You think this is draconian?

Just wait until Osama's merry band of pranksters lets the other shoe drop... that's when the excrement will truly hit the air-conditioning.

-- NARITA, JAPAN -- Japan began fingerprinting foreigners entering the country on Tuesday in an anti-terrorism policy that has sparked complaints from human right activists, business travellers and long-term residents.

“At a time when terrorism is occurring throughout the world, we want foreigners entering Japan to co-operate, and to understand that it is better for them as well that Japan be safe,” said Hisashi Toshioka, head of the Immigration Bureau at Narita airport.

Security experts worldwide agree that it's not a question of if... simply a matter of when... we have another incident on the magnitude of 9/11.

You're gonna be screaming for maximally torqued-up security the day after that happens... trust me.

Of course, by then it'll be too late.

And guess what... it ain't just the Japanese who are battening down the hatches.

Britain this month began requiring people applying for British visas to have their fingerprints scanned and photographs taken digitally.

And, closer to home...

-- Washington -- The Bush administration said yesterday it will install 10 new fingerprint scanners at all Canada-U.S. border crossings -- including pre-clearance facilities at Canadian airports -- by the end of 2008.

Most Canadians are exempt from being fingerprinted under the expanding US-VISIT program. Paul Morris, who runs Homeland Security's admissibility programs, said "very few Canadians" will be affected the changes.

It's the future folks... get used to it.

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FROM THE COMMENTS:

"stoogeleft fantasizes... their government approved rubber glove, your national RFID tube, and a jar of KY jelly"

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RELATED: While we're at it...

Fingerprint these terrorists too.

France's high-speed TGV rail network has been damaged by a "concerted campaign of sabotage", the SNCF state-owned rail operator has said.

It said acts of sabotage overnight, including fires, caused huge delays to TGV services already hit by a long transport union strike over reforms.

Mr Sarkozy said reforms were overdue and that they were necessary "to confront the challenges set by the world".

"We will not surrender and we will not retreat," he said.