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| Iraq | |
| U.S. trying to fix Iraq’s messy passport system | |
| 2003-11-18 | |
| Somewhat EFL; New identity papers are a must, but I worry that they’re gonna rush this process and compromise security just to get the people to Hajj. Cleaning up the passport market is a priority for the coalition because the current system is in complete disarray. Very few Iraqis actually had a passport, either because Saddam Hussein prohibited it or because of price. In the final years of his regime, Saddam invalidated two previous series of passports and came out with his own brand, so he could control who got one. Because of the switch, three different types of passports are now circulating, with little international cohesion on which is accepted at country borders. And inside the passports themselves, a visa ranges from a government stamp to some former official’s handwritten permission. Then, when Baghdad fell, stocks of blank passports that didn’t get bombed were looted, with no records left behind on how many might have been taken. At Iraq’s borders, many of the people crossing have no picture ID at all, and Iraq’s citizenry and U.S. military alike suspect that lack of control may be allowing foreign terrorists into the country. So getting control over Iraq’s passport system "is one of the most important things we can do," Reynolds said. "We’re trying to make it available, for the first time ever, for all Iraqis to travel freely. And Iraqis will only be able to travel freely if other countries have total faith in the new system." A new passport is in the works that will eventually replace all the older versions. It will look a lot like a U.S. passport and will have the ability to hold a computer chip, said Gretchen Schuster, a U.S. adviser to the new Iraqi Ministry of Interior. When the new passport arrives, it will be controlled by the Ministry of Interior. It’s separate from a national ID system, which is also in the works. Passports will only be required for those wanting to travel outside the country. Until it’s issued, Iraqis are receiving interim travel papers, each good for one round trip out of Iraq. Since the war, about 10,000 Iraqis have asked for interim transit papers. But it’s not the average citizen — so far, most of those requests are tied to coalition official business, said Army 360th Civil Affairs battalion Capt. Kent Lindner.Getting a universally accepted passport going will help Lindner and other Civil Affairs soldiers who work directly with Iraqi civilians on a variety of rebuilding tasks. On a recent trip, Lindner took 10 Iraqis with the Ministry of Labor and Social affairs to Jordan to get them professional training. The group had interim papers. "That’s a pretty big thing to ask a neighboring country, ’Please allow this guy into your country,’ " Lindner said. "The customs guy is looking at this paper and saying that anyone with a color laser printer could replicate it." I agree with the need for secure documentation. The Belgians have a new-model passport available, perhaps they would agree to work with the coalition on this. But then, the CPA gets all touchy-feely; read on...
Yes, let’s be nice but let’s also watch who’s going home to Soddy--and then who comes back Mosul Airport and Baghdad International Airport are the two main points of departure that an estimated 15,000 Iraqis would used to fly to Saudi Arabia for Mecca. Both airports have immigration offices for international travel but neither office is ready for civilian commercial traffic. Gotta watch for those SAMs too...a planeload of the faithful getting shot down wouldn’t play well on Al-Jazeera Those assessments are taking place now. In a recent trip to the Mosul Airport, Lt. Col. Edward Burley with 352nd Army Civil Affairs, who is advising the Ministry of Interior, checked out Mosul’s separate male and female immigration inspection rooms. "We’re seeing what sort of facilities will be available with just minor reconstruction, and what we can do to help people going on the Hajj, through passports or some sort of other pass system," Burley said. Trust, but verify...please! | |
| Posted by:Seafarious |
| #3 New identity papers are a must, but I worry that they’re gonna rush this process and compromise security just to get the people to Hajj. Tough. Sacrificing security just to accomodate a religious custom doesn't make sense at this point in time. As soon as a workable, reliable, and secure system is in place, then the task of issuing passports can commence. Until then, they're just going to have to stay put. I'm sure Allah isn't going to strike dead people that can't make it for whatever reason (especially due to circumstances beyond their control). |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-11-18 9:15:43 PM |
| #2 I would like to see digitized fingerprints standard on all passports for travel into the US. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-11-18 7:32:09 PM |
| #1 Gotta watch for those SAMs too...a planeload of the faithful getting shot down wouldn’t play well on Al-Jazeera I wouldn't put it past Al-Jazeera to shoot it down. Watch for some very well placed (as in planned ahead) video footage.... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2003-11-18 7:10:58 PM |