India diplomat gets 'humiliating' pat-down at Mississippi airport (Meera shankar)

[TenjikuKensei]

You are wrong.Diplomats are exempted from any kind of enhanced security screening.The rules were set at the Vienna convention.

Exactly

In other words the TSA procedures are in violation of the Vienna convention and cannot hold in any international court of law.

The ONLY reason the other diplomats have let this go on for a while is that they did not want to rock the boat too much, but such blatantly offensive actions by the TSA (proceeding with the pat down even after she had established her diplomatic credentials) is simply inexcusable.

Or..to use a much maligned and over-used phrase...this would only serve to underline the "ugly American" stereotype. The rent-a-cops who work in the TSA lines are holding the American image hostage due to their actions.

 

[Machoman]

Irrelevant as Ambassadors enjoy certain immunities. They are not EVERYONE.

This is USA Law and order you better take it or leave the country No need for BS. Just like Indian have their own law and regulations. Simple !!!

 

[TenjikuKensei]

This is USA Law and order you better take it or leave the country No need for BS. Just like Indian have their own law and regulations. Simple !!!

Ever heard of the Vienna convention of Diplomatic relations?

here are some salient points for you to ponder

The treaty is an extensive document, containing 53 articles. Following is a basic overview of its key provisions. For a comprehensive enumeration of all articles, consult the original text.

* Article 22. The premises of a diplomatic mission, such as an embassy, are inviolate and must not be entered by the host country except by permission of the head of the mission. Furthermore, the host country must protect the mission from intrusion or damage. The host country must never search the premises, nor seize its documents or property. Article 30 extends this provision to the private residence of the diplomats.

* Article 27. The host country must permit and protect free communication between the diplomats of the mission and their home country. A diplomatic bag must never be opened even on suspicion of abuse. A diplomatic courier must never be arrested or detained.

* Article 29. Diplomats must not be liable to any form of arrest or detention. They are immune from civil or criminal prosecution, though the sending country may waive this right under Article 32. Under Article 34, they are exempt from most taxes, and under Article 36 they are exempt from most customs duties.

* Article 37. The family members of a diplomat that are living in the host country enjoy most of the same protections as the diplomats themselves.

* Article 9. The host nation may at any time and for any reason declare a particular member of the diplomatic staff to be persona non grata. The sending state must recall this person within a reasonable period of time, or otherwise this person may lose their diplomatic immunity.

 

[Machoman]

Ever heard of the Vienna convention of Diplomatic relations?

here are some salient points for you to ponder

When it come to national security my friend, nothing apply. Like I said except the damn policy or leave the courty!!!

 

[Ganga]

When it come to national security my friend, nothing apply. Like I said except the damn policy or leave the courty!!!

In that case every country can cite national security and subject the diplomats of other countries to enhanced security measures.

 

[TenjikuKensei]

When it come to national security my friend, nothing apply. Like I said except the damn policy or leave the courty!!!

oh phulleese pls spare me that line of argument. What next? when it comes to "national security" even fundamental humans rights would not matter?

Just accept the fact that this practice is illegal in light of the internationally binding agreements America has signed. They can, if they want to; withdraw from such a treaty (which would automatically void the diplomatic immunity/privileges American Diplomats and Embassies enjoy abroad) and then go ahead with their "national security" concerns.

one cant have his cake and eat it too

In that case every country can cite national security and subject the diplomats of other countries to enhanced security measures.

Exactly, the moment American withdraws from the Vienna Diplomatic treaty; I bet many countries would pounce on the American Embassies on the land...after all doing such a thing while the treaty is in effect would amount to an act of war. Without the treaty? nope. And the "host" government could always 'blame" some local "robbers" or malcontents.

I'm amused about the lengths some people would go in order to excuse even the most blatant of offenses.

 

[Chogy]

American people aren't defending the TSA - they can be annoying, bureaucratic, bumbling and intrusive. If diplomatic protocols were violated, an apology should be issued, the TSA involved re-trained, and everyone can go about their day.

What Americans are tired of (like every single person on this planet) are terrorist goons who want to kill themselves and everyone else in a pressurized aluminum tube at 40,000 feet.

If anyone has the answer on airline security, then they can do mankind a service and reveal the answer, but for now, it is what it is.

Again, diplomatic protocols should have been followed. But please, let's not turn this into more than it is.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

i'm laughing because a few months back, Pakistani military delegation was 'inconvenienced' by TSA officials

in protest, the delegation stormed back to Pakistan....


the indians here were making mockery of situation; and now it happens to people like Sharukh Khan & this high comissioner, and they go on angry rants


the international media has been going gung-ho over these pat-downs.....surely she, being an informed and educated person, would have known about it as well.


call it power-tripping TSA call it whatever......


register an official protest and seek explanation over the incident; not much else you could do


Her Royal Thighness Ms. Clinton even issued statement about it, though she did commend TSA for following orders and stated duties

if she did request a private screening room, it should have been granted to her

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

it is the terrorists who are making everybody's lives MISERABLE

travelling used to be desirable and an exciting experience.....now, especially international flights -- it's a huge headache; endless questions, endless lines, etc.

I paid $75 for cologne for my father as a gift; they took it away from me before i boarded the aircraft since it exceeded allowed mL allowed...how can i check it in when im already having my boarding pass and in the departure lounge....I had a Zippo lighter whose sentimental value i cant even quantify. It didnt even have gas. They took it away. Was i upset at the time? Yes.......was i ignorant of the law? Clearly.

all this because some locusts wanted to use ipods and sport beverages to blow things up and kill people......underwear and shoe bombers......what have you

next what......contact lenses with cyanide, arsenic laced italian ties....explosive fake tits


anyways.....


thats my rant for the day

 

[fallstuff]

Wow, I'm a bit surprised at the heat being created by this thread.

I'd like to approach it from the pilot perspective. I've been at it since long before 9/11.

Before 9/11 - I could say "Hey man, I need to stretch my legs and get some coffee." - get up, and leave the cockpit. The other guy is up there alone. I can walk around, chat with passengers, drink coffee, use the lav, take 20 minutes to get the blood flowing. It was nice.

Now, I cannot go into detail, but we are prisoners up there. My hips and legs ache like a **** and I can almost feel the blood clots forming. We have stopped drinking fluids because visits to the lavatory are so challenging. Now we are all getting kidney stones and other issues. I know, waah, waah.

But it has been the security portals that have turned the job into a nightmare. The stuff being quoted in this thread on expedited clearance for crew is brand new. Until just weeks ago, we were treated exactly the same as other passengers, except we could carry liquids. That's it. My nail clippers are confiscated just like anyone else.

TSA: "You might use this to take control of the aircraft!"
Us: "Uhh, hey dumb-***, think. We are already in control of the aircraft. With a flick of my wrist, I could kill us all."

It is maddening. People hate flying once a month because of TSA. Imagine going through that portal 30 times a month!

We have had reliable biometric systems since long before 9/11. I should have my retina scanned, or use my thumb print, and waltz right through. We've spent billions on chemical sniffers and nudie x-ray machines, yet no biometrics for crew.

End of whine. I've got dozens of TSA horror stories... some of them are very funny. As for the diplomat - I'm sorry, the terrorists have shown great imagination with shoe and underwear bombs, and impersonation is not difficult. A 20 year old TSA person is not going to recognize the world's 50,000 diplomats on sight, and if someone flies commercial, they get searched, period.

Chogy you are a pilot as you claim to be, but not a diplomat. Invasive body scanning or pad down amounts to a search, which diplomats should not be subjected to once the credentials are established. The same goes for the families of diplomats.

TSA stared this new procedures without establishing proper rules or training when dealing with diplomats.

 

[Chogy]

Chogy you are a pilot as you claim to be, but not a diplomat. Invasive body scanning or pad down amounts to a search, which diplomats should not be subjected to once the credentials are established. The same goes for the families of diplomats.

TSA stared this new procedures without establishing proper rules or training when dealing with diplomats.

I think I said this already, but I freely acknowledge that diplomatic protocol should be followed, and those that screwed up should be chastised.

I think Abu Z. spoke clearly with his last post. Everyone is suffering, even if it is a tiny bit compared to real victims, from the actions of these terrorist ********.

I'm not proud to say that U.S. security, TSA, and Customs and Immigration processes, are some of the most onerous in the entire world. The problem is that the U.S. is where bad guys are trying to go, not Chile or New Zealand. I've watched a 12 person crew from a KLM wide-body spend 1/2 hour in a crew line, just to go through the passport station. They have to check to ensure there are no impostors among the crew. Regular tourists to the U.S. have it even worse, which is a shame, because we love tourists, and there are some cool places to visit here.

 

[T-Faz]

All I can say is:

**** U Osama, you have made travelling a nightmare especially for Muslims.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

I am with the Indian women on this one - I hate how TSA treats passengers of color and anyone in general I think they are Morons

 

[fallstuff]

I think I said this already, but I freely acknowledge that diplomatic protocol should be followed, and those that screwed up should be chastised.

I think Abu Z. spoke clearly with his last post. Everyone is suffering, even if it is a tiny bit compared to real victims, from the actions of these terrorist ********.

I'm not proud to say that U.S. security, TSA, and Customs and Immigration processes, are some of the most onerous in the entire world. The problem is that the U.S. is where bad guys are trying to go, not Chile or New Zealand. I've watched a 12 person crew from a KLM wide-body spend 1/2 hour in a crew line, just to go through the passport station. They have to check to ensure there are no impostors among the crew. Regular tourists to the U.S. have it even worse, which is a shame, because we love tourists, and there are some cool places to visit here.

It is what it is, so average Joe just have to deal with it. I haven't taken a flight since the new rules took effect. I won't have any issue when passing through gates next time when I am at the airport. If some TSA employee is going to see the family jewels , so be it.

I am there to take a flight, not to pick a fight with a TSA employee.

Do you know if there ever was any study to measure the effects of radiation from the scanners ?

 

[Trisonics]

New Delhi: The United States of America on Saturday tendered an official apology to India and Indian Ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar over her pat down by an American security agent on December 4 at the Jackson-Evers International Airport.
The US government said that Meera's pat down was not meant to be a put down, while promising a review of airport screening guidelines, said
William Burns, a senior State Department official, personally conveyed his regrets and promised Meera a review of airport screening guidelines.

The apology came after New Delhi lodged a strong protest with the American government. According to sources Donald Lu, second to ambassador Timothy Roemer, was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi and told that Meera Shankar had been singled out for wearing a saree and that the enhanced security screening was unacceptable.

Lu was also told that the pat down had violated diplomatic courtesies and the Indian Embassy had followed all the necessary State Department guidelines.

The US government was also told that it should sensitise its agents at airports so that they don't view anyone who wears a saree, burqa or a turban as a potential terrorist.

In New Delhi, External Affairs minister SM Krishna, in line with public opinion and opposition protests ensured that the US was warned that its diplomats would be frisked in India if such incidents recurred.

India forces US to apologise to Meera Shankar - India News - IBNLive