re: "Autopsy of the Effort to Expand Membership in the Visa Waiver Program"

NoDoubleStandards at Calling a Spade a Spade ("Rants of a Foreign Service Officer on the things that matter to you -- and matter to you not at all") shared some analysis.

Money quote(s):

"The 9/11 Act fundamentally changed (at least temporarily) the philosophy underpinning VWP. Prior to the passage of the law, VWP was a fairly effective tool facilitating travel of citizens from countries deemed low risk as sources of illegal immigration for economic reasons. The 9/11 Act made security the paramount concern. The Bush administration pushed the idea that citizens of countries who had been allies in the "War on Terror" who do not pose a threat to our national security should be allowed to travel visa-free to the U.S."