I'm not really for these bag searches either, mainly because it's a waste of time...but I see your point in a way. But really, in order to prevent this, you would have to literally stop everyone. I think this is more cosmetic than anything else. It makes people FEEL safer. I feel it could be intrusive and you know there are a bunch of dickheaded cops out there who will abuse their power and just harass some people.

I solved this problem for myself: I just won't cary any bags, that's all. Now they have nothing to search....unless they start going through people's pockets next.

You know something else? People say, "You can't do this or that because then the terrorist win!" Well, since 9/11, we've been living in a state of defensive lockdown, now they're searching our bags on the subway. Seems to me, they DID change our way of life, huh? And hardly anyone seems to notice. They're just accepting it as "the new normal".

Ok, I am as against the random bag searching as anyone but...

While it's true that A bag search won't stop a terroist from blowing themself up right then and there, not only would knoledge of bag checks be a deterent, as an easy target would be preferable, but the damage caused by the explosion at the check point and a few dead cops are nothing compared to the loss of life and economic shutdown that would be caused by someone blowing themsef up ON A CAR.

Now what really pisses me off are these people who say that if you have nothing to hide you shouldn't mind bag searches and camras everywhere. Anyone got the time? Oh god, is it 19:84 already? I've got to go. Do the people not get where that path takes you if you follow it to it's end?

uh....yeah, whatever, man. Whatever....

Terrorism is a fucking cartoon. Get over it.

Ah, the hell with it Julio. Why bother trying to argue with them?

You know, I just saw something on the news that disturbed me. There was this congressman on who was wringing is hands about what to do if the terrorists were to ever succeed in setting off a nuclear device in several American cities, killing millions of people.

Hypothetical of course, but when asked of this possibility, he had no idea what we would do about it. Imagine that, huh? He suggested, as a deterrent, we should tell the muslim world that if that ever happens, we would bomb and destroy Mecca...this being his idea of hopefully getting "moderate" muslims to stand up and keep the more fanatical in check. Naturally, he was met with scorn and ridicule.

I weep for this country. I'm seriously thinking of going back to South America. Imagine if that did happen and the response would be wringing hands and having an existential crisis over what to do about it. Raise the white flag. It's over.

It's incredible to me how people can take things the wrong way...mainly because they WANT to. I'm all for killing the bastards...all I said was that random searches means nothing when there are those who don't give a shit whether they die or not. Ok, a cop finds a guy with a backpack full of explosives. He'll just blow himself up and kill everyone standing around him, he doesn't give a shit. Is looking through his bag going to be a deterrant when killing yourself is an honor? I think not. All I'm saying is that it's just a waste of time. If anything, they'll find some stoner with some weed on him. It won't do a damn thing to stop someone from blowing himself up if he wants to.

And as far as singling out middle eastern types. Single them out and it will be the Somali or the Chechen (you know, those Russians with blonde hair and blue eyes) will blow himself to kingdom come. Don't you think they figured that one out already? While they look for middle eastern types, they'll send one you don't expect to do the killing.

If the US were tougher on the terrorists to begin with and stop crying over these maniacs being "insulted" all the time, maybe we'd make some progress. At the moment, we're way too concerned with "hearts and minds" strategy. It won't work. You can't win "hearts and minds" with people who are heartless and mindless...

Julio,

It's too bad we couldn't blow up a religion. If we could, how fucking cool would that be?

"Suck a dick, Allah!"

*BOOM*

(Someone get a wet-nap for Julio.)

I think these random searches are a complete and total waste of time. If a suicide bomber is going to blow himself and everyone else up on a subway, this is not going to stop him. These maniacs are willing to die for their cause. They want to die. It is an honor for them. So what good is bag searches, presence of cameras or police?

This is what the world is up against:

According to the jihadist thinking (and by this I mean the most strict interpretation of their religion) one can live the most pious life as a muslim and when you die and are judged to get into paradise, Allah may decide that you are not worthy to get into paradise, even if you believed you lived the most exemplary life a a muslim. But if you kill someone in Jihad, if you are a martyr, then you are GUARANTEED a place in paradise, no matter what kind of life you lived. How convienent, huh? Think of the implications of that.

So what good is all the bag searches and surveillance cameras. It means nothing.

These people are at war with the west, modernity, with a way of life. There is a lot more to their ideology then a lot of people seem to realize. The main problem for the west is that they haven't seemed to grasp this yet. The western thinking is too wrapped up in politics and they pursue the "hearts and minds" strategy, which is also useless. For those muslims who do not accept this brand of fascism, ok. But we're not talking about them. We're talking about the fanatics. And before one says (and typically does) that it's "only a small number of fantatics among an overwhelming majority of peace loving people", think of this:

Let's just say, for the sake of argument, that only 1 percent of muslims are fanatics. That's 1 percent of 1 billion.

Do the numbers: That's what the civilized world is up against, even if it's that low a number. That's not counting those who are sympathetic at the very least.

For those who want to allow their personal ideology to dictate their thoughts, well...I feel you do this at your own peril. Even if you hate Bush, this doesn't change the fact that there are those in this world who want you dead, simply because of who you are. Believe me, the Jihadist doesn't care if you're a liberal or not. To them, you are an infidel or a jew or a crusader. The fact that you voted Democrat means nothing.

i'm incredably liberal on every issue, but i have no problem with racial profiling here. until a blue eyed blonde haired grandmother blows up a subway, i'll be okay with it. if people of middle eastern discent have a problem with this, then they should take more action in discouraging these people and demand that their governments back home take further action and take terrorism more seriously.

Arabs, yes....but also Pakistanis and Malaysians and Filipinos....Americans (remember John Walker?) A black African was one of those responsible for the bombings in Kenya a few years back....It's not the nationality that's the problem. It's the religion and its ideology.

Julio,

Could be? Yes. But so far it has been arabs.

Do you really think they will single out a certain kind of profile? Hell no. They'll look at everyone BUT the profile. You know they're going to be "politically correct".

Then again, in all seriousness, it isn't only middle eastern types who are into this islamo-fascist ideology. You have Thai, Chechen, African, Filipino, and white European converts who are ready to "martyr" themselves for Allah. One of these guys could be a blonde haired, blue eyed European---or an American---your next door neighbor who converted to Islam and is pissed off with the world---just as much as it could be an Arab.

Big deal. They already do it in the airports. They even got x-ray machines and metal detectors in schools in Brooklyn. How is this different?

Frankie says relax.

if anthing else ever happens in NY, they'll "randomly" be in our homes

I've been nauseated ever since learning of this. I don't know what else to say... other than that I'm buying a bike.

This is bullshit. Why don't they concentrate of potecting the ports and borders. First step to a police state

I would rather be blown up and die with some dignity

we are so "losing" the "war on terror"

wow its time to get the fuck out of nyc