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| India-Pakistan |
| The hazards of air travel |
| 2009-12-31 |
| By Irfan Husain During the Inquisition in the Middle Ages, papal investigators would insert a pointed stick into the rectum; this interrogation technique became known as questioning somebody in ‘the Spanish fashion’. I was reminded of this arcane bit of history by the recent arrest of a suspect who was trying to blow up the Delta Airline jetliner as it approached Detroit airport. The Nigerian passenger is supposed to have been carrying the deadly explosive PETN in a strap taped below his underwear. Covering himself with a blanket, he then tried to inject the chemical with a detonator, causing the whole device to catch fire and burn him badly. Luckily, the plane and the passengers survived the terrorist attempt. The explosive carried by Umar Farouq Abdulmuttaleb was the same chemical used a few months ago by Abdullah Asieri to try and kill Mohammed bin Nayef, the Saudi prince who heads the country’s counter-terrorism efforts. In this case, the device did explode and injure the prince who was saved only because the body of the would-be assassin absorbed most of the blast. A pound of PETN was hidden in Asieri’s anal cavity, and was triggered by a mobile phone. When Richard Reid concealed explosives in the soles of his shoes and tried to blow up a passenger jet in December 2001, he caused millions of pairs of shoes to be removed ever since, inconveniencing passengers for the foreseeable future. However, while taking off your shoes before boarding a flight is easy, even though it might be a hassle, how does airport security cope with a possible bomb taped under your underwear? Worse, how can aspiring suicide bombers be kept off planes when they are carrying explosives in their rectums? The reason Abdulmuttaleb was able to board the Delta Airline flight in Amsterdam is that the explosives detector couldn’t pick up the chemical taped against his body under his underwear. Similarly, Asieri was able to spend hours with the Saudi prince because security devices and guards failed to detect the PETN secreted in his anus. So where does this leave airport security? Even worse, where do these dangers leave the travelling public? As somebody who takes international flights quite regularly, I am selfishly concerned about the additional time security checks will now need. Already, passengers are being warned to report to the airport even earlier; henceforth, the lines at the security checks can only grow longer. According to the internet, US-bound passengers will have to remain in their seats for the last hour of the flights, and they will be unable to use blankets and pillows, or access their hand-held luggage in that period. A CCTV camera may soon be placed in all the toilets. While I can cope with these inconveniences, what are we to do about being searched ‘in the Spanish fashion?’ If airline security staff can ask us to take off our shoes, will they next ask us to strip to our underwear? And what comes next? A more serious and real concern is the stereotyping of suspected suicide bombers. Whether we like it or not, the only ones who have either carried out, or plotted, the mid-air destruction of passenger aircraft have been Muslims. Given the persistent targeting of US-bound aircraft, it is a matter of time before passengers with Muslim names flying to American destinations have to undergo even more stringent security checks. As it is, they are facing increasing difficulty in obtaining US visas, even though this is not true of Abdulmuttaleb whose multiple-entry visa was not revoked despite a warning about his militancy from his own father.I often wish these angry, unhinged terrorists would pause for a moment and reflect on what they are trying to achieve. Just suppose the Delta flight to Detroit had tragically gone down with its 278 passengers and crew. Did Abdulmuttaleb really think his act would change American policies any more than 9/11 did? In the event, the people who will suffer most from his insane attempt are fellow Muslims. This is true of all extremist attacks the world over. While I separate resistance struggles and nationalist movements involving Muslims from the global jihad led by Al Qaeda, the fact is that ultimately, random violence targeting the innocent gains nothing. We in Pakistan have become hardened to suicide attacks carried out by poor, uneducated teenagers who have been brainwashed by their cynical mentors. But Abdulmuttaleb was a privileged young man enrolled at University College in London. In this sense, he was similar to the 9/11 bombers, most of whom were highly educated and extensively travelled people. If there are any profiles to be drawn here, it is that educated young Muslims are most likely to get visas to travel to the US, and will therefore be the subjects of special scrutiny. Already, a Muslim male between 18 and 40 attracts the attention of security staff at airports in the West. This is likely to increase manifold. As airlines and airports tighten security still further, all passengers are going to be inconvenienced. Although the cause of this travel misery is a handful of misguided idiots, most passengers will blame Muslims, not entirely without reason. This will feed into the Islamophobia that is inexorably rising in the West. Ever since 9/11, many Americans have eyed fellow-passengers with long beards with suspicion and fear. Some captains have had Muslims off-loaded because other passengers refused to fly with them. This media-fuelled environment of fear and distrust will widen the growing divide between Muslim immigrants and their Western host communities. Muslim students wishing to study in the States will be the other big losers. Already, they undergo tough visa checks after getting admission; now, security-related procedures will make the whole experience a nightmare. Even when they have their visas and their admissions, actually getting into the US will be problematic with Homeland Security officers having the authority to refuse anybody entry. Before we begin accusing Americans of being anti-Islamic in the wake of this latest attempted terrorist atrocity, we should consider the responsibility every government has to protect its citizens. Just because ours has been unable to prevent repeated attacks does not mean others should fail in this duty as well. Given all these likely new obstacles to getting into the United States, it’s just as well that the country does not figure on my travel itinerary in the near future. Somehow, I do not think I would enjoy being searched ‘in the Spanish fashion.’ |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #4 The problem comes down to this: when you have to make command decisions, you will make some people happy and you will pi$$ off others. In this case, your job is to protect the citizens of the United States from terrorist acts. Based upon your available knowledge, Muslim males between the ages of 18 and 40 are historically prime suspects, and the lassies are starting to show up on the radar screen, so you put your resources where they are best used. So will you do your job and pursue potential terrorists with logic and techniques that have been shown to work, or will you do nothing but play with your techno toys (the technological imperative) and try not to antagonize your potential terrorist? The Israelis chose the former, and the TSA the latter. This comes down to the quality of leadership at the top, which is presently in short supply, and to the rest of the world is weak and ripe for attack. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2009-12-31 15:14 |
| #3 how can aspiring suicide bombers be kept off planes when they are carrying explosives in their rectums? Easy. Use Israeli-style screeners to ask every passenger a few simple q's while they're waiting in line at security. No bags for a 1-way trip, you paid cash, you have no business or family ion Detroit, you're sweating, sir? Step over here, please.... Works for the Israelis and can work for us. If we ever get over our stupid tech fetish and rely on old-fashioned face-to-face humint, that is. |
| Posted by: lex 2009-12-31 11:59 |
| #2 "While I separate resistance struggles and nationalist movements involving Muslims from the global jihad led by Al Qaeda..." Why that's mighty...moderate...of you Irfan |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2009-12-31 11:58 |
| #1 This environment of fear and distrust will widen the growing divide between Muslim immigrants and their Western host communities I bet if we study the teacings of Bin Laden & Zawahiri we will find part of their plan is to emplace a wedge between Muslim immigrants and their host countries - these random attacks may really be for the purpose of stoking anti-Muslim attitudes so they can exploit the 'poor, downtrodden' Muslim sentiments. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2009-12-31 11:55 |