U.S. Pilot Detained in Brazil in Fingerprint Spat

Al-Reuters/Yahoo ^ | 1/14/04 | Todd Benson

[Dallas59]

Heh...

[Dallas59]

Did a seacrh and didn't see it posted.

I'm still ROF...

[joesnuffy]

Another Marxist sympatico country we should not do business with...

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Just the Brazilian government is corrupt. The Brazilian people are wonderful and are nice to Americans.

Especially the women...

[Letitring]

ROFLOL, you go Bay-bee. :)

[Arkinsaw]

I hope that the Brazilians insult every American that comes there. They elected a communist that hates America and I hope their tourism industry experiences it fully.

[politicalwit]

Dale Robin Hirsch should have his wings clipped. Why does he think his so damned special? Brazil has every right to impose rules and regulations in foreign visitors just us the US does.

Mr Hirsh, I suggest you limit your flying to the US if you have problems with other countries laws.

[patriotUSA]

Sorry, I just can't respect the captain for what he did. Their policy is nuts but that gives the Captain no rights to obscene (documented) public behavior. Articulate with sound reason and keep your finger holstered.

[TheDon]

?? No freedom of speech in Brazil? Rather than laughing about it, the Brazilian leo had his little feelings hurt and decided to make a fuss. His superiors thought it would make great press against the "arrogant" Americans. American Airlines wants to continue doing business in Brazil, so publicly will only tote the corporate line.

Fact is, the pilot is a political prisoner.

[patriotUSA]

Fact is, the pilot is a political prisoner.

Sorry, I can't agree with that. He "made an internationally known obscene gesture when he was being photographed by the Federal Police" and "will be charged with disobeying authority." You do that in the United States and you will also get jailed/charged for acting like a fool.

[TheDon]

You do that in the United States and you will also get jailed/charged for acting like a fool

Hmmmm...acting like a fool...never heard of that crime. If the posted picture is what he is charged for doing, I think the charges will soon be dropped.

[squirt]

Nut case pilot.

[patriotUSA]

Agreed.

You never heard of the violation being an idiot in an idiot-free zone? :)

[flying Elvis]

The difference is America is fingerprinting for security reasons, Brazil is doing it to US citizens just to be an a-hole. The judge who ordered it, compared Bush to Hitler, so my hat's off to the pilot for sticking up for the USA.

[checkessential]

Captain.... as your peer I salute you... it ain't worth explaning to those who do not get it.

[William Tell]

checkessential said: "Captain.... as your peer I salute you... it ain't worth explaning to those who do not get it."

Same here. There is something about witnessing the use of unchecked authority that brings out the rebel in some of us. Bush needs to hurry because some of us will not support an indefinite extension of the war on terror.

There are certainly quite a few places in the world where the pilot's behavior will be punished. I don't go to those places.

[Cultural Jihad]

Why does he think his so damned special?

Perhaps because he doesn't live in a banana republic.

[swarthyguy]

Warm welcome: Samba dancers greet a tourist and his son as they arrive at the Rio de Janeiro Galeao airport yesterday. The samba reception is part of a city campaign against a federal judge ruling that all US citizens be fingerprinted and photographed at the country's entry points. Picture: AP

To paraphrase Mick Jagger "look at that STOOOOPID pilot". Bet he doesn't go around pulling this crap again. Heh, important lesson for him; being an American does not give you immunity from authorities in countries.

[peoplesvoice]

So Brazil in true has snakes and indians on the streets... do they dress like that all around? or they already heard about jeans, shoes, clothes in general? Here in US that kind of clothing means something else. What they want? mirrors and necklaces? What century are they?

Mr. Captain, you made a joke, got a bad reputation, but at least we now know what to expect from a country where just one judge can create a new law like that from night to day. Was the brazilian congress involved in approving such law? What kind of government they have there? They have a congress, right? I remember they said it is a democracy but also they are Castro's friends, go figure.
I was thinking about brazilian carnival, already put the idea aside. Aruba here I go.