Guardian UK: Bush orders clampdown on flights to US; EU officials call it "blackmail"

Bush orders clampdown on flights to US
EU officials furious as Washington says it wants extra data on all air passengers
Ian Traynor in Brussels
The Guardian, Monday February 11 2008



The US administration is pressing the 27 governments of the European Union to sign up for a range of new security measures for transatlantic travel, including allowing armed guards on all flights from Europe to America by US airlines.

The demand to put armed air marshals on to the flights is part of a travel clampdown by the Bush administration that officials in Brussels described as "blackmail" and "troublesome", and could see US visas being introduced for west Europeans and Britons travelling to the US if their governments balk at the American requirements.

According to a US document being circulated for signature in European capitals, EU states would also need to supply personal data on all air passengers overflying but not landing in the US in order to gain or retain visa-free travel to America, senior EU officials said.

And within months the US department of homeland security is to impose a new permit system for Europeans flying to the US, compelling all travellers to apply online for permission to enter the country before booking or buying a ticket, a procedure that will take several days.

The data from the US's new electronic transport authorisation system is to be combined with extensive personal passenger details already being provided by EU countries to the US for the "profiling" of potential terrorists and assessment of other security risks.

Washington is also asking European airlines to provide personal data on non-travellers - for example family members - who are allowed beyond departure barriers to help elderly, young or ill passengers to board aircraft flying to America, a demand the airlines reject as "absurd". .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/11/usa.theairlineindustry

If blackmail doesn't work will they start using torture?
Nominated.

How can Congress and the Senate continue to let this stuff happen? To hell with a vote, just send the Marshals in and haul their asses out of office.

This is like reading a novel where we, the reader, knows the President is insane, but the country seems to be unaware.

This is a nightmare.

nature of the beast.

to damage this country in way that harms the Commons and enriches his wealthy constituents.

Yup, a total Orwellian one.....Clearly, none of this is about fighting "terra." It's clear that Der Kommissar doesn't approve of the mind-opening experience of international travel.

We need Europe to get him to The Hague - let him piss them off too.
Let him piss off the tourist industry and the universities who depend on overseas students.

They are done ringing the life out of the poor and the working class has its neck on the block so now those good Republican small business owners are gonna find out they aren't so special either.

And I have long held the belief the PNACers want to make travel impossible for anyone who cannot afford their own jet or charter. We have a new Iron Curtain, boys and girls and it is made of money.

"And within months the US department of homeland security is to impose a new permit system for Europeans flying to the US, compelling all travellers to apply online for permission to enter the country before booking or buying a ticket, a procedure that will take several days."

A "permit system" which you have to apply in advance for. That's a visa, isn't it?