Bush Wants Personal Info on European Tourists

by jordan | February 20, 2008 at 07:22 am | 252 views | 1 comment | 2 recommendations

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Whether or not Washington admits it, the US economy is hurting. Scaring away tourists? Not helping. What would Americans say if, for example, Britain demanded info on would-be tourists from Iowa? A buck says they'd be rather displeased, as well they should be.

The US administration is pressing the 27 governments of the European Union to sign up for a range of new security measures for transatlantic travel, including allowing armed guards on all flights from Europe to America by US airlines.

The demand to put armed air marshals on to the flights is part of a travel clampdown by the Bush administration that officials in Brussels described as "blackmail" and "troublesome", and could see west Europeans and Britons required to have US visas if their governments balk at Washington's requirements.

According to a US document being circulated for signature in European capitals, EU states would also need to supply personal data on all air passengers overflying but not landing in the US in order to gain or retain visa-free travel to America, senior EU officials said.

And within months the US department of homeland security is to impose a new permit system for Europeans flying to the US, compelling all travellers to apply online for permission to enter the country before booking or buying a ticket, a procedure that will take several days.

There's also a pretty large practical problem with this: under this misguided principle, other nations could put their own agents onboard planes. Interpol, Mossad, FBI... where will the passengers sit? If I were Brussels, I'd wad this proposal up and toss it in the recycle bin of useless security: unworkable and counterproductive.