Pubdate: Fri 13 Aug, 1999 Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA) Copyright: 1999 Cox Interactive Media. Contact: http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/ Forum: http://www.accessatlanta.com/community/forums/ Author: Mike Christodoulou NOT VERY SAFE I was angry when I heard that law enforcement officers stormed a commercial plane and pulled six adults and a child from their seats in order to get one man ("FBI halts Atlanta flight for search," Page One, Aug. 4). This man was targeted because he had the nerve to pay for his airline ticket in legal tender. And I was absolutely livid to hear an FBI agent explain that they'd "rather be safe than sorry." Safe? How can I feel safe getting on a plane, wondering if I might be yanked out of my seat because I paid cash for my ticket or because the man next to me has matched some part of a "profile"? Our government is out of control. None of us can ever be safe again as long as these people can, with impunity, arrest anyone who they think might commit a crime. The FBI justifies its actions, saying that there were a "preponderance of circumstances," which they won't discuss, of course. They will get away with such assaults on our freedom because John Q. American will simply shrug it off. I wonder how safe he'll feel when he accidentally fits a "profile"? MIKE CHRISTODOULOU Christodoulou, of Norcross, is a software development manager. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea