Brazil vs USA

I'm not talking about the next World Cup match up. No, unfortunately I'm referring to the latest incident caused by Brazil's requirement that Americans visiting that country to be finger printed and photographed. That move comes in retaliation for BushCo's new requirement for visitors from a long list of countries, including Brazil, to be photographed and finger printed on entry to the U.S. Several countries have complained about the intrusive process, but Brazil has been most vocal and was the first to take a counter action.

Here's the entire AP article, reprinted from this morning's Wall Street Journal:

Brazil's New Entry Rules
Cause Yet Another Flap

Associated Press


SAO PAULO, Brazil -- An American Airlines pilot was arrested by federal police after making an obscene gesture when being photographed at the airport as part of a newly imposed entry requirement for U.S. citizens, federal police said.

The pilot allegedly lifted his middle finger while undergoing a new fingerprinting and photographing process put in place by Brazil for U.S. citizens Jan. 1, said Francisco Baltazar da Silva, chief of Sao Paulo's federal police. The pilot has agreed to pay a fine equal to $12,750, a federal prosecutor said.

The incident is the latest flap in a growing diplomatic spat between Brazil and the U.S. Brazil began requiring Americans to be photographed and fingerprinted upon entering Brazil in response to a U.S. antiterrorism measure that requires the same from citizens of all countries who need visas to enter the U.S. The Brazilian requirement became the government's official policy Monday, citing the diplomatic concept of "reciprocity."

American Airlines spokeswoman Martha Pantin said the incident was the result of a misunderstanding under investigation by the airline, but didn't provide more details. American Airlines is owned by holding company AMR Corp.