Posted on 11/29/2006 5:46:43 AM PST by kellynla
TALLINN, Estonia -- President Bush said yesterday he will push Congress for a "loosening" of requirements for foreigners to visit the United States without a visa, pitting him against those who have called for the program instead to be tightened or even scrapped altogether after September 11.
The Visa Waiver Program allows visitors with valid passports from 27 approved countries to enter the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. That makes tourism and business travel easier by eliminating the need for a visa, though such travelers can avoid a security screening.
After meeting with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in Tallinn, Mr. Bush said he will press Congress to revamp the program to allow more countries to join. "I'm going to work with our Congress and our international partners to modify our Visa Waiver Program," Mr. Bush said. "It's a way to make sure that nations like Estonia qualify more quickly for the program and, at the same time, strengthen the program's security components."
But the proposed expansion would run athwart concerns that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cannot keep up with the 27 countries already approved, as the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Congress' investigative branch, found in a July report.
"DHS cannot effectively monitor the law enforcement and security risks posed by visa waiver countries on a consistent, ongoing basis because it has not provided [the Office of International Enforcement] with adequate staffing and resources," GAO investigators concluded, adding they also found "weaknesses" in how DHS talks with overseas posts working on visa issues.
European Union officials have complained that while U.S. nationals can visit any of the 25 EU member states without a visa, only 15 of these countries receive reciprocal privileges from the United States.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Ugh. :-(
Why?
Who is he being loyal to?
This is very disturbing. Unless I'm missing something??
New Tone Redux.
DC Chapter short list ping
Oops, missed adding you to the short chapter ping list
How sickening is it that this isn't even a surprise?
Sticking the knife in a little deeper and slowly turning for maximum pain. WTF!
I didn't get a visa to go to Canada.
In fact, I didn't have to get a visa to vacation in England either.
Almost makes me wish that the RATS would impeach him.
I think that was uncalled for. Do you really think that W of all people is likely to forget 9/11? I can't believe how fast some here on FR turn on and savage their own.
SHHHHH! There are people trying to be outraged here, and you're interrupting them. ;)
The problem is that the E.U. wants all member states to be treated the same. Only 15 of 25 are on the visa waiver program, but Americans can travel to all 25 without a visa. POland is one example. THey have been a strong ally in the WOT and have been very receptive to U.S. interests. It's only fair to treat them the way they treat us.
It looks like it is DC Chapter back to the White House on Saturday morning. Oh well lunch was always good.
How do you think the WH AAR's would go over?
hehehe
The Bushbots would give birth to a cow.
Result of Dick Cheney's visit to Saudi Arabia??
I have been to every former east bloc country save Slovenia...and except for Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, I did not need a visa to enter these countries. Ukraine lifted its visa requirements recently, but why should these people need visas to come to the US on vacation if they do not require us to have them to enter their countries?
Good. The Christian Europeans will need to get here very soon to check out the living conditions if they want to beat the rush to the USA, before the European Islamic state takes over.
It's Brain drain and White Christian European flight time again....oh MY!!
Does history repeat itself or what?
Exactly my point. But there are some people here who would rather cut the U.S. off from the rest of the world than have reciprical travel arrangements. The point you make is one reason why people in other countries don't like U.S. policies. They treat the U.S. with more respect than the U.S. treats them.
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