What Iraqis Really Think

Originally Posted by aimeecc

I have found web pages that list various state "NO American can travel to or from unless they have a rarely granted permit" (listed include Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Serbia, Sudan).
I think that's what being referred to by Aretha's doctor. ...

Correct.

The catch is that reading what you've written (from other sources "verbatim" I suppose) one will automatically assume that the "rarely granted permit" might be issued from the afore-mentioned countries. Or putting into other words, that those countries do not allow Americans to vist them, though this is not true. Never-the-less this is the interpretation most commonly voiced by Americans.

Take the point of Cuba for example. There are American agents at airports in such countries as Mexico, where flights go directly to and from Cuba. Those agents are trained in spotting American citizens disembarking from flights originating in Cuba. Once spotted those American citizens are reported to the Armerican government for prosecution.

If you are an American citizen you only need to open your passport and read what country(s) you are not allowed to visit by American law. It will be written in a slightly criptic fashion such as to be a bit unclear but if you read it well, you'll understand.

The list that aimeecc has submitted may not be up to date but the countries on that list (plus many others) either are, or have been "off limits" for Americans by U.S. decree - not by decree of those countries.