Signs of American Empire

[mcscajun]

I just returned from a short trip to Ireland, and observed that Shannon Airport is an outpost of Bush's America. Hundreds of US Soldiers headed for Iraq (they dressed in desert camo, and one of my friends and I spoke to a few of them) outnumbered the tourists at the terminal gates and in the Duty Free Shops. The US Immigration checkpoint was at Shannon as well; what gives with that? (US Customs was, of course, at JFK Airport.)

When I returned from a trip to Amsterdam last November, there was no US immigration checkpoint at Schiphol Airport; I didn't see US presence until my return to Newark Airport.

I found our military presence in the airport slightly oppressive, and slightly depressive: it was painful to look at all those kids and wonder how many of those face would never return to Shannon or the US.

[yvr girl]

1. You clear US customs in most Canadian airports

Canadian flights are often regarded as 'domestic.' Clearing customs prior to boarding lets those flights use domestic terminals at US airports.

I don't see it as an incursion into Canadian sovereignty. We've civilized your guards - it's generally more pleasant doing it this way.