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The U.S. blocked the entry of a former NATO chief because he visited Iran
At this stage, another ineptitude or less no longer makes much difference...
Former NATO secretary general Javier Solana arrives at a conference on the sidelines of the 30th Congress on International Security and Defense organized by the Association of European Journalists, in Toledo, Spain, on June 20, 2018. (Ismael Herrero/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
A former NATO secretary general, Javier Solana, has been denied an electronic visa waiver for travel to the United States. The problem? The former Spanish foreign minister had traveled to Iran as recently as 2013.
Solana, who served as secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization between 1995 and 1999, later became the European Union's high representative for common foreign and security policy until 2009. In that position, he played a key role in negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.
The former diplomat had been scheduled to speak at an event in Washington organized by the Brookings Institution, where he is also a fellow. As a citizen of Spain, Solana would not usually be expected to apply for a visa, as his stay in the United States would be less than 90 days.
However, Solana's renewal application for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) was rejected. Instead, he told the Spanish daily El Pais on Sunday, he would need to obtain a visa through a traditional route, which would require full vetting.
A former NATO secretary general, Javier Solana, has been denied an electronic visa waiver for travel to the United States. The problem? The former Spanish foreign minister had traveled to Iran as recently as 2013.
Solana, who served as secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization between 1995 and 1999, later became the European Union's high representative for common foreign and security policy until 2009. In that position, he played a key role in negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.
The former diplomat had been scheduled to speak at an event in Washington organized by the Brookings Institution, where he is also a fellow. As a citizen of Spain, Solana would not usually be expected to apply for a visa, as his stay in the United States would be less than 90 days.
However, Solana's renewal application for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) was rejected. Instead, he told the Spanish daily El Pais on Sunday, he would need to obtain a visa through a traditional route, which would require full vetting.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/06/25/former-nato-secretary-general-denied-visa-waiver-to-visit-u-s-due-to-past-trips-to-iran/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.64cc5c5134c9
9 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
I don't know what to say...
I expect anything from Trump, but I'm starting to think we left a bizarre dimension to another even more bizarre...
“Achievements” of the day:
— Tweeting about a restaurant,
— Trampling on the check and balances,
— Denying any right to immigrants, no due process
— Threatening a Senator
— Blocking US entry of a former NATO chief
In the comments section, I've read someone says Trump visited NK, maybe we should have denied him the entry to the US...
I agree. 
It may be the real reason. 
