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 ...
Never mind all that, Charles! We have an agenda to tend to here!
Just a friendly reminder:
If you want to impeach Bush, go join the trolls at DU. Keep it OFF FR.
Jim
Bump.
Ow, that hurts.
Visa to Eastern European countries that have been our best allies in Iraq. Maybe the Always Screaming Bush Haters MIGHT try at least to get the facts right ONE time.
Visa to Eastern European countries that have been our best allies in Iraq. Maybe the Always Screaming Bush Haters MIGHT try at least to get the facts right ONE time.
Simply amazing how the Always Afraid crowd has utterly NO sense of loyalty on anything to anyone for any reason. One has to figure they have NO freinds at all in their personal life since it always what THEY feel that has to be implemented 100% the second they decide they want it.
Bush unwilling to fight? Talking with you is a waste of time.
LLS
Since caps indicate screaming, it seems to be you that is the screamer.
May I quote another president: "Trust, but verify."
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