When the Attorney General was on Meet the Press, he made reference that "Profiling" is not a useful tool to law enforcement. I believe he was speaking of Racial Profiling and with that I agree. There is a great problem with semantics that is in critical need of being resolved. I have taken a stab at defining some of the words that are causing issues with what is the most useful tool that law enforcement should be using and should be developing further skill sets; i.e. The analysis of human behavior and particularly the recognition of aberrant behavior. Please take a look at my definitions and I would appreciate any comments, additions, changes, arguments, so that we might be able to get this issue resolved.

A DANGEROUS MATTER OF SEMANTICS 

BEHAVIOR PROFILING: This term has become synonymous with stereotyping. Stereotyping is looking at race, religion, ethnicity, or gender and applying it to an individual because he or she belongs to that group. It is wrong and illegal when used in this context. 

BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT: This term means looking at behaviors that include pre-assault indicators, body language, verbalization, micro-facial expressions, intelligence, and intuitive decisions observed that a person of any race, religion, ethnicity, or gender exhibits that lead the observer to believe aberrant or criminal behavior is being or about to be committed. 
(If a "soccer mom" or a person of the Christian faith or a person of middle eastern ethnicity displays suspicious behaviors or indicators of an aberrant or criminal nature, action or further investigation must be taken.) 

We all observe these indicators during interpersonal encounters. We can be taught to observe them better and be more aware of what to look for. When our survival senses detect (as security expert Gavin De becker calls: "The Gift of Fear") we need to pay attention. 

REVERSE DISCRIMINATION: Discrimination in hiring, college admissions, etc directed against members of certain social or racial groups. 

REVERSE(Racial, Ethnic, Religious, Gender) PROFILING: Ignoring a person's behavior because of ethnicity, race, religion or gender. We must be cautious not to be so afraid or politically correct that we ignore the cues, behavioral signs, or intelligence that could be signs of terrorism or criminal activity. 

NOTE: It is the observant police officer, federal agent or inspector who has on numerous occasions stopped or prevented terrorism or criminal acts. It is also this same group of individuals who are blamed for not acting when a mistake has been made in not identifying a person, missing a cue or "connecting the dots" when nefarious plans are discovered. It is not the technology or equipment that gets blamed. Yet, we keep looking for the answers in technology rather than training our first responders with observation, intuitive decision making and behavioral assessment skills.