Going to the US sucks

I think the sad part is that a lot of people cannot refuse to go to the US, as they are required to go for their job. They make you feel like an ordinary criminal: 'Right index finger', 'Left index finger', 'Look into the camera'. Click. And you're registered. Checking out is as bad. Don't forget it, as you might not get in next time.

Without getting into politics where I have a rather strong opinion on the US playing Police of the World with their own Double Moral Standards Laws, I fully agree.

One feels complete welcome in the Land of the Free, if you have to strip, fill in all possible personal details and are surround by friendly people with guns.

Not to mention the dictation of the US to give details of any person flying in the neighborhood of the US, while the US itself is flying around Europe without any questions asked.

Fingerprinted? and photographed? Really? Aw crap, I'm going to oscms too, and this is the first I heard of it. I don't need to apply for a visa, so I never looked at immigration stuff.

"Your country is messed up beyond belief..."

Sadly, we know. Many of us are trying to change this from within. However, a requirement for a political career here seems to be getting your brain removed.

Dude, I am a Belgian who's lived here for the last 9 years and what you're saying is crap. We are living times a little more difficult because a lot of people have been deceived and a dummy took power 6 years ago. But there are big differences with Belgium: I know that in 2 years, we'll take a different direction, which never happens in Belgium, no matter what you vote. You vote for everything here, regurlarly, which may get you in trouble sometimes, but it's always temporary. Elected people know they have to live up to what people want, otherwise they're out next time. When was the last time you changed Prime Minister in Belgium? Are you satisfied with the amount of taxes you pay (I pay less than 20%, and I make 4x what I would be making in BE). Do you think it is right to make driving a living hell so that people will use public transportation, but yet you don't improve public transportation? Did you grow aspiring to ride the bus or did you grow up aspiring to have your own car? Where is your freedom?

The Belgian News mischaracterizes events that happen in the US just about 90% of the time. I know it because I follow it. What sells news in Europe is how bad Americans are. It just sells. It doesn't have to be true. It's as stupid as the White House renaming French Fries, "Freedom Fries".

The truth is that the reason why you have to go through fingerprinting is because terrorists come and go freely through the EU. That's just a fact. You can get in and out of Belgium without being seen and you can get inside the EU from many locations in Eastern Europe without a problem. A couple of years ago, Belgium was stolen thousands of empty passports.

I am a fierce defender of personal privacy and I watch mine, but logging and identifying people who come in and out of a country is just plain proper security control.

Man I hope you're not going to travel to Australia too often.... because they search ever single bag that comes in. It's so easy to hit on the US, it's the most visible thing on this side of the world.

"Your country is messed up beyond belief..."

Unfortunately it's become a dictatorship. The president's power is now unchecked. He can do whatever he wants and congress is powerless to stop him. We need a regime change. I hope Canada and EU can help us with that.

United State's so-called "homeland security" can't even be appropriately described as "overzealous". It's simply ridiculous; taking off your shoes, emptying water bottles and containers, treating non-citizens like criminals / animals, even the security officers who are supposed to do all the checking are sick of it.
It just makes people want to smirk and laugh. Anyone who really wants to terrorize a plane can do it, no matter how zealous security is.

I have to admit, I was under the same assumptions about the fingerprinting (or lack of it) that I thought you be subjected to. It saddens me to read this :(

As a US citizen living in Canada, I get asked fairly regularly about "when I'm moving back". Well, aside from the obvious commitments in Canada, it's things like this that factor in to my typical response of "not in the forseeable future".

If it's any consolation, I'll do what I can in 2008 to try and rectify the mess... and keep hoping that every little bit helps. :/

I think most of the Drupal crowd agree with you on this.

For me, the USA has changed dramatically in the last 7 years, that it is almost unrecognizable.

Those who grew up in the cold war era saw the propaganda from both sides as to "my way is the best". Then, the USA stood for freedom and democracy. Now they are just empty words.

The worst kind of change is for one to become exactly what they loathed, and the USA now is just that: what they used to loath.

Steven, your comments do have their own validity - they're just directed at the wrong people. Unfortunately, the situation is such that if you direct your comments at the right people - they'll be ignored, derided, and/or mocked. And that's just what the US media will do.

For anyone in other parts of the world waiting for the U.S. to 'turn it around' anytime soon, don't bother holding your breath. This roller coaster has barely begun (well, perhaps the climb to the top of the precipice is nearly complete, but we've hardly spotted the big drop which follows, yet).

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Some guys apparently need a reminder of their own foundations.

people who have nothing to fear, continue to fear trivial things like having a picture taken and being documented. If you never plan on committing a crime, then why be afraid of being documented. Seriously, give me one reason why any government (and yes, governments will do bad things and abuse information, yet) should want to target you? You, a person who is obviously not afraid to put his picture on a public web site. What is the root of your fear? Have you asked yourself that very question?

You're not being tracked liked a dog with some internal sensor. It's prudent for ANY country to know what is coming into their borders. According to your logic, of fingerprinting and picture taking being such a personal offense, you should go a bit further and say that it's crazy for any country to even have customs or even track the people who come and go.

People who don't question why they have a particular bias towards a certain situation, because of conditions they themselves have not created (such as being influenced by media - without personal investigation) often end up taking "offense" to all kinds of innocuous, unnecessary concerns.

It's too bad that things like this weight heavy on your mind.

As a born-and-raised American, I can't agree more. The current administration is neo-fascist, not democratic. They like to use the term "neo-conservative", but our dear President said it best: "This would be a lot easier in a dictatorship. Of course, I'd be the dictator." And that was in 2001.

We're trying to undo the damage, unfortunately too many Americans have this silly idea that "if you aren't going to do something wrong, the you've nothing to hide". Of course we have something to hide. Every big database of personal information that gets assembled will get abused. Period. FBI tracking and spying on people because they happen to disagree with the current government? Yep, that's happened. Intrusive advertising? Yeah, we get that, too. People "disappeared" without trial (so who knows if they were going to do something wrong)? We're three for three. What saddens me most is the Americans do don't comprehend what's wrong with that.

We're trying, Steven. We really are. :-/

Every country has its problems and inconsistencies, the USA, EU, and the rest of the world too. I agree its unfortunate that the US (of which I'm a citizen and live there) has to take these measures, some of which might be considered on the extreme side.

These measures will, however, only be considered extreme as long as no additional attacks strike the US. If another attack occurred (and these measures hadn't been taken) then the elected officials would be put under extreme pressure and criticism for not having done this (see the information from the 9/11 commission and its criticisms for previous inaction and blunders as an example).

While my government and leaders are certainly not perfect, they are held responsible for what they do (the most recent elections are a great example of that).

Certainly the terrorists who have attacked (and those who support them) bear a large responsibility for the current position we are in. We may be wrong in the way we are trying to handle security, but let's put it in perspective as a country doing something to try and prevent in the future something that has happened in the recent past.

I agree it's not fun (and I have had to travel to other countries where I have had to do the same thing) and I hope in the future things can get resolved to the point where this whole process will be less of a pain for people and yet still be secure.

Will you be posting a copy of your mugshot on your website?

yes, we absolutely lost our way since 2000. but the most eggregious offenses have been taken by the Bush Administration without the approval of the american people. for example, abu guhraib, illegal wiretapping, secret foreign prisons, patriot act, ...

so, please don't assume all americans actually support these abuses and hypocracies. some do, but most don't. i can't emphasize enough just how psychologically damaging the 9/11 attacks were. many of us still cringe every time we see an airplane in the sky. this damage caused us to make some very poor decisions and elect some very poor leaders.

many of us are working now to undo the damage. and we are succeeding. we booted a whole bunch of bums from congress during the past election and now spending has to be actually approved by a skeptical congress. before, bush's desires got approved without debate.

i'll share a few great links of organizations working to improve privacy and civil liberties.

American Civil Liberties Union
Privacy Vortex newsletter
Electronic Frontier Foundation

Steven,

While i don't disagree with anything you've said, I would like to say that the first time I flew into Switzerland... Applying for a long-stay European visa, (I'm a US citizen) required photos, fingerprints, and a criminal record check...

I've been harassed, questioned, searched, photographed by customs agents the world around, and I have come to believe that there is a certain type of person that ends up doing this job- those that like to control and dominate other! Unfortunately many things changed after 9-11 (most all for the worse), but you have to understand that with more than 300 million people, the US is still one of the most diverse and forward thinking cultures in existence, ever. Just look at the number of colleges and universites... I'm quite sure that there are many more per-capita than anywhere else in the world.

Does it suck now? Yes.
Is most of the government and media a joke, and completely inept? For sure.
Does it warrant avoiding completely? That's up to you, but why should you let a photo and fingerprint cause such a reaction?

Enjoy your trip, and remember one last thing... Those of us from Northern California, consider ourselves to be Northern Californians first, and Americans second!

Ah, Anonymous:

The old "if you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to hide" chestnut. Its the first recourse of the Yank apologist or law-and-order type who hasn't really thought about their position.

Please, go read Bruce Schneier's excellent response to this.
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/05/the_value_of_pr.html

Your country has an abysmal record when it comes to locking up innocent people. Just look at the Arar case. In the US right now, you have a LOT to worry about even if you're innocent.

Besides: don't you hate it when stores make you give up your bag at the front, like you might be a shoplifter? Okay, now think about someone assuming you're a terrorist.

Yeah Steven, I am sorry about how our country is treating guests... if you want to lighten it up a little with the agent you can pitch them on the new mugshot module for Drupal: http://drupal.org/project/mugshot as a possible new option to the proprietary system they use :)

Safe travels,
eric

This is the very issue why I am not going to be at OSCMS and will not enter the US for any other reason.

American citizens have been subject to these same kinds of entry procedures for many years in other countries. Pump up the rhetoric much?

If you are actually trying to make a statement, stick by some form of principles or want to protect your privacy, don't go.

FYI: http://www.guardian.co.uk/humanrights/story/0,,1984650,00.html

Is it a right of non-citizens to enter a foreign country, or is it a privilege?

It is a privilege that can come with any conditions that the permitting country deems necessary. If you are uncomfortable with those conditions, you are free to not enter that country. You do not have the same rights as a citizen when entering another country.

I understand the discomfort that photographing and fingerprinting causes someone who is concerned about privacy. Weigh it and make your choice. You are free to stay out of the "bizarre, quirky, sad laughing stock" that is providing you with business opportunities. Perhaps it is that kind of incendiary language that has raise the ire of the informed, and rallied the mindless bandwagoners who so quickly agree, pile on any unrelated political grievance they can muster, and apologize for the country. You will get no such apology from me.

Complaining about indignities and breeches of privacy, yet submitting to them, and then resorting to name calling does not ring of integrity. I would estimate that you would have seen fewer and different comments if you had only explained your experiences, then stood your ground by refusing to go to the US if you had to be fingerprinted and photographed. You would have had my respect if you would have done that. Instead your chose to criticize the country that you wish to do business with, and picked language shows contempt and disdain for it. You should have expected a political discussion to break out.

Perhaps it is not too late to cancel that flight for a partial refund.

re: "Just look at the number of colleges and universites... I'm quite sure that there are many more per-capita than anywhere else in the world."

First of all, we need to define what a University is. True, the USA has some of the finest in the world (MIT et al) but also lots of really bad ones, how to "become" a University might be under-regulated from a European Point of View.

Second, No. The US doenst have the most Universities per capita or the most academical persons in the world. See for example top 100 percap universities top 100 per capita.

And thats the point I would like to make. Most Americans think they life in the best/biggest/strongest country in the world but havent left their country (sometimes even state) in their life and only have sees other parts of the world with a small CNN logo above it.

Since I've moved to Europe I notice over and over (as was mentioned above) a general U.S.-bashing throughout media -- so much of this that I've gotten genuinely upset on a few occasions by the arrogant attitude expressed by people who ignorantly accept what the media has to tell them. I get a lot of practice writing those people off as the same people I write off in America for doing exactly the same thing.

Canada, on the other hand, when I lived there at least had the decency of countering a lot of that ignorant attitude with some understanding won from living next to the place and a pervasive sense of humility.

Bert,

First off, cool site that you linked there... Though, I'm not sure i would concede the point simply on a survey done by the Times (who have, at least when it comes to reporting, a pension for distorting reality)... Also, if you look at the top universities, my point is still pretty valid. with US having the second most top 10 universities per capita, just a fraction below the UK... (http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/edu_uni_top_10_percap-universities-top...)
Furthermore, if you take a bit more empirical methodology, (eg http://www.in-cites.com/countries/2006allfields.html) I think that my point is driven home even better...

Second, I'll give you the fact that the US has some dubious 'universities' (bob jones & oral roberts come to mind), but I don't think either the site you've linked to nor, the one I was basing my original (albeit incorrect) claims on count the multitude of junior colleges (2 year schools), which often are very good schools as well.

And thats the point I would like to make. Most Americans think they live (sic) in the best/biggest/strongest country in the world but haven't left their country (sometimes even state) in their life and only have sees other parts of the world with a small CNN logo above it.

I don't know how your contradictions with my original points led to this statement... While you are totally correct about most US citizens not having left the US (I think about 20% actually have a passport), I don't think that you can fairly (or correctly) draw ANY conclusion about what 'most' of us think. I have to say that that is just FUD.

If you want to be critical, levy those criticisms at the proper minorities, namely the unelected regime that is currently dictating its' will, the weak congress, AND the media... Or if you really want to get serious (or crazy), think about those that wield control over largest power and resources bases in the world, and criticize them (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/3773019.stm, btw did you see where they are headquartered :-))... Going after the American general public is misguided and silly, just as if I were to say that all Dutch women were like this (http://www.answers.com/topic/frau-antje-der-spiegel-jpg).

cheers!

Not the fingerprinting and/or the photos per sé, but the fact I had to apply for a (quite expensive, actually) new passport, with all the hassle around doing so, just to get into the US.
As soon as I put all these things (visa, new passport, being fingerprinted and recorded by security services) on a list, my decision to not go to the US Drupal camp was made quickly: nope; not for me.

I was embarrassed last time I came home to the US. The DHS officer was flagrantly racist and a few other 'ists. It was sick. My reaction unfortunately landed me in the search line, but the next officer was much more representable. Hopefully no one experiences the same on their way to CA.

I feel the pain as well. It's a shame that it has come to this, that the American people can elect (or close enough that they were able cheat the final percent of votes) someone so ignorant as Bush, and then reelect him at that. It's obvious if you see him speak for only 30 seconds that he has very little intelligence and that the real reason he is in office is because the corporations and circle of "advisors" knew they would be able to influence and manipulate him to their desires and profit billions from it.

Then they manufacture the whole idea of terror to get everyone scared and to allow their plans when the real things we should be afraid of are peanuts, deer and lightning. Hopefully things will be changed back to how they were 10 years ago when a drivers license was good enough to cross, but obviously that is unlikely. Once our freedoms have been eroded like this it will take a large revolution to get them back. Hopefully the west coast will seceed and we can enjoy OSCMS Summit in the United States of Canada while Jesusland can do as they pease. :-)

One month ago, I entered the United States for the first time since 9/11. I had no idea that I was going to be photographed and fingerprinted, and when I got to the immigration gate, it took me completely by surprise, as well as deeply infuriating me. It was also ridiculous that they insisted on putting my personal biological information on file, considering that I was only in transit to Mexico.

Today, I returned to the US once again (from Mexico). And what do you know... they photographed and fingerprinted me again! Apparently, they now do it every time that you enter the country; and they supposedly (quoting a US customs officer here): "compare your new photograph and fingerprints with all previously taken ones, to completely verify that you are who you say you are".

Completely ridiculous: surely, once they have you on file, that's enough! Apparently the insanity of this country's government knows no limits. I'm glad that I'm an Australian, and that my country isn't (yet) this crazy; but I'm also ashamed that my country is the USA's most dedicated ally.

It's all about power. No more no less.

If you can't stay in power due to the respect you earned through good leadership, scare the people to death and they will accept everything to relief them from their fears.
The customs controls isn't to keep the terrorists out, it's to tell to the people "Hey look at me, I' watching out for you. I'm taking care of my citizens".
Eventually, reason will win and people will get rid of their manipulators, until unfortunately the next one comes along.

To all the good people out there don't let you get bullied by them who are too dumb to think for themselves.

But for me, I made my choice, I stay at home. I will not go to a country that still has the death sentence or for that matter to a country where being of an other religion gets you hanged. No matter if I don't plan to do something wrong.

Steven -- you're becoming a true Canadian, giving Uncle Sam a right slagging like that!

Please do penance and make up for such ranting by drinking a Coke and wholfing down a whopper in the land of the free. You never know when you might need to accept an obscenely paid job from a Silicon Valley VC, build up an addiction to fine Sonomas and, hey, start using a paid-for Mac. Just remember never to get your fingerprints on a consignment of semtex.

Trust me. We're trying to change it in here; it's a pain just to go onto a military base, even if you live there! For every 20 or so cars entering, one gets searched hood to trunk. It's ridiculous.

I live in the U.S. and I agree that things are bad and are continuing to get worse.

Politics
I can't wait until Bush is out of office.

The American politicians are thief's and liars. They are in office only to
further their own agenda and could care less about Americans or
people from other countries.

If Bush was assassinated I would be the first person to throw a party, and just think, I consider myself a pacifist.

I don't understand how the President of the US can invade a country kill its ruler, bring death, torture, etc., to its people and Bush is allowed to live.

In most occupations in the US if your job performance review was similar to Bush's, you would be fired.

So why can't a president just be fired.

Finger Printing in Banks in the US
Someone wrote me a check for some work I did for them, I went to the persons bank to cash the check and the bank said, if I wanted them to cash the check they would have to finger print me first, I was furious, I ask for the manager and complained and them headed to my own bank and cashed it without a problem.

If your planning to come to the US,
Be Scared,
Be Very Scared.

Don't forget to write your Will before you leave.

Lucky for him, his jailers will probably have more decency than him. Bush caused Abu Ghraib to happen and the worst that can happen to him will not be as bad as he's done to innocent people.

stop whining, at least you HAVE A OPTION to travel to usa, some of us from eastern EUROPE dont have a chance to get in to EU, nor USA... So if EU and similar non-US citizens have problem with a photgraphing and fingerprinting, for us the door in EU and USA is SHUT without any chance of opening soon...
So, guess whos lucky here...
EU has THE SAME elitistic position towards many countries, as US has towards ALL, guess it does not hurt till you feel it on your own back...

I must whole-heartedly agree.

I'm married to a Korean, and the crap we've gone through is amazing. You think coming into the country is painful, you should try living here. Filing reports every time you move, having all of your paperwork returned to you because they upped the price of submitting it during shipment, and then on top of that, there's the "Sit down and prove you're married to each other" conversation. (although in truth that wasn't so bad the first time around, my real pick with it is that you have to have that conversation multiple times)

On top of all of that, we as citizens are about to be treated largely the same way. Mandatory ID's are coming, and that's just complete bull crap in my opinion. Too bad Canada's so cold. heh

Being a Belgian (just as Steven) I hated it too to have my picture taken when entering the US... Untill I discovered that the Belgian government has so much information about its own citizens:

- we all have an identity card we must have with us at all times. Police can always request us to prove our identity

- every Belgian has a unique number that identifies him/her. Banks will request this number when creating an account, libraries request this number (via my electronic identity card) to create my account, etc. This is ideal to track people, and link information from different databases.

- and today I read in my newspaper that it has been decided that the Belgian government will keep a picture of every citizen. While this would be raise major privacy-issues in other countries, in my newspaper it was an article on page 10, just a few lines long ( http://destandaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=2L1AR39D - in Dutch). Overhere, nobody seems to care.

it,s called big brother
the u.s government perpetrated 9-11
sad times, revolution is here

Dear Steven,

during the 5-10 minutes process for fingerprinting at your port of entrance in this freaking USA, there were already 50 mexicans who have crossed "illegaly" the border.

more time they spend with us to collect fingerprints, more and more immigrants go through the border without being controlled(at a rate of OVER 1 Million a year...)

each time, i go to the USA, I have a big laugh at all these idiots of DHS agents!!!!

next time, ask them why illegal mexicans are not fingerprinted ???

john(pseudo) from Switzerland

I've lived here my entire life, but I just can't see any other option than to get out. This country is going fascist and I refuse to let myself be dragged dowm by it.

Entry into the USA has always been a hassle, especially through airports. Both citizens and non-citizens (as long as I can remember, even before Homeland security and the Patriot act) needed to fill out forms on the plane. Things have just gotten worse.
I, as a citizen, feel your pain.

It's refreshing to hear such open-minded things about the U.S.

Check out Ron Paul - I think he's out last, best hope to right the ship.

The difficult part of getting this guy elected will be that many people are so duped into believing that nothing is wrong. Plus, well, the fact that the establishment wants him to go away.

But just know that there are MANY of us Ron Paul supporters fighting to try to take our country back!

Like everything else (war, health) entry/immigration in the U.S: is a big business. Companies that make the equipment and write the programs for scanning/searching/fingerprinting, etc. write the agendas (and usually, the RFP's, too). That's why we spend more on 'defense' than all other countries combined. Thanks for pointing it out - and Drupal should hold its convention somewhere else - and announce that that is why they're doing it. With the $ so low, though - it will be tempting for all concerned to have it there in spite of the humiliating treatment at the gate - bring your shopping bags! But complain a lot. Americans need to be reminded that they live in a police state. Maybe we'll vote for a candidate that knows what it's like to have a funny name and cinnamon colored skin. Thanks for hosting this very important thread, Steve.

Just yesterday, I came back to the US after a few months. As expected, the questioning was repetitive, pointless, accusatory and intolerant. Every official from the immigration desk to the customs point was as bad as the other. Although I'm a resident alien, I was subjected to detailed questioning as if I'm a suspect. Not to rub it in but not-so-surprisingly all the people being stopped had coloured skin. I'm attending college in my home country and I need to accumulate a certain number of credit hours before I can transfer to the US. When I told the officer about that he seemed to have no idea as to what a credit hour is. "Why don't you study in the US?" was the question. Which happened to be coming out of the mouth of a customs officer. I failed to see the link. "How do you live there?", "Who supports you?" and all the answers were being jotted down. As someone mentioned before, it's not really a pleasant conversation when "friendly" people with guns ask you questions which are mostly private. They stress on the law that greencard holders should not be residing outside the US. It's actually funny why there are no such restrictions once you hold a US passport. They detained my uncle because his name was "similar" to a known terrorist's name. To top it all off, they detained a famous social worker from Pakistan, Abdul Sattar Edhi at JFK New York. He's known as the Mother Teresa of Pakistan. As expected, he was detained for 12 hours despite his old age and remarkable reputation as a humanitarian. His beard, country of origin and dress were his demerits. He wasn't freed until the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan intervened. He insisted that a social worker needs to travel here and there and cannot reside in one place but that's not good enough for the enlightened individuals at airports. They confiscated his greencard and his Pakistani passport. Although to most these events would seem hassles of daily life, they are ruining America's foreign relations with all countries. If they believe that making people strip, interrogating them and discriminating them enhances security, they are sadly mistaken. So they can keep making Indian and Venezuelan foreign ministers strip at airports, they can call people on official visits themselves and still do this to them, but then they deny themselves the right to question why an anti-american trend is evident in the globe. Keep doing this to foreign delegations, trading parties and officials and see where the businesses go to.

As a US citizen all my life,,, and having traveled outside the country both pre 9/11 and post 9/11, I agree to some extent on the issues people have with entering the country...

Even within our country we experience delays and inconveniences at airports due to heightened security. I have spent 2 hours in a security line at Denver International Airport, nearly missing my flight. Was I annoyed? Certainly. But I need only look at the list of names of those lost, to be reminded it is a necessary step.

HOWEVER also as a native New Yorker, I believe 200% that this country NEEDED to secure our borders and restrict movement for foreign travelers. The loss of life suffered that day, 1 day, in the span of a few hours..is something that will be felt forever. Why did it happen? Because of a LACK of security, a lack of knowledge and a complacent attitude in collecting information on who was in this country.

"Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free..." we opened our doors to anyone and everyone for too long, with barely any restrictions....and in return we lost almost 3,000 people in one day. Yes the terrorists were in this country legally. But had there been more vigilance, less complacency and more information sharing, perhaps at least part of their plan could have been stopped.

So I agree, the methods may be a pain in the $!# for visitors, and often the people implementing them are rude and obnoxious, but I would gladly experience those small inconveniences if it meant we could stop another attack.

Well I agree that safety comes first and if it takes a few steps of inconvenience in order to stop attacks, it's worth it. But does the obnoxious and accusatory behaviour make a difference? I don't think so. Checking people is perfectly acceptable in this current scenario. But discriminating between races and pointless interrogation make things a lot more volatile. I've always been selected for secondary screening, my luggage is ALWAYS randomly chosen for inspection. They should employ people who have a bit more sensitivity.

Americans get a high level of preference in most other countries, they should be considerate enough to give some in return. I mean, if the US government invites a minister from another country and then asks him to strip, that is an insult to the country. Bush would only agree had he been asked to undergo secondary screening everytime he boarded Airforce one. The point is, security is important, but the way it is being executed is horribly wrong.