The Christmas Day terrorist attempt by a Nigerian Muslim on a U.S. airliner has reignited the debate on racial and ethnic profiling in airports, but most Americans agree that profiling is necessary to ensure airline safety.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of adults say factors such as race, ethnicity and overall appearance should be used to determine which boarding passengers to search at airports. Twenty-six percent (26%) say these factors should not be used to determine which passengers to search. Another 15% are not sure.

Interestingly, however, even more Americans (71%) believe such profiling is necessary in today’s environment. Eighteen percent (18%) disagree and see profiling as an unnecessary violation of civil rights

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Men feel more strongly than women that profiling is necessary in the modern environment. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of men say profiling should be used to determine which boarding passengers to search, but just 51% of women agree.

Sixty-two percent (62%) of whites and 52% of those of other races say profiling should be used at airports. African-Americans are more closely divided on the question.

Republicans feel more strongly than Democrats and adults not affiliated with either party that profiling is necessary in today's environment and that it should be used to determine which boarding passengers to search. Still, a majority of Democrats and unaffiliateds agree with both these positions.

Nearly half of likely voters (46%) believe current airport security measures are not strict enough.

Following the Christmas Day incident, 79% said it was likely another terrorist attack on the United States could take place within the next year.

In November, 63% of voters said political correctness prevented the military from responding to warning signs from a Muslim U.S. Army officer, Major Nadal Malik Hasan, that could have prevented the Fort Hood massacre from taking place.

An earlier survey found that a plurality (48%) of adults believe it is the responsibility of American Muslims to speak out against terrorist attacks on the United States.

Forty-nine percent (49%) of Americans think that most of their fellow countrymen have already forgotten the impact of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in which 3,000 died.

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