Brazil Judge Blocks Fingerprinting Rule

[Judi Lynn]

Brazil Judge Blocks Fingerprinting Rule
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: January 12, 2004


Filed at 4:34 p.m. ET

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) -- A federal judge ordered a halt to fingerprinting all U.S. visitors to Rio de Janeiro, a requirement that was imposed in response to anti-terror steps in the United States, a court official said Monday.

Later Monday, the government issued an executive order saying the requirement would remain in place for 30 days while an inter-ministerial group studied the issue.

It was not immediately clear which measure took precedence. Even government lawyers had differing opinions over whether the judge's order or the government decree took precedence. (snip)

U.S. officials have called the Brazilian response discriminatory because it singles out Americans. Brazilian officials have cited the diplomatic principal of reciprocity in justifying the action.
(snip/...)

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Brazil-US-Fingerprinting.html

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So now Bush can get to Brazilian federal judges?

[loudnclear]

1. I would examine who this judge really is

US money reaches far and wide.

[peacebuzzard]

2. there will be lots of backlashes on this one....

there just has to come a time when the INS, TSA, Security Officers, and Concourse Supervisors in the USA realize that alot or most of these procedures are a grand waste of time for 98% of the travelling public. Here in the states we need to streamline our domestic procedures as well as the international, and quit with the humiliating process and questioning of the frequent legit traveler who makes up probably 80% of the bulk of travelers. Spend time and search those that have not passed prior scrutiny. I think by an overwhelming majority that most people would spend the extra time and money on requirements necessary prior to embarking on any trip, especially an international one, to make sure their documents are in order, in order to enter and exit international check points (and domestic) without all this hassle. As far as the Brazilian reaction, do you blame them? As anyone who has suffered humiliation in any degree at any security check point here or overseas, it is especially unpleasant if you have a language barrier.

[peacebuzzard]

3. an inside look at Americans stuck in lines in Rio airport....

I just got off the phone with my friend who had flown to Rio on the exact day they started the fingerprinting and registration process of Americans exclusively. They spent the entire nine hours in small sweaty rooms full of other Americans who had already endured the 11 hour journey to Rio. (nine hours to Sao Paulo and then the connection flight to Rio) ON top of flight time, they spent an additional nine hours with no food or beverages, not even water! They were confined to individual rooms by flight numbers and were allowed to go to the bathroom only. :-( At one point a rep from the US consulate was walking around with a legal pad taking notes on something or other and my friend noted several exasperated and irate American tourists including one proclaimed journalist. Anyways, a f*&^up day to fly to Rio....:(

[cprise]

4. Imagine how traveling Brazillians feel

.

[Nihil]

5. ... but not from those people

> there just has to come a time when the INS, TSA, Security Officers,
> and Concourse Supervisors in the USA realize that alot or most of
> these procedures are a grand waste of time for 98% of the
> travelling public.

The groups you've named above take no harm from the pointless paranoia
and, in many cases, directly benefit from it in terms of job security.
How much does some TSA slob care about "furriners" having to waste
time or being humiliated? He gets his pay-check and can spend hours
making "lesser people" squirm. The INS get budget increases.
The "security officers" get a real power thrill as people can't even
get stroppy with them any more.

The only backlash you'll get will be from governments (like Brazil)
who've actually got the balls to make it a two-way thing. Oh, and an
"invisible backlash" from the people who just say "F*ck it, who wants
to go to America anyway?"

Nihil

[Say_What]

6. Demonstrators welcome Lula, blast Bush at Mexico Americas summit

When AF One was visible in the sky "demonstrators began making a racket, rattling the metallic fence and making obscene gestures at the sky".

Photo looks like Lula is thinking *get me away from this scumbag terrorist, pronto*!

<clips>

Monterrey, Mexico, Jan 12 (EFE).- Hundreds of demonstrators protested here Monday against U.S. President George W. Bush's presence at the Summit of the Americas, even as they welcomed his Brazilian counterpart, leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Hours before the beginning of the conclave, hundreds of young people marched without incident through the downtown streets of this northern industrial hub to Fundidora Park, site of the meeting that concludes on Tuesday.

In addition to the student march, held amid a large police deployment, the El Barzon organization of debtors marched on Monday afternoon.
Around noon (1800 GMT), hundreds of young people escorted by police demonstrated to protest Bush's arrival in Mexico.
Bush traveled to Monterrey on Monday to take part in the summit, which is being attended by the heads of state of 34 countries in the hemisphere - all of them except Cuba.

The leaders are scheduled to discuss economic growth within the framework of equality, democratic governance and social development, in addition to free trade and anti-terrorism strategies.

http://www.efenews.com/includesasp/noticias.asp?opcion=0&id=5879531


U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites) , right, Brazilian (news - web sites) President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, shake hands at the end of their bilateral meeting at the Summit of the Americas in Monterrey, Mexico, Monday, Jan. 12, 2004. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)