Dovester, I'm against racial profiling. Some English soccer hooligans ARE Arabs! I don't see a problem profiling drunken young men with St. George's Cross tatoos or face paintings and M-U jerseys on during the eve of a big soccer match. Especially as many of these men are already known to the police due to past transgressions. The British Home Office has kindly informed the police in other countries whom to look out for.

... and for big matches they send some UK police along to assist the local forces.

If their names appear on a list supplied by the British government, then it is not profiling.

Profiling would consist of looking more closely at all young British men coming in during the soccer match. Of course, after talking to them many may well still be allowed to enter the country. Profiling, after all, does not mean automatic banning -- it simply alerts police or security officials to check the profiled individual more closely than they would somebody who does not fit the profile.

I don't like passport stamps. I prefer my passports thin.

Is there any reason to think a majority of people in the Schengen countries want Schengen tossed out today or tomorrow?

Me too, though I'm happy for those who want them to get them on a voluntary basis, like at some tourist sites :p .

Absolutely none, though I recognise that as a mere European, I can't be expected to know much about the 'People's Republic of Europe' :rolleyes: .

Same thing with the US - once you're in, you're in.

I don't see what your point is.

The ETA is in Spain. It probably has little reason to go to Germany.

If drug and human smuggers are getting into Italy, shouldn't the problem be fixed in Italy, rather than the border between Spain and France?

Drug smugglers get drugs into Florida and then are able to bring them to New York. Are you advocating for border checks at every state?

You're advocating something that will come with a huge price tag but which will have questionable benefits. Not worth it.

My point is if I fly into Amsterdam and get past passport control, that's it.

I can go ANYWHERE I want and nobody will know.

Here's an idea:

Schengen only applies to member country citizens. If I'm American and I fly from Brussels to Copenhagen, I still have to clear Danish passport control, but a Belgian citizen wouldn't. Simple idea that would work well.

So what? I can travel from Florida to Georgia and no one will know. Sure it's the same country but what difference does that make? Europe has fewer people and a smaller geographic area.

I'm still not sure what problem you are trying to solve -- what problem that we must have much worse in the US because of our large population and wide area. You just seem upset that Europe has less security than you'd like. Where's the problem? Where's the data indicating a problem?

hockeyinsider

Hi.

What I can't see from your original post, or subsequent postings is how this affects you and why you have a problem with it?

Yes - some people, such as those you mention from Germany, may have a problem, but it is from an economic standpoint - not terrorism. They don't want an influx of people coming to the country and taking jobs.

Terrorism, as pointed out elsewhere above has been around in Europe for centuries. Most recently the UK has had to deal with the IRA, Spain with ETA. But we have effective national security agencies that monitor suspects and act accordingly.

As you are from the US - if you have a problem with security in Europe - don't go! There are many more people, especially those on business, that appreciate the freedom afforded by the Schengen agreement. Not least it saves $$ with time not wasted at border control.

Rest assured - anyone now coming from Europe has to pass through stringent security here in the US before being allowed in.

Regards

WG

Am I the only one that misses my passport stamps? :D :confused:


I understand why some people like Schengen, but I just think Europe is slowly moving in the opposite direction. Just look at the recent 'no' votes, the immigration reforms in Denmark and other countries, the issue of mass immigration from the east, etc, etc.

Oh well.

He already stated his problem. He wants to get passport stamps at each border. I say he should fly into each country from a non-Schengen country and then he will have his passport stamps. ;) Enough of this silliness.

Bad idea unless you want to increase the public payrolls and raid the treasury.

If the Dutch and the bordering states' citizens don't care, why should you care?