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| Home Front: WoT |
| Saudi visa screening called inadequate |
| 2004-09-11 |
| Rachel L. Swarns - The New York Times Saturday, September 11, 2004 A counterterrorism program intended to prevent terror suspects in Saudi Arabia from acquiring U.S. visas has been hindered by inadequate financing and training, leaving many homeland security officers in Saudi Arabia unable to speak Arabic and unfamiliar with how to conduct criminal investigations, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The report, released Thursday and done by the department's inspector-general, found that nine of the 10 officers assigned to screen visa applications in Saudi Arabia did not speak or read Arabic. The program had no formal budget in the 2004 fiscal year, which ends in three weeks, and is relying on temporary officers because money was not provided to cover the costs of transferring employees to Saudi Arabia, the report said. Officials at the inspector-general's office said the shortfalls in funding also meant that most of the officers had not received adequate training before they started working at the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jidda, and that they did not have cell phones or drivers assigned to them. The Department of Homeland Security plans to expand the counterterrorism program, which was intended to operate in all visa-issuing countries, to five other nations soon. But the inspector-general warned that the program, which was mandated by the Homeland Security Act of 2002, would continue to struggle if its problems were not swiftly addressed. It's imperative that these kinks be worked out in Saudi Arabia and this program be rolled out as soon as possible," said Clark Kent Ervin, the inspector-general, in an interview. "The officers have to be language-proficient," Ervin said. "They need to be versed in the culture and country conditions. They have to be trained in interview techniques and fraud detection. And generally this was not the case with the officers that were sent." |
| Posted by:Zenster |
| #2 I'm Ok with that |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-09-11 10:49:47 AM |
| #1 Exactly. Wouldn't want the Great Satan to corrupt the holy Saudis with our wicked ways. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-09-11 10:16:28 AM |