"Otis Willie" wrote in message
...
U.S. pilot's gesture brings Brazilian fine

(EXCERPT)

SAO PAULO, Brazil (Agence France-Presse) - American Airlines
apologized to Brazil yesterday for one of its pilots who was detained
at Sao Paulo airport, fined $12,700 dollars and released after for
making an obscene gesture when he was required to be

Glad to see the punishment fits the crime. Sheesh!

It's an interesting situation. The Brazilians are ****ed because the US is
fingerprinting Brazilian tourists (because they are some of the worst
offenders when it comes to overstaying visas) and have retaliated by doing
the same. As a matter of national pride I sympathize but as a practical
matter it is silly. I bet Americans almost never overstay their visits, and
furthermore American tourists are surely bigger spenders when traveling than
their Brazilian counterparts which means Brazil have much more to lose.
This kind of publicity doesn't help.

Jarg