of you will sit down next to any snakes that have rattles on them. Just because they have rattles, doesn't mean they will bite you, but common sense kicks in. Here's another example, have someone dear to you be brutally murdered by a terrorist and then stand up and say that you believe everything humanly possible was done to prevent it. Nuff said.
- Richard, Loveland, Colorado, 09/01/2010 16:18
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In regards to the comments made by A.K. and Steve;
I don't think you realize how many atrocities were committed in the name of Christianity.
- Max, North Carolina, USA, 09/01/2010 13:17
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Is that what Britain has become? Target the colored ones in airport because there is a chance in a zillion they could be dangerous? What about the white europeans who have become muslims? What do you do with them? Poor Britain.
- Frank, Glasgow, 08/01/2010 15:32
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Agreed on all points Melanie, as most would.
M.Bawa, my question to you is this: on the same evening of which 7 christians were gunned down in Egypt (for just one example) and given that the persecution of christians is on the uprise in islamic countries, how do you explain centuries of islamic terrorism, in the past, today and every single day of our lives - not just to western countries but towards any christians, buddhists, hindus, or 'infidels' they come across. And if the infidel so happens not to be around they just blow each OTHER up instead. Terrorist sympathisers like yourself hide behind excuses and blame, whilst refusing to acknowledge that it is the violent theologies and intolerance towards 'infidels' predominant in islam within the qu'ran, and the subsequent indoctrination of these extremists tendencies that is causing the carnage from your community. Get real, not everybody is as naive as you might hope so.
- A.K, London, U.K, 07/01/2010 21:59
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Congratulations to Melanie McDonagh (Comment, Evening Standard, Wednesday 6th), for speaking common sense regarding terrorism!
Terrorist attacks against us are not being committed by random individuals. They are being committed by Muslims who are taking the Qur’an literally and obeying its commandments (e.g. Surah 4.74 and 8.39).
The security and freedom of law-abiding citizens should be put before misguided ‘political correctness’. It is totally justifiable for Muslims and travellers from Islamic states to receive extra scrutiny at present, instead of subjecting us all to yet more ridiculous, ineffective restrictions.
Good multiculturalism involves integration, secular education, plus universal respect for democracy, national laws and human rights. Islam is incompatible with this kind of civilised society.
It is not ‘racist’ to speak up against a religion that glorifies ancient tribal texts promoting murder and intolerance. Anyone who thinks that Islam is a peaceful religion should read the Qur’an for themselves (e.g. online).
Despite the lessons from Northern Ireland, both major political parties are promoting a growth in ‘faith schools’ and Sharia courts. These will legitimise religious indoctrination & bigotry, increase social segregation and produce a whole new generation of terrorists!
- Steve, London, UK, 07/01/2010 21:27
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have the isreali security give courses to our airport and plane security ,job done.
- Londoner432, london, 07/01/2010 17:44
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quite.
what a cowardly way to approach this subject. name calling - before ducking back round to your corner
oh. elephant in room - racial profiling?
come-on Mcdonagh, enlighten us.
- Ray, london, 07/01/2010 10:29
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The problem is the British airports don't just target "high risk" group, some time they target all the non-white group. Shouting that you don't mind being singled out for searching for being Irish doesn't really say anything, because that happened decades ago - if it is happening now, I hope you still feel good about being "special".
- Tracey, Northampton, 07/01/2010 07:29
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I wish to comment on Melanie McDonagh's article on racisim and extra airport security missess the more issue that would solve all airport security problems from terrorism. As an Irish, I am very suprised that Ms McDonagh fails to ask the question why the IRA was bombing London, and instructively, why IRA guns are now silent?
For us in the West to pretend that we support democracy and human rights yet take actions that show systematic support for occupation and dictatorships in the Middle East, objectively invites a reaction from the victims of our actions in the Middle East. Can't we abandon hypocrisy, neocolonialism, support for occupation and trully support the spread of democracy and human rights in the Middle East? In otherwise, and for all our sakes, can't we tackle the causes of terrorism just we are attempting in N Ireland? Or we are so racist that we think they do not deserve justice and must accept the .consequences of actions without reaction? I look forward to a Response from Ms McDonagh. Thank you.
- M Bawa, London, UK, 06/01/2010 23:14
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At last - an honest article from someone on this subject. Pragmatism rules o.k. Concentration of resources on the real issue will produce results.
Chris Huene of the Liberals when questioned on this topic reecently was so evasive as to make one think he was deaf. Very clever man, but not the sort that I want running our country!
Melanie is so far ahead of the game that it looks as if no one else is playing, certainly not McBroon and co.
- Mike O', London UK, 06/01/2010 22:08
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Who cares if it is racist? I'd rather be a racist and safe than a silly liberal and dead in a bomb attack.
- Sentry, London UK, 06/01/2010 16:38
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Frank,Home Counties, England.
I never knew that was possible. -How breathtakingly stupid is the Government to allow that!
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland, 06/01/2010 16:19
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Yes Helen,"People forget that the rule is that anything is racist if the person reporting it says they believe it to be so. End of matter. Made bed, lie on it."
But that will fortunately change when the Govenment changes in May.
White people with babies don't blow up the plane they're travelling to Spain on, do they?
- Alan., Wimbledon, 06/01/2010 15:05
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People forget that the rule is that anything is racist s if the person reporting it says they believe it to be so. End of matter. Made bed, lie on it.
- Helen, norwich, 06/01/2010 13:54
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It's pragmatism and common sense. Unfortunately when you have a bunch of Liberal-Lefties running the show for 12 yeears, neither are implemented.
The idea that someone can turn up to one of our international airports wearing a full burkha with only their eyes showing, then handing over a passport with a picture of the exact same image, is utterly utterly ludicrous.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 06/01/2010 10:55
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