‘Paranoid’ US security push threatens future of transatlantic flights

[True_Blue]

Airlines have been warned that passengers will boycott their services and that tourism to the United States will effectively stop if new data demands from America are introduced.

Talks between the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the European Union broke down last month because the US is demanding that incoming passengers should have a passenger name record (PNR) containing 39 key pieces of information, such as how the passenger paid for their ticket and whether they ordered a halal meal for their flight, seen as indicators for potential terrorists.

Tom Ridge, secretary of the DHS, has said that airlines who do not comply may as well halt their services to North America because planes will not be allowed to land without a complete PNR for each passenger.

In handing over that level of information, however, UK airlines would breach strict EU data protection laws and be subject to hefty fines. The commissioner in charge of data protection, Frits Bolkestein, left talks in Washington last month without making any concessions to the US, a move which was applauded by member countries but which has left airlines adrift.

more...
http://ww1.sundayherald.com/38062

[rooboy]

1. "whether they ordered a halal meal..."

No, it isn't a war on Islam. :eyes:

[JailBush]

3. Gosh, I'll bet all the sophisticated terrorists are going to order their

halal meals in advance now!

[saigon68]

11. MCHAPPY MEALS FOR ALL

China could produce more plastic "prizes" for the masses.

[dArKeR]

2. As Bush leads America to the Valley of the Shadow of Death...

[Liberal Veteran]

4. Oh, geez....we just took a right turn into Creepyville.....

What's next? Will Muslims be required to have their passports stamped with a crescent?

I made a mistake in my title....we definitely took a right turn.....far right that is.

[truthisfreedom]

7. well, they haven't considered the possibility of bag lunches, have they.

that way the terra-ist could order anything at all and then throw it away. wait... the next thing the administration will want to know is... did they eat their all-american meal?

[aquart]

5. Goodbye, Broadway and NYC.

We kinda liked our tourists.

[sleipnir]

13. And I kinda liked my new job there.... :(

[this_side_up]

6. what are the 39 items??

how the ticket was paid for (cash or credit)

special food ordered

arrest record

marital status

number of kids and their ages

number of wives

occupation

place of employment

salary

car rental history

what else?

[Zech Marquis]

8. why wait, shut 'em down now

don't waste any more time Ridge, just go on tv and tell all the EU citizens"don't even bother coming over here anymore, unless you submi to our anal data record requests..."

I'm sure this will be a huge boost to the economies of NYC and DC--they don''t need any smelly ferigners stinkin' up the place anyway, with their funny clothes and funny money :eyes: why we have plently of cash stuffed 'Murikans who will LOVE to pay their respect to our Supreme Leader..oh please, i'm gonna :puke: !

It's like the *gang WANTS to mak the US into one giant maximin security prison, ala Escape from New York. Where's Snake Pilskin when we need him?

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. Well GeeGolly - This could be good for our Canuk Tourism Industry no ?

. . I mean, thow people will wanna go SOMEWHERE, no ?

. . and we are sorta close to the USA, geographicly, anyways

I think it is possible that the USA's "decline" as a world power may be as quick as it's "rise"

And you can thank King George for that -

Just My Humble Canuk Opinion

[Vogon_Glory]

10. Not Just Good For The Canadian Tourist Industry, Either

I suspect that if Ridge's more extreme notions get passed, some enterprising Caribbean government could do very well for itself by offering to offer its airport as an alternative international traffic hub for air travelers bound from Europe to elsewhere in the Americas.

While I rather doubt that the smaller Caribbean islands could afford to sacrifice the acreage to expand their airports, there is at least one country in the Greater Antilles that probably has friends and access to capital and talent to successfully pull off such a move.

Now whether one of those countries' business and political leaders have the vision and the smarts to do that would remain to be seen.

[0007]

12. We're so screwed with this junior G man in charge...

but we will over-come and it will be expensive.

In my opinion we're heading for the dark days of 29.