A small door makes both entry and exit difficult
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008Foreign Policy has an interesting guide on tourist destinations that Americans can’t visit. They mention Mount Kumgang, Baracoa, Mogadishu’s Beaches, Persepolis, and Mandalay. Respecively North Korea, Cuba, Somalia, Iran and Burma.
Of course, no one from any of those countries would be allowed to enjoy the Grand Canyon, or the Big Apple. In fact, even Iraqi translators working at enormous personal risk with the US military in Iraq can’t get visas to travel here. Like the Gonzaga basketball prospect born in Sudan who was refused entry into the US, Iraqi translators come from a country our government has short-listed as undesirable. In fact, there are only 27 countries allowed to visit the US’ tourist splendors without visa of their own; mostly European nations like England or Italy. Unfortunately even citizens of those nations can be in for US travel problems. One Italian lawyer was recently locked up without lawyer or trial for ten days on a recent visit for audaciously traveling to the US visit his American girlfriend, and eventually the Grand Canyon.