Dave, I can see how frustrating the new regulations must be for you, and many others who are accustomed to very lax US regulations regarding foreign visitors.
I'll be traveling to Italy soon, and I learned that I will have to leave my passport with any hotel receptionist for a couple of hours while my information is given to the local police. To my knowledge, this is standard protocol there- not a recent policy based on terrorism. A few years ago, I traveled to Holland and was very surprised to see military police looking guys in the Schipoll airport (Amsterdam) carrying machine guns. Before entering our departure gate seating area, everyone on my plane was thoroughly questioned about itinerary, personal belongings, where did we stay, what did we do, who did we visit, etc. My point is that the US is just now catching up to the rest of the world with respect to security, in many respects. Is it fair to be singled out because someone has Middle-Eastern heritage? Of course not, but until the US regains some sense of security there will no doubt be some growing pains in the development of new security practices. Best regards, David B. Wagoner Database Administrator Arsenal Digital Solutions Worldwide, Inc. 8000 Regency Parkway, Suite 100 Cary, NC 27511-8582 Office (919) 466-6723 Mobile (919) 412-8462 Pager [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fax (919) 466-6783 AIM adswDWagoner http://www.arsenaldigital.com/ *** NOTICE *** This e-mail message is confidential, intended only for the named recipient(s) above and may contain information that is privileged, work product or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you have received this message in error, or are not the named recipient(s), please immediately notify the sender by phone or email and delete this e-mail message from your computer. Thank you. -----Original Message----- Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2003 1:14 PM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L Hi All, The only reason I am posting this is because I have defended America on this list and elsewhere before. I wish this to be taken as one best friend speaking to another. Background I was born in Bahrain (Persian Gulf) and left there when I was six months old. I have two passports, Canadian and UK. 30-40% of my work is in the USA. Due to the new INS regulations I am photographed and fingerprinted when I cross the border I have to check in at an INS office when I arrive at my destination I have to check in at an INS office when I leave my destination Use of my other passport to enter the US will define me as "suspicious" Please note, this in no way prevents me from working in America, however, I can no longer go skiing in Whitefish. (The nearest INS office is 2 hours south in Missoula, I believe) Walt, Steve, whats the snow like in Bozeman this year? I'm allowed to go skiing there. :-) Sigh ...... Dave -- Dave Morgan Operations Manager, Rigskills Canada Canada's Geographical Oilfield Services Locator http://www.rigskills.ca [EMAIL PROTECTED] 403 399 2442 -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net -- Author: Dave Morgan INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services --------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net -- Author: David Wagoner INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services --------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
