The Thailand expat forum for Travel, Lifestyle and Fun.

Milkman · 26-06-2008, 09:18 PM

I think this is total B.S. Is this some kind of post 9/11 rule? One poster on TD (I forgot who) said this happened to him when he returned to the US with his laptop.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Quote:

Senators Question Border Laptop Searches

Grant Gross, IDG News Service
Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Two U.S. senators called on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to back off its assertion that it can search laptops and other electronic devices owned by U.S. citizens returning to the country without the need for reasonable suspicion of a crime or probable cause.

Senators Russell Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat, and Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, both urged CBP to reconsider its policy that apparently has lead to frequent searches of laptops, digital cameras and handheld devices at borders.

"If you asked [U.S. residents] whether the government has a right to open their laptops, read their documents and e-mails, look at their photographs, and examine the Web sites they have visited, all without any suspicion of wrongdoing, I think those same Americans would say that the government has absolutely no right to do that," said Feingold, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights. "And if you asked him whether that actually happens, they would say, 'not in the United States of America.'"

Two witnesses at a hearing before the subcommittee Wednesday described widespread CBP searches of electronic devices at borders, with data copies and devices sometimes confiscated for weeks. One Muslim executive at a U.S. tech vendor has been subjected to border interrogations at least eight times since early 2007, said Farhana Khera, president and executive director of Muslim Advocates.
Other travelers have been asked why they are Muslim, were questioned about their views of U.S. presidential candidates and had laptops and cell phones searched or confiscated, Khera said. "Innocent Muslim, Arab and South Asian Americans from all walks of life have had their electronic devices searched by CBP agents, or have been interrogated by CBP agents ... all without any reasonable suspicion that the individuals were engaged in unlawful activity," she said.

In a February survey of its membership, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives found that 7 percent said they've had electronic devices seized at the U.S. border, said Susan Gurley, executive director of the trade group. It can take weeks to have those devices returned, and the seizures can disrupt the owners' work and require companies to buy costly replacements, she said.
Half of the survey respondents said a seizure of an electronic device could damage their standing within their companies, Gurley said. "These devices constitute the offices of today," Gurley said.

Link and entire: PC World - Business Center: Senators Question Border Laptop Searches

ChiangMai noon · 26-06-2008, 09:44 PM

an absolutely disgraceful abuse of privacy.

the US has gone totally mental and is relying on people's paranoia to get away with it.

think it was buadhai that had this problem before.

Wallalai · 26-06-2008, 09:57 PM

Not surprised at all. Even reminds me of a former country called URSS.

Fuck USA.

Bung · 26-06-2008, 10:08 PM

Er, do you mean USSR by any chance?

Ah yes, the land of the free.

Wallalai · 27-06-2008, 11:40 AM

Union des républiques socialistes soviétiques or URSS

Союз Советских Социалистических Республик or CCCP

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or USSR

Butterfly · 27-06-2008, 11:42 AM

yeah, glad to see that America is taking over for continuing the tradition of the USSR

britmaveric · 27-06-2008, 12:02 PM

Looking for pedo(s) - this is a good thing IMHO.

floorpotato · 27-06-2008, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butterfly

yeah, glad to see that America is taking over for continuing the tradition of the USSR

we become what we hate

Milkman · 27-06-2008, 12:10 PM

^^ Britmaveric,

I think there are additional reasons. So....should any American citizen with a laptop - of which there are millions - have their laptops scanned, searched, taken at randon all over the USA?

I don't think so.

britmaveric · 27-06-2008, 12:18 PM

^ I believe they use a set profile, and normal random targets. That being said I've been through yank immigration/passport control hundreds of times prior/after 911 and never been searched once. Carry notebook and digital cam.

Norton · 27-06-2008, 12:19 PM

Come on guys. Allowing immigration to look at anything they believe may be a threat to the security of the nation is perfectly reasonable. After all we are at war and all true patriots must support efforts to protect us from enemies of the state.

redfoot the fence · 27-06-2008, 05:17 PM

Total madness.

Mr Earl · 28-06-2008, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butterfly

yeah, glad to see that America is taking over for continuing the tradition of the USSR

"Back in the USSR...You don't know how lucky you are"

Texpat · 28-06-2008, 01:03 AM

Tempest in a teacup.

I'm inclined to believe this is much like the waterboarding outrage.

3 sessions. 5 minutes. Absolute outrage.

Perhaps the US Customs Service know just a scant more about the gentlemen scruitinized than your average TD member.

blackgang · 30-06-2008, 07:55 AM

Do something before it's too late. THIS IS CHILLING TO READ!!
We know Dick Lamm as the former Governor of Colorado. In that context his Thoughts are particularly poignant. Last week there was an immigration Overpopulation conference in Washington , DC , filled to capacity by many of America 's finest minds and leaders. A brilliant college professor by the Name of Victor Hansen Davis talked about his latest book, "Mexifornia, " Explaining how immigration - both legal and illegal was destroying the Entire state of California . He said it would march across the country until It destroyed all ves tiges of The American Dream.
Moments later, former Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm stood up and gave a Stunning speech on how to destroy America . The audience sat spellbound as He described eight methods for the destruction of the United States . He Said, "If you believe that America is too smug, too self-satisfied, too Rich, then let's destroy America . It is not that hard to do. No nation in History has survived the ravages of time. Arnold Toynbee observed that all Great civilizations rise and fall and that 'An autopsy of history would show That all great nations commit suicide.'"
"Here is how they do it," Lamm said: "First, to destroy America , turn America into a bilingual or multi-lingual and bicultural country." History Shows that no nation can survive the tension, conflict, and antagonism of Two or more competing languages and cultures. It is a blessing for an Individual to be bilingual; however, it is a curse for a society t o be Bilingual. The historical scholar, Seymour Lipset, put it this way: "The Histories of bilingual and bi-cultural societies that do not assimilate are Histories of turmoil, tension, and tragedy." Canada , Belgium , Malaysia , and Lebanon all face crises of national existence in which minorities press for Autonomy, if not independence. Pakistan and Cyprus have divided. Nigeria suppressed an ethnic rebellion. France faces difficulties with Basques, Bretons, and Corsicans.".
Lamm went on: Second, to destroy America , "Invent 'multiculturalism' and Encourage immigrants to maintain their culture. Make it an article of Belief that all cultures are equal. That there are no cultural differences.
Make it an article of faith that the Black and Hispanic dropout rates are Due solely to prejudice and discrimination by the majority. Every other Explanation is out of bounds.
Third, "We could make the United States an 'Hispanic Quebec' witho ut much Effort. The key is to celebrate diversity rather than unity. As Benjamin Schwarz said in the Atlantic Monthly recently: "The apparent success of our Own multiethnic and multicultural experiment might have been achieved not by Tolerance but by hegemony. Without the dominance that once dictated Ethnocentricity and what it meant to be an American, we are left with only Tolerance and pluralism to hold us together."
Lamm said, "I would encourage all immigrants to keep their own language and Culture. I would replace the melting pot metaphor with the salad bowl Metaphor. It is important to ensure that we have various cultural subgroups Living in America enforcing their differences rather than as Americans, Emphasizing their similarities. "
"Fourth, I would make our fastest growing demographic group the least Educated. I would add a second underclass, unassimilated, undereducated, And antagonistic to our population. I would have thi s second underclass Have a 50% dropout rate from high school."
"My fifth point for destroying America would be to get big foundations and Business to give these efforts lots of money. I would invest in ethnic Identity, and I would establish the cult of 'Victimology. ' I would get all Minorities to think that their lack of success was the fault of the Majority. I would start a grievance industry blaming all minority failure On the majority population."
"My sixth plan for America 's downfall would include dual citizenship , and Promote divided loyalties. I would celebrate diversity over unity. I would Stress differences rather than similarities. Diverse people worldwide are Mostly engaged in hating each other - that is, when they are not killing Each other. A diverse, peaceful, or stable society is against most Historical precedent. People undervalue the unity it takes to keep a nation Together. Look at the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed that they Belonged to the same race; they possessed a common Language and literature; And they worshipped the same gods. All Greece took part in the Olympic Games. A common enemy, Persia , threatened their liberty. Yet all these Bonds were not strong enough to overcome two factors: local patriotism and Geographical conditions that nurtured political divisions. Greece fell. "E. Pluribus Unum" --From many, one. In that historical reality, if we put The emphasis on the 'pluribus' instead of the 'Unum,' we will balkanize America as surely as Kosovo."
"Next to last, I would place all subjects off limits; make it taboo to talk about anything against the cult of 'diversity.' I would find a word similar to 'heretic' in the 16 th century - that stopped discussion and paralyzed thinking. Words like 'racist' or 'xenophobe' halt discussion and debate.
Having made America a bilingual/bicultura l country, having established multi-culturi sm, having the large foundations fund the doctrine of 'Victimology, ' I would next make it impossible to enforce our immigration laws. I would develop a mantra: That because immigration has been good for America , it must always be good. I would make every individual immigrant symmetric and ignore the cumulative impact of millions of them."
In the last minute of his speech, Governor Lamm wiped his brow. Profound silence followed. Finally he said,. "Lastly, I would censor Victor Hanson Davis 's book "Mexifornia. " His book is dangerous. It exposes the plan to destroy America . If you feel America . deserves to be destroyed, don't read that book."
There was no applause. A chilling fear quietly rose like an ominous cloud above every attendee at the conference . Every American in that room knew that everything Lamm enumerated was proceeding methodically, quietly, darkly, yet pervasively across the United States today. Discussion is beingsuppressed. Over 100 languages are ripping the foundation of our educational system and national cohesiveness. Even barbaric cultures that practice female genital mutilation are growing as we celebrate 'diversity.' American jobs are vanishing into the Third World as corporations create a Third World in America - take note of California and other states - to date, ten million illegal aliens and growing fast. It is reminiscent of George Orwell's book "1984." In that story, three slogans are engraved in the Ministry of Truth building: "War is peace," "Freedom is slavery," and "Ignorance is strength."
Governor Lamm walked back to his seat. It dawned on everyone at the conference that our nation and the future of this great democracy is deeply in trouble and worsening fast. If we don't get this immigration monster stopped within three years, it will rage like a California wildfire and destroy everything in its path especially The American Dream.

REMEMBER THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IN SPANISH

27-06-2008, 11:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
Wallalai Bionic Helvete Last Online: Today 11:46 PM Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Here & there Posts: 1,730	Union des républiques socialistes soviétiques or URSS Союз Советских Социалистических Республик or CCCP Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or USSR __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

30-06-2008, 07:55 AM	#15 (permalink)
blackgang Senior Member Last Online: Today 09:44 PM Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chiang Mai/San Sai Posts: 6,863	this shit has got to stop Do something before it's too late. THIS IS CHILLING TO READ!! We know Dick Lamm as the former Governor of Colorado. In that context his Thoughts are particularly poignant. Last week there was an immigration Overpopulation conference in Washington , DC , filled to capacity by many of America 's finest minds and leaders. A brilliant college professor by the Name of Victor Hansen Davis talked about his latest book, "Mexifornia, " Explaining how immigration - both legal and illegal was destroying the Entire state of California . He said it would march across the country until It destroyed all ves tiges of The American Dream. Moments later, former Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm stood up and gave a Stunning speech on how to destroy America . The audience sat spellbound as He described eight methods for the destruction of the United States . He Said, "If you believe that America is too smug, too self-satisfied, too Rich, then let's destroy America . It is not that hard to do. No nation in History has survived the ravages of time. Arnold Toynbee observed that all Great civilizations rise and fall and that 'An autopsy of history would show That all great nations commit suicide.'" "Here is how they do it," Lamm said: "First, to destroy America , turn America into a bilingual or multi-lingual and bicultural country." History Shows that no nation can survive the tension, conflict, and antagonism of Two or more competing languages and cultures. It is a blessing for an Individual to be bilingual; however, it is a curse for a society t o be Bilingual. The historical scholar, Seymour Lipset, put it this way: "The Histories of bilingual and bi-cultural societies that do not assimilate are Histories of turmoil, tension, and tragedy." Canada , Belgium , Malaysia , and Lebanon all face crises of national existence in which minorities press for Autonomy, if not independence. Pakistan and Cyprus have divided. Nigeria suppressed an ethnic rebellion. France faces difficulties with Basques, Bretons, and Corsicans.". Lamm went on: Second, to destroy America , "Invent 'multiculturalism' and Encourage immigrants to maintain their culture. Make it an article of Belief that all cultures are equal. That there are no cultural differences. Make it an article of faith that the Black and Hispanic dropout rates are Due solely to prejudice and discrimination by the majority. Every other Explanation is out of bounds. Third, "We could make the United States an 'Hispanic Quebec' witho ut much Effort. The key is to celebrate diversity rather than unity. As Benjamin Schwarz said in the Atlantic Monthly recently: "The apparent success of our Own multiethnic and multicultural experiment might have been achieved not by Tolerance but by hegemony. Without the dominance that once dictated Ethnocentricity and what it meant to be an American, we are left with only Tolerance and pluralism to hold us together." Lamm said, "I would encourage all immigrants to keep their own language and Culture. I would replace the melting pot metaphor with the salad bowl Metaphor. It is important to ensure that we have various cultural subgroups Living in America enforcing their differences rather than as Americans, Emphasizing their similarities. " "Fourth, I would make our fastest growing demographic group the least Educated. I would add a second underclass, unassimilated, undereducated, And antagonistic to our population. I would have thi s second underclass Have a 50% dropout rate from high school." "My fifth point for destroying America would be to get big foundations and Business to give these efforts lots of money. I would invest in ethnic Identity, and I would establish the cult of 'Victimology. ' I would get all Minorities to think that their lack of success was the fault of the Majority. I would start a grievance industry blaming all minority failure On the majority population." "My sixth plan for America 's downfall would include dual citizenship , and Promote divided loyalties. I would celebrate diversity over unity. I would Stress differences rather than similarities. Diverse people worldwide are Mostly engaged in hating each other - that is, when they are not killing Each other. A diverse, peaceful, or stable society is against most Historical precedent. People undervalue the unity it takes to keep a nation Together. Look at the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed that they Belonged to the same race; they possessed a common Language and literature; And they worshipped the same gods. All Greece took part in the Olympic Games. A common enemy, Persia , threatened their liberty. Yet all these Bonds were not strong enough to overcome two factors: local patriotism and Geographical conditions that nurtured political divisions. Greece fell. "E. Pluribus Unum" --From many, one. In that historical reality, if we put The emphasis on the 'pluribus' instead of the 'Unum,' we will balkanize America as surely as Kosovo." "Next to last, I would place all subjects off limits; make it taboo to talk about anything against the cult of 'diversity.' I would find a word similar to 'heretic' in the 16 th century - that stopped discussion and paralyzed thinking. Words like 'racist' or 'xenophobe' halt discussion and debate. Having made America a bilingual/bicultura l country, having established multi-culturi sm, having the large foundations fund the doctrine of 'Victimology, ' I would next make it impossible to enforce our immigration laws. I would develop a mantra: That because immigration has been good for America , it must always be good. I would make every individual immigrant symmetric and ignore the cumulative impact of millions of them." In the last minute of his speech, Governor Lamm wiped his brow. Profound silence followed. Finally he said,. "Lastly, I would censor Victor Hanson Davis 's book "Mexifornia. " His book is dangerous. It exposes the plan to destroy America . If you feel America . deserves to be destroyed, don't read that book." There was no applause. A chilling fear quietly rose like an ominous cloud above every attendee at the conference . Every American in that room knew that everything Lamm enumerated was proceeding methodically, quietly, darkly, yet pervasively across the United States today. Discussion is beingsuppressed. Over 100 languages are ripping the foundation of our educational system and national cohesiveness. Even barbaric cultures that practice female genital mutilation are growing as we celebrate 'diversity.' American jobs are vanishing into the Third World as corporations create a Third World in America - take note of California and other states - to date, ten million illegal aliens and growing fast. It is reminiscent of George Orwell's book "1984." In that story, three slogans are engraved in the Ministry of Truth building: "War is peace," "Freedom is slavery," and "Ignorance is strength." Governor Lamm walked back to his seat. It dawned on everyone at the conference that our nation and the future of this great democracy is deeply in trouble and worsening fast. If we don't get this immigration monster stopped within three years, it will rage like a California wildfire and destroy everything in its path especially The American Dream. REMEMBER THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IN SPANISH __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Political Correctness: A doctrine, fosteredby a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end." To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

26-06-2008, 09:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
ChiangMai noon ysbryd y nos Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: o dan y bryn Posts: 25,162	an absolutely disgraceful abuse of privacy. the US has gone totally mental and is relying on people's paranoia to get away with it. think it was buadhai that had this problem before.

26-06-2008, 09:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
Wallalai Bionic Helvete Last Online: Today 11:46 PM Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Here & there Posts: 1,730	Not surprised at all. Even reminds me of a former country called URSS. Fuck USA.

26-06-2008, 10:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bung Tounguin for a beer. Last Online: Today 03:12 AM Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wat Bung Posts: 1,208	Er, do you mean USSR by any chance? Ah yes, the land of the free.

27-06-2008, 11:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
Butterfly Suspended Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 11,645	yeah, glad to see that America is taking over for continuing the tradition of the USSR

27-06-2008, 12:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
britmaveric nid aur yw popeth melyn Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pattaya Posts: 2,679	Looking for pedo(s) - this is a good thing IMHO.

27-06-2008, 12:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
Milkman Gone Off Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: shelf Posts: 9,390	^^ Britmaveric, I think there are additional reasons. So....should any American citizen with a laptop - of which there are millions - have their laptops scanned, searched, taken at randon all over the USA? I don't think so.

27-06-2008, 12:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
britmaveric nid aur yw popeth melyn Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pattaya Posts: 2,679	^ I believe they use a set profile, and normal random targets. That being said I've been through yank immigration/passport control hundreds of times prior/after 911 and never been searched once. Carry notebook and digital cam.

27-06-2008, 12:19 PM	#11 (permalink)
Norton Born Again Pagan Last Online: Today 04:33 PM Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Roiet Posts: 7,039	Come on guys. Allowing immigration to look at anything they believe may be a threat to the security of the nation is perfectly reasonable. After all we are at war and all true patriots must support efforts to protect us from enemies of the state.

27-06-2008, 05:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
redfoot the fence Railay Beach Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 116	Total madness.

28-06-2008, 01:03 AM	#14 (permalink)
Texpat ฝรั่งพูดมาก Last Online: Today 11:44 PM Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nong Khai Posts: 9,484	Tempest in a teacup. I'm inclined to believe this is much like the waterboarding outrage. 3 sessions. 5 minutes. Absolute outrage. Perhaps the US Customs Service know just a scant more about the gentlemen scruitinized than your average TD member.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)