Did Chicago lose the chance to host the 2016 Olympics because of airport security issues?

Among the toughest questions posed to the Chicago bid team this week in Copenhagen was one that raised the issue of what kind of welcome foreigners would get from airport officials when they arrived in this country to attend the Games. Syed Shahid Ali, an I.O.C. member from Pakistan, in the question-and-answer session following Chicago’s official presentation, pointed out that entering the United States can be “a rather harrowing experience.”

Anyone who has had to obtain a visa to visit the USA or invite a friend or relative to visit them in the USA is well aware of the needless humiliation that is part of the process involved. Sometimes, this sort of arrogance, bites back! (It should be noted however that in comparison to European nations, the USA remains more open and fairer to immigrants — IMHO).