Comments on: Travel and Human Rights http://xrdarabia.org/2010/01/25/9594/ Informed comment and commentary about Saudi Arabia, reform, and its relations with the US Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:53:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Daisy http://xrdarabia.org/2010/01/25/9594/comment-page-1/#comment-27822 Daisy Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:51:16 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=9594#comment-27822 John, You'll have to prove your suspicion to the TSA - you don't have any comments from me on your blog in support of orthodox, fundamentalist, extremist Muslims! Nor have I been severely critical of the US! And you have seen my blog - I am not supporting any Jihadists from across the border there. I think the US will do well to give ME a job in the counter-terrorism campaign - and then we'll see what to do with high-profile ex-diplomats who keep on going to Saudi Arabia every year and seem to have a soft corner for Saudis! :-D John,
You’ll have to prove your suspicion to the TSA – you don’t have any comments from me on your blog in support of orthodox, fundamentalist, extremist Muslims! Nor have I been severely critical of the US! And you have seen my blog – I am not supporting any Jihadists from across the border there.

I think the US will do well to give ME a job in the counter-terrorism campaign – and then we’ll see what to do with high-profile ex-diplomats who keep on going to Saudi Arabia every year and seem to have a soft corner for Saudis! :-D

]]> By: John Burgess http://xrdarabia.org/2010/01/25/9594/comment-page-1/#comment-27818 John Burgess Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:45:56 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=9594#comment-27818 So, Daisy... you've been weaving a clever ploy through all these comments... I'll have to tip off the TSA guys to be on the lookout! :) So, Daisy… you’ve been weaving a clever ploy through all these comments… I’ll have to tip off the TSA guys to be on the lookout! :)

]]> By: Daisy http://xrdarabia.org/2010/01/25/9594/comment-page-1/#comment-27815 Daisy Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:32:45 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=9594#comment-27815 John, Yes, polite but tough is your strong point. You must get that job and then I'll be making frequent trips to the US. I think by now you know I am not a terrorist! :-D John,
Yes, polite but tough is your strong point. You must get that job and then I’ll be making frequent trips to the US.

I think by now you know I am not a terrorist! :-D

]]> By: John Burgess http://xrdarabia.org/2010/01/25/9594/comment-page-1/#comment-27802 John Burgess Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:50:11 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=9594#comment-27802 LOL, indeed! 'Polite but tough' is exactly what's needed, isn't it? Aren't most of the complaints about the rudeness of the TSA agents? Maybe <em>I'll</em> apply for a job! LOL, indeed! ‘Polite but tough’ is exactly what’s needed, isn’t it? Aren’t most of the complaints about the rudeness of the TSA agents?

Maybe I’ll apply for a job!

]]> By: Sandy http://xrdarabia.org/2010/01/25/9594/comment-page-1/#comment-27801 Sandy Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:00:02 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=9594#comment-27801 LOL. No one would like me. Not TSA or the people coming in (I'm polite, but tough). I think my ego would get seriously damaged. No, I'd best sit on the sidelines and be content with whining! You know, play to my strengths! LOL. No one would like me. Not TSA or the people coming in (I’m polite, but tough). I think my ego would get seriously damaged.

No, I’d best sit on the sidelines and be content with whining!
You know, play to my strengths!

]]> By: John Burgess http://xrdarabia.org/2010/01/25/9594/comment-page-1/#comment-27800 John Burgess Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:30:43 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=9594#comment-27800 Well, you could always apply for a job with TSA! Just be getting on staff, you'd lift the whole lot, no? Well, you could always apply for a job with TSA! Just be getting on staff, you’d lift the whole lot, no?

]]> By: Sandy http://xrdarabia.org/2010/01/25/9594/comment-page-1/#comment-27798 Sandy Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:25:07 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=9594#comment-27798 Logically, I know that. But I'm still pissed about some of what happened to myself and others. And I hate to think it may all start again. Since they are so un-coordinated, no need to take it out on others by being rude bullies...-did I say I was still mad? Logically, I know that. But I’m still pissed about some of what happened to myself and others. And I hate to think it may all start again. Since they are so un-coordinated, no need to take it out on others by being rude bullies…-did I say I was still mad?

]]> By: John Burgess http://xrdarabia.org/2010/01/25/9594/comment-page-1/#comment-27797 John Burgess Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:17:37 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=9594#comment-27797 Sandy, you seem to be suffering under the misapprehension that government works in a fully-coordinated way! Alas, that's not the case. Issuing visas is done by State Department. Accepting the visa is done by the Department of Homeland Security, specifically, the Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). They have overlapping, but different mandates. State focuses on the laws that govern who qualifies for what sort of visa. ICE looks at other aspects, including security. Mostly, they agree; sometimes they don't. Sandy, you seem to be suffering under the misapprehension that government works in a fully-coordinated way! Alas, that’s not the case. Issuing visas is done by State Department. Accepting the visa is done by the Department of Homeland Security, specifically, the Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE). They have overlapping, but different mandates. State focuses on the laws that govern who qualifies for what sort of visa. ICE looks at other aspects, including security. Mostly, they agree; sometimes they don’t.

]]> By: Sandy http://xrdarabia.org/2010/01/25/9594/comment-page-1/#comment-27794 Sandy Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:57:53 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=9594#comment-27794 It isn't the checking that's the problem. Is there any reason they can't be polite when doing it? The US choose to issue VISA's they should at least be polite if the person hasn't done anything. And they should extend the VISA for the full time of studying and they should issue VISA's to the mothers of these students so they can watch their children graduate. And they should be polite to their own citizens of Arab descent and those that speand time in the Mid-East, and they shouldn't bully children (under 18-US citizens) traveling alone from the ME to the states. If they don't want Saudi's they shouldn't have them come. No excuse for the way they treat US citizens at times. These are the things we don't like. It got better with the Obama administration, but this is what we all fear a return to. It isn’t the checking that’s the problem. Is there any reason they can’t be polite when doing it? The US choose to issue VISA’s they should at least be polite if the person hasn’t done anything. And they should extend the VISA for the full time of studying and they should issue VISA’s to the mothers of these students so they can watch their children graduate.

And they should be polite to their own citizens of Arab descent and those that speand time in the Mid-East, and they shouldn’t bully children (under 18-US citizens) traveling alone from the ME to the states.

If they don’t want Saudi’s they shouldn’t have them come. No excuse for the way they treat US citizens at times.

These are the things we don’t like. It got better with the Obama administration, but this is what we all fear a return to.

]]> By: Chiara http://xrdarabia.org/2010/01/25/9594/comment-page-1/#comment-27780 Chiara Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:55:14 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=9594#comment-27780 It is true that the US has more higher ranked universities and also just more universities of all ranks, and programs to choose from. That is part of the attraction generally. Also all those Saudi/Aramco ties, historic and current, seem to affect choices about education and healthcare. It is true that the US has more higher ranked universities and also just more universities of all ranks, and programs to choose from. That is part of the attraction generally. Also all those Saudi/Aramco ties, historic and current, seem to affect choices about education and healthcare.

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