AF050-refused to land in USA

[PaperTiger]

To be fair, the US Embassy in London has apologised to Dr. Badawi with assurances "it won't happen again". Uh-huh

Of course, the DHS has not apologised or expained what happened except that it was a decision by a junior customs offcier.

So that's OK then

[Jordan D]

Junior? Shouldn't they refer these things up the chain when kicking people out/refusing them access? I'd like to think a decision like this was taken by somewhat who has a clue of what's going on ....

Jordan

[PaperTiger]

We'll never know. The DHS works in an atmosphere of almost total secrecy and unaccountability.

Whether a junior official does in fact have such authority, this is a cover-up for someone in a higher position, or they (DHS) simply have no idea what happened here is clearly "not in the public interest" to divulge

[Middle Seat]

accountability....

The DHS works in an atmosphere of almost total secrecy and unaccountability.

While I'm no fan of DHS and some of the dumb-ass things they've done here, this is at best a gross overstatement. All federal agencies are subject to accountability.

Time for a U.S. Civics Lesson!
Congress enacted the Inspector General Act in 1978 to ensure integrity and efficiency in government. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 established an Office of Inspector General (OIG) in the Department of Homeland Security.

The Inspector General is responsible for conducting and supervising audits, investigations, and inspections relating to the programs and operations of the Department. The OIG is to examine, evaluate and, where necessary, critique these operations and activities, recommending ways for the Department to carry out its responsibilities in the most effective, efficient, and economical manner possible. In addition, OIG also works to prevent and detect fraud, abuse, mismanagement, and waste in such programs and operations.

Their public reports are available online at www.dhs.gov/oig. Clearly, some of the stuff may be classified, and are not posted for all to see. Zome of the available ones include:
-Irregularities in the Development of the Transportation Security Operations Center, OIG-05-18, March 2005
-Follow-Up Audit of Passenger and Baggage Screening Procedures at Domestic Airports (Unclassified Summary), OIG-05-16, March 2005
-Review of the Transportation Security Administration's Role in the Use and Dissemination of Airline Passenger Data, (Redacted), OIG-05-12, March 2005

etc. Some of these are fascinating reading. Others are a good cure for insomnia.

In addition, to the Inspector General, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. GAO is often called the "congressional watchdog" because it investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars.

GAO gathers information to help Congress determine how well executive branch agencies are doing their jobs. GAO’s work routinely answers such basic questions as whether government programs are meeting their objectives or providing good service to the public. Ultimately, GAO ensures that government is accountable to the American people. To that end, GAO provides Senators and Representatives with the best information available to help them arrive at informed policy decisions--information that is accurate, timely, and balanced. GAO supports congressional oversight by:
-evaluating how well government policies and programs are working;
-auditing agency operations to determine whether federal funds are being spent efficiently, effectively, and appropriately;
-investigating allegations of illegal and improper activities; and
-issuing legal decisions and opinions

With virtually the entire federal government subject to its review, GAO issues a steady stream of products--more than 1,000 reports and hundreds of testimonies by GAO officials each year.
(132 on DHS alone in the last year..and that's just the public ones available on line) You can find those at www. gao.gov

Some recent DHS reports include:
-Aviation Security: Secure Flight Development and Testing Under Way, but Risks Should Be Managed as System Is Further Developed, GAO-05-356, March 28, 2005
-International Air Passengers: Staffing Model for Airport Inspections Personnel Can Be Improved, GAO-05-663, July 15, 2005
-Aviation Security: Better Planning Needed to Optimize Deployment of Checked Baggage Screening Systems, GAO-05-896T, July 13, 2005

(GAO reports tend to be denser and more insomnia-curing than IG reports)

CLASS DISMISSED!
Please return to bureaucracy bashing mode.

[PaperTiger]

Please return to bureaucracy bashing mode.

Avec plaisir ! Although some of my best friends are bureaucrats. Well not best, perhaps

I am aware of the oversight provisions pertaining to the DHS, but do not accept that they are being satisfactorily (or even perfunctorily) applied. The GAO has been somewhat critical (the $2000 coffee, screening effectiveness etc.) but has not addressed the sharp end - how the DHS treats individuals, be they US citizens or 'furriners'. And I do not accept that such information is in all cases a matter of National Security and thus must be kept secret.

As to accountability, do you think we will ever know who decided what in the Dr. Badawi case, and what admonition(s) resulted ? I don't.