Do you think Air Marshals deter terrorism?

[bleedingheart]

I am curious to see if people think it makes a difference.

Someone I know said..."the death of that man is a deterrent to terrorists" and I have to say I really don't think so.

I think that it is a deterrent to people like me who think that the fear mongering is making a bunch of people more unbalanced and ready to see terror where there is nothing.

Real terrorists know that there are air marshals, and police and FBI and they do it anyways...the real terrorists are not afraid to die ...their only aim is not to die before they have done some sort of damage.

Note:...I do think Air Marshals are there strictly to try and thwart any problems that may arise if they can...

[mmonk]

1. Don't know.

No way to measure. How many flights have transpired in the U.S. without them and were terrorist free?

[bleedingheart]

5. there are police in my neighborhood but that doesn't mean

it deters all crime....

Air Marshals have been on planes before and it hasn't deterred people from getting arrested for stuff like crapping on carts and peeing in the aisle...or getting verbally or physically abusive.

[bahrbearian]

2. Yes, but we do need better security in other places at the Airports

[Swamp Rat]

3. A peaceful foreign policy does. n/t

[SPKrazy]

4. I believe they do

and I would think that a terrorist would wonder if there is an Air Marshal aboard the plane.

[bleedingheart]

6. I think that terrorists have adapted their new strategies to

the new policies.

As in corporate america...when your competition changes ....you change also...and you hope to change enough that you have the greater element of surprise.

[Imagine My Surprise]

7. About as much as a scournful glare deters bank robberies

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[onehandle]

8. No. If the Saudi's want to bring down another plane or four...

...there's no way to stop them. They can finance another attack whenever they want.

Why didn't we invade Saudi Arabia instead of Iraq?

Not that we should have, but it would have made more sense than Saddam's impotent Iraq.

[bleedingheart]

10. I would hate for it to ever happen again but you are correct

if the Saudis want they can fund anything.

I also agree with you regarding invading Saudi Arabia vs Iraq...then again I hate the idea of any war...

[insanity]

9. They acted correctly, but overall I don't think they are effective

One or two men per 1 out of 10 domestic flights is not enough. Two men can't difuse a quick and intelligent terrorist squad becuase once they act thier cover is alread blown.

[sandnsea]

11. They acted incorrectly, but overall they are effective

Yes, air marshalls deter terrorism. One more hurdle for them to consider and every obstacle you can put in place matters.

[BuyingThyme]

12. Why do so many of you

believe airplanes have something to do with terrorism?

Airplanes literally have as much to do with terrorism as do Snickers bars.

I expect more from DUers.

ON EDIT: Do you think there should be Snickers marshals too?

[Deja Q]

13. Their presence is to thwart problems. It's give or take...

Keep them and risk accidents of one or two people.

Not have them and risk hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of lives being lost via something that ain't no accident.

The chances of either happening is remote, yes, but which is more palable?

[TheWraith]

14. No.

Simply put, there's no way that another hijacking-oriented attack would ever succeed. The plane's passengers wouldn't permit it, even if they had to attack a better armed foe.

The only real danger to aircraft, and one that air marshalls can't protect against, is contraband smuggled on board in the form of packages, or placed there by the ground crew.

[Zynx]

15. Yes. Air Marshal = terrorists likely fail. They don't want to fail.

Death isn't much of a deterrent to these guys, but the possibility of an armed person who would stop them from carrying out their plans is something they would take into account.

[porphyrian]

16. We're more likely to have a ninja invasion than another...

...terrorist attack involving a passenger plane. There are too many other options. Besides, the 9/11 attack is still working - people are still scared that there will be another terrorist hijacking, and the government response (long security checks, "Take off your shoes...") has pissed off the general population and cost the government money it can't afford to spend.