THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA
Reader comment on item: Special Travel Benefit for Saudis a "Slap in the Face"

Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

I am a retired Customs officer and I was in one of the airports where some of the 9/11 terrorists came through. Due to the relationship with Saudi we rarely inspected them in the way we did others. They were "our Friends" and supervisors saw no need. Look at what the Immigration inspector in Orlando went through when he turned the 20th terrorist away. He basically had to fight management to turn the guy away, but he did it. Once it was all over and they realized he had done the right thing he was praised.

Also many of the Saudi students and passengers who arrived in the US arrive on diplomatic passports due to the size of Saudi royalty and we did not inspect them the way we inspected other travelers. I would venture to say that over 75% or more of all Saudi students who arrived when I worked in the airport were on diplomatic passports.

We know that some of the Saudi royalty is financially supporting terror groups, this should be sign that there is no oversight. If they can't do oversight on this what else can't they do oversight on? Travelers?

This is a horrible idea and this is one time we should lean from history and not make the same mistake again.

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