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Terrorist alert - my sister-in-law
Iconoclast
Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
Went to Logan (Boston) to pick up my sister-in-law at the international arrival gate. She didn't clear customs for the best part of two hours, and when she did, she emerged in tears. Poor woman doesn't speak much English and the INS / Customs Bulls decided she was suspicious because she didn't bring much luggage and was only staying for 2 weeks even though her visa was for 90 days. She had six of them interrogating her simultaneously . . . why so little luggage, why the short stay, why isn't she married, etc., etc., plus the obligatory strip search and ransacking of the luggage. Saw lots of diaperheads coming through with the main rush of passengers and I know they were on the same flight (from Paris). How many female Russian terrorists have we had hit the US, anyway? I seem to have lost count . . . or is it because they were all of Arabic origin and male? This "securtity" crap is so bleeping useless. Is this a terrorist? What a crock! Took us the entire trip back from the airport (four hours including a stop for dinner) to get her calmed down.
Comments
Woods
It's better to die on your feet, than to live on your knees.
AlleninAlaska
Delta Firearms & Supplies
http://canadianfirearmsexchange.com
aglore@gci.net
Woods
It's better to die on your feet, than to live on your knees.
Brian Ostro.
member: NRA,RFC, John Birch Society, American Numismatic Association.
Famous line from the movie Tombstone with Val Kilmer:
Bandit to Doc Halliday:"You're just a drunk piano player, you're so drunk , you're probably seeing double!"
Doc Halliday: "I've got two guns, one for each of you! "
Brian Ostro.
member: NRA,RFC, John Birch Society, American Numismatic Association.
Famous line from the movie Tombstone with Val Kilmer:
Bandit to Doc Halliday:"You're just a drunk piano player, you're so drunk , you're probably seeing double!"
Doc Halliday: "I've got two guns, one for each of you! "
psalms 16
I Miss The World I Grew Up In!
I am sorry to hear of her "harassment" by the Gestapo.
We have all heard the stories of the OVER zealous airport security.
I hope that she does not feel that we are all that way "over here"
May the rest of her visit be filled with nothing but SMILES. [:D] [:D] [:D]
My son's girlfriend (and family) are from Russia.
The gene pool needs chlorine.
God protect me from my friends, I can take care of my enemies...
Our two oldest boys,Dustin 16, and Bryan 15, are flying to France in March with the French Club at school! It's an exchange thing we do one year their kids come to oue school for a week, the next year ours go to theirs! Ive weighed the pro's and cons of letting them go, it is agreat opportunity for them, one that they may never have again! They both want to go so Chris and I have decided to give them our approval!
Security is much tighter in France than here, and Im told by the teachers over there that the hostility's toward the Americans by the French is purely political! But it still scares the hell out of me to think that they have to go through all that to get over there and back!
Hope your sister-in-laws remaining time in America makes a better impression on her than her arrival!
To Ride, shoot straight,and speak the truth
This was the Ancient law of Youth
Old times are past, old times are done:
But the Law runs true, O little son!
Sorry for the trouble she went through.BE SAFE!! Buffler
Thanks for the comments / compliments, guys, I will pass them along to her.
Sheesh. Sorry, but if I were those guys I'd be seriously watching all the bearded middle eastern males with the huggies on their heads.
Granted, they went a little overboard with this lady, but considering the circumstances, Im glad their beefing up security!! The end result has got to be better than the alternative!!!
No we don't like it, but tighting up our border's is long overdue in my eyes!
To Ride, shoot straight,and speak the truth
This was the Ancient law of Youth
Old times are past, old times are done:
But the Law runs true, O little son!
In the name of my country, I am volunteering to pat down, and search this terrorist.
I would even be willing to take her back into that little room, and do a strip search, etc., until we get to the bottom of it.
Yesterday I and my family were driving onto base, and found out that the heightened security threat has caused the MP's to begin their random vehicle checks again. We were one of the randoms, and although I think its stupid for me and my family to have to wait 10 minutes in line and have our vehicle inspected, I dont resent it, and its really not stupid. There are way too many holes in our security both on base, and at our borders and incoming passenger terminals. Its time we began to sew these holes up.
"Never argue with an idiot.... They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience."
"I don't have an attitude problem, you have a perception problem."
Ryan
It amazes me to see what some people are willing to actively support in the name of spurious "safety" at the hands of a Government that's done more to undermine personal freedom in this country than any other in the entire history of this nation. So now we have to put up with Gestapo tactics to preserve our freedoms? Wonderful. Very believable....
1: 2 week stay with little luggage.
This is why we have millions of illegal Mexicans in the US. They apply for an I-94 to visit family in the states and never go home. Little luggage, little money and lack of an address are clues into what may really be happening. It's no different for Russian, Austrailians or Brits.
2: 6 inspectors interrogating her.
DHS doesn'r interrogate, but perhaps she was questioned vigorously. It's a technique every law enforcement officer uses at one time or another. We could be polite and let everybody in, if that would be better.
3: Saw lots of diaperheads coming in:
Probably US Citizens or Alien residents.
4: Obligatory Strip Search:
If this happened, call your laywer. Unless drug smuggling was strongly suspected, it can't happen. This takes approval at several levels and usually it take more than a couple of hours to get the approval.
5: Russian Female Terrorist:
See Chechnya and the attack on the Moscow theater. There are female terrorists. We didn't think much of Bin Laden until 9-11.
6: Allow her to have a great time in the United States.
Despite our problems, we our still have the best country in the world. I've been to Moscow, Russia and it reminded me of Tijuana, Mexico without the bright colors.
Iconoclast, You ARE a DIPLOMAT.
"Have a gun that works every time. All skill is in vein when an Angel pisses in the flintlock of your musket."
It doesnt surprise me that people that make a comment like this are, in most cases, not the men/women in Iraq fighting for the security of our nation. Take your pick of Gestapo tactics as you so colorfully call them, or military action after the fact, because "some" people object to haveing their "liberties", or someone elses, that isnt even a citizen of this country, infringed upon at an airport. I dont care what anyone else thinks, if you are a citizen of this country great, enjoy the freedoms which we have, but if you are not a citizen of this country, and you dont like the way you are treated, so that maybe we wont have to send troops to another country after the fact, then dont visit, and dont let the Statue of Liberty's torch hit you on the * on the way out.
With no disrespect toward the young lady in this situation, oh well. Crying for your dignity, or crying for the deaths of thousands, not to mention the lives of soldiers each week, take you pick. If anyone can not understand this, they're beyond comprehension of simple subjects. Remember J Edgar Hoover, everyone hated him and what he stood for. Seems to me, if we were still running things his way, this may never have happen, and I'm referring to 9/11. That is what this is all about after all. We never want to see anything like that happen again. The only reason it happen in the first place is because everone alive when Pearl Harbor happen is now practically dead, and the urgency of national security faded with those people's memories. Well, welcome back to reality.
"Never argue with an idiot.... They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience."
"I don't have an attitude problem, you have a perception problem."
Ryan
This company had a 40 hour training course it provided to all employees upon hiring that "qualified" them to be in their airport screening positions. The FAA provided the criteria and blessed this course, which incidently, is still being used to train new employees today with a few minor modifications.
Most screeners working at the time of the 9-11, were either part-time or "Temporary" without letting anyone know. Wages were the poorest to be found in any type of Security Guard Positions with little exception. Many were working at less than $7.00 per hour. There was little or no incentive for anyone employed as an Airport Screener. That was just as well because most of these folks neither cared, had little or no ambition, wanted a part-time job and most could care less. Many of these people were "un-employable" at the Fast Food places which are also notorious for their low wages. In a Nut Shell, the "Airport Screeners" were only bodies required by the airlines to fulfill their FAA requirements......with little real regard to the job being done!
Given this workforce of Incompetents, Mis-fits, and under qualified persons, the Government saw fit to give them an "Employment Package" which dramatically increased their wages...... double and more in some cases.....granted benefits most civilian workers only dream about in their jobs, and decreed the "Population would now be Safer!"
How? What wonderful things came to pass to make these people who were not capable of performing any reasonably good job BEFORE their raise, made them competent to do so now? We are saddled by these incompetents and mis-fits who are now protected Government employees......... You have got to be kidding me!
Throwing Money at a problem, which in this case, is what they did! No real thought or insight into the workforce they were dealing with. If it was good enough BEFORE 9-11, it must be good enough after, seemed to be the mentality.....!!! Hey, It Wasn't Good Enough Before, in case anyone took the time to notice, or the Hi-Jackers wouldn't have got onto those planes! It's a very simple thing....not complicated as they wish us to believe. "If You Always Do What You Always Did, You'll Always Get What You Always Got! What part of this is so hard to understand? The Airport Screeners are the same ones as before, who didn't care before 9-11 and don't care NOW! The only difference is they make more money NOT to care. If they really wanted to do something worthwhile about this, they would completely overhaul the whole Airport Screening System........Not Just throw money and BS at the Public about its so called "improvements." What Improvements?
If you think I'm making this up......think again! I was the State Required "Qualifying Agent" for this company in one of the Western States in which a very Large Airport's Security was handled by this company. Interestingly, after over Three years with that Company, I had quit them about 10 months before because they were unable to obey the laws, rules and regulations which were a condition of their State License. I could no longer be personally accountable for a Company that wouldn't and couldn't, obey the Laws! Yes, the same people ran it Before and After.......and I should feel safer? Why? I know this to be the same Joke it was then! The Real Joke is On US!!!!! And you feel Safer? Perhaps you should be an "Airport Screener!"
I Miss The World I Grew Up In!
Pa, my daughter was going through the Rotery club exchange program but opted out due to all the violence and terrorism of late. She was heading to Spain for her senior year but as I stated she opted not to due to security concerns.
God protect me from my friends, I can take care of my enemies...
"It doesnt surprise me that people that make a comment like this are, in most cases, not the men/women in Iraq fighting for the security of our nation. Take your pick of Gestapo tactics as you" (blah-blah-blah-blah)
Ahhh, yes. The old "Love It Or Leave It" ploy. If someone doesn't agree 100% with the way the Government does things, then they should get out of the country. Very 1960's of you.
Well, you're entitled to your blind, emotional adherence and support of Governmental policy no matter how badly---or clearly---it erodes everyone's freedom in this country, and I'm entitled to point out the facts, inconvenient though they may be to such a partisan of the current Administration. By all means, wrap yourself up in the flag as tightly as you like while Bush & Co. craft more and more intrusive legislation so they can expand Federal power and slip a few more leashes on the lot of us. Nothing's really wrong here, right? We don't have laws in place that deny you due process of law if the Feds decide to call you a "terrorist", now do we? We're just as free to come and go as we please as we were before 9-11, right?
Oh, gosh. I guess all this crap like the "Patriot Acts" were just my imagination. What a relief!
DAM! Why did I have to wash out of my Russian Linguist training! If she wants to stay tell her to move to AZ. I assure you, she'll have a place to stay and nothing to worry about ever again.
Did I mention HOLY COW!
I was going to leave a message for her in russian, but the characters won't display right.
James
Whats next? A ban on automatic transmissions?
Take your security blanket and shove it up your nose.
Freedom is messy..too bad we can't ship all you security freaks out to Russia..and allow the rest of us to live in peace and freedom.
I trust the .45 under my arm..and the freaks wandering around the airports carrying MP5'S not at all.
And,trust me..in the event of a 9-11 attack...those RESPONSIBLE would NEVER AGAIN ever consider striking a blow in America..because their homeland would glow at night.
You security freaks amaze me..worry about a woman like this..and fret not one second about the borders open to ever slice of scum able to crawl over it.
God,Guts,& GunsHave we lost all 3 ??
"Right is Right, even is everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it"
Don [8D]
When they pry it from my cold dead fingers.
Did you say something? I dont recall you doing that, all I recall is you babble about what others have quoted through out history, with no real point to your words.
"Never argue with an idiot.... They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience."
"I don't have an attitude problem, you have a perception problem."
Ryan
Well said. Bev and I travel back and forth by plane to and from NYC fairly frequently. So far all I've seen working security at either Rochester international or JFK couldn't get jobs loading ice in the slushie machine at 7-11. The only change from pre 9-11, is before 9-11, it was a bunch of 70yr olds supplimenting thier social security fighting to stay awake. If the system was set up correctly, the fact that she had a visa and passport should be enough. The problem is they hand out visas like candy.
Teak; please tell your sister in law that we aren't all afraid of our own shadows. We aren't all willing to trade freedom for security, because we know we will have niether in the end. I hope the rest of her stay shows America and Americans in a better light.
I bet a rich Arab businessman would walk right through with minimal hassle. Strange thing is, isn't that what Osama Bin Laden was before 9-11.
So far when I travel the only people I see being questioned are either old or female. Maybe because that's the only people the limpd**ks doing security can feel manly about bullying.
Woods
It's better to die on your feet, than to live on your knees.
quote:plus the obligatory strip search
Nothing said here, by any of the members, has changed my opinion about the "OVER zealous airport security" Gestapo.
Do we need airport security? OF COURSE. It is the BOLTING of the barn door, after the horse has escaped, mentality that amazes me. The LEO officer that had a permit to carry a firearm onto the airplane, who had his nail clippers taken away. Granny, who was born and raised and spent her whole life in some little hick town, USA, has 8 children, 19 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren, has her crochet hook taken away. I am sure you all have your own similar stories.
There are obviously some security measures that need to be taken. But the shear stupidity of some of these actions, are worthy of publication, for the argument "The gene pool need chlorine."
Being a GB family member or not.
Her airplane ride was OVER, why did they feel the need to strip search her?
The above actions sound excessive and overly intrusive to me.
I am sure when she goes home, she will have some very nice things to say about her travels over here. [:(]
The gene pool needs chlorine.
rld pretty much reflects my opinion.
allen griggs - down, boy. Lena ain't that type and she has a nasty-tempered brother-in-law to defend her honor.
borderguy - (1) no address? Last time I looked, I was not homeless.
........... (2) perhaps "interrogation" isn't technical term, but agressive questioning by six officers comes close in my mind.
........... (3) maybe citizens / legal aliens - but so were some of the 9-11 boys, and none were blonde females.
........... (4) perhaps "strip search" isn't technical term, but removal of some clothing was involved (with female officer).
........... (5) I may be wrong on this, but I believe CheChens are dark haired and swarthy complexioned.
............(6) We're doing our best to arrange this. And St. Petersburg is a far cry from Moskva - most beautiful city I've seen.
sheepdip, *accurate* as well as diplomatic.
Ryan, in this era of electronic data, INS / Customs could & should have checked her record out quite thoroughly before moving on to the second degree. She went through an extensive application / interview process in St. Petersburg before she was allowed a visa. I understand some degree of close questioning; I've had the experience myself simply moving between the US and Canada post 9-11; but this was not a case where anything in her application / record was at variance with her nor that she had anything in her luggage of any great note except four bottles of vodka (which was also severely questioned because it's a "man's drink" - the concept of a gift to her favorite brother-in-law seemingly having eluded them). Your view has a lot of validity and to a point I agree with both you and the officers involved, but my take is that they went overboard.
jj- tell the youngest to cool it; she's twice his age and teaches advanced math / physics / computer programming to boys his age!
kuhlewulf, you made a mistake, amigo. The beauty of Russian women was the best kept secret of the Cold War!
deputydon, call me a hound with a shamrock coat [:D]!! Further, I'd say that the most wonderful thing about my wife is not her considerable beauty, but her intelligence, loyalty and support.
Guys, I've made it clear to Lena that these officers are in no way representative of the temperament of the American people. They were wound up - for whatever reason - and she had just disembarked from a flight originating in Paris, where the situation is somewhat hysterical. I also reminded her that the KGB did much the same thing to many Westerners and most Soviet citizens for decades. I think part of this was her shock to receive similar treatment here, as she is old enough to remember "the bad old days" of the Evil Empire. I'm pulled both ways on this. On one hand, the Feds might actually be doing something. On the other, it infuriates me to see them target someone like her in this manner while giving an EZ Pass to the Islamic types from which our enemies draw their operatives or to have the government essentially ignore & protect the horde of illegals flooding the country from Mexico.
I only have one question.
Why would you want to be on the computer??[:o)][:o)]
Gotta bust your chops.
Woods
It's better to die on your feet, than to live on your knees.
God protect me from my friends, I can take care of my enemies...
OK, and in all seriousness, while Lena is not really looking to get fixed up, there are tens or hundreds of thousands of women from the former Soviet Union / Eastern Europe who are actively seeking a reliable husband; American men are considered a prize because they enjoy a justifiable reputation of being more considerate and loving than most of the domestic variety (admittedly a percentage are scammers or simply after the green card, so some restraint and common sense is absolutely required). An age difference doesn't phase most of them; ten is considered quite normal. Speaking only for myself, but believing I will not be contradicted by others here who have followed this path, I would recommend any mature (character, not necessarily age) single American man consider this option.
This thread began as a vent about INS / Customs treatment of a visitor and is now off on a tangent . . . my fault as much as anyone's. Let me make it clear I'm not trolling for a special friend for Lena nor desirous of providing a "how-to" for a foreign bride. If someone is interested in this, there are plenty of detailed discussions on the net. There were many in 1996 and even more now, all available via Google or its equivalent.