The paradox of security and precautionary checks

The world has not been remaining the same after 9/11/2001 attacks in the US by terrorists. And America has since transformed itself into a scared and nervous power. Everywhere suspicion is lurking and they would have a check on all possible and impossible objects.

In spite of all the inspection, cross-checking, physical verification , surveillanace and so-called careful observation of everything suspicious, the world is not a safe place for human beings.

The overzealousness with which Meera Shankar, India’s ambassador to the US, was frisked and patted down by a security agent the other day looks, prima facie, ridiculous. The ambassador was wearing a sari on December 4 at the Jackson-Evess international airport in Mississippi as she was to board a flight to Baltimore after attending the Mississippi state university programme.

Perhaps, the security agents thought that an ambassador may be wearing a suit and not a sari. Ridiculous thinking, indeed, since there were officers concerned with her as she was at the airport and they had pointed out that she was India’s ambassador to the US. Was it not possible for the airport security personnel to get the bona fides of the Indian ambassador quickly?

By all means, take all precautionary measures, but not this ridiculously. Even as this sort of checking is going on, terrorists are having a field day all over the world. Even the US itself is looking askance at the terrorism links in certain areas for parochial interests.

The hardcore of US policies, strategies and actions have been laid bare by WikiLeaks and the mighty power could not stall the incursion into its inner security. When the innermost parts of its security apparatus has been sneaked into, this sort of undesirable frisking on a woman ambassador has taken place.