Scarface: US scans for Pak wounds
CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2004 10:39:04 PM ]

WASHINGTON: In an extraordinarily country-specific scrutiny, Pakistani
nationals, immigrants and even Pakistan-born US citizens arriving at key US
airports are being checked for injuries that might suggest they have been
training at terrorist camps in Pakistan.

A two-page "action bulletin" issued by the US Customs and Border Protection
calls for a close examination of all travellers of Pakistani descent for minor
injuries such as "rope burns," "unusual bruises" and "scars" possibly suffered
while training in terrorist camps.

The "For Official Use Only" bulletin, reported first in the website
WorldNetDaily, says recent intelligence gathered in Pakistan and elsewhere
indicates that individuals travelling to train at terrorist camps in Pakistan
may be planning to carry out attacks within the United States between now and
the presidential election in November.

The bulletin directs agents at major international airports in New York, New
Jersey, Washington, Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles to "increase scrutiny" of
passengers who are naturalized US citizens or legal permanent residents of
Pakistani descent, and "who exhibit evidence of suspicious travel, including
short trips to Pakistan not related to family or business."

The bulletin indicates that despite the period certification of Islamabad as an
ally in the war on terrorism by state department mandarins, US law enforcement
and counter-terrorism officials believe Pakistan is still a hotbed of terrorist
activity. The bulletin asks inspectors examine travellers of Pakistani descent
for physical signs that they've engaged in paramilitary training in Pakistan.
For example, "officers should look for indications the individual engaged in
rappelling activities (rope burns on arms/legs)." In addition, it says they
should look for "unusual bruises resulting from obstacle course activities,"
and "wounds" or "scars" suffered from the discharge of firearms.