[gaijin]

I agree 100% —sex tourism is disgusting, but since WHEN does US law extend all over the planet..?

And:

It is seldom that the US will stick up for you overseas, but it’s interesting that when the possibility of BUSTING you comes up, well, they’re all over that.

Sometimes crazy 3rd World backwaters whine about “the US is thinking it has authority over the rest of the world..”

But in fact these types of new laws show that thinking is not so crazy.

[montanajoe]

“but since WHEN does US law extend all over the planet..?”
Since the Protect Act of 2003. (18 U.S.C. § 2423 et al) Pushed by Bush II...

[AlaskaErik]

I agree 100% —sex tourism is disgusting, but since WHEN does US law extend all over the planet..?

I've been to Thailand a number of times on military missions and I've seen these huge metal signs, about 5' wide and 6' high, warning Americans that the US government will prosecute anyone found to engage in sexual relations with underage children. As for how they can prosecute, it's probably in the fine print of your passport application, although I'm just speculating. Surely there's at least one FReeper who is a legal beagle.