Newsstand - Has the United States Customs Service lost its mind?

[TSA/U.S. Customs] "plan put together in a vacuum with little apparent understanding of the broad impact across the global business landscape"

http://www.aircargoworld.com/departments/editors_note/paul_page.htm

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">For businesses and consumers alike, the U.S. Customs Service proposal is an example of the worst kind of government response to the terrorism that remains a daily threat to our modern world. </font>

That could also apply to the TSA and other bonehead, panicky federal government moves since 9/11.

The answer to your question is certainly yes. But then again, the color is ORANGE, so what do you expect? I'm going back to my bomb shelter now. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Bruce

pass the duct tape when you are finished with it...

Can't lose what you never had.

I think we are living in Candyland now ... all the darn colors!

You have beer in that bomb shelter of yours, Bruce?


[This message has been edited by tazi (edited 02-11-2003).]

I haven't been able to drink anything since I wrapped myself in plastic and sealed it with duct tape! I'm getting weaker...(but I'm safe!).

Bruce

Have duct tape. Will trade for beer.

Rather than help Home Depot by buying plastic and duct tape, I simply loaded up the nine and an extra clip with hollow points.

Bring it on, OBL, we're ready for ya! Roughly 1/4 of the American population owns about 270 million guns.

Why shouldn't couriers be required to tell the Customers service what's coming 8 hours before it lands in the US? I have a hard time seeing why that's going to be so difficult for UPS, FedEx, DHL, and the like to do since it's all done electronically anyway. That would actually only be a big problem for shipments from North and South America ... anything coming from over the Atlantic or Pacific should have an 8 hour or so flight time anyway, meaning they just have to tell Customs what's on the aircraft before it takes off ... they certainly should know what's aboard by then ...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
Why shouldn't couriers be required to tell the Customers service what's coming 8 hours before it lands in the US? I have a hard time seeing why that's going to be so difficult for UPS, FedEx, DHL, and the like to do since it's all done electronically anyway. That would actually only be a big problem for shipments from North and South America ... anything coming from over the Atlantic or Pacific should have an 8 hour or so flight time anyway, meaning they just have to tell Customs what's on the aircraft before it takes off ... they certainly should know what's aboard by then ...</font>

Except that the plan they are proposing does not only involve the UPS/Fedex type shipments but all shipments including say personal effects of a USAF pilot sending home personnal effects his family has accumulated after from being stationed overseas.
Other shipments such as manufactured items like steel pipes etc etc have had these requirements for years though the reason has more to do with the collection of import duties rather than security.
Having attended some 10 steel ships alone
within the past year I have yet to see US customs do a spot check to actually verify manifest items, if they do visit they are more interested in finding drugs.
The above requirements if put in place will only increase the cost and hassle to shippers in an attempt to force the freight companies do US customs' work.
If you think flying has become a pain you ought to see the crap thats going on in the shipping industry. I predict this security stuff is going to send this country into recession the likes we have never seen.
Mike
Edited for spelling

[This message has been edited by MIKESILV (edited 02-13-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MIKESILV:
I predict this security stuff is going to send this country into recession the likes we have never seem.</font>

That may well be the only way to make all parties concerned come back to reason...

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by monahos:
That may well be the only way to make all parties concerned come back to reason...</font>

That won't work. If we do get into a severe security-induced recession people (particularly in the Bush administration) will just blame it on the terrorists. "Terrorism is still too big a threat," people will say, pointing to extraordinary security measures as evidence of this in a typical media-induced fit of circular reasoning. "We need More Security to get our lives back on track." This, of course, is a vicious cycle which started right after September 11, 2001 and doesn't show signs of stopping anytime soon.

Still here in my safe room
My gas mask is on and have sealed the windows/ walls with as much duct tape as possible
Please let me know when its safe to come out.And the threat has been reduced
Daffy Duct http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by 777 global mile hound (edited 02-16-2003).]

"No TV and no beer make Homer something something..."

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"Give me Liberty or give me Death." - Patrick Henry