Warsaw Mayor Cancels U.S. Trip Over Fingerprinting

Reuters ^ | January 13 2004

[knighthawk]

WARSAW (Reuters) - The mayor of Warsaw said on Tuesday he would cancel a visit to the United States in protest at the U.S. policy of fingerprinting visitors as part of new anti-terror measures. Lech Kaczynski, a former anti-communist activist who now leads a major right-wing party, was supposed to pay a visit in April to Chicago and New York, both home to large Polish communities.

"I will go only when there will be no need for taking pictures and fingerprinting," Kaczynski told reporters.

Poland had hoped that as a reward for its help in the war to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, the United States would relax entry visa rules for its citizens.

But Washington toughened travel curbs for Poles and many other nationalities as part of its new anti-terror measures.

An estimated 24 million foreigners who need a visa to enter the United States could be forced to submit to the digital-based photo and inkless fingerscans this year.

Many Poles are bitter that the U.S. administration exempts some other European nations from the rules, including those that opposed the U.S.-led war on Iraq, such as France and Germany.

The travel restrictions are set to feature prominently in talks between President Aleksander Kwasniewski and President Bush when they meet later this month in Washington.

Poland has sent 2,500 troops to Iraq. The future EU member is one of the staunchest U.S. allies in Europe.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[smith288]

Im sad... Not.

What is so wrong with this fingering scanning and photographing??? Its not like we are sending them off on railcards to destinations unknown.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...Poland had hoped that as a reward for its help in the war to topple Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, the United States would relax entry visa rules for its citizens. But Washington toughened travel curbs for Poles and many other nationalities as part of its new anti-terror measures...

Oh, great.

Eight million illegals get a free pass, and a guy who's spent his life fighting Communism and supporting US ideals gets treated like a terrorist?

[RoughDobermann]

Many Poles are bitter that the U.S. administration exempts some other European nations from the rules, including those that opposed the U.S.-led war on Iraq, such as France and Germany.

Is this correct?

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...its not like we are sending them off on railcards to destinations unknown...

Don't give Ridge any more ideas, okay?

[freeeee]

What is so wrong with this fingering scanning and photographing???

Not a thing, if you have no dignity.

[Prodigal Son]

Interesting.

[BrooklynGOP]

I got my picture taken for my driving license and work id.. I guess i have no dignity :(

[freeeee]

Did you give up prints?

[conserv13]

I got my picture taken for my driving license and work id.. I guess i have no dignity :(

Jay Leno had a good joke the other night, something like "Costco is harder to get into than the US"

I don't complain that in Europe they have cameras everywhere. The only reason I would be upset at the photo/fingerprint thing is that is takes time and the lines will be longer, not because of my dignity or privacy. Your passport has your photo, no?

[smith288]

Not a thing, if you have no dignity.

Pulease... Are they making them do it naked or something???

[americanbychoice]

Germany already has a program in place in Nigeria to fingerprint visitors and asylum seekers from that country in place.
They have resulted in numerous "hits".
Within 2 years the EU will do the same thing at all entry points. including Iris scans and face scans.
In Germany this is already being implemented.
Source: DERSPIEGEL.DE
We shouldn't overreact to something that has been commonplace for American citizens for years. Personally, I have my Fingerprints all over the place for the last 25 years. I have no problems with that.
Insurance agents, the SEC, has for years already implemented fingerprinting as part of their licensing procedures,Doctors, etc.,etc.,etc.
Now foreigners have to identify themselves, so what? Let's not make a mountain out of a molehill?

[BrooklynGOP]

Did you give up prints?

I think I did either for the green card or the passport. Wasn't a big deal at all.

[Snuffington]

Many Poles are bitter that the U.S. administration exempts some other European nations from the rules, including those that opposed the U.S.-led war on Iraq, such as France and Germany.

Gotta side with the Poles on this one. Either fingerprint the French, or leave the Poles alone. Why on earth are we treating France as a trusted ally while ignoring the Poles?

[BrooklynGOP]

Your passport has your photo, no?

My credit card, too.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Many Poles are bitter that the U.S. administration exempts some other European nations from the rules, including those that opposed the U.S.-led war on Iraq, such as France and Germany.

I'm not against the concept of fingerprinting and photographing foriegn visitors, but we ought to start with the countries which have proven to be sources of terrorists. Mohammed Atta wasn't hanging out in Poland before he flew into the WTC.

[sergeantdave]

Give the French and German Marxists and Islam-fascists a free pass but fingerprint the anti-communist Poles.

This should be called the "I'm as stupid as I can be" policy.

[freeeee]

Within 2 years the EU will do the same thing at all entry points. including Iris scans and face scans.

They can kiss my vacation dollars goodbye.

We shouldn't overreact to something that has been commonplace for American citizens for years.

Overreact? Getting prints taken is a HUGE deal.

Insurance agents, the SEC, has for years already implemented fingerprinting as part of their licensing procedures,Doctors, etc.,etc.,etc.

I see incrementalism works well on you.

Personally, I have my Fingerprints all over the place for the last 25 years. I have no problems with that.

That's nice. Others may prefer otherwise. Tell me, will you give up DNA samples? Would you let them put a chip in you? If no, why not?

I see this as a growing trend towards universal surveillance of people and secrecy in government. Free people don't live in a fishbowl.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Not a thing, if you have no dignity.

LOL!!!! DIGNITY ALERT!!! Dignity Alert!!! Bring in Jesse Jackson on this one!

I get my thumb print taken every time I go to Bank of America to cash one of my tenants rent checks. I must not have any dignity because I'm OK with it.