U.S. expresses concern after Indian ambassador patted down in Mississippi

2010-12-10 12:18:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEW) — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday expressed concern after Indian ambassador Meera Shannkar was patted down at a Mississippi airport over the weekend.

"We obviously are concerned about it," said Clinton, said regarding the incident. Shankar, 60, was selected by a Jackson-Evers International Airport Transport Security Administration officer on Saturday to be patted down in Jackson, Mississippi.

"The U.S. Department of State has reached out to the ambassador and has regretted what all happened," said Indian embassy spokesperson Virendar Paul.

However, Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna said they were planning to take the incident up with the U.S. government. "I hope that things could be resolved so that such unpleasant incidents do not recur," Krishna said as the pat-down was Shankar's second in the past three months.

Meanwhile, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said it was a pat-down that followed procedures. "I think it was appropriate under the circumstances," Napolitano said, adding that it was done "by the book."

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-12-10

1) If you have a system you apply it to everyone equally, plebs, ambassadors, Obama, the Queen... everyone.

2) The most meddlesome security I have ever been through (given that I avoid places like Afghanistan, Australia, Israel and Area 51 etc.) was at New Delhi airport - I would have thought a good rummage through his 'junk' would have made the Indian Ambassador feel right at home...

That's not half what happened to grandma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Qdb6wC0Iz4