Behaviour profiling
I am writing with reference to Point Counterpoint: "Profiling and screening Muslims only," by Abdullah Dewan (Jan. 10).
In this context, it can be pointed out that even hardened terrorists are not immune to tensions that go with persons ready to commit murder-suicide by blowing up jetliners with hundreds of passengers. And any abnormal behaviour can be detected by trained security personnel. A potential terrorist is likely to avoid eye contact and show signs of nervousness when asked a few personal questions such as why is he travelling, what is his profession and what is his destination address. A potential terrorist is also less prone to smile. "It is almost impossible to wear a mask of happiness when you're going to blow something up," says former FBI agent Joe Navarro.
Paul Ekman, a psychologist who studied deceit for decades, calls these clues "micro-expressions," an involuntary flicker of a facial feature when a person is trying not to hide his true feelings.
As such, behavioural profiling coupled with normal physical checks can go a long way to counter terrorist threats in our airports.
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