I travel internationally quite a bit, at least twice a year, and 11 times in one particularly grueling year. I absolutely believe I was targeted as an American. Not because of some petty payback or other nonsense, but because I was obviously a foreigner and the border people in those countries were pretty much just doing their jobs (if a bit overzealous). They are supposed to scrutinize foreigners trying to enter their country.

I'm not really mad about it at all, just pointing out that the U.S. doesn't have a monopoly on harassing travelers and there's really nothing much special about it even if it is unbelievably annoying for the majority of people who get harassed and inconvenienced by it. You literally have to accept that when you go to another country, you are a visitor and not really subject to the kinds of protections that country's citizens (may) have or your own country offers you.