# Counterrorism Compliance: or what I got in the mail today **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 25, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterrorism-compliance-or-what-i-got-in-the-mail-today/305448 "2005-05-25T16:23:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterrorism-compliance-or-what-i-got-in-the-mail-today/305448/21 "2005-05-25T18:47:51Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > I was unaware that **Anaamika** was not native-born. > > Please ignore my advice. How would you know? No need to apologize. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterrorism-compliance-or-what-i-got-in-the-mail-today/305448/22 "2005-05-25T19:09:03Z")
> [@Spiny Norman](#): > > Anyone with prolonged exposure to the INS/USCIS paperwork has been filled with an overwhelming urge to be a smart-alec. Then you recall the general humour level in the people you’ve met when dealing with said bureaucracy, and that somehow puts a damper on it. > > The USCIS’ venerable from I-485 - filed by every Green Card holder you’ll ever meet - has gems like: > > Do you intend to engage in the United States in:[ul] > [li]espionage ?[/li][li]any activity a purpose of which is opposition to, or the control or overthrow of, the government of the United States, by force, violence or other unlawful means ?[/li][/ul] > > \ Hee hee – filling out these forms was fun, huh honey? Another absurd example: [quote] [Form DS156 Nonimmigrant Visa Application](https://evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp?lang=1) [ul][li]Do you seek to enter the United States to engage in export control violations, subversive or terrorist activities, or any other unlawful purpose? Are you a member or representative of a terrorist organization as currently designated by the U.S. Secretary of State? Have you ever participated in persecutions directed by the Nazi government of Germany; or have you ever participated in genocide?[/li] [li]Have you ever violated the terms of a U.S. visa, or been unlawfully present in, or deported from, the United States?[/ul] [/li][/quote] And “a YES answer does not automatically signify ineligibility for a visa.” Stunning! How noble that we’re willing to at least consider letting _honest_ terrorists and law-breakers in. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterrorism-compliance-or-what-i-got-in-the-mail-today/305448/23 "2005-05-25T21:47:46Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of an organization which advocates the overthrow of the United States government? “Listen, I can’t even get my _dog_ to stay down. Do I _look_ like I could overthrow the government?” - Dorothy Parker I’m also reminded of the civil servant undergoing a loyalty check, who finally lost it and under Foreign Activities, wrote: “I spent a year in Russia. Does that make me a Communist? I spent a year in Germany. Does that make me a Nazi? I own property in the Virgin Islands. Period!” ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterrorism-compliance-or-what-i-got-in-the-mail-today/305448/24 "2005-05-25T21:57:38Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > I was unaware that **Anaamika** was not native-born. > > Please ignore my advice. Your advice was poor regardless of where **Annamika** was born or her citizenship status. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterrorism-compliance-or-what-i-got-in-the-mail-today/305448/25 "2005-05-25T22:15:14Z")
This thread reminds me of the instruction guide on how to deal with terrorists and bomb threatsI recieved when I worked at a state park. If a bomb threat was called in, I was to ask the callers name, address, and social security number. One of the background noises that I was supposed to listen for was the sound of crockery. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterrorism-compliance-or-what-i-got-in-the-mail-today/305448/26 "2005-05-25T22:35:37Z")
_The nomes encounter American customs…_ “Very clever idea, though.” “What is?” “Asking the questions when people arrive. If anyone was coming here to do some subversive overthrowing, everyone’d be down on him like a pound of bricks as soon as he answered ‘Yes’.” “It’s a sneaky trick, isn’t it,” said Angalo, in an admiring tone of voice. – Terry Pratchett, **Wings** ---
**Author:** ![False\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@False\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/False_God)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterrorism-compliance-or-what-i-got-in-the-mail-today/305448/27 "2005-05-25T23:45:00Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of an organization which advocates the overthrow of the United States government? I got asked this question during my last security clearance interview. I asked the interviewer if the Democratic Party counted. He was less than amused. ---
**Author:** ![False\_God](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee7513/32.png) [@False\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/False_God)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2005, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterrorism-compliance-or-what-i-got-in-the-mail-today/305448/28 "2005-05-25T23:47:31Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Hee hee – filling out these forms was fun, huh honey? Another absurd example: And “a YES answer does not automatically signify ineligibility for a visa.” Stunning! How noble that we’re willing to at least consider letting _honest_ terrorists and law-breakers in. Actually, the law provides room for waivers for a lot of ineligibilities – say if someone was a member of the Communist Party in their country, but enrollment was mandatory and they couldn’t get a job without a party card, there’s a waiver for that. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterrorism-compliance-or-what-i-got-in-the-mail-today/305448/29 "2005-05-26T11:04:17Z")
I have to wonder about the first question. If you were on a federal watch list would you necessarily know about it? If you are on a watch list but you’re not actually a terrorist organisation do you have to have to say you are “not complying” with counterterrorist because of the actions of the government that you have no control over? How does this work? ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterrorism-compliance-or-what-i-got-in-the-mail-today/305448/30 "2005-05-26T11:44:09Z")
> [@Mockingbird](#): > > Only Focus on the Family. > > 😃 Why do you hate America??? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterrorism-compliance-or-what-i-got-in-the-mail-today/305448/31 "2005-05-26T12:06:47Z")
"Once again we’ve got our friend from military intelligence. Can you tell us what you’ve found out about the enemy since you’ve been here? " “We found out that we can’t find them. They’re out there, and we’re having major difficulty in finding the enemy.” “Well, what do you use to look for them?” “Well… we ask the people ‘Are you the enemy?’ and whoever says yes, we shoot them.” ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterrorism-compliance-or-what-i-got-in-the-mail-today/305448/32 "2005-05-26T12:41:12Z")
My Dad got pulled over crossing the British-Irish border (for looking like a terminal crazy, he had pretty wild hair in those days) and by the time he was brought to a room for questioning, his ID had already been verified by a policeman who knew him and called his manager. But the Army still brought him into a room, threw a bright light at him and asked “Are you a member of a proscribed organisation.” Cunningly declaring no, he was allowed to go on his way 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterrorism-compliance-or-what-i-got-in-the-mail-today/305448/33 "2005-05-27T01:48:57Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Long long ago, when radio was called ‘wireless’, there was a BBC presenter called Gilbert Harding, who did not suffer fools gladly. He needed to apply for a visa to USA. This was the time soon after the Second World War, when there was great fear of communist subversion. One of the questions on the visa application read, “Do you plan to attempt to overthrow the Government of the United States by force?” Harding wrote, “Sole purpose of visit.” And got his visa. Supposedly, one civil service application included the question: “Do you support the overthrow of the government by subversion or violence?” Quite a few of them came back with one of the two (usually the former) circled. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/counterrorism-compliance-or-what-i-got-in-the-mail-today/305448.md?page=1)