A security observation at SMF
 

I flew from Sacramento to Portland yesterday on Horizon Airlines. After arriving at the gate area, the airline rep called out the names of random passengers to be placed in a secure area away from other passengers. These dozen or people were subjected (no one was offended) to a wand scan and a carry-on baggage inspection. Most of the people were caucasian mom and pop types but I noticed a few foreigners in the mix as well. One man was speaking French.

I believe what I witnesses was a way to get around racial profiling. In other words, feel free to racial profile but make sure you mix them in with a bunch of non-profile "placebo" folks as well. Very interesting indeed. I support this move.

Oh, I also got to fly down to SMF and back on the brand new Horizon Canadair CRJ-700 series. Pretty darn big for a regional jet!

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It could have just been random checks, after all without any thought about race...

Same thing happened on my flight from Baltimore to Tampa today. When I checked in, the agent put a big mark on my boarding pass and told me that I had been randomly selected for a secondary security check. At the gate, I was taken to a separate area and my bag was hand searched (everything removed and put back in), I got the wand, and I was patted down. There were about a dozen others, all were of Middle eastern background--Muslim, Hindu, etc. I agree with the notion that it is a way around racial profiling...I guess I was the token white.

This was my first experience of this in all my travels since the attacks. I ponder if it is related to the "increased threat" the FBI announced yesterday.

The two times I have been "randomly" screened in the boarding area, I had advance notice of the increased scrutiny. Delta printed "SELECTEE" on my boarding card and Continental printed "QUEST" on my boarding card. The Continental agent took things a step further by informing me of what would happen and highlighting "QUEST."

Minor quibble: Muslim and Hindu denote religions, not parts of the world. They are not synonymous with the Middle-East, especially not Hindus, who are primarily orginated from India, Nepal, and parts of Indonesia (Bali) -- all places far from what one might consider "Middle East".

(in response to)
"There were about a dozen others, all were of Middle eastern background--Muslim, Hindu, etc. I agree with the notion that it is a way around racial profiling...I guess I was the token white."