If you didn’t already know, the Bush administration is currently encouraging (or should I say coercing) the EU governments to comply with new transatlantic travel security demands. One of those is armed US guards on all flights from Europe to the US on American owned airlines. To say that the Europeans are frustrated is an understatement; many of them already feel that travel to the US is harder than it used to be.

Since 9/11 travelers from Britain to America have decreased by 11%, despite a weak dollar that makes big American cities shopping meccas for anyone with pounds or euros in their pocket.

Are we pushing international travelers away because of our new standards? Read Ed Vulliamy’s blog for The Guardian where he asks the question, America – more hassle than it’s worth?