Lucky Green wrote:
| A poll last week by the Los Angeles Times found that a majority of
At 10:38 AM 2/4/97 -0500, Adam Shostack wrote: people --
| 58 percent -- said they would curtail some civil liberties if it would help | thwart terrorism. Thirteen percent said it would depend on what rights were | at stake. The poll didn't ask people to single out any rights.
Its worth noting the 'if it would help thwart terrorism.'
It is irrelevant if terrorism is indeed be thwarted. The public does not require this to happen. All that matters is to generate the *perception* of increased security, not to increase security itself.
Let's remember though that perception of security applies not only to passengers, but also to potential terrorists. If they *think* that they would not be able to bring a bomb easily, they would be less inclined to do so. - Igor.