Posted on 11/29/2006 5:46:43 AM PST by kellynla
TALLINN, Estonia -- President Bush said yesterday he will push Congress for a "loosening" of requirements for foreigners to visit the United States without a visa, pitting him against those who have called for the program instead to be tightened or even scrapped altogether after September 11.
The Visa Waiver Program allows visitors with valid passports from 27 approved countries to enter the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. That makes tourism and business travel easier by eliminating the need for a visa, though such travelers can avoid a security screening.
After meeting with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in Tallinn, Mr. Bush said he will press Congress to revamp the program to allow more countries to join. "I'm going to work with our Congress and our international partners to modify our Visa Waiver Program," Mr. Bush said. "It's a way to make sure that nations like Estonia qualify more quickly for the program and, at the same time, strengthen the program's security components."
But the proposed expansion would run athwart concerns that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cannot keep up with the 27 countries already approved, as the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Congress' investigative branch, found in a July report.
"DHS cannot effectively monitor the law enforcement and security risks posed by visa waiver countries on a consistent, ongoing basis because it has not provided [the Office of International Enforcement] with adequate staffing and resources," GAO investigators concluded, adding they also found "weaknesses" in how DHS talks with overseas posts working on visa issues.
European Union officials have complained that while U.S. nationals can visit any of the 25 EU member states without a visa, only 15 of these countries receive reciprocal privileges from the United States.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
In keeping with his open borders policy.
So remind me again why we elected him! I can't see any advantage in having him as president over having a liberal who admits it.
You say crap like that based on a "story" in the dbm??????
LLS
"So remind me again why we elected him!"
Well he is better than "Dumb & Dumber", Gore & Kerry. LOL
And the sad part about it all, I don't see anyone better on the horizon for '08 aside from Dick Cheney.
Where are all the "Ike-like" military candidates out there?
We need a wartime POTUS with some combat experience!
In a word, we reward our enemies (except for the Brits) and punish our real European allies.
It's a stupid policy and I'm glad Bush seems to be finally changing it.
"I think that was uncalled for."
what was "uncalled for" was W's moronic idea of allowing more foreigners including Muzzies into this country during a time of war!
duhhhhhh...
The borders & ports should have been sealed on 9/12/2001 and every Muzzie swingin' dick in America DEPORTED!
And yes that includes Muzzie American citizens, citizenry is a privilege not a right. Either we are at war or we are not!
"I'm glad Bush seems to be finally changing it."
you be sure to hang around when we're carting off the dead bodies after the next terrorist attack in America!
gezzzzzzzzzzzzzz
If Bush is unwilling to fight the war, toss him out and get Cheney in there.
I guess Congress, the Judicial System and the Executive Branch simply will not secure the borders and / or admit it costs significant money to tighten security of who comes and goes in this country.
Well, if there were a majority of 'elected' officials in Congress with any amount of integrity, sense of duty, loyalty to their oaths of office, a sense of pride in America, etc., rather than constantly preoccupied with pubic image, reelection contributions, corruption (return of political favors), deception, etc., then, I reckon the Congress critters and the POTUS would clearly see that programs like "No Child Left Behind" and 15,000 other such BS federal programs could be done away with and the money would then be available for ICE, INS etc., to expand to some degree with increased security that could then be maintained along with an increase in background searches and eventually a shortened process.
I honestly believe there is a group within government that seriously wants a huge excuse (devastating nuclear / biological attack) to remove our liberty and freedoms under the pretense of for our own safety / 'security' so even more power and control is transferred to the publicly elected oligarchy.
Then tighten up for everyone.
Has anyone noticed we're in a war?
What's everyone so uptight about?
There are very few passports which tell the truth nowadays.
Oh, Except for Asia.
Final proof that Bush has completely lost his mind. There should be no visa waivers for anyone from anywhere. Something like half of the illegals here are visa overstayers. It doesn't kill me to have to get a visa to go where I want to go. We shouldn't be doing anything that makes it easier for people to slip into our country and stay. Muslims aside, none of whom should be admitted, I don't see where it serves our national interest to admit more Poles, Estonians and Hungarians (George Soros is Hungarian). Ireland has been overrun by Poles lately, let them go there. And let them jump throught the hoops and then track the ones who are here.
Saudi Arabia.
Thank you!
Those countries haven't yet been attacked by Islamofacists.
Read post #13.
I don't need to read ANYTHING!
you just make yourself available to help carry the dead bodies after the next terrorist attack in America!!!
Oh man.
Amazing!
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