Bush Increased Number of Saudi Students in US Colleges to 10,000

[doeriver]

January 15, 2007
Bush to welcome 10,000 Saudi students to American schools
Foreign student visas, easy avenue for terrorists' entry to US
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/huston/070115

Directly following the monstrous attacks of 9/11, the US government took a step back from the routinely lightly vetted approvals for student visa applications, especially from Saudi Arabia. Previous to 9/11, Saudi citizens were also offered quick entry to the USA with a policy called "visa express" where their applications routinely escaped close scrutiny and were easily rubber stamped ahead. Three of the 9/11 hijackers took advantage of this easy access.

After 9/11/01 the quick visa approval slowed. It was also a prudent policy to approve fewer foreign students from certain segments of the world after 9/11 (as it would have been before), but it is a policy that seems to have come to an end.

In 2003 I wrote an Op Ed ("What is wrong with Foreign Student Visas?") warning that the student visa program offers an easy access to our shores for faux students who are really terrorists seeking an unguarded entry. In 2004, according to Stephen Schwartz of the Weekly Standard, only about 1,000 visas were granted to Saudi men wishing to attend an American University as a result of our government's 9/11 heightened concern.

But, that number could climb to as much as 10,000 Saudi students in the 2006/2007 fall semester. And that climb is being blessed by a Bush administration initiative to increase the number of Saudi men approved for these student visas.

How soon we forget.

more at link

[Autumn]

1. So how many are

taking flying lessons? hummm

[skooooo]

4. Wait a minute..

On the one hand DU strives or purports to be not racist. How can you have it both ways? I have taught some of these students, and their very nice people. Unless you have something specific on someone, I don't think it's fair to insinuate that they're all over here to kill us.

[Autumn]

6. Did I say they were

all here to kill us? No. I asked a sarcastic question. I have met a few nice ones myself. Specific? How many of the hijackers on 9/11 were Saudis? You can trust the bush administration, but I don't. Have they relaxed the standard from any other country? I haven't heard anything about it.

racism.
racism.
racism.
It's like a fucking broken record around here.

[skooooo]

7. I didn't know you were being sarcastic.

Yes, it's too bad there's so much racism.

[GSPowner]

8. Good point...what would have been the reponse on DU if he had

lowered the numbers allowed in...seems like there is a lot of doublespeak or opportunistic criticism. I would have thought we would be happy with this as it would make the case we are not "profiling" people?

[John Q. Citizen]

5. How many have FBI informants as roomates?

[aquart]

2. He needs to register as a lobbyist for a foreign government.

Seriously.

[MineralMan]

3. Bush is in the oil bidness, doncha know....

He likes Saudis. They've helped make his entire family wealthy. Now that he's finally leaving the Presidency, he can return to the fambly bidness and make some more money. Isn't that nice?