[Ronly Bonly Jones]

``There are tensions within Europe on how to handle U.S. requests,'' said Philip Butterworth-Hayes, editor of Jane's Aircraft Components.>>

What part of 'comply or be shot out of the sky' don't they understand?

[Viking2002]

Message to the Euroweenies: it wasn't your buildings -and citizens - turned into rubble. Yet. Humor us.

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[Jackson Brown]

""Some European nations have balked at the United States' tough new aviation security measures, which include armed guards on aircraft and preflight scrutiny of passenger lists.""

Tough!

Europe has been a second home for terrorism for far too long, and now they are paying the price for it. How many times does France and Germany come up in any discussion/report about individuals and groups linked to terrorism, including 9/11. The US has paid for their security since WWII, so let them bear the costs for THIS security threat they helped sow.

[Clara Lou]

I can't tell you how it saddens and worries me that the Euroween Eurinals-- ahem-- folks from Europe are unhappy with our requirements. /sarcasm

[sd-joe]

The effort against terrorism should be ``about people working together, not America bulldozing its way around, telling everyone what to do,'' he said.

OK, but if you want to land in the US, or fly over it, you have to meet our standards.

[Arpege92]

Talk about being self centered! Hey Europe....if you don't like it....STAY HOME!

[tsmith130]

Investigators said Abdou Hai is not known to French intelligence...

OXYMORON ALERT!

[Monti Cello]

Are we really dodging bullets right now, or is this in part a way of getting the French to help us by helping themselves?

If the French gov't gets enough flack from its traveling citizens, likely far more important than your typical paysans, it may find a palatable way to ease the burden on itself...by stopping terrorists.

[DB]

'Denmark's Transportation Minister, Flemming Hansen, told the Politiken newspaper that ``putting armed guards on passenger planes is the same as saying that the terrorists have won.'' '

Gee, I guess when you put police on the street it means criminals have won then...

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..there are tensions within Europe on how to handle U.S. requests...

"Requests"??? Demands, is more like it. Here's a new insanity inflicted upon travelling citizens of America's staunchest ally, and prompted by Homeland Security chief Eddie Munster's most recent attack of paranoia:

Qantas passengers have been ordered not to queue outside toilets while making the 14-hour flight to and from the US. The directive was issued late yesterday by the US Transport and Security Administration, which is demanding pilots make a pre-flight announcement banning passengers from "congregating in groups around toilets or anywhere else in the aircraft". Flight attendants will be expected to police the toilets, including checking every two hours for "suspicious packages".

[waterstraat]

I can remember when the United States was the freest country in the world. We used to scorn at other countries that had gestapo police make citizens "show their papers" before they could enter government offices, or before they could travel. Of course, back then we had a lot of conservatives who would not let our government intrude on the freedom of the american citizen.

[LouD]

US Security Needs Anger Some Europeans

Hey, paying for the security needs of Europe for the last 50+ years was kind of annoying to us, as was bailing out Europe from two world wars, but we didn't complain, did we?

I'm sure the thousands of Americans buried on European battlefields were a little inconvenienced, too.

What amazes me is that people like the Eurotrash that spout this crap can even look their ungrateful selves in the damned mirror.

[medscribe]

Dear Europe:

You always have the right NOT to come across the Atlantic. If you choose to come, follow our rules or else we'll obliterate your planes and ships if they come within our territorial airspace or waters.

Have a nice day.

[Prince Charles]

A passenger surnamed Hai was ticketed for Air France Flight 68 to Los Angeles but did not show up, French officials said. They said investigators have not yet established whether the passenger is the Abdou Hai on a U.S. terrorism watch list or someone with the same name.

First time I've seen the perp identified by name.

[RIGHT IN LAS VEGAS]

The all fearing, all knowing Chiefs of the EU!

Our friends in the EU are recruiting crack intelligence!

[traumer]

I just returned from Europe and let me tell you: I hate flying - I used to love it; foreign countries etc... But NOT ANYMORE !
Airports are just a mess (recently?). Terrorists won't kill the airline industry - it will kill itself. Hassling with the security, endless lines, shoes OFF...

Then I sat close to the lavatory and with each Flush I was reminded - that's where the next surprise may be. But then being dead right away would be perhaps better than falling for minutes and minutes...

Am I getting paranoid ??

[MattAMiller]

This is a depressing thread. Is there no one here besides Byron who's going to protest this attitude that all those who don't uncomplainingly submit to all our demands deserve to be blown out the sky?

There are reasonable security measures and there are unreasonable ones. People have a right to argue about where that line lies. Tom Ridge's word is not holy writ.

Asking people to not line up for the bathroom is ridiculous. I'd resent it. And so would the rest of you. This is not the way we ought to be using our power.

I have to think that the vast majority Americans are with me on this this. But thanks for doing your part to prop up that old ugly American stereotype folks.