Dan Abrams
Requiring Pakistani and Saudi male visitors to register with the INS
http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | Men older than 16 from visiting countries like Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, North Korea, Sudan have to submit to fingerprinting and photographs. These are countries whose citizens are considered possible terrorists.
Now, whether you agree with the policy or not, if you're going to have it, the countries have to be chosen based on whether its citizens have been involved in terrorism, not on whether the government is an ally. This is a law enforcement effort, not a diplomatic one.
The leaders of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan should recognize that even if their government's help in the war on terror, some of their citizens comprise much of the Al Qaeda fighting force. Even Qatar is on the list, a nation that will likely serve as a launching point for any war against Iraq.
It's not about racism, politics, or religious belief. It's
based on history, and where the terrorists have come from.
And while it's true that fingerprints and photographs might
not make much of a difference in combating terror, in this
day and age, it's not too much to ask, even of our allies.
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JWR contributor Dan Abrams anchors “The Abrams Report,” Monday through Friday from 6-7 p.m. ET on MSNBC TV. He also covers legal stories for “NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw,” “Today” and “Dateline NBC.” To visit his website, click here. Comment by clicking here.
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