USA to foreign tourists: We want you here . . . but on our terms

[Andaman Al]

People are frequently asked about previous travels when entering the US (as well as other countries). Usually the reason is because of contagious diseases.

But I think ISIS is a contagious disease !

Funny how Iran is on the list, and Saudi Arabia isn't.

Number of terrorist attacks on American soil performed by Iranians: Zero

Number of terrorist attacks on American soil performed by Saudi Arabians: Remember 9/11?

Simple solution: Never visit the USA. Iran seems like a much friendlier option.

By all means, please go to Iran and do not come to the USA.

Iran the friendly option...how funny...their favorite past time is carrying banners and chanting "Death to America".

Apparently you were too young to remember the Iran Hostage Crisis.

And I guess you are too young to remember the reasons for the Iran hostage crisis

[Coyoti]

I don't think it is unreasonable to require that people from Visa Waiver countries undergo a bit extra scrutiny if they have traveled to a country with a substantial ISIS, Al-qaeda, etc, presence. If anything, the list of those countries requiring this should be expanded (Yemen?). The Visa Waiver Program's "pre-screening" is not very comprehensive and is done online via the Electronic System for Travel Authorizattion. It's not like the 30 day visa exemption in Thailand where you just show up at Immigration. If the US wants to do something they feel is improving security, even at the expense of some tourist inconvenience, I support it.

It's easy to see why Thailand isn't designated as a Visa Waiver Program Member, as it requires "maintenance of high counterterrorism, law enforcement, border control, and document security standards".

Source: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit/visa-waiver-program.html#ESTA

BTW, Scott: The drinking age was 18 for "3.2" beer in Colorado when I was there in the 60's.

[tartempion]

I have probably visited the USA 20x in my younger years.

Last time was 2012 for a few hours traveling by car via Montreal.

I was kept under shot for 30 minutes by a highly armed officer, who was replaced by an equally alert female officer after 15 minutes. I guess their attention reduces after that amount of time.

I felt so welcome I will never return to the USA.

Still have a short list of other places to visit.

Edited December 21, 2015 by tartempion

[chuckd]

Funny how Iran is on the list, and Saudi Arabia isn't.

Number of terrorist attacks on American soil performed by Iranians: Zero

Number of terrorist attacks on American soil performed by Saudi Arabians: Remember 9/11?

Simple solution: Never visit the USA. Iran seems like a much friendlier option.

By all means, please go to Iran and do not come to the USA.

Iran the friendly option...how funny...their favorite past time is carrying banners and chanting "Death to America".

Apparently you were too young to remember the Iran Hostage Crisis.

... and you are too young to remember why they hated Americans? Remember 1953? They had a very popular, democratically elected prime minister until then.

I worked and lived in Iran nearly five years, departing when the Ayatollah returned and told the US we were no longer welcome in Iran.

During my time there, I met thousands of Iranians casually and knew a number of them quite well.

Not one single Iranian mentioned Mohammed Mossadegh to me during the time I was there.

The reason some Iranians hate the US is because that is who the various Ayatollahs have told them to hate. Nothing more and nothing less.

The Embassy was taken over by the Revolutionary Guard because they could...and an Ayatollah told them to do so.

If you have personal experience to the contrary, please let us know.

[lostboy]

Funny how Iran is on the list, and Saudi Arabia isn't.

Number of terrorist attacks on American soil performed by Iranians: Zero

Number of terrorist attacks on American soil performed by Saudi Arabians: Remember 9/11?

Simple solution: Never visit the USA. Iran seems like a much friendlier option.

By all means, please go to Iran and do not come to the USA.

Iran the friendly option...how funny...their favorite past time is carrying banners and chanting "Death to America".

Apparently you were too young to remember the Iran Hostage Crisis.

... and you are too young to remember why they hated Americans? Remember 1953? They had a very popular, democratically elected prime minister until then.

I worked and lived in Iran nearly five years, departing when the Ayatollah returned and told the US we were no longer welcome in Iran.

During my time there, I met thousands of Iranians casually and knew a number of them quite well.

Not one single Iranian mentioned Mohammed Mossadegh to me during the time I was there.

The reason some Iranians hate the US is because that is who the various Ayatollahs have told them to hate. Nothing more and nothing less.

The Embassy was taken over by the Revolutionary Guard because they could...and an Ayatollah told them to do so.

If you have personal experience to the contrary, please let us know.

I know you have intimated that only those with personal experience should contradict you but I have not yet visited Iran and so cannot qualify.

However, I would venture to suggest that the reason no-one talked to you about their political views was one word - SAVAK. I have not yet reached your advanced years but I am old enough to remember the reports of the activities Iranian intelligence agency in support of the US backed Shah. In the 70's it was a by-word for terror. Even surpassing the stories of the Stasi and KGB and others.

I did enjoy the James Clavell book 'Whirlwind' published in 1986 but set in the Iran of 1979, contemporaneous to you. I would be interested to know if you believe his fictional account was accurate or not. It is, however, the closest I got to Iran in the 70's apart from reading the news coming through the telegraph in far off Australia.

It seems like Iranian history before 1979 no longer exists for Americans. A pity. We can now see the results of that point of view.

[arjunadawn]

This byline is much ado about nothing. Every country only wants people on their terms. America is at the point now that any effort to exert an intelligent defense of its destruction is met with derision. "America... but on our terms..." This OP is as stupid as the US is defenseless.

[Blackfish64]

This byline is much ado about nothing. Every country only wants people on their terms. America is at the point now that any effort to exert an intelligent defense of its destruction is met with derision. "America... but on our terms..." This OP is as stupid as the US is defenseless.

You do make a startlingly accurate point here.

I'm an American in Thailand. I've been hassled by immigration officers, locals, cops, and racist Thai who don't like "farang," etc. They want things on their terms, too. Of course. Who does not?

[Chicog]

Have no problem flying into LAX next June instead of trying to creep across the border.

And it's perfectly reasonable for them to extend the checks if you ask me, they already have my ESTA details so they can do it any time between now and then (I assume they are going to review already approved ESTA's since they are valid for two years from date of issue).

Edited December 21, 2015 by Chicog

[ggt]

I enjoyed all my trips to the US and found the Americans to be great and friendly hosts. Such a pity their government has gone fascist and is destroying their economy, glad I went there it in the good days.

The world has changed since you were a tourist in the US...the US is being forced into a defensive position by people who would import terrorism, kill innocent citizens, and destroy America's way of life...

This is unchartered territory for US leaders and to error on the side of caution...is not an error at all but a prudent position in face of reality...

This is not fascism and people like yourself who stay home will not hurt or destroy the US economy...IMHO

[midas]

Getting a visa to the US has never been a particularly easy process. The same is true of a lot of countries.

For many years, inbound flights from overseas are required to submit the passenger manifest before the plane leaves the ground, so make no mistake, they are already aware of who is arriving long before you queue for immigration. If you have nothing to hide and aren't on any type of a watch list, you should have no problem.

As far as going through certain Muslim countries, yes it can be a problem. I left Iraq bound for a meeting in Washington, D.C., I flew out of Diyabakir, E. Turkey to Istanbul. I transited through Heathrow in London, but was pulled over for special screening and missed my flight. I had to catch a later one. Even though I was only transiting Heathrow, I was temporarily detained. My computer was searched as were my bags and I was questioned in relative depth about where I had been, what I was doing there etc..

If security people have any reason to suspect anything, you can expect to have a few inconveniences.

"so make no mistake, they are already aware of who is arriving long before you queue for immigration "

when I was face-to-face with the border patrol agent at Los Angeles airport he asked me and which passport would you be using today? your Australian passport or your British passport ?

[arjunadawn]

This byline is much ado about nothing. Every country only wants people on their terms. America is at the point now that any effort to exert an intelligent defense of its destruction is met with derision. "America... but on our terms..." This OP is as stupid as the US is defenseless.

You do make a startlingly accurate point here.

I'm an American in Thailand. I've been hassled by immigration officers, locals, cops, and racist Thai who don't like "farang," etc. They want things on their terms, too. Of course. Who does not?

There is a phenomena of unearned expectations sweeping the entire world. It is a natural byproduct of the Liberal Western goal of equality in outcomes, not equality in opportunity. This phenomena is leveraged upon others by guilt, pejorative, social boycott, and demands for unearned due as if the demands were self evident; it is being utterly rammed down America's throat irrespective of the people's demands. Thus, those disparate groups and individuals all demanding the fruits of other's labors are in essence crippling every aspect of the polity and governance. This good is being inflicted upon the masses in a concerted, Machiavellian manner. Crippling the borders enables the wooden horses.

America, being the poster child for the slide into Western Socialism, and the biggest kid on the block, best exemplifies all the unintended consequences of its race to the liberal bottom (However, EU ably illustrates this bankruptcy of reason as well). From the universities to the FBI, from State and Federal government hiring practices, to the IRS tax code, winners and losers are now chosen every time based solely on multiculturalism engineering and preferred constituency. The end result of this is the realization that simply demanding "stuff" results in the likely obtaining of "stuff." Therefore, there is now no end to the demands and protests sweeping the US. It is actually an ugly, disgusting stain on the citizens that they participate in their own abuse. "Restricting the borders is bad because... because... we feel." "Feeling" is the modus operandi of America's Winter.

This thinking now infects the entire US policy machine, and is evident here in the "hostage taking" regarding the outrageous notion that the US would dare enact self preservation mechanisms toward a rationale immigration/border policy. A relation to this can be noted in Trump's statement that "muslims should be banned." I don't comment one way or the other on that volatile point but opponents offer the outrage that it is unconstitutional; of course it is not. In fact, there is actually no policy offerings to enact sensible rules for protecting Americans that is not now met with overwhelming derision, outright lies, protests, PC groups leveraging accusations, guilt, etc., to stifle America's self defense.

The issue of the OP is just not isolated. It is part of the same constellation of signs and symptoms of a nation self destructing. The most unfortunate aspect is that once America is deconstructed the individual parts or even collective whole of what seems to be replacing it (a hybrid socialist fascist corporatocracy) have not one redeemable characteristic.

[chuckd]

... and you are too young to remember why they hated Americans? Remember 1953? They had a very popular, democratically elected prime minister until then.

I worked and lived in Iran nearly five years, departing when the Ayatollah returned and told the US we were no longer welcome in Iran.

During my time there, I met thousands of Iranians casually and knew a number of them quite well.

Not one single Iranian mentioned Mohammed Mossadegh to me during the time I was there.

The reason some Iranians hate the US is because that is who the various Ayatollahs have told them to hate. Nothing more and nothing less.

The Embassy was taken over by the Revolutionary Guard because they could...and an Ayatollah told them to do so.

If you have personal experience to the contrary, please let us know.

I know you have intimated that only those with personal experience should contradict you but I have not yet visited Iran and so cannot qualify.

However, I would venture to suggest that the reason no-one talked to you about their political views was one word - SAVAK. I have not yet reached your advanced years but I am old enough to remember the reports of the activities Iranian intelligence agency in support of the US backed Shah. In the 70's it was a by-word for terror. Even surpassing the stories of the Stasi and KGB and others.

I did enjoy the James Clavell book 'Whirlwind' published in 1986 but set in the Iran of 1979, contemporaneous to you. I would be interested to know if you believe his fictional account was accurate or not. It is, however, the closest I got to Iran in the 70's apart from reading the news coming through the telegraph in far off Australia.

It seems like Iranian history before 1979 no longer exists for Americans. A pity. We can now see the results of that point of view.

SAVAK was everywhere in Iran back then. After the Ayatollah arrived, the Mullahs murdered the leaders, changed the name to SAVAMA and continued business as usual.

Where did I say nobody talked about their political views? You presume too much.

We discussed many topics that might have been considered controversial. SAVAK supported the Shah, most Americans supported the Shah and most middle class Iranians supported the Shah. The street people down south were not so supportive as they were the Islamic radicals. Some of them suffered the wrath of SAVAK.

I recall reading Clavell's book. It was based on fact but I was not involved with the operation so whether it was factually true or not, I cannot say. I do know somebody that might have been involved in the flights. Maybe I'll give him a call and see.

I don't know where you are coming up with this patently ridiculous idea.

"It seems like Iranian history before 1979 no longer exists for Americans."

Now we are adrift of the thread topic. If you want to keep baiting my posts, find an appropriate thread.

[Chicog]

Getting a visa to the US has never been a particularly easy process. The same is true of a lot of countries.

For many years, inbound flights from overseas are required to submit the passenger manifest before the plane leaves the ground, so make no mistake, they are already aware of who is arriving long before you queue for immigration. If you have nothing to hide and aren't on any type of a watch list, you should have no problem.

As far as going through certain Muslim countries, yes it can be a problem. I left Iraq bound for a meeting in Washington, D.C., I flew out of Diyabakir, E. Turkey to Istanbul. I transited through Heathrow in London, but was pulled over for special screening and missed my flight. I had to catch a later one. Even though I was only transiting Heathrow, I was temporarily detained. My computer was searched as were my bags and I was questioned in relative depth about where I had been, what I was doing there etc..

If security people have any reason to suspect anything, you can expect to have a few inconveniences.

"so make no mistake, they are already aware of who is arriving long before you queue for immigration "

when I was face-to-face with the border patrol agent at Los Angeles airport he asked me and which passport would you be using today? your Australian passport or your British passport ?

I take it that was a long time ago then, because on your ESTA application you have to enter your passport details.

[JHolmesJr]

They just took trumps idea and applied some sanitiser on it...a person can get radicalised anywhere....india, pakistan....what about muzzlim citizens of europe?

Rubbish policy.

[lostboy]

There is a phenomena of unearned expectations sweeping the entire world. It is a natural byproduct of the Liberal Western goal of equality in outcomes, not equality in opportunity. This phenomena is leveraged upon others by guilt, pejorative, social boycott, and demands for unearned due as if the demands were self evident; it is being utterly rammed down America's throat irrespective of the people's demands. Thus, those disparate groups and individuals all demanding the fruits of other's labors are in essence crippling every aspect of the polity and governance. This good is being inflicted upon the masses in a concerted, Machiavellian manner. Crippling the borders enables the wooden horses.

America, being the poster child for the slide into Western Socialism, and the biggest kid on the block, best exemplifies all the unintended consequences of its race to the liberal bottom (However, EU ably illustrates this bankruptcy of reason as well). From the universities to the FBI, from State and Federal government hiring practices, to the IRS tax code, winners and losers are now chosen every time based solely on multiculturalism engineering and preferred constituency. The end result of this is the realization that simply demanding "stuff" results in the likely obtaining of "stuff." Therefore, there is now no end to the demands and protests sweeping the US. It is actually an ugly, disgusting stain on the citizens that they participate in their own abuse. "Restricting the borders is bad because... because... we feel." "Feeling" is the modus operandi of America's Winter.

This thinking now infects the entire US policy machine, and is evident here in the "hostage taking" regarding the outrageous notion that the US would dare enact self preservation mechanisms toward a rationale immigration/border policy. A relation to this can be noted in Trump's statement that "muslims should be banned." I don't comment one way or the other on that volatile point but opponents offer the outrage that it is unconstitutional; of course it is not. In fact, there is actually no policy offerings to enact sensible rules for protecting Americans that is not now met with overwhelming derision, outright lies, protests, PC groups leveraging accusations, guilt, etc., to stifle America's self defense.

The issue of the OP is just not isolated. It is part of the same constellation of signs and symptoms of a nation self destructing. The most unfortunate aspect is that once America is deconstructed the individual parts or even collective whole of what seems to be replacing it (a hybrid socialist fascist corporatocracy) have not one redeemable characteristic.

Not one redeemable characteristic. Not so, such an American will finally achieve social justice.

Your uncompromisingly harsh ideology of an individual's duty to maximise their opportunity in a non existent utopia where those opportunities are never equal is straight from the evangelical Puritan preachers of the 17th and 18th Centuries who believed that God's salvation is only bestowed those who work hard and achieve great works.

Your zeal is as intense as that of a zealot in any religion but your religion seems to be Hoover-esque 'rugged individualism' of times gone past. It makes sense that your apocalyptic vision is so catastrophic because to such a zealot, any revisionism in the polity towards social justice must seem like the 'end of days'. Well, it is probably the end of your days and your "America" will be transformed into something unrecognisable to the wannabe yeoman farmer politicians of yesteryear.

Personally I don't think you need to fear a society that strives for social justice; that aims for equality of outcomes. Such a society recognises that there is never any equality of opportunity. Elites always capture and control the channels and instruments of power and the wealth that accompanies this power. The Ivy League. The Greek Fraternities and Sororities. Inherited wealth. The Old Boy Network. All of that. You have correctly identified that many countries in Europe strive for equality of outcomes. Education through tertiary level is free in Germany. Finland is giving Euro 800 a month to all its citizens. The UK and other countries have a nationalised health care system. Some experiments work. Some don't. But American Exceptionalism keeps America as an exception. I blame the Puritans, in part. They infested the culture with this Work Ethic thing that has become harshly inhuman and inhumane in the American polity.

It is natural for old men to feel afraid of new things. You don't need to worry. American socialism will not result in guillotines being erected in Washington DC's equivalent to the Place de la Concorde. It will be a slow and tortuous process given the self interest of the rich, white families that have controlled American for so long.

I now see you with a beard. In the manner of John Cotton the Puritan Minister. Your writings against socialism make sense to me when I do that.

In any case, I really don't think that your anticipated socialist doomsday will be expedited by lose visa controls on foreign tourists. Being a frequent user of the ESTA visa waiver program, I really can't see how this may be contributing to the slide into Western Socialism.

[Richard W]

People are frequently asked about previous travels when entering the US (as well as other countries). Usually the reason is because of contagious diseases.

I specially like the question about "Are you a member of a terrorist organisation?"

I often imagine how difficult that question must be for an Al Khaida operative to answer. Must be a lot of soul-searching for them.....

That sort of question is usually only a problem if one has a problem with lying. An active al-Qaeda operative can probably lie with a clean conscience.

When the definition of terrorism is cast extremely wide, e.g. so as to include most rebels, then the terrorism-related questions become extremely difficult.

[Blackfish64]

There is a phenomena of unearned expectations sweeping the entire world. It is a natural byproduct of the Liberal Western goal of equality in outcomes, not equality in opportunity. This phenomena is leveraged upon others by guilt, pejorative, social boycott, and demands for unearned due as if the demands were self evident; it is being utterly rammed down America's throat irrespective of the people's demands. Thus, those disparate groups and individuals all demanding the fruits of other's labors are in essence crippling every aspect of the polity and governance. This good is being inflicted upon the masses in a concerted, Machiavellian manner. Crippling the borders enables the wooden horses.

America, being the poster child for the slide into Western Socialism, and the biggest kid on the block, best exemplifies all the unintended consequences of its race to the liberal bottom (However, EU ably illustrates this bankruptcy of reason as well). From the universities to the FBI, from State and Federal government hiring practices, to the IRS tax code, winners and losers are now chosen every time based solely on multiculturalism engineering and preferred constituency. The end result of this is the realization that simply demanding "stuff" results in the likely obtaining of "stuff." Therefore, there is now no end to the demands and protests sweeping the US. It is actually an ugly, disgusting stain on the citizens that they participate in their own abuse. "Restricting the borders is bad because... because... we feel." "Feeling" is the modus operandi of America's Winter.

This thinking now infects the entire US policy machine, and is evident here in the "hostage taking" regarding the outrageous notion that the US would dare enact self preservation mechanisms toward a rationale immigration/border policy. A relation to this can be noted in Trump's statement that "muslims should be banned." I don't comment one way or the other on that volatile point but opponents offer the outrage that it is unconstitutional; of course it is not. In fact, there is actually no policy offerings to enact sensible rules for protecting Americans that is not now met with overwhelming derision, outright lies, protests, PC groups leveraging accusations, guilt, etc., to stifle America's self defense.

The issue of the OP is just not isolated. It is part of the same constellation of signs and symptoms of a nation self destructing. The most unfortunate aspect is that once America is deconstructed the individual parts or even collective whole of what seems to be replacing it (a hybrid socialist fascist corporatocracy) have not one redeemable characteristic.

Not one redeemable characteristic. Not so, such an American will finally achieve social justice.

Your uncompromisingly harsh ideology of an individual's duty to maximise their opportunity in a non existent utopia where those opportunities are never equal is straight from the evangelical Puritan preachers of the 17th and 18th Centuries who believed that God's salvation is only bestowed those who work hard and achieve great works.

Your zeal is as intense as that of a zealot in any religion but your religion seems to be Hoover-esque 'rugged individualism' of times gone past. It makes sense that your apocalyptic vision is so catastrophic because to such a zealot, any revisionism in the polity towards social justice must seem like the 'end of days'. Well, it is probably the end of your days and your "America" will be transformed into something unrecognisable to the wannabe yeoman farmer politicians of yesteryear.

Personally I don't think you need to fear a society that strives for social justice; that aims for equality of outcomes. Such a society recognises that there is never any equality of opportunity. Elites always capture and control the channels and instruments of power and the wealth that accompanies this power. The Ivy League. The Greek Fraternities and Sororities. Inherited wealth. The Old Boy Network. All of that. You have correctly identified that many countries in Europe strive for equality of outcomes. Education through tertiary level is free in Germany. Finland is giving Euro 800 a month to all its citizens. The UK and other countries have a nationalised health care system. Some experiments work. Some don't. But American Exceptionalism keeps America as an exception. I blame the Puritans, in part. They infested the culture with this Work Ethic thing that has become harshly inhuman and inhumane in the American polity.

It is natural for old men to feel afraid of new things. You don't need to worry. American socialism will not result in guillotines being erected in Washington DC's equivalent to the Place de la Concorde. It will be a slow and tortuous process given the self interest of the rich, white families that have controlled American for so long.

I now see you with a beard. In the manner of John Cotton the Puritan Minister. Your writings against socialism make sense to me when I do that.

In any case, I really don't think that your anticipated socialist doomsday will be expedited by lose visa controls on foreign tourists. Being a frequent user of the ESTA visa waiver program, I really can't see how this may be contributing to the slide into Western Socialism.

The State (all of them, all through history, no exceptions), has always slid into bankruptcy in every conceivable manner and has taken the people, their only hope and lifeline, down with it. Then they resurrect a new State (it's nothing new--it's the same as the old), and keep right on going in the same manner as before with absolutely no lesson learned, with absolutely no regard for history and where they had just come from. And they will run this new State into the ground as well. And so it goes through the ages.

Young people are always sucked into believing stupidity, like socialism. Usually stemming from their fresh indoctrination at some university or another. They think they're on to something new and exciting. They think they will change the world and alleviate all suffering. But it's just the same old drivel. I have to chuckle. It only stands to reason. They have nothing, especially experience, that could tell them otherwise. The youngsters on the the left in the universities are literally no different than the ones on the right who run off to join the army and the Republican party. They are all part of the same killing machine, the same meat grinder, the same self-doubt, the same inner void, which no amount of erudition and/or killing can ever fill. We know this to be true because no one in their right mind would ever in a million years fall for any of this trash.

People are morose and lazy. So long as there are plenty of ignorant chimpanzees running around ready to follow fool orders and spread their dis-ease there will be no shortage of suffering for this species.

Nothing new under the sun. Same old, same old.

[GOLDBUGGY]

I don't know the best way to handle this. Many countries require a Visa no matter where you come from. But then they are also low on the tourist list of places to go to as well. I personally try to avoid going to the USA even on a stop over to go to Canada because of all the added security and never feeling 100% confident all will go well.

Can you handle Terrorism like you can Illegal Drugs? By trying to stop it at the border? You may stop some but not all. There is also far more drug traffickers trying to sneak illegal drugs into the USA then there are Terrorist, with clean suit cases, smiling faces, and with Student Visas. So just on the virtue of Odds, you are bond to catch fewer of them, yet check as many people and as you would for drugs.

But the big difference with Illegal Drugs is that outside of Laboratory Conditions, you can't grow the Coca Plant in the USA to make Cocaine, or the Opium Poppy to make Heroin, So Illegal Drugs in the USA is not Home Grown. So technically if you reduce the amount of drugs entering the country you can reduce the usage of the drug. Even if it is by the Law of Economics of Supply and Demand, where with a lower supply the price goes up so high it lessens the demand.

But Terrorism can be Home Grown and although this hasn't been big problem yet in the USA it will be interesting to see if it becomes one. Especially if they are successful in preventing Terrorist from entering the country. Look at all the Cults that started in the USA like the Jim Jones Cult or the Doomsday Cult, or even Charles Manson Cult where one of his followers tried to assassinate the President of the United States. These groups can run between 10 or 20 people or in the thousands. So who knows what new group could be Home Grown there.

I sort of like the idea Saudi Arabia has. To form its on group of alliances with other Arab Countries to fight Terrorism. Maybe it is time to step back, get out, and let the Muslims fight other Muslims to solve this problem. They probably won't solve it but at lease we are not involved which seems to be mostly there conflict. Just sell arms to the Good Guys and let the Russian sell arms to the Bad Guy, and make money just like the good old days.

As I said I don't know the best way to handle this except to say that if you invite a fight in your own backyard with people like this, you are going to get one. From Lessons Learned near the end of WWII the USA should know that it is very difficult to stop a enemy pilot who is driving his airplane into your ship loaded only with bombs and fuel. The Japanese "Kamikaze Pilot", where 3,860 gave up there life in a losing war, but led to believe there death was for a strong cause.

So if you cannot stop a big target like and airplane, with guns pointed at it and shooting at a pilot willing to give up his life for a "Cause", you are not going to stop a Teenage Girl led astray with a bomb strapped to her body inside of a busy Shopping Mall either.

Just Saying!

[GOLDBUGGY]

DHS never investigates immigrant applications for gaps in information. The San Bernardino couple never provided proof that they actually had met prior to the wife applying for her visa. The fiance visa application was a scam. DHS needs to profile all visa applicants, whether education, work, fiance, or family, and then strictly scrutinize anyone who has ever visited a Muslim country.

So, Jack The Aussie, who did his border run to Malaysia last month and spent a whole 5 minutes in the country, but otherwise lives in Thailand needs to be scrutinised closer?

There are also many American Oil and Oil Construction Companies who have business interests in many Muslim Countries, and thus have many workers there. Plus many other industries to boot. This also includes Canada, the UK, Europe and Australia.Plus the many people who go to countries like Malaysia or Bali in Indonesia on Vacation.

In short that is one hell of a lot of people to strictly scrutinize. It would probably be easier to scrutinize everyone then digging through a huge pile and separating the so many from the far too many. I am not against your idea. I just don't think it is very feasible.

[Scott]

DHS never investigates immigrant applications for gaps in information. The San Bernardino couple never provided proof that they actually had met prior to the wife applying for her visa. The fiance visa application was a scam. DHS needs to profile all visa applicants, whether education, work, fiance, or family, and then strictly scrutinize anyone who has ever visited a Muslim country.

So, Jack The Aussie, who did his border run to Malaysia last month and spent a whole 5 minutes in the country, but otherwise lives in Thailand needs to be scrutinised closer?

There are also many American Oil and Oil Construction Companies who have business interests in many Muslim Countries, and thus have many workers there. Plus many other industries to boot. This also includes Canada, the UK, Europe and Australia.Plus the many people who go to countries like Malaysia or Bali in Indonesia on Vacation.

In short that is one hell of a lot of people to strictly scrutinize. It would probably be easier to scrutinize everyone then digging through a huge pile and separating the so many from the far too many. I am not against your idea. I just don't think it is very feasible.

U.S. Citizens do not require a visa to return to their home country. Any additional scrutiny will be based on some other criteria.

[Ireland32]

I don't know the best way to handle this. Many countries require a Visa no matter where you come from. But then they are also low on the tourist list of places to go to as well. I personally try to avoid going to the USA even on a stop over to go to Canada because of all the added security and never feeling 100% confident all will go well.

Can you handle Terrorism like you can Illegal Drugs? By trying to stop it at the border? You may stop some but not all. There is also far more drug traffickers trying to sneak illegal drugs into the USA then there are Terrorist, with clean suit cases, smiling faces, and with Student Visas. So just on the virtue of Odds, you are bond to catch fewer of them, yet check as many people and as you would for drugs.

But the big difference with Illegal Drugs is that outside of Laboratory Conditions, you can't grow the Coca Plant in the USA to make Cocaine, or the Opium Poppy to make Heroin, So Illegal Drugs in the USA is not Home Grown. So technically if you reduce the amount of drugs entering the country you can reduce the usage of the drug. Even if it is by the Law of Economics of Supply and Demand, where with a lower supply the price goes up so high it lessens the demand.

But Terrorism can be Home Grown and although this hasn't been big problem yet in the USA it will be interesting to see if it becomes one. Especially if they are successful in preventing Terrorist from entering the country. Look at all the Cults that started in the USA like the Jim Jones Cult or the Doomsday Cult, or even Charles Manson Cult where one of his followers tried to assassinate the President of the United States. These groups can run between 10 or 20 people or in the thousands. So who knows what new group could be Home Grown there.

I sort of like the idea Saudi Arabia has. To form its on group of alliances with other Arab Countries to fight Terrorism. Maybe it is time to step back, get out, and let the Muslims fight other Muslims to solve this problem. They probably won't solve it but at lease we are not involved which seems to be mostly there conflict. Just sell arms to the Good Guys and let the Russian sell arms to the Bad Guy, and make money just like the good old days.

As I said I don't know the best way to handle this except to say that if you invite a fight in your own backyard with people like this, you are going to get one. From Lessons Learned near the end of WWII the USA should know that it is very difficult to stop a enemy pilot who is driving his airplane into your ship loaded only with bombs and fuel. The Japanese "Kamikaze Pilot", where 3,860 gave up there life in a losing war, but led to believe there death was for a strong cause.

So if you cannot stop a big target like and airplane, with guns pointed at it and shooting at a pilot willing to give up his life for a "Cause", you are not going to stop a Teenage Girl led astray with a bomb strapped to her body inside of a busy Shopping Mall either.

Just Saying!

. How about all the Security at Vancouver, the Worst airport for Customs and Immigration...

[Richard W]

The opening post does not reference the full story. It's not just those who have visited Iran, Iraq, Syria or Sudan in the past five years who can't use the visa waiver system. It also applies to citizens of those countries. See Iranian dual citizens fight new US visa rules for more information. Syrian and Iranian nationality are especially difficult to renounce.

[harrry]

Funny how Iran is on the list, and Saudi Arabia isn't.

Number of terrorist attacks on American soil performed by Iranians: Zero

Number of terrorist attacks on American soil performed by Saudi Arabians: Remember 9/11?

Simple solution: Never visit the USA. Iran seems like a much friendlier option.

By all means, please go to Iran and do not come to the USA.

Iran the friendly option...how funny...their favorite past time is carrying banners and chanting "Death to America".

Apparently you were too young to remember the Iran Hostage Crisis.

I am not and I travelled through Iran just after it.

A very friendly country and people. They made a distinction between hatred of the US government and the US people.

[OMGImInPattaya]

People are frequently asked about previous travels when entering the US (as well as other countries). Usually the reason is because of contagious diseases.

Too bad religious belief isn't on the list...I guess mental illnesses don't count. Edited December 23, 2015 by OMGImInPattaya

[OMGImInPattaya]

DHS never investigates immigrant applications for gaps in information. The San Bernardino couple never provided proof that they actually had met prior to the wife applying for her visa. The fiance visa application was a scam. DHS needs to profile all visa applicants, whether education, work, fiance, or family, and then strictly scrutinize anyone who has ever visited a Muslim country.

So, Jack The Aussie, who did his border run to Malaysia last month and spent a whole 5 minutes in the country, but otherwise lives in Thailand needs to be scrutinised closer?

Yeah...some of the 9-11 plotting was done in Kuala Lumpur.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Funny how Iran is on the list, and Saudi Arabia isn't.

Number of terrorist attacks on American soil performed by Iranians: Zero

Number of terrorist attacks on American soil performed by Saudi Arabians: Remember 9/11?

Simple solution: Never visit the USA. Iran seems like a much friendlier option.

The American Zionist lobby sought the inclusion but I with you...it makes no sense.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Funny how Iran is on the list, and Saudi Arabia isn't.

Number of terrorist attacks on American soil performed by Iranians: Zero

Number of terrorist attacks on American soil performed by Saudi Arabians: Remember 9/11?

Simple solution: Never visit the USA. Iran seems like a much friendlier option.

Please note that the program is for those under the Visa Waiver Program. Iranians are not covered under that program and must secure a visa before entering, which means they are subject to various types of screening before entering the country.

Saudi citizens require a visa before entering the US.

He was referring to the list of countries if a visa-waiver citizen had visited they will need a visa before entering the United States.

[OMGImInPattaya]

I see the US authorities have stopped an extended family of 10 or so British muslims from traveling to the US for a porported holiday. They were pulled out of line e at Heathrow despite having their ETDs in hand. Good to see the border security folks are on the ball.