NYT: U.S. Intensifies Screening for Travelers From 14 Nations

[smoogatz]

By ERIC LIPTON
Published: January 3, 2010

WASHINGTON – Citizens of 14 nations including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria who are flying to the United States will be subjected indefinitely to the intense screening at airports worldwide that was imposed in the aftermath of the Christmas Day bombing plot, Obama administration officials announced Sunday.

But American citizens, and most others who are not flying through these nations on their way to the United States, will no longer automatically face the full-range of intensified security that had been imposed after the attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight, official said.

For American travelers, the change represents an easing of the response to the attempting bombing of the Delta flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. But it further establishes a global security system that treats people differently based on what country they are from, evoking immediate protests from civil rights groups Sunday.

Citizens of Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria, which are considered “state sponsors of terrorism” as well as citizens from “countries of interest” that consist of Afghanistan, Algeria, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Yemen, will also face the special scrutiny, officials said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/us/04webtsa.html?hp

Sorry if this is a dupe.

[47of74]

1. For the most part this doesn't bother me

But why is Cuba still on the state sponsor of terrorism list?

[smoogatz]

2. It doesn't bother me, either. You have to wonder why we're just now

getting around to it, in fact. Agreed re Cuba: wtf? I guess it's all about Florida, or something.