Canadians told not to fear tighter U.S. border security

[icymist]

Wednesday, July 14, 2004 · Last updated 6:15 a.m. PT

Canadians told not to fear tighter U.S. border security

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

VICTORIA, British Columbia -- Canadians shouldn't expect tighter security that would mean more delays on the U.S. border as the political season heats up in the United States, U.S. officials said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently boosted its terrorism alert in advance of the Democrat and Republican party conventions and the presidential election in November.

As of now, though, Alfonso Martinez-Fonts, special assistant to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Tuesday at the annual Pacific NorthWest Economic Region summit there should be no reason for longer delays at the border.

<snip>

Jim Williams, another homeland security official, said border security would be tightened only if "there was a specific threat of some kind."

"We absolutely want people to come to the United States," Williams said. "We just want to make sure we can verify the good people versus the bad people. We just want to let the bad people know, `If you try to come, we will stop you."

More at this

[meegbear]

1. So when I come back from Montreal pride ....

should I wear a Bush International Terrorist t-shirt?

[gratuitous]

2. Blue Oyster Cult fans told not to fear the Reaper

We can be like they are.

[JohnyCanuck]

3. Thanks for the reassurance US officials,

but in recent times I have lost much of my desire to take cross border trips anyway.

[tom_paine]

4. If a Bushevik Organization said it, it is mostlikely a LIEEEEE!

Canadian citizens, get ready for long lines and incredibly arrogant Imperial Border Guards.

Why shouldn't they be arrogant? They are the Emperor's Men (and Women)

</sarcasm off>

[Sub Atomic]

5. That's sure keeping us safe!!

This is like making an announcement:

"Attention terrorists!! Our northern border with Canada will be left poorly protected! If you are looking for a way to access our country to cause us harm, the door's open!!"

:puke:

[Bozita]

6. Canadian license plates no longer in abundance at border city mall

The mall is right off I-75 about 15 minutes from the Ambassador Bridge. Ontario plates are now pretty rare.

[Spazito]

7. Given that the US arrested and deported a Canadian citizen...

to Syria to be tortured, Canadians of all stripes are reluctant to cross the border as it has been stated by the US ambassador to Canada, the slime ball Celluci, that Canadians can be arrested, etc, without any notification to our embassy or government and shipped wherever the US decides.

[Tommy_Douglas]

8. Just like those figure skaters that got stopped at the border...

I guess we don't need to worry. And why the hell is Celucci our ambassador? Can't Americans actually find someone who doesn't make Canadians ill?