Thanks for the big picture and multi-century dynamics. ^^

I don't think it will soon go this bad, as I have a feeling that mass murdering is still frowned upon by the general public, and there is a big step between restraining rights and mass ethnical cleansing. A better "slippery slope" result would be the round-up and internment of people of middle-eastern origin. This event has taken place in the US for citizen of Japanese heritage, during WWII, and was upheld at the time by the Supreme Court.

I agree. That is far more probable. But 2-6 million more internees on top of the general prison population, and we are talking about lots and lots of money. Furthermore, a "war on terror" will last forever and thus forced deportation/expulsion is more probable than it was during WW2.

I am more concerned about the safety of all passengers than I am about whether rights guaranteed to American citizens by the US Constitution are extended to 14 Syrians.

I don't think that makes me a racist, nor do I think the author of that piece is a racist.

Thanks for sharing ...

I am not willing to be be shot for someone else's idea of the common good. Are you willing? [That's the real danger of the "safety of all passengers" argument.] How about wearing a straight-jacket and arm and leg restraints and being chained to your seat?

If you care about the safety of all passengers, then I suggest that you also encourage a restriction on the movement of people and a ban on airplanes. No plane = no passengers = no terrorist strike on a plane. Then your concern about "the safety of all passengers" will be addressed and you will have your assurances.

There is a fine line between seeing things through race-based lenses and racism. However, that line is often enough a very, very fine line that disappears when race-based fear prevails and the status quo relative power dynamic is threatened. I suggest to myself that reason (and skeptical thought) prevail over fear (and blind faith).

Thanks for the thoughtful post, Vasantn.

Haha, you make a good point, GUWonder.

The first part of my post was a 1-sentence way of expressing a complex opinion. I don't advocate the restriction of movement of Americans, Arab-Americans, or even non-Americans. I do advocate greater scrutiny of suspicious non-Americans on American flights. The 14 men at issue in the article were Syrian citizens. As such, they, like all people, have civil rights, but they do not have Constitutional rights.

I was operating under the understanding (correct or incorrect) that DTW, arriving passengers from overseas must clear immigrations and customs and then re-clear security to get back into the departure area. Most all my returning flights back to the US these last 12 months are into the ancient airports of JFK, Dulles and Miami so the process at DTW may be different (due to layout or something), but JFK, IAD, MIA required clearing security to re-enter airside. I don't remember my exact international arrival process at all airports this year, but clearing immigration and customs was required at every commercial airport I have ever arrived to in the US.

Anyone know about DTW international arrivals connecting onward domestically?

Always glad to be of assistance!

While still I don't agree with you, you make a good point. Of course, foreign citizens do not have Constitutional rights on a par with US citizens. However, harrassment of foreigners in the name of security will only lead to harrassment of Americans in foreign countries. And suspicious behavior should always lead to greater scrutiny, for Americans as well as non-Americans. Being a member of a group of Syrian men is not a suspicious activity.

Agreed. ^

NO US airport, including DTW allows entry to the US without re-screening when making a domestic connection... . You will clear DHS/Immigration, Baggage, Customs, Re-check bags, then clear TSA checkpoints... So clearly these guys were screened several times including a possible SSSS if they had one way tickets on NW. So.... Paranoia wins again!

Paranoia is bad enough. Feeding racist paranoia is even worse. for Mrs. Jacobsen's propaganda piece.

What level of "greater scrutiny" would you find acceptable to be suject to when flying abroad ? Don't you advocate greater scrutiny of "suspicious" Americans ?

Check out my posting in the Northwest Airlines forum. I have exposed another Jacobsen story's flaw.

She was, in her own words, terrified for 4 and half hours on a flight. Of course, the DTW-LAX flight is slightly less than 4 and half hours (and certainly not much more than 4 and half hours) on Northwest Airlines. This bigot was frightened before the flight even took off. Even before the men in question had even done anything more than sit in their seats and put on their seat belt.

Women and men like this A. Jacobsen (and those who believe her story) will be the end of liberty as we know it. Take a story like this (and the resulting hysteria) as a warning that falsehoods and prejudice can kill liberty in America faster than Osama bin Laden himself can kill even one of our compatriots anywhere in the world.

Sure I do. Nothing in my post implies otherwise, with the caveat that suspicious Americans flying within the US do have Constitutional rights that must be upheld in accordance with the Supreme Court's mandate.