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As I right this, the US Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration are actively instituting a policy of rigid security checks into the routines of the all of the worlds airlines and all of the world airports who fly into the continental United States of America.

As of this morning, if you’re flying into the US, you may not leave your seat for one hour prior to landing for any purpose. During that hour, you will be prevented from,

Accessing your carry-on luggage
Using an electronic device for any reason
You will also be prevented from holding in your lap any items, which includes laptops and also includes and personal effects, Airline supplied Pillows and blankets
You will also not be allowed to have any electronic items switched on even before you enter the aircraft and you will be required to keep them off until after the cabin crew permit you to use them
Having access to any internal flight communications (WiFi etc)
Showing the aircraft's position or at any time during the flight have knowledge of the aircraft’s position if over US Territory
Asking or be provided with information as to the location, heading or flight path of the aircraft.

And most shocking of all...is that every airport in the world who wishes to send a person on a plane to the US must physically inspect all of the hand luggage of that person and each person must have a ‘pat down’ physical check prior to boarding the aircraft.

The Aviation Security Directive SD-1544-09-06 was issued on Christmas Day by the Department of Homeland Security and in its depth and understanding of the incidents aboard the Delta Airlines Plane operated by NorthWest it is shockingly fast and likely to create rumours of ‘conspiracy’ or ‘incompetence’ in equal measure.

What is astounding is that they knew about this guy and his ties to radical groups. He is the son of a Nigerian Diplomat who actively cautioned the US and UK governments that he had lost touch with his son and that his thinking had been changed. However, the US and UK governments did not list him as a ‘no fly’ suspect and as his visa was valid (they hadn’t even revoked that) he flew as normal.

The effect on US tourism and business travel have yet to be assessed, but those who are undecided will surely consider alternate travel or other locations. What is sure is that the aim of terrorism is not mass destruction but is simply terror and every time you remove your shoes or your belt or your coat at a security station across the world, the terrorist has won. I had been undecided as to whether to attend MacWorld Expo this year. Work has been busier and had pulled me towards ‘No’ but this has made up my mind. America is a great country spoilt by a Democratic Government that behaves like a dictatorship.

Entry to every other country in the world is a pleasure with some minor inconveniences. America is unnecessarily intrusive to my privacy and data, has rude and ineffective TSA staff and a government policy that will only see the US decline into further isolation from the rest of the world yet continue to further its business interests in the name of Anti-Terrorism and World Politics.

Ewen Rankin

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Ewen Rankin

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