Let me guess Vernon, you are against ID cards in the UK as well!
Because of the possibilities of missuse by any future government of the day I am very much against giving over swingeing powers to our governments. Particularly while those very governments are so busy removing the powers to check up on their activities, bully or smear those that have the temerity to question their actions, they remove the Parliamentary systems that slow down them pushing through bills that are not in the best interests of the people and future of our country and when forced into having a "public hearing" into questionable,immoral or illegal activities they put it in the hands of their cronies who they can be sure will interpret their mandate in such a confined manner that they will pose no threat to the "status quo".
Rob, you've been spending too much time in the "corridors of power" their duplicity can be contagious
. Your argument neglects the fact that 9/11 was commited on domestic aircraft, these new "rules" would have done nothing to stop that act and do nothing to address domestic issues. You mention Spain, yet Spain already has ID card. ID cards would not stop an incident like that of Madrid occuring here (or in the US).
The war on terrorism is one that we have to win, but I fear that our governments are using the public's fear to push through legislation that have a greater potential to damage the lifestyles to which we aspire and for which our grandparents fought and died in a number of conflicts.
These moves are about Government control and their ability to keep tabs on it's population. It isn't a case of a succession of hurdles being placed in the way of a terrorist's path, as I've already stated it will just mean that terrorists (or anyone on a "watch list" ) will take a less clumbersome route into America. If America wants to stop terrorists activities it needs to concentrate on travel from Canada, Mexico by road and cross country and on travellers from the Caribbean coming in on boats (both legal and illegal).
To use a simile of themepark rides is disingenuous, it would be much more truthful to ask if there would be an objection if non US citizens had to queue for 90 minutes when those of the US only had to queue for 10. I think people (you as well grumpyJohn) would be howling from the rafters.
I have no objection to waiting in line at immigration for an hour if it would make one iota of difference to my, my family or the nations security, BUT THESE MEASURE MAKE NO DIFFERENCE (and nor would ID cards). As Rob correctly points out they are window dressing.
Will winning the war on terrorism come at the too high (IMHO) cost of losing our civil liberties? I don't believe it has to, but it seems our government believes they can use the situation to their advantage and slide these moves through while the population has been softened up with a load of scare stories and half truths they have peddled about.
This issue is more than just about terrorism, take the blinkers off and see the whole picture.
