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.

[Revolting cat!]

There are good reasons for this policy, aren't there? After all Poland has 10 Muslims, while France has only 5 million!

[smith288]

Mohammed Atta wasn't hanging out in Poland before he flew into the WTC.

That, I agree with.

[freeeee]

I guess you're right then.

And since when do passports require prints?

[americanbychoice]

These agreements have been in place with 27 Nations for many years already. A 3 months stay does not require fingerprinting and photograph. A visa entry does. Those 27 nations are just excempt for visits, not permanent visa status.
Just like a double taxation treaty that is in effect with most nations. You just don't say: " oh I forgot to exempt you since you were part of a communist block yesterday"?
It is a matter of give and take and requires formal Government action.

[prairiebreeze]

including Iris scans and face scans.

"Minorty Report" has arrived, wow! But my fingerprints are already on file as per regulations of the agency I'm registered with. The writing was on the wall with all this after 9-11. Unfortunately.

Interesting about the cameras all over Europe comment that another Freeper made. I just saw a news segment on that today.

Prairie

[freeeee]

DIGNITY ALERT!!! Dignity Alert!!!

I'm sure it's surprising to you. Try to remain calm. I'll sign autographs later.

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.

Yup.

[americanbychoice]

Apparently you have never had the need to secure a federal or state license?
These requirements have been in place for decades. They also do Background checks.

[BushisTheMan]

Good. one less political free loader in this country.

[americanbychoice]

They have been for years. I have lived over in Europe for many years. I have a lot of tickets with my picture in the car mailed to me with a fine.
That is old news however. At least 30 years.

[SJackson]

Lot's of employers fingerprint, it's necessary for numerous forms of licensing, particularly in the financial, legal and security fields.

Were you in the military? If so, you're already in the database.

[BrooklynGOP]

And since when do passports require prints?

Might've been for the Certificate of Citizenship.. I don't recall, but I was definately fingerprinted.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

I'm sure it's surprising to you. Try to remain calm. I'll sign autographs later.

LOL!!! No, FR gets all kinds! I just hope you can get to Jesse Jackson for help before it's too late...

Save your autographs up for Jesse.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Everyone whose work involves holding a Series 7 (registered securities representative) license, or any other SEC license, has to "give up prints" (gazillions of Americans, including myself). I don't have a problem with it, much less for foreigners entering the country. I hand 'em my fingers, they ink 'em and press 'em, and then they're even nice enough to give me little wet-wipe thingies to clean my fingers off with.

[JimRed]

Gee, a lot of things I've done required photo & fingerprints; military service, bartender, real estate broker, passport...

Why the heck is he any better?

[GovernmentShrinker]

DNA sample, yes. Chip, no. The former lets them identify me when I show up somewhere claiming to be so-and-so, wanting a sensitive job or a job with vulnerable people (children, nursing home, etc); can also be used to prove me innocent if I'm ever arrested as a suspect in a crime I didn't commit. The latter could potentially allow them to track my movements when I'm minding my own business, and I don't see any need for that (though I'd have NO problem with chipping people who've been convicted of serious crimes -- special chip, that sets off alarms anytime they go through the entrance of certain buildings or areas which provide particular opportunity for serious crime).

[freeeee]

Apparently you have never had the need to secure a federal or state license?

I got a license to drive from my state.

These requirements have been in place for decades. They also do Background checks.

Oh yes. I think it works something like this:

Govt guy #1: "Fingerprints have been invented!"
Govt guy #2: "Great! Let's make everyone give them to us right now."
Govt guy #1: "No, silly. These people have some spine. They'll hang us from the lamposts if we try that. It's going to take a while. Here's the plan:

1. Take them from criminals. If you don't like it, you must be a criminal.
2. Take them from soldiers. We own them, they can't complain.
3. Hit them in the wallet! Make people comply to get business licenses. They won't complain much when there's big money at stake. Just to be safe, we'll start with sensetive positions and progress from there. If people complain, they must be crooks!
4. Make them give prints for drivers licenses! Sure some will gripe but they're used to it by now, and if they can't drive they're screwed. As usual, if they complain, just ask them if they love crime.
5. (Coming soon) Take them from everyone, at birth is best. If they don't like it, throw em in jail.

The beauty of this plan is it works over and over... DNA samples, subdermal chips, you name it.

Govt guy #2: You're a genius!
Govt guy #1: No, I'm just a student of history.

[nkycincinnatikid]

Dignity? For landlords? Just try to get an eviction order for a tenant who hasn't paid rent in months, or has decided to start turning tricks or doing drugs in your property. Just try to get the Sheriff to perform an eviction over the holidays, meaning November, December and January.

[freeeee]

Lot's of employers fingerprint, it's necessary for numerous forms of licensing, particularly in the financial, legal and security fields.

Please see #36.

Were you in the military? If so, you're already in the database.

Interesting you asked if I was in the military. Why would they need to keep prints from former service members? Could they possibly be using those prints for a generic database totally unrelated to military service??? Why, I'm shocked!

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...Good. one less political free loader in this country...

He he he.

Hey, bub, Kaczynski was a key player in the overthrowing of the Eastern Bloc. A blowhard like you isn't fit to shine his shoes.

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Yeah... It's incredible. I now have to pay $100 per unit per year for the "Landlord Tenant Affairs Agency" to have been created so that they can "help" me. They come inspect my place for code violations. Last time I got written up because the paint on a repair didn't match the original paint well enough. Of course that has nothing to do with building code. After pressing the issue, insisting that the Landlord-Tenant idiot lady FAX me a copy of the law that says that matching paint colors is part of the building code she let that one pass.

It takes 4 convictions in one year of not paying rent to evict a tenant here. Otherwise they can simply pay the rent on the morning of the eviction, after I've hired the eviction service at $600, and they have to be allowed to stay. Then, no eviction if the temperature is going to be below something like 38 degrees that day, etc. It's gotten Way out of hand!

This is why most small time landlords here are short term. Places go up for sale within a couple of years of renting them out.