U.S. Security Expands Presence at Foreign Airports
By placing officers in foreign countries and effectively pushing the United States border thousands of miles beyond the country’s shores, Americans have more control over screening and security.
Travelers React
HeloiseMassachusetts
It's not just customs and border patrol. A recent trip to the US with a plane change at Toronto Pearson started with pleasant, efficient interactions with Canadian officials and employees. At Toronto, US-bound passengers were directed into the TSA screening area, where we were immediately confronted by hollering TSA employees, and their groping, thieving hands. The contrast between the two countries' operations, housed only steps apart, was like a bodyslam to the senses. I was so humiliated for my country. ( For that matter, when transferring from an international flight to a domestic flight within the US, it's heartbreaking and shameful to watch citizens from other countries try to figure out TSA procedures, being bullied and berated as their "welcome.")
ScottWChapel Hill, NC
Can you imagine Canada, Mexico, England, coming to the U.S. demanding to set up their airline security programs? As the World's imperial power, we cannot help ourselves in overreaching in every other Country's affairs under the guise we are just protecting ourselves. Most Americans are so used to American World dominance, they see nothing wrong with our conduct. Contrary to what Bush said, they don't hate us for our freedom, they hate us for our meddling in their sovereign affairs.
Matt ConnollyBoston
A friend recently went through the security at Shannon and described it as a grueling experience - sort of a ground hog day experience of doing the same thing over and over.
I don't know what is wrong with this country. We are in fighting wars in at least five countries, we're building new bases in the Phillippines hoping to take on China, we've got dozens upon dozens of military basis in foreign countries and now we are expanding into the civilian policing areas.
The foreign countries don't have to be relieved of the costs of providing air plane security. They can do it as well as we can. Let them do it and stop finding new ways to expand the costs to Americans.
The way we are going we'll soon be saying we can do a better job at policing London streets than the Bobbie's and American cops will be walking the Piccadilly beat.
YVRCabinCrewVancouver, BC
As an airport employee I interact frequently with USCBP officers stationed in Canada. They completely set the rules in the area of the airport work and treat even us, who they see on a daily basis, as assumed criminals and terrorists - for example, we have to turn off our radios when crossing their queue area.. We have to deal with passengers who miss their flights because they are detained, sometimes for hours, for as little as not having a customs form filled out because they do not speak English (as it is a legal document we are not allowed to complete it for them). Then we have to explain, if they are American, that these officers are not Canadians but Americans. I used to fly frequently to the US and invariably found these officers arrogant, overbearing, condescending. I spoke with a psychologist once who helped design intake testing for Canada Border Services applicants. He said Canada's approach is that 99% of travelers pose no threat, so hire people with good customer services skills to deal with them respectfully, and train them to handle the other 1%; he also said that the US hires officers with a law-enforcement background who treat everyone as though they are that 1%. It is extremely galling to Canadians to have these power-tripping goons at work on our soil in airport facilities funded with our tax dollars and ticket surcharges who treat people so shamefully in many cases. But hey, if you're out the airport a couple of minutes sooner at the other end...
HzIllinois
It's not a big deal for these countries to let some extra space in airports to homeland security when they can charge whatever rent they want to the US taxpayer.
I guess DHS has saturated the U.S. "market" with its police state apparatus, and now it is finding foreign markets to justify ever increasing expenditures in the budget, further bankrupting our country. The hypocrisy of self styled tea party/fiscal conservative congressmen like Peter King disgusts me.
patientpatientColorado Springs
They're in Winnepeg, of all places. Their security is essentially no different from the Canadian protocols, except for rthe shoes. The question that looms large: If we keep spending ourselves further and further into bankruptcy with this nonsense, has Bin Laden really succeeded in bringing the U.S. to its knees? It's looking that way.
"Fear is the mindkiller" -- Frank Herbert in Dune
KateWest
The article says passengers are screened for explosives.
Not sure exactly what this means.
Do you mean to say, that because you are a US citizen, you now can be electronically strip searched not only in US airports, but also in 14 additional locations around the world?
So that by simply being an American who participating in air travel, you forfeit your 4th amendment rights to be secure in your person and personal effects unless a warrant signed by a judge.
The contrived nightmare of 9/11 lives on. Promoted by those who would destroy our Constitution in an effort to expand the police state.
Effective security measures can be undertaken without destroying the US constitution and our system of law and legal procedure in the process.
STalaricoLittle Silver, NJk
My husband was detained by US Customs as we left Iceland last summer. No reason. Just a random, "you're coming with us." He wasn't allowed to go to the boarding area until just before the airplane left. He was patted down and wanded for explosives in a room separated from the boarding area.
I was not detained. I was left standing there wondering what the hell was going on. One of the officers invited me into the room to sit with my husband because I stood outside the door and refused to leave. I had no intention of boarding the plane without him.
First the terrorists scare us, the our government scares us even more. I might have called this incident a violation of my 4th amendment rights, except that I was in another country in "no man's land." Did I even have any rights? It was a frightening experience.
JonquilUtopia
You buried the lede here.
"They have not foiled any major plots so far,"
So. Ongoing security theater. "Those nasty foreign security systems can't protect you, but we can." I experienced this in London: one long line for London airport security, then another, including hand inspection of all bags, for U.S. security. This is, bluntly, an insult to a country that has been coping with internal terror bombs since the 1930s.
Peter S.Chicago
Another outpouring of taxpayers money that will eventually solve nothing. Here is an idea: If the US government and its wealthy benefactors feel so threatened, perhaps the US ought to cease pushing its culture on every nation and their people around the world.
happyktAustin
America has become so hated, we are almost doing what Israel does at its airports to stop terrorism. There is a correlation here.
GordanSalt Lake City
For those who think highly of these and other security measures, here is a food for thought:
About 30 years ago the American Consulate in Zagreb, Croatia, was located in
an old building in the center of the city. It featured a library on the
first floor where you can check out books and find out about schools in
the USA, among other things. Most remarkably, you could freely go in and out
of the building, as if you walked in and out of a coffee shop. There was absolutely
no security. Fast forward 20-30 years, the US Embassy is now located outside
the city in a double walled compound closely resembling your typical state
prison.
I do not know how and why has the USA become such a paranoid society but,
my friends, it does not look good.
KateWest
Leave it to "security experts" to turn the Constitution and Amendments upside down.
The 4th guarantees that a person and their personal effects shall be free of search or seizure unless a warrant signed by a judge issues.
Now, just being and American citizen, subjects one to automatic strip search, the image of your naked figure retained, your private parts handled, in any of at least 14 airports abroad.
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
Illegal, unconstitutional, in contradiction to all that we are as Americans, and hundreds of years of law and jurisprudence.
WalkerChicago, IL
The sun never sets on the American Empire.
Cave CanemWestern Civilization
There was a news story several years ago which described the reduction of foreign tourism to the U.S. was the result, in part, of the reception foreign nationals had received from the customs/Immigration officials who confront visitors when they arrive at American airports.
Talk about the cost of terrorism?
Steve DentelNewark,DE
Pay attention. This is not an Obama program; it was begun in 1986.
CedarglenUSA
In a perfect world, sure. I have my doubts about this foreign port examinaton program. Gun-toting U.S. officers on forighn soil is always going to be a sore spot. Do gate and baggage inspectors really need to be armed? Probably not. Next, let's look at the other side of the coin. Israel's its flag carrier, El Al are well known for their air transport security practices. How much do we allow them to do at U.S. ports of embarkation? Do we allow their officers to be armed? What about other nations of the First World? Do we - or would we permit Irish or Bitish officers to operate their own pre-flight security program, with or without armed officers, in our airports? I think not. If the U.S. has its own pre-boarding screening in operations in x-number of countries, how many of those same nations are allowed to operate a similar operation in U.S. airports? None to darn few as I understand it. WHIle most are probably not interested, I suspect that Department of State and others would refuse to grant such privlidges to any nation. They would have absolute fits trying to make it work. Still, DOS puts the squeeze on many nations to allow this sort of thing, but only on a unilateral basis. We probably have some bilateral arrangements with Canada that serve high-traffic crossing points and ports. but beyond that, I've never heard of it. And I don't think our government would tolerate anyone else's armed officers in our airports. So why the disconnect? What am I missing
Steve DentelNewark,DE
Take the logical and eventual extension of this, by combining with a government sanctioned stop and frisk policy from New York, and the claimed "right" of the U.S. military to apprehend a perceived enemy of the state anywhere in the world. Combine it with the diplomatic leverage of the U.S., and we'll have bands of U.S. soldiers roving in foreign cities arresting terrorists and tourists as they please, sanctioned by the local governments. Imagine how safe we would feel.
Adam WesleyIowa
I recently flew back to the U.S. from Madrid. I had to go through one of the additional security checks at Madrid's airport (after going through the standard security checks for all passengers.)
When I arrived in the U.S., at Dulles Airport, I had to go through yet another security check in order to make my connecting domestic flight.
3 separate, essentially identical security checks on one trip, without ever leaving a secure area.
I have never seen a bigger charade.
PBCA
A few years ago, flying back from Frankfurt, they confiscated and reprimanded me for having a nail clipper with a file in my carry on. This was at the extra security for US bound planes. Guess what they were selling in flight duty free shop. Yes , a manicure set with an extra large nail file. No wonder the TSA is hated.
And not every terrorist is foreign based. There is plenty of homegrown ones. Just waiting for similar screenings at the state borders to come up.
MichaelDunhamMorelia, MX
Here in Mexico, the security processes have been specified by the US and the inspectors have been trained by US personnel for some time. While there may be less reliance on technology, the searches are just as complete as they are at any US airport. I know because I was involved in the training for the rollout of the US airport security measures.
Regardless, we go back through the security gaunlet again when we reach the US. I really don't believe the US can deal with all the problems that placing security personnel in even the majority of foreign airports would bring up with host governments. I'm certain the cost would be very hard to justify. In effect, the US would be pushing the edge of its border to every foreign entry to the system. At some point, we have to be honest with the people using the airlines and say there is no perfect secuity. The attempts to make airline security appear "more perfect" are simply expensive security theater to make people feel safer.
bergamoitaly
FLAG
what kind of threats from al qaida? I am afraid it is only a matter of USA ubris, other countries' timidity and big bucks to be made. Obama could not have been a greater disappointment than he has been.
1 comment:
The imperial plutocracy is habituating its subjects to fascism.
Post a Comment