US urged to extend visa deadline

"Homeland security secretary Tom Ridge said the US aimed to be 'open to visitors but closed to terrorists'.

About 15.1 million tourists entered the US under the visa waiver programme last year, accounting for two-thirds of spending by foreign visitors."

Tom Fridge leaves me cold! The US has a thriving tourist industry with Europe and Asia, but all it takes is a pompous moron like Bubba to screw things up. How many potential tourists will change their minds because of the added inconvenience and cost of applying for a visa. Sure, it doesn't change anything for my Morrocan friend Mehdi, since he has to get a visa just about anywhere he goes. But for the rest of us, it's gonna make us rethink the trip.

The US seems to be turning into the new old Japan!