Thought Police

Reader comment on item: [Michael Smerconish and I Debate:] What Kind of Airport Profiling?

Submitted by Diane Krieger (United States), Oct 5, 2004 at 13:10

Mr. Pipes,

While I usually admire your reasoning, in this article your argument seems to lead to the conclusion that "thoughts" be evaluated. Are you in earnest proposing establishing some sort of Orwellian police state that screens the thoughts of ordinary American traveler for Islamist beliefs?

I'm afraid this is where your four questions for Muslims is also leading. Say it ain't so!

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Daniel Pipes replies:

There are three levels of awarenes: looking for nervous ticks, looking for Middle Eastern traits, or looking for Islamist intentions. The last is by far the most accurate but also the most difficult. It requires not Orwellian controls but good intelligence.

DP