Al-Qaeda pose terror threat to Bush visit (MIB's want immunity!)

[tinnypriv]

Al-Qaeda pose terror threat to Bush visit
The Times, 12 November 2003

AL-QAEDA terrorists using the cover of huge anti-war protests are a very real threat to the safety of George Bush during his state visit to London next week, Britain’s most senior policemen have said.

Scotland Yard says that concerns over an attack on the President are the reason for the biggest security operation Britain has seen for any visiting head of state.

...

Senior officers finalising security arrangements with the White House described the trip as “a nightmare”. One source told The Times that the original demands made by the US Secret Service were “simply unacceptable. They wanted to turn London into little Washington by closing roads for miles around, hours before the President’s motorcade passes, and that is just not acceptable here.”

While the White House has been told that it will not get its own way on every demand, police have agreed to greater restrictions on protesters and the public than they wanted. Few people will see Mr Bush, who no longer risks walkabouts or unscheduled stops.

...

Whitehall officials insist that US agents must follow the law and can use arms only if there is “an imminent or direct threat to life”.

The US Secret Service wants immunity from prosecution for any agent who uses a gun and insists that Mr Bush’s personal safety is its responsibility, not Scotland Yard’s.

...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-890826,00.html

...
:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[sweettater]

1. Well, isn't this rich?

GAG me with a spoon! :puke:

[Benhurst]

2. This is absurd.

Why doesn't he just stay home?

[Demonaut]

4. its a visit to see relatives

Remember Punch and Judy,

[tnlefty]

3. Wouldn't it be nice it he was told to just stay home?

Not that I want him either, but I think shit like this will only increase the dislike for him. Gotta change the way you do things for the naked emperor you know.

[MrSoundAndVision]

5. Well are they surprised?

I mean, their president supported the war, in direct conflict with public opinion in Britain. Did they think that their government was going to use the military in an illegal war as foreign policy in regards to security, and not impose the same archaic logic on the domestic front in regards to security? If we're getting a police state, then they're getting a police state, it's only fair: this war may not have happened without their support. Well no it's not fair for either of our countries.

[htuttle]

6. That last quoted paragraph is a doozy...

They are arguing that the SS agents should be able to shoot British citizens with impunity and without motive or justification? Will there be a bag limit, or is it open season?

Whitehall officials insist that US agents must follow the law and can use arms only if there is “an imminent or direct threat to life”.

The US Secret Service wants immunity from prosecution for any agent who uses a gun and insists that Mr Bush’s personal safety is its responsibility, not Scotland Yard’s.

Boy, oh, boy...Ain't it great to be one of Bush's closest allies? Maybe they are a little too high strung to be doing PR appearances overseas right now...

:eyes:

[librechik]

25. heh--they said "imminent"

now I don't want any revisionism on this. Imminent is anybody they suspect any time anywhere.

[Art_from_Ark]

33. Now wait a minute-- Didn't "God" choose Bu$h?

Who needs thousands of agents for protection if God is on your side?
:crazy:

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. This wouldn't have happened with President Gore

Never happened with President Clinton either! Wtg pResident DumbAss Bush*! :mad: :grr:

[Gloria]

8. When has he ever done a "walkabout" or stopped to go into a crowd

even here????

He's the most distant "president" I've ever seen.....

[monarch]

9. Nice use of Al Qaeda

Looks like they're getting ready to cancel the trip and they don't want people to think that Bush has been intimidated by the protests.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

12. Bingo! If you can't get the Brits to condescend to King George's

wishes, you discover an Al Qaeda threat conveniently and *poof* instant free speech zone.

You'd think he'd get the idea that something might be wrong with his policies if he can't even visit London, his "closest ally," without worry of becoming worm food.

[hang a left]

16. I hope they do cancel the GD trip, he is so embarrassing.

Al Qaeda..................my *ss


and on edit: The BFEE wants immunity in GB like they have in the US. The only difference is here all the murders are "suicides" and they are suicided in private. Here it looks like they might have to be a little more overt! EM EFFERS

[MoonAndSun]

17. that was my first thought, too, monarch.....

bush* is so ignorant of the hatred he generates and his handlers would never let him know this fact, but I bet Rove is trying hard to get this trip cancelled. A major shutdown of London by either the SS or the people protesting AWOL would make news all over the place, except in the US, you know, that "liberal media".

[LibLabUK]

27. Hmm

"A major shutdown of London by either the SS or the people protesting AWOL would make news all over the place, except in the US, you know, that "liberal media"."

It would leave Blair in a pretty pickle with his buddies in business. A shutdown on the scale that the USSS was wanting would cost the British economy billions.

The arrogance of the WH and USSS never ceases to amaze me, if I had a say I'd tell them to cram it where the sun don't shine.

I have a sneaking suspicion we'll see some "street theatre" (see "To Play the King" by Michael Dobbs) during the visit.

[Military Brat]

10. bush - the most expensive pariah in the world

Persona non gratis. How much, exactly, will it cost the Brits to host this voracious piranha of civilization? And the last thing anyone needs right now is for a riot to erupt if some tightly-wound SS guy shoots and/or kills a British citizen who does not comprehend the depth of paranoia of "Snort" and his entourage.

What a mess. No wonder "Snort" is the most hated person in the world.

[nostamj]

18. cost? i believe i saw 3 million pounds quoted

in an LBN thread on TMHMOE's idiotic attempt to leave the compound.

pre-screened crowds, crawford, camp david or the WH chimpy

not another place on EARTH you can go without being protested.

you have succeeded as a uniter. the whole WORLD hates you.

[alunharford]

30. THAT'S the banner

I know what I'm taking with me now:

"Bush, you are a uniter. The whole world hates you."

Thanks.

[E_Zapata]

11. Oh wonderful......I knew they'd stop the Bare Your Bum campaign!

BASTARDS!!

Fascist Bastards!

[Rose Siding]

13. Just the latest humiliation

If they'd all hold out $2,000(US) checks, he'd dance a jig for them, up close and personal.

[loudnclear]

14. Bush should stay home an join Cheney in a bunker!

If his visits are this much trouble...who needs him?

[hang a left]

23. He may just stay home, now that the bombing is gonna start again

in Iraq. Bremmer is back, plans in the works. Shock and Awe phase 2. I betcha a dollar he don't go.

[RuB]

15. The most hated man on the planet. Simply amazing.

Who in the last couple of decades is as hated as the idiot Bushie enabled by our pathetic mass media? Want to bet our view of his visit is so sanitized to be embarrassing?

[peekaloo]

19. MOMMY!

Hmmmm.....thought he weren't skeered by them tin horn terra-ists......ooops that was the fictitious ShowTime version.


:cry: :cry: :cry:

[Gman]

20. He can always not go

[saigon68]

21. No he has to visit his Lap Dog Poodle Boy

What a lovely pair

[soup]

22. just reminded me of that *bush/blair love duet

that made the rounds awhile back.
for those who haven't seen it - click on 'Bush/Blair love duet' to view:
http://www.atmo.se/?pageID=4&articleID=399

[xxqqqzme]

24. squatter cannot visit countries that

continue 2 pretend they're democracies. It only emphasizes they are not. He needs to concentrate on totalitarian countries. Now those dictators can keep their people in line! and it won't cost the host countries millions. BBC 2night said squatter had a SEVEN HUNDRED member entourage and security was projected 2 cost 3 million. Hey that's only a million a day 2 protect the little rat bastard! - 700 - 700 - unf*ckingbelievable!

[alunharford]

32. 8 days and it'as free publicity

The "Stop the War" protests didn't have this much publicity.
Bloody hell.
They estimated 100,000 for that. 2 million turned up. The march never really moved because there were too many people and Hyde Park was full!!!
It was more of a queue than a march.
This is going to be *HUGE*.

[proud patriot]

26. I hope they tell bush nevermind and that he's not welcome

:grr:

[dbt]

28. Stay home, eejit!

Bad as I hate the thought of bu$h being anywhere in this country, we have no call to foist the little tyrant off on England with his Marie Antoinette security arrangements.

Let him eat yellowcake!

:grr:
dbt

[alunharford]

29. Yeah right!

That isn't going to happen. If any of them do so much as touch their weapons before there is an assassination attempt (I think it's fair to say there will be - Bush is by far the most hated man on the planet) they can be arrested.
Ken Livingstone wouldn't hesitate.
And if Bush got killed in London it would do wonders for Ken's reelection prospects (London is even more anti-Bush than the rest of the country).

[LibLabUK]

31. Hmm

"If any of them do so much as touch their weapons before there is an assassination attempt (I think it's fair to say there will be - Bush is by far the most hated man on the planet) they can be arrested."

Sods shouldn't be allowed to bring weapons into the country fullstop. Didn't the USSS go bananas with Bush I in some south american country, teargassing the crowd or something?

He should have to rely chiefly on the Met for protection.. they seem to have done a perfectly good job protecting British politicians, British and Foreign diplomats and the Royal Family from a real terrorist threat (IRA) for decades.