nobody wrote:

the USA went overboard, and not entirely in a very logical fashion. It was
very politically driven.



Yes, I would agree that it's been a whipsaw from the shock of 9/11
and will take years to moderate, if ever. The week prior to 9/11,
when CNN Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer used to have a third
hour with a roundtable panel (only seen in North America),
Jonah Goldberg of the conservative National Review was
complaining about his visit to France, how he had to register
through his hotel and carry his ID with him, be subject to
stop in the streets, etc. After 9/11. he was screaming for
it in America ...

Like tourist taxes on hotels and rental cars, it's politically
easier to beat up on non-voters. Everybody including
American citizens should be screened if the true intent
of this policy were to be achieved. But that probably
won't happen until an attack is carried out by a Portland
Seven or Buffalo Eight outfit, all US citizens and nearly
all born in the USA ...

gld