Guest bob_barron Report post Posted October 31, 2002 OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada, in a highly unusual travel warning, on Wednesday urged Canadian citizens born in countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia to think carefully before entering the United States, saying they could fall afoul of tough new U.S. anti-terrorism laws. The Foreign Ministry said it issued the advisory after Washington stipulated that anyone born in Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, or Syria needed to be photographed and fingerprinted on arrival in the United States. This includes citizens of Canada, a country which is traditionally regarded as one of the closest allies of the United States. "It's not something we approve of and we've registered our strongest disapproval with the United States authorities," Foreign Minister Bill Graham told reporters. "We can't tell the Americans what to do on their own territory. What we're telling them is that we don't accept this and we find it very troubling...I am certain that in due course common sense will prevail." The Foreign Ministry advisory, posted on its Web site, is another indication of how ties between the two neighbors have soured in past months amid disputes over trade, policy toward Iraq and immigration policies. Before the Sept. 11 suicide attacks, people from both countries crossed the shared 5,525 mile border with barely a thought. Security and identity checks have now been tightened considerably. The U.S. rules, introduced on Sept. 11 this year, are designed to tighten security by authorizing the Immigration and Naturalization Service to track the arrival and departure of non-immigrants. Ottawa's travel warning follows the controversial deportation of a Canadian citizen by the United States to Syria, his birthplace, earlier this month. The advisory also said Canadians born in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia or Yemen could attract special attention from U.S. authorities. "In these circumstances, the (ministry) advises Canadians who were born in the above (eight) countries or who may be citizens of these countries to consider carefully whether they should attempt to enter the United States for any reason, including transit to or from third countries," it said. Graham said he had raised the issue last month with Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites), who gave assurances that some kind of flexibility would be introduced for Canadian citizens. "We're expecting some news from the Americans. They have not brought in that flexibility," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Reynald Doiron. In Washington, the State Department said the new rules were designed to make the United States safer. "I think we are concerned that many, many countries in the world have had problems with terrorists," spokesman Richard Boucher told a briefing. He referred specifically to the case of Algerian-born Ahmed Ressam, who was arrested in December 1999 trying to enter the United States from Canada in a car packed with explosives. It later emerged that he had ignored a Canadian deportation order against him and even managed to obtain a Canadian passport. "So, yes, it's a big border and bad guys try to come across. I think that goes without saying. The question is what we, in cooperation with the Canadian government, can do to make both our countries safer," said Boucher. Last month, U.S. agents at New York's John F. Kennedy airport arrested a Canadian they suspected of links to militant groups, finally expelling him to Syria on Oct. 8. Mohamed Arar -- who also holds a Syrian passport -- was arrested as he was changing planes on his way back to Canada from Tunisia. He is in detention in Syria, where authorities are probing whether he has links to groups such as al Qaeda. U.S. critics charge that Canada's immigration system does not do enough to weed out militants who might want to launch attacks in the United States. Graham said he had stressed to U.S. officials that all immigrants had to go through tough security screening before coming to Canada. "I have pointed out to them that both our countries are countries of immigration and that Canadian citizens have a right to be treated as Canadian citizens wherever they may be born," he said. Hussein Amery, president of the National Council on Canada-Arab Relations, said the U.S. rules were a clear case of racial profiling and urged Ottawa to toughen its stance. "It certainly looks, smells and feels like racism...the Americans are certainly not treating Canadians as friends when they do this," he added, referring to the Arar case. Canada's ties with the United States are already under strain over a protracted trade dispute about Canadian lumber exports, fresh tensions over wheat exports and Ottawa's opposition to a unilateral U.S. attack on Iraq. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Kotzenjunge Report post Posted October 31, 2002 Sound advice, considering how leery the majority of the country is toward that ethnic group. But Canada is evil because they won't support us on that UN resolution thingamabob, aren't they. I keep forgetting that part. Seriously though, if terrorists and subversives are getting in here from there, we should at least be more on guard at the borders, not neccesarily uber-tight. Kotzenjunge Canada is All Right Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted October 31, 2002 The Foreign Ministry said it issued the advisory after Washington stipulated that anyone born in Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, or Syria needed to be photographed and fingerprinted on arrival in the United States. What a ridiculous policy. HOW could Saudi Arabia have been left off the list? Fifteen of the nineteen 9/11 hijackers were of Saudi descent, just like Usama bin Laden. HELLO?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Kotzenjunge Report post Posted October 31, 2002 They might not let us use their airbases for the attack on Iraq, that's why. Kotzenjunge Wishes We Didn't Have to Bargain Like That Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted October 31, 2002 They might not let us use their airbases for the attack on Iraq, that's why. Fuck 'em. We'll take all our military out of their shithole country and not buy their oil anymore. Let's see who that works out better for when the royal family is dead and the people are starving. I know they're supposed to be our friends and all, but the Sauds are nothing but two-faced terrorist supporters. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Kotzenjunge Report post Posted October 31, 2002 Hey, I was just giving the reasoning, I don't agree with it at all. Kotzenjunge Holds Up the White Flag Before he Gets Fired Upon Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Olympic Slam Report post Posted October 31, 2002 HOW could Saudi Arabia have been left off the list? Fifteen of the nineteen 9/11 hijackers were of Saudi descent, just like Usama bin Laden. HELLO?? Oil, sweet sweet oil Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DrTom Report post Posted October 31, 2002 Oil, sweet sweet oil I so do not want to go down this road again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted October 31, 2002 I think most middle-eastern country's are secretly supporting the U.S. and U.K in Iraq but they can't be vocal about it because of the problems it would cause in their home countries. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted October 31, 2002 Is Saudi Arabia that strategic of a point of attack? I mean, Turkey is RIGHT THERE, as well as Israel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
