Should there be pre-employment screening to fish out terrorists?

I know most of you would be outraged at such a question. However just for a moment take a look at the biodata of a jehadi who worked as a senior software engineer / architect at Yahoo. He is a capable technologist, has deep understanding of Linux, Unix & nginx, httpd and other technologies. He is a must hire at most companies he will apply to. However the situation changes drastically if you knew he was a hardcore jehadi and responsible for mass-murder / terrorist attacks.

The key question obviously is how prevalent are such hi-tech jehadis?
Worldwide Muslim fundamentalists are aggressively enlisting the help of computer professionals for hacking (Peerbhoy hacked unsecured wi-fi networks to spread terror threats and more). Peerbhoy’s mentor himself enlisted 8-10 hi-tech professionals. He had one person dedicated to bring around Peerbhoy to their cause. They pamper such professionals, tell them about the plight of moslem’s worldwide and indoctrinate them in the cause of jihad (and houris?).

So I would say there is a distinct possibility that any company can face the plight of Yahoo. Imagine the embarrassment of Yahoo worldwide for hiring a muslim terrorist. Would you like to work for a company which hires terrorists, albeit unknowingly? I don’t blame them; nevertheless it is bad PR. It tarnishes the image of the company, may even create fear within employees and definitely harrassment for all.

In light of apparent surge in hi-tech jihadis, does it make sense to have a system to screen out potential trouble-makers?

The biggest concern here would be racial profiling in the name of screening and people from a particular community may find themselves unfailrly at the receiving end for the actions of few.

Racial profiling is a dirty word. However it is practiced in disguise or even openly in many parts of the world. After 9/11, myself and few of my Indian friends were walking back from lunch. Someone shouted from across the street - terrorist! I casually started walking towards him to ask him why he felt so. He panicked and ran away. I know why he was afraid - because we were brown colored and looked like Pakistanis. While early in the USA, I was called Paki by a Mexican lady who intended it as an insult! Based on my personal experience, whenever I am on a trip to USA, I make it a point to shave because I have noticed that you have a much higher probability of being thoroughly searched if you are brown and bearded.

Theoretically, can we even think of a set of questions which can screen out potential terrorists?
Remember the lame questions you get asked at the airport security check-in? That would be the worse end of the spectrum and I don’t think will give any benefit.

Only subtle psychological questioning can potentially reveal such people. I think terrorists are common people who probably have a bad gene which somehow allows them to forget the value of human life. It appears the attraction of several dozen virgins in heaven is also rather hard to ignore. Should we look for repressed personality, people who feel persecuted in some way by the world? This is such a wide area to explore.

The funny part of the equation is that it will much easier if we can introduce an element of racial profiling. No Buddhists were ever known to be terrorists? Shouldn’t we just exclude them? The downside of even thinking about this may cause huge public outrage. It will be politically incorrect too.

I am sure many entrepreneurs are thinking about it too, even if they won’t admit it. What is your take on this issue?