Monday, 8 November 2010

Ehud Barak’s 80-15-5 rule of airport profiling | Full Comment | National Post

Ehud Barak’s 80-15-5 rule of airport profiling

  November 6, 2010 – 4:21 pm

Here at the Halifax International Security Forum, we just finished the panel on “Protecting the Public: Job #1.” Panelists were former Israeli PM Ehud Barak, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones, Minister of State for Security, Home Office, UK. Interesting discussion by all participants, but Barak stole the show with two comments, both related to protecting airliners from hijack and destruction:

  1. Following on John Manley’s earlier anecdote about just having watched an 80-year-old grandmother being singled out for a head-to-toe search at a Denver airport, Barak explained the Israeli approach: “[Israelis] profile people. We are making [distinctions] very quickly between 80% of individuals who are out of the question [as security threats]; 15% who probably have a certain relevance but are very far-fetched; and a very small [5%] fraction that has to be dealt with [by security personnel] in a more [extensive] way.”
  2. “Forty-five years ago, the first Israeli aircraft was hijacked to Algiers. [We asked ourselves] ‘What should be done about [hijacking]?’ It became clear that the only way [was to prevent] the attackers from getting to the cockpit. So we established a system of two doors [on El Al aircraft]. You have to open one only after you talk to the pilot. After you enter, the previous one is closed, and then the captain can look at you through an eyehole and decide whether to let you in [the second door], leave you there, or he could shoot you in the head. The cost at the time [for this system] was $12,000 — probably 1/10,000th the cost of the airplane. Now think what could have happened to world terror if this practice would have been adapted by all airliners as a simple answer. Even 9/11 could not have happened.”

I like the idea of a pilot being able to shoot a hijacker “in the head” as he stands helplessly in an airplane-cockpit airlock. But that situation would come to pass rarely in the post-9/11 age, when terrorists prefer simply to blow themselves up rather than seize a plane’s controls. Even more useful is the 80-15-5 rule, which I would urge Canada and other Western nations to adopt as soon as possible.

p.s. I’ll be interested to hear the commenters describe what sort of specimens they think should be lumped into the 15% and 5% categories. But please try to avoid hate speech in doing so.

jkay@nationalpost.com

Posted in: Canada, Full Comment, World Politics 

Comments


Please wait while we process your request


Please wait while we retrieve the user's information

Bio

Your bio is currently empty. Now is a great time to fill in your profile.

This profile is private.

This profile is only shared with friends.

This profile is under review.

We were unable to request friendship with this user.

We were unable to request friendship with this user. Are you logged in?

Your friendship request has been sent to this user.

We were unable to terminate friendship with this user.

We were unable to terminate friendship with this user. Are you logged in?

You are no longer friends with this user.

We were unable to ignore this user.

We were unable to ignore this user. Are you logged in?

This user is now ignored.

We were unable to stop ignoring this user.

We were unable to stop ignoring this user. Are you logged in?

This user is no longer ignored.

We encountered a problem recommending this user.

pluck_user_recommend_permission

You have recommended this user.

39 comments

Sort:

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 7

Name withheld

Nanowit

3:42 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Nanowit. Show DetailsHide Details

I agree with using a 80-15-5 rule. As to what profile goes into each category, talk with Isreal. After several years use, they have likely refined their categories.

The two door airlock system for the cockpit sounds good also. It might not stop suicide bombers, but it would surely stop hijacking.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 6

Name withheld

RickB

3:48 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore RickB. Show DetailsHide Details

I'd profile anyone who insisted on presenting him or (especially) herself as a member of any controversial group.

3 replies1 reply

3 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 4

Name withheld

adam_a

4:25 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore adam_a. Show DetailsHide Details

"I'd profile anyone who insisted on presenting him or (especially) herself as a member of any controversial group."

In other words, anyone who "looks Muslim." Brilliant idea, because (a) it's not bigoted at all, and (b) no terrorist could ever devise a means to defeat such a clever scheme.

2 replies1 reply

2 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: -6

Name withheld

PeaceRiver

4:47 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore PeaceRiver. Show DetailsHide Details

Drunks also pose a threat to crew and other passengers. I hope that alcohol will no longer be served.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 11

Name withheld

AlsoRan

5:09 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore AlsoRan. Show DetailsHide Details

Let's see now.
All of the bombers/hijackers have been Muslim males between the ages of 20 and 30.
They have darker skin than an Anglo Saxon's, and half of them are named Mohammed.
This should be a good starting point for "Racial Profiling".

6 replies1 reply

6 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 9

Name withheld

MomThinksImACatch

5:23 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore MomThinksImACatch. Show DetailsHide Details

OK, here goes:

15% rule applies to people who have previously travelled to Muslim countries.

5% rule applies to men who have their hair freshly shaven (can usually tell from the difference in colour from lack of tan) and smell like rose water. This is in preparation for paradise.

But things are changing rapidly. For example, after a stint in Iran, Tony Blair's sister-in-law has converted to Islam. Who knows what useful idiots are capable of? The next wave of suicide bombers may be blonde-haired, blue-eyed Westerners.

4 replies1 reply

4 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 7

Name withheld

edd333ed

5:26 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore edd333ed. Show DetailsHide Details

How about the 'airlock' being equipped with a quick eject system for the outside? You give the captain a red button, labelled 'garbage disposal' and full authorization to use it if he doesn't like the looks of his visitor.

And you screen 85-15-5 with regard to threat estimates and with no regard whatever for political correctness. If you did that, you wouldn't need the above silly design modification except for its propaganda effect.

3 replies1 reply

3 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 6

Name withheld

kencos

5:32 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore kencos. Show DetailsHide Details

great and I support that 100% ....only problem spineless politicians as usual!

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 11

Name withheld

anonymous

6:29 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore anonymous. Show DetailsHide Details

Canada is far more likely to become home to the 5 - 15 - 80 rule.

5% of people who are way too scary to talk to so we'll let them by.
15% of people who will get a human rights tribunal involved so we'll let them by.
80% of people who are regular travellers just doing their thing so we'll incinerate their shampoo, strip them to their socks and prod them incessantly with metal detectors and intrusive questions (e.g. how many bathrooms do you have in your house).

To top it all off we'll find someone under qualified to lead the program, find they've bungled the job and let them go with golden parachute. Following that process there will be the ceremonial rounds of finger pointing, demanding that the minister involved be hung drawn and quartered, back patting over the creation/aversion of an non-scandal, obligatory media cool down time and then lather, rinse, repeat.

3 replies1 reply

3 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 8

Name withheld

baeto

6:58 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore baeto. Show DetailsHide Details

The think the National Post should do a full article on the Halifax Security Conference. I saw several of the open sessions on CPAC and am impressed at the quality of the discourse. 37 countries are represented with some very influential people, John McCain, senior Democrats, officials from the EU, Japan, etc. . Peter McKay and Canada have been praised for setting up this conference. The Ehud Barak comments are only one aspect of the conference. I think that The National Post should be providing Canadians with full coverage. The other MSM organizations are ignoring it. One only has to wonder how they would cover it if Ignatieff was involved????? It is much more substantial than his recent "Thinkers Conference"!

1 replies1 reply

1 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 10

Name withheld

anonymous

7:10 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore anonymous. Show DetailsHide Details

I recall reading details of the Israeli system and was struck by one thing in particular. They had well trained and well paid security in their airports. In North America we have adopted the security model that uses low paid and under-trained employees. This is our biggest risk point. To ensure success we need to address the level of professionalism in the security services and eliminate the attitude that the people who are protecting us are just a bunch of rent-a-cops. The sooner we get serious the sooner we will have the same success as the Israelis.

1 replies1 reply

1 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: -1

Name withheld

om5

7:40 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore om5. Show DetailsHide Details

Why in hell would anybody need to see the pilot ?

3 replies1 reply

3 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 5

Name withheld

ZeeBC.

8:17 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore ZeeBC.. Show DetailsHide Details

Political correctness prevents security officials from following a 15% rule, never mind a 5 percenter.

1 replies1 reply

1 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Score: -1

Name withheld

8:29 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is under review.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 1

Name withheld

javelin67

8:48 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore javelin67. Show DetailsHide Details

can't some of the type questioning be done in advance before a person leaves his home or hotel by anwering a series of questions already attached to the ticket via internet before he/she goes to the airport?..that way so much time consuming mundane question/answers are already available to security as they confirm your ticket etc..then all thats needed is the screening part ..scanning machines and whatever....this can speed up the process..even if marginally...anything to move the long winding lineups along faster..

2 replies1 reply

2 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 3

Name withheld

Madic

10:39 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Madic. Show DetailsHide Details

I have been to Israel and can say that their security is more effective and less insulting than the 20-year-olds that pass for security officers at Ottawa International Airport.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 5

Name withheld

RSTY

10:54 PM on November 6, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore RSTY. Show DetailsHide Details

If the goal is to once again be so politically correct that we have to inconvenience everyone because we're labeled as Islamophobic or racist if we focus on the proven group, we won't get anywhere.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 5

Name withheld

Churchillian Conservative

1:09 AM on November 7, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Churchillian Conservative. Show DetailsHide Details

Why on earth would we need to decide who falls into these categories? Why don't we just ask the Israelis? Besides a couple of Sikhs back in 1985, which was a one-off event, the exact same people more or less are trying to blow up both our airplanes and Israeli airplanes. They're the experts, follow their lead.

Score: 1

Name withheld

1:31 AM on November 7, 2010

This comment was left by a user who has been blocked by our staff.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 1

Name withheld

Arthur T

1:42 AM on November 7, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Arthur T. Show DetailsHide Details

The profiling approach appears to validate the "evidence-based outcomes" principle: If what is done provides the correct or desired outcome, then it should be expanded to the rest of the airline industry. Forty-five years of success sure seems to meet the test.

Furthermore, if the "distinctions" of the profile start trending to other characteristics, this 80-15-5 system could be adjusted accordingly.

What has been done, though, is the multi-billion $$ implementation of a security system that may become only self-serving to the industry that provides it, all the while providing sub-standard security at high inconvenience to the 80%.

1 replies1 reply

1 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 2

Name withheld

Whootiewho

4:10 AM on November 7, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Whootiewho. Show DetailsHide Details

Easy to catch the last batch of would be's.... Single men, 20-30, none or little baggage, one way tickets, paid in cash, headed to america.

Stop focusing on
Women
Women with children
Families
obviously old (but make sure they are old)
feable/infirm

do like isreal and start the screening at the driveway, not the jetway

1 replies1 reply

1 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Score: 0

Name withheld

5:49 AM on November 7, 2010

This comment is under review.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 1

Name withheld

realpolitik

6:25 AM on November 7, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore realpolitik. Show DetailsHide Details

Going through Israeli airport security, would a hypothetical John Walker Lindh belong to the 80, 15, or 5?

1 replies1 reply

1 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: -2

Name withheld

insider1

7:57 AM on November 7, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore insider1. Show DetailsHide Details

There is still one significant difference with respect to airport security: Israel has but one international airport. Countries like Canada and the US have both more airports and more volume. And this thing about a Charter of Rights and Freedoms that makes all talk of "profiling" impossible.

2 replies1 reply

2 replies1 reply Please wait while we perform your request.

Abuse Reported Report Abuse
 
Score: 6

Name withheld

Manny62

8:01 AM on November 7, 2010

This comment is hidden because you have chosen to ignore Manny62. Show DetailsHide Details

Got to love these Israelis. As the rest of the Western world is bending backward to achieve security without offending the bad guys, Israelis know this is impossible and have clearly chosen their side.

One probably meaningless little statistic: since the very first highjacking, El Al never had another plane highjacked or blown up. This despite dozens of attempts.


Please wait while we file your abuse report.

Report Abuse


Please wait while we send the email.

Email This

Copy to Clipboard

Reddit

Slashdot

StumbleUpon

Tumblr

Twitter

Yahoo! Buzz

E-Mail

Delicious

Digg

Facebook

FriendFeed

LinkedIn

MySpace

Score
 vote upvotes up
 vote downvotes down

via fullcomment.nationalpost.com

Posted by at

Flickr - projectbrainsaver

www.flickr.com
projectbrainsaver's A Point of View photoset projectbrainsaver's A Point of View photoset