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Lead Editorial
environments, we still read numerous compromise security is a very real Palestinians is a unifying factor for the Arab
stories of criminal gangs operating airside concern that needs to be addressed. world and is such an emotive issue that the
and there are far too many incidents of real al Qaeda agenda is often obscured.
illegal workers finding employment where Qutbism is the core of al Qaeda ideology
they shouldn’t. As an example, nine “
...checks of social and, as such, the existence of a secular
construction workers were arrested on Palestinian state would be as abhorrent to
23rd July in Orlando when it was networking websites, such its followers as is the current state of Israel.
determined that not only were they not Qutbism (based on the writings of Sayyid
eligible for airport passes, they did not as Facebook and MySpace, Qutb) preaches religious observance and
even have the right to be in the United its followers’ main targets are the Muslim
States at all. The issue of background have revealed that many states that have become tainted with
checks is a taxing one given the high staff Western values. Ultimately, the entire
turnover rates in certain sections of the airport employees are moderate Muslim world, as well as the
airport community. Judeo-Christian world, is regarded as the
Even when background checks are members of groups that enemy. The ultimate goal of the Qutbists is
correctly performed, airport security to convert the world to Islam and have it
managers have expressed misgivings would be perceived as governed by sharia law.
about the integrity of many legitimate Tackling religious extremism is of
pass holders. Checks of social networking being less than desirable...” unquestionable importance, but in
websites, such as Facebook and defining our aviation security strategy,
MySpace, have revealed that many airport The second reason that the Arab-Israeli we need to be realistic and set ourselves
employees are members of groups that conflict is a red herring, even if one does worthy, achievable goals. To do so, we
would be perceived as being less than mistakenly believe that aviation security is need to appreciate and respect those we
desirable. Taking action is nigh on all about preventing Islamic are up against. If some of the goals
impossible as it impinges on laws fundamentalist acts alone, is that a appear somewhat lofty, perhaps 40
protecting freedom of speech and resolution of the conflict would not result in years after the onset of international
personal privacy. That said, knowing that a decline in the number of terrorist airline terrorism, we could at least take it
staff, in their personal life, are supporters atrocities. In fact, quite the opposite may one small step at a time to ultimately
of causes or religious doctrines that could be true. The tragic plight of the benefit mankind.
Aviationsecurityinternational August 2009
www.asi-mag.com 3
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