Does anyone else think the Schengen Agreement is the worst thing for European security?

I cannot understand why in a post-September 11 world the various European countries continue to allow the “free movement” of persons with essentially no border control.

Last year I went on a seven-day business trip (it was a personal vacation if you work for Customs & Immigration, lol) that saw me hit Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom in that short period.

My first flight originated in Detroit and landed in Amsterdam. Upon arrival, I proceeded to the passport control area, where the inspector looked at my U.S. passport and stamped it, without any questions or even a second-look.

From there I caught a connecting flight to Brussels. After arriving in Belgium, a friend decided to take me on a drive back up to the Netherlands for the evening. And because of Schengen, there was no border control.

We proceeded back to Brussels and two days later, I caught a flight to Copenhagen for mini-stay. The next morning I flew back to Brussels. Again, no passport control at either airport.

The remainder of my trip was in Brussels and nearby cities. On my way home, I flew to London’s Gatwick for a flight back to Detroit. Because the U.K. is not part of Schengen, I was subject to passport control upon arrival and the questions were brief, but at least there was security. I then proceeded to overnight at a local hotel before a morning flight home.

You would think so much travel in such a short period would alert security officials, but it didn’t. I can safely say that the Schengen member countries have little information about who or what is coming and leaving their soil and airspace. Quite sad.