This was not protecting the US Citizen, or freedom, or democracy. This was just plain uniformed thuggery toward an 18 year old girl.
Pretty pathetic but it’s what us “aliens” have come to expect at US airports.

I lived in Finland for two years, but it was before the terrorism phobias.
They were delightful people, even if a little stoic and paranoid back then.

Government apparatchniks are there because they can’t cope with the real world. They feed on their “power”, even if fabricated. If needed, they will invent more regulations to enforce and thus ensure their own “job security”. For many years, we have joked about it as a nuisance, but it has reached critical mass in the US. It’s stifling business and productivity to the point where I fear we can’t help the truly destitute.
Unfortunately, it’s not just the Homeland Security joke, it’s across the board. I can tell you it’s easier to pull a building permit in Red China (and Russia) than in my southern city. Who would have ever thought ?
Try and register your car, or God forbid, “rezone” a piece of property.
No one in government has the will to keep regulation in check when it is truly useful, nor do they have the smartz to know the difference.
“The bureaucracy” will continue. Writing the superiors only stokes the fire.
1. Know your rights.
2. Always smile
3. Appear as eagerly compliant as possible
4. Act naive and innocent (even though that may disappear when they open your passport and see the stamps).
5. Pray someone “up there” will enact truly useful methods to protect us, rather than checking little old ladies’ tennis shoes.

I must say that I love your newsletters as we are of very like mind. In fact, it seems our travels and your “reports” of recent have been very synchronistic (ie you wrote on Dubai when I was in the Middle East, you wrote on Thailand when my girlfriend and myself were discussing stereotypes of Asian women, and you write about Finland one week upon my return here).

However, as a “new” journalist/writer and globe trotter myself, I must state my experiences with the Helsinki-Vaanta airport have been quite different. In fact, I feel that of all the airports I have been to on this globe, the Finnish airport is the most hassle free to get through. Not only is it fast and efficient, but I have had to deal with almost no authority figures other than those at security who are nothing but friendly and have never asked me more than to put my liquids in a plastic bag.

For a few reasons which I am sure you can extrapolate, I moved to Helsinki, Finland from California (the almighty United States) nearly a year ago. Never have I run into military clad security nor have I ever been patted down at this port. Over the last twelve months, I have been through the Helsinki-Vaanta airport over 15 times. Even coming back from Jordan through Turkey and back into Helsinki I was given zero hassles. The “biggest” hassle being the passport check point in which the guard took less than 30 seconds to check my credo (no questions asked) and waved me off with a friendly “Kiitos” (aka Thank You in Finnish) and then I walked straight through the “nothing to declare” lane, as the “to declare” lane is never opened, to obtain my luggage and then wind up outside. And, as usual, there was no authority figure or person in the “nothing to declare” lane.

All in all 20 minutes maximum from deplane to in car with most of that time waiting for luggage vis a vis Turkish airlines.

I am so curious and a bit perplexed at your experience. Sure, I can see why some may say that Finland is an “up and coming military state” in many aspects – however, I must disagree with the view on airport security simply because my experiences (at least fifteen in and out) have no similarities with what you discuss. And on the note of Finland being a “military state”, the only “authority” I have had to deal with here (in any “negative” way) are the SMURFS. The SMURFS are the people (dressed all in blue, hence the name) who make sure you pay for your fare on the public transport systems and give you parking tickets if you have a car. So, in the past year of living here, I will say Finland is a very “different” country, but not a military state per say.

Please note that I simply want to share my perspective because airport security always makes my heart race and traveling through Helsinki-Vaanta has constantly been the most serene airport experience, as far as airport experiences go.

Keep up the fabulous writing!!!

Best regards,

Ginger
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

An old consulting friend of mine has had a lot of experience and training in life. He, like me, was a Systems guy back in the day but he drifted into work with a number of the different “A” agencies based on his military experiences. He had traveling figured out. Actually, he taught spooks a class on how to blend in and disappear and he never had one problem with airport security when we flew together.

He did that by adopting his spaced out Professor routine when going through check points. That is what he called it. Mike had thick Grey hair very much in disarray, outwardly very compliant, lots of parts and pieces…lap top under his arm about to drop with ticket and boarding pass clenched and crumpled in that hand, coat over his other arm with his stuffed carry-on in that hand, pockets with business cards and a receipt poking out, tie undone and askew, glasses down on mid bridge of nose with a smudge on the lens. Always smiling…completely compliant…apologetic for causing any problems….submissive. He was about 6’4″ and watching him do his act, he would remind you of Harvey Milksop. He was chameleon like.

Watched him do it at least five or six time over the years and those guys guarding us from all the bad ass terrorists could barely contain themselves getting him through the process! A couple of these times they personally escorted him to the side and told him to put his shoes on and to get going. I suppose they work in part on a quota of people stopped per hours to justify their pay checks. Thus, they appear to pounce on someone who is more uptight ….thus potentially guilty….than my friend looked. I got detained one time because I was laughing watching him do his thing in front of me and the fellow I was dealing with thought I was laughing at him. Fortunately, he had noticed Mike….and immediately dismissed him!…phew!…so when I kind of looked at Mike with raised eyebrows and a look on my face that said ….”What?….you don’t think that is funny?!!” …he passed me through with a grin. Felt like Steve McQueen in the Great Escape!…chuckling. Small victories!

I don’t use the Old Professor routine as it isn’t a natural state for me but there are other equally effective ones that do work well for me. I use the dead tired business exec profile and carry it off well. They see a million guys like me everyday of the week and if you aren’t making a scene they are not motivated to either for the most part.

They’d either have to spend hundreds of thousands guarding the lot or these people would quickly find an honorable line of work.

Etienne de la Boetie 1553 France

“There are [four] kinds of tyrants: some receive
their proud position through elections by the
people, others by force of arms, others by
inheritance, [others by 'divine right']. Although
the means of coming into power differ, still the
method of ruling is practically the same. The
tyrant has nothing more than the power you confer
upon him to destroy you. How does he have any
power over you except through you? Tyrants need
only be deprived of the public’s continuing
supply of funds and resources. Resolve to serve
no more! and you are at once free. I do not ask
that you place hands upon the tyrant to topple
him over, but simply that you support him no
longer. Then you will behold him, like a great
Colossus whose pedestal has been pulled away,
fall of his own weight and break in pieces.”

The one question I am asked when I tell friends that I will shortly be leaving my country is “Yes, but where in the world do you go, all countries are heading down the same path?”

A good question, and one that needs to be asked, I just hope they find the answer.

Thanks for the great info about ‘authority’ which will be increasingly useful as time passes.
Travis

Stay under their radar, because for now, it is the only way to beat them. Having worked in similar positions in the past, I suspect they were freshly trained by some “American/Mossad” contractors and were on their graduation run. Be glad that you didn’t take it to the next level. Resistance is not only futile, it can be suicidal. “They” want to provoke an incident if only to justify their existence. Don’t be the one they choose to practice their new found “skills” on. You won’t like it, but they will.

It is all indeed ridiculous and I would love nothing more than to tell these pompous assholes where to shove their sense of ascendancy. However, it is probably not worth it to end up being red-flagged and “under the radar”. So now I just avoid the airports where I know I will be treated like a terrorist. Unfortunately there are destinations that I will just not fly into or through these days.

It would be really useful if you made a list say of the top 10 or 20 countries that are like Finland or close. Then if travelling to those countries at least we can prepare and not be surprised.

Errol.

Dissent is what makes them aware of our tiredness of the continued and escalating abuse of power.

Let’s no forget that these actions are based on impromptu ideas from, mostly young, inexperienced “experts”, come about in a nervous effort to resolve new conflicts (sept 11). The citizenry initially and responsibly complied and it is taken by our lazy government that these actions are correct and in order.

Enough already. we have the technology to accomplish more, without the public inconvenience.

Check out http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/6744787/Its-a-return-to-the-Star-Chamber-as-Europe-finally-tramples-Magna-Carta-into-the-dust.html

An excellent piece on the EU trampling the original British constitution.

“How do wars start? Diplomats lie to reporters and then believe what they read in the newspapers.” — Karl Krause

These quotes were in today’s daily dispatch from Downsize DC – Bill Bonner was discusing “our crisis-loving politician’s” response to Ahmadinejad’s call for ten new uranium enrichment plants = more Homeland Security BS. Gotta love it!

If you and Robb ever run into eachother you can swap airport stories – his involves the anthrax scar a few years ago, Dr. Scholl’s foot powder, and M-16s in his face. He says he immediately went into his inwardly pissed-off / outwardly I-am-your-best-buddy routine. Ha!

The fact is we don’t love it and it is futile to fight it (reminds me of a jujitsu saying I heard somewhere -’if you don’t want to get hit, don’t stand there’) – so our current action item is to get more mobile. Glad I found your website and signed us up – thanks for all the motivational info -

Claudia & Robb Casey

Your email raises some important issues:

Authority, Fear, Conditioning, and Response. First and foremost, there is never any point starting a fight that one cannot possibly win. Self defense is the only time one MAY engage an attacker even if the result leads to be death. But the goal is always survival first, pain free second, comfort and ease last. Having said that, the problem is one of balance. Yes we need security, and security has to be legitimate to be a deterrent. The individuals tasked with security are human, and fallible. It is up to those who will to inform those who can do something about it. Some times this has to be done anonymously! Staying below the radar is indeed the best strategy until there is no other option.

So smile, thank them for the great job they are doing, then follow-up with a report to the appropriate channels, and keep writing these articles. By sharing our experiences we can create a critical mass. The French revolution was partly a success(?) because of the sheer numbers. When there is a critical mass there will be change! It cannot be stopped for long.

Keep your eyes on the prize and learn to use these people like the tools they are.

-K

During one random search many years ago, we actually had some items disappear without a trace. When I brought this up with supervision later, they claimed I was mistaken as their empoyees are above theft.

We find it amazing that some of the US customs officers have trouble with the English language. As a 6th generation American, I often feel that I should be interrogating them.

My philosophy has always been to lay low and get it over with, only answering the exact question asked. Sometimes, under inappropriate/stupid questioning they may detect my blood pressure rising.

My long-haired nephew loves hassling these people (in a nice way). His pickup truck, complete w/ gunrack, cameo paint, and compelling bumper stickers consistently invites a full search. He deposits dog and animal scent in obscure places to confuse the narc dogs. They have never found anything to get him into trouble, although he has given the officers a few items, such as pellet guns, rather than fill out forms and pay fees.

My travels are a little easier now, but doubt my UK passport would have helped in your situation. I usually respond according to my mood that day. If in a foul anarchist mood, I will comply, but ask them “upon what grounds are they harrassing me”; “don’t they have better things to do with their valuable time”, etc.

Usually however I am like you, anxious to fly below the radar and just avoid attention. I always however feel like a coward afterwards. It is one of the reasons I travel less often now and spend longer periods of time in one country.

I have just read all the posts above. Most everyone is aware of the rapid decline of freedoms and privacy. If everyone just keeps
going along with the oppression then we will all get more and worse oppression. History shows this is true. People with some intelligence have
figured out we are not moving in the right direction on a global scale.
Most countries are being chemtrail sprayed with unsavoury chemicals and soft metals. Only a tiny percentage of the population wants to even think about this and what it means to our lifespan. Shh don’t talk about it! What is with the vaccines full of poisons for something as ordinary as the flu? Shh don’t ask questions. Just go along. What happened to freedom of the press? Why won’t they print the real stories?
Shh you are asking too many questions! Keep quiet, try to disappear. Don’t resist, go along, stay invisible, and above all else comply.
Soon you won’t be allowed to leave your country, next your city, then your house. Next you will be asked to exit ….
Simon times have changed drastically. I am glad you are addressing some issues. Maybe there will be no place to be free on our planet. One thing I know for sure is that unless people start addressing all these issues openly there is no hope for things to improve.
Hitler proved that a bully gets his way unless he is forced back with a big stick. People went along, complied and gave up their freedom to him too! Think of the consequences to humanity. We all stare aghast at the horrible scenes of the holocaust. It only happened because people gave in too easily to the bully because they wanted peace too.
Sure we can run to another country but this global police state will take over everywhere eventually won’t it Simon? There is no resistance so why wouldn’t it. Are we to live on the run just to buy time?
Oh, and there are now plans for a full body scanner for all air travellers and that is said to ensure cancer within 5 years.
Time to get a group together Simon and buy a big island. We will need to defend it. I hoped you were going to do this some time ago. At least consider it.
Maribeth

HOWEVER, if they really do give you a lot of trouble, put on an air of quiet authority and buried anger – they really are afraid of this, not knowing who you really are or who you know. Speak clearly and concisely, look them in the eyes. Never show overt anger or upset, start taking names and numbers and asking to speak to their seniors and then the seniors of those seniors. Find small faults in their procedures/attitudes/handling and write this down.

You can be more conciliatory initially with their seniors, as their seniors should be more politically astute and not want any censure from their own superiors. If conciliatory doesn’t work go back to the earlier steps.

Personally, I would always continue the easy going weak smile with good eye contact, long into my inner natural red zone, as its’ definatley the best way through.

Also remember if you are in a third world country, this might just be a shake down for a few bucks; I was arrested in Kabul in 1972 by gun toting bare foot policeman for going through an amber light. He jumped out in front of my vehicle and I nearly ran him down. After haggling a while, 200 Afgan dollars sorted it out (about 5 bucks.) Just treat it as an airport tax and move on.

Happy holidays,

Stew

They hold all the cards.

I boycott the US and land in Vancouver instead for the reasons you wont be going thru Finland again.
You should have seen the way I was treated entering at LAX and admitting I had been in Cuba during the last 6 mths.
Vancouver is so welcoming- but you should try my country, New Zealand, if you want to get a genuine, friendly welcome on entry!

Flash back to CA. San Diego is my absolute favorite airport-you would never know you were in a large city. We figure it must be the weather.(: Or,the fact that it is a tourism destination-people are schooled in the la-la southern california vacation mind-set.
You know,people in this area are really ‘happy’ about what they’ve been ‘conditioned’ to believe-for the most part. That kind of ignorance is bliss consciousness in a culture sure makes airport travel much better. lol