Brazil Says to Keep Fingerprinting U.S. Visitors

[DuctapeFatwa]

Brazil said on Saturday that it would continue fingerprinting and photographing U.S. visitors for at least 30 days in retaliation for new U.S. anti-terrorism controls.
The foreign ministry said in a statement that the government has approved a measure, to be published on Monday, that will keep the security system in place while a government panel reviews immigration rules.

"We respect and understand the United States' security problems, but we must find a solution that also respects the dignified treatment of citizens from all countries," Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim told reporters before meeting President Lula in Brasilia.

The United States on Jan. 5 started fingerprinting and photographing visitors including Brazilians who need visas to enter the country. It exempts citizens of 27 mainly European nations..

On Wednesday Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the Brazilian measures were discriminatory. "We are doing it for all individuals coming into the United States, whereas in this one case in Brazil a judge singled out Americans," Powell told reporters..

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/reuters20040110_183.html

[mbperrin]

1. As usual, Powell is a lying bastard.

28 countries are exempt in the US.

If this shit is NOT a good idea, why should WE do it?
If it's really making things better for us, why not for Brazil?

[shanti]

5. yes, mainly EUROPEAN countries!

and it IS RACIST!

[Laughing Mirror]

2. I hope Brazil does not stop after 30 days

But makes this a permanent policy, at least as long as the US keeps up its preposterous fearmongering. Nice to see the US get a dose of its own medicine, even if it's just symbolic.

Does Colin Powell ever even listen to the lies he spouts?

[Benhurst]

3. How to know when Colin Powell is lying:

Whenever his lips move.

[alcuno]

4. The Brazilian people WANT this! Heard last night that the papers

are full of letters from Brazilians who want this to continue because they are so angry with the United States.

[peacebuzzard]

6. my friend, this is the truth.....

Brazilians in general, on average and by an overwhelming majority, are disgusted with Bush and by the Americans who put up with him. You see, the pope and peace actually do mean something in that giant country in South America. War, invasions, arrogance and massacres do not sit well with this pasive nation. It is truly beyond their comprehension why such a hypocritical dumbass should be revered by so many. Just heard that song this evening by Toby Keith while grocery shopping at a farm store, where he sings about "a boot up their ass" or something like that and I was so sickened. Imagine how foreign nationals feel that have for so long eulogized this nation and to now see it in such an ugly state. Have you ever tried to clear immigrations coming in from overseas????Even as an american, you can still be subjected to grilling questions by disgruntled INS officers. The procedure needs to be in review in THIS country. I only have a US passport, but because of this or the other, even I have had on many occasions have had to bite my tongue just to clear the questions and get out of the questioning.:(

[Say_What]

10. Reuters also reported it...

<clips>

...POPULAR MOVE

Brazil's centre-left government does not want to ruin a good relationship with the United States over an issue on which Washington isn't likely to budge.

But nor does President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva seem eager to back down on controls that have proved popular. Brazilians have long needed a visa to visit the United States, but they had to jump through even more hoops after the September 11 attacks.

"There is a certain feeling of satisfaction, let's say, that the American tourists are being submitted to the same rigor as Brazilian tourists," said David Fleischer, a political analyst with the University of Brasilia.

Although Foreign Minister Celso Amorim told the U.S. ambassador to Brazil, Donna Hrinak, that he would work to speed up the process at airports, the ministry says it has yet to decide whether it will appeal the court order.


<http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=436586§ion=news>

[Solly Mack]

7. Oh, don't stop....

Keep doing it!

It's a good thing....and if Shrub Inc doesn't like it...fuck'em.

[Polemonium]

8. I hope other countries follow Brazil's example

Someone has got to stop the fear mongering

[Say_What]

9. Brazil wants OAS nations to be exempted from new US screening

Next week when SmirkBoy goes to Monterey, Mexico after pissing off Argentina, Venezuela (twice), Brazil, and Cuba all in one week ought to be interesting. Stay tuned. :-)

<clips>

Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim has urged US Secretary of State Colin Powell to exempt citizens of Brazil and other Organization of American States (OAS) countries from the air travel security checks that his government considers abusive.

The Foreign Ministry conformed that Powell and Amorim spoke over the phone about the controversial US-VISIT program, under which incoming visitors from most countries are to be fingerprinted and photographed on arrival in the United States.

Last week, a Brazilian judge ordered customs agents to apply the same measures to US nationals entering Brazil in what was seen as tit-for-tat retaliation for the move that has angered people in many of the affected countries such as Brazil.

Foreign Ministry officials said that Powell told Amorim the United States was disappointed by Brazil's retalitory move, and the minister replied that his government was willing to cooperate in reaching a fair, reciprocal and satisfactory solution.

http://www.falkland-malvinas.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=3095