Saudi Gazette/Okaz report that inconveniences to Saudi students following the attempt to bomb a US airliner around Christmastime is not an issue, that they are overplayed in the media.
Security ‘no big deal’ for Saudi students in US
Abdulmuhsin Al-HarthiRIYADH – The Deputy Higher Education Minister for Foreign Scholarship Programs at the Ministry of Higher Education has said that the media has been making “too big a deal” over increased security at airports in the United States.
“Saudi students in the US have not undergone any special or personal searches at airports,” said Undersecretary Abdullah Al-Mousa Friday. “The media’s blowing it all up out of proportion.”
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January:24:2010 - 08:10
I think it’s too early to judge. The Home Land Security Department(“DHS”) might be now developing a new set of obstacles. It seems that Obama administration will be in favor of more restrictions to avoid the unbearable criticism.
The(DHS) will never give up the bad treatment for Middle Eastern students, and visitors. They want at least to give them an impression that they are not welcomed.
I’ve also read that King Abdullah has extended the governmental scholarship program for another 5 years. That includes the scholarships to the U.S
I think it might be also better to just stop the scholarships to the U.S ,and to focus more on the other countries. Who knows what would happen if Al Qaida succeeded in recruiting at least one student? Would the right wing wins the 2012 election and launch a war on ” the root of all evil” Saudi Arabia?
January:24:2010 - 08:33
I think air travel today is a hassle, no matter who you are or where you’re going. Many Americans have opted to drive rather than endure the ordeal of air travel. Sometimes, that’s feasible. International travel, of course, generally requires dealing with the security formalities. Now, if people would just stop trying to blow up airplanes, security might be able to be reduced!
January:24:2010 - 10:26
I think students should think long and hard before deciding to go to the US. Any time something goes wrong- the welcome is recinded. Too soon to say if that will improve under the Obama admin. From what I hear- not first hand yet, all the indimidation/abuse on arrival is beginning again. I’m waitinig to hear first hand- and I heard plenty first hand in the past. The immigration posts in the US seem to attract bully personalities. In the UK for example, they are much pleasanter while still swiping through your things for explosive residue. But still they leave you your dignity. And as an American it makes me sad to see the difference.
January:24:2010 - 10:30
Well, as in most things, Your Mileage May Vary. I’ve dealt with churlish security and immigration people in the UK, too. Saudi immigration varies a well. Sometimes you get a great welcome; other times, the suggestion is ‘what the hell do you think you’re doing here?!’ I’ve never had more intimate ‘pat-downs’ than in India.
Again, if people would stop using airplanes as tools of terrorism, air travel could be more pleasant. The pleasure will always be limited by the airlines need for profitability, but at least those will be markets forcing the discomfort.
I do agree that students should think long and hard about studying in any foreign country. They should think harder and longer when the culture of that country differs greatly from their own. This goes for all students intending to study at any foreign university. If you’re not prepared, the surprises you find can tend toward the unpleasant.
January:24:2010 - 10:34
I think Saudi students heading to North America should consider Canada (the warmer bits) so that at the end of 3 years on a student visa they can apply for permanent resident status and at the end of 6 be citizens. This is especially valuable for those who do not have Saudi citizenship, or want to negotiate expat packages for their own country.
Also we aren’t as “Saudi-aware” as the US which can be a blessing to the innocent.
Downsides: the climate, and fewer unis/programs to choose from.
Still and all in the South of Canada there are internationally highly recognized unis.
January:25:2010 - 12:35
@4 @2
why do you blame people trying to blow up planes for your inconvenience?! didn’t we discuss this before?! didn’t we say airport “security” is questionable at best?!
i think you should blame the /reaction/ to hijacking plots! the paranoia and the fear is to blame! what did hijackers do (directly) to you to limit your travel? who told you that you basically have no rights at airports?
even if hijackers did “stop”, do you think security will be relaxed? NO! because that would be “letting your guard down” and we can’t have that!
terrorists are to be dealt in other, more effective ways. we should be left to travel with minimum inconvenience.
let me know when the “homeland” security advisory level is blue.
January:25:2010 - 12:55
Because if people were not trying to hijack/blow up airplanes, there would be not need for the security! Take a look at this Wiki history of airline hijackings, it’s pretty informative.
You ask what have they ever done to me? Well, one thing they did was to take the life of a very close friend in the bombing of PA-103 in 1988.
If there were no future events like hijacking or bombing attempts, then the security presence would go down. It’s very expensive to run, with new screening machines costing into the hundreds of thousands of dollars and having to pay tens of thousands of salaries. Get five years with absolutely no attempts being made against airplanes and you will see a very clear decrease in the security regimes.
January:26:2010 - 04:35
I agree with John on this. I know people who take trans Atlantic flights a lot, so I also am concerned with flight safety. I was questioned once in Madrid and asked to produce receipts because I had flown there from Saudi and stopped over for a few days before continuing on to Atlanta. Was it annoying? A little. Was it because I had flown from Saudi Arabia? Absolutely. Do I feel like a victim? Not really. As far as annoyances go, I think people just like to complain about flight travel in general.
And if people would stop trying to murder travelers in the sky, the paranoia about it happening would decrease as would the inconveniences.
Also I don’t have any problem also pointing out that the people that keep trying this are using Islam to justify it. It’s human nature for people to discriminate — and when these people who are trying to blow up planes (or use them as missiles) are all justifying their murderous acts the same way, it going to hit that “group” more than others. Is it right? Nope. It is going to happen? Yes. (It happens in Saudi Arabia, too. It’s not like Saudis are free of unjustified discrimination — like how they talk about Bangladeshis, or how many treat foreign servants, especially brown ones).
And it doesn’t help to hears citizens form a country that has produced a disproportionate number of terrorists whining because they get hit with greater scrutiny than, say, old Swedish tourists flying the US.
PS: The idea about studying elsewhere is a great one. The problem is most Americans are fine with that. I don’t. I think it should be easier far anyone to pursue higher ed (and subsequent permanent residency) in the USA, but that’s just me. I think when the typical American hears a Saudi say ‘well, I’ll just go somewhere else,’ the typical reply would be ‘good.’