Copper theft

In this particular case, the person involved was stupid to book a flight through the USA where (if his B.I. was any good) he would know an investigation was going on.

That said, the USA does seem to be trying to make an example of him rather than go after all their homegrown operations as well.

Cheers

PeteS

Do you think it was reasonable to bomb a foreign country and overthrow its government just to prevent them charging fair taxes to United Fruit? See

Spread democracy? Yeah, right.

To be honest, the USA today reminds me of UK, France, Portugal, Spain and others from a couple of hundred years ago. Then, we would do precisely these things whenlocal politicians and reformers were seen as 'against our economic interest' which really meant 'against the economic interest of those with power'.

I don't think we can level charges without admitting we used to do it, but perhaps the USA might be a little more forthcoming about it's activities (particularly in South America where it views higher costs for anything as a 'security' issue).

Cheers

PeteS

Will the US start enforcing its age of consent laws on all travellers next? If so, which of the many state versions will they choose?

Apparently not.

Where do you live? Even I, a Canadian born in England know enough about US history that the Revolutionary war (circa 1776) and the US Civil War (circa

A lot of bad stuff happened 50 years ago. In that same time frame, +- a decade or so, Hitler killed a few tens of millions, and Stalin and Mao each killed more. Let's hope we have all made some progress.

What's the alternative to spreading democracy? Doing nothing can be immoral, too.

John

Under some circumstances, probably so. If a tourist showed up in the US with an underage wife that he married under duress, she would have legal protections here, and it might be possible that he could have criminal liability. If she was 8 years old and he had sex with her here, that would be illegal even if they were married in Sudan. Same way with visitors who bring in their kids and beat or mutilate them, even though it's legal at home. Is it different in the UK?

Some human rights must be universal, or the concept is meaningless.

John

Same

In some ways, it is different (and I am rather ashamed of my country for it). Personally, I think that if you set foot in another country you obey their laws (although transit through an airport is a slightly different situation). The failure of the UK to enforce some human rights laws but not ignore others is one of the reasons both the poltical class and the police are seen as more and more irrelevant and disrespected.

Not sure how much further it can go, to be honest.

A difficult question might be age of consent for travellers passing through (transit only which means, strictly speaking, they never set foot in the country they are transiting through if they never clear immigration) - for Australia, it's low and set to go lower. Will the USA enforce it on transit travellers? That can be a two edged sword, you know.

As an example, many countries do not have an equivalent to the First amendment. Would you agree then that if they wore a t-shirt with a swastika that being picked up in Berlin - in transit - for a criminal offence would be reasonable? (Yes, I have met some who would do such things).

I'm looking for consistency.

Cheers

PeteS

Sometimes it's the best thing to do. Who has gained from the failure in Iraq - except the terrorists?

Then you should know your own history. Many loyalists left the USA for Canada. IIRC the White House was originally owned by such a family. The 'Revolutionary' war was a war mainly between settlers in the Americas.

But if she is 17 and perfectly happy - but they are transiting through NY state say?

--- No, we're acting more like a bunch of folks trying to keep the gangsters from taking over _our_ turf. And yours as well, even though Canadia's not a _really_ big prize yet. ;)

Currently it seems like we're under siege by the mouthy kids of the parents who's asses we saved in the past and, over time, resented not being able to take care of their own self-generated problems themselves or, who knows???

A couple of world wars we got sucked into, and ended to the benefit of everyone involved and, all of a sudden _we're_ the bad guys?

It'll probably change again when the Jihadist goatfuckers attack you for being non-Muslim, and then we'll have to listen to your pleas for help and jump in and save the world, again.

Oh well, that's what we do.

-- John Fields Professional Circuit Designer

actually !

Envy ? You have to be kidding.

I feel rather sad for you lot actually.

Graham

My Zambian friend has just her application for British citizenship accepted btw.

Very different culture too.

Graham

pillock n : a person who is not very bright; "The economy, stupid!" [syn: stupid, stupid person, dullard, dolt, pudding head, pudden-head, poor fish]

Graham

Not to mention extraditing ppl in similar instances !

The 'Natwest 3'.

Graham

British North America.

Graham