High Cost of Security ($8.4 million) for Bush trip to Britain

[doxieone]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20031112/pl_afp/britain_us_bush_security_031112144509


High cost security for Bush trip to Britain


LONDON (AFP) - Amid concern that al-Qaeda extremists may cover as anti-war protesters, Britain is implementing high-cost security measures to ensure the safety of US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) during a visit here next week, a senior police official said.



The increased security will cost Britain five million pounds (8.4 million dollars), a price that should be paid by British authorities, according to London police official Richard Barnes.


"This is a national visit. He has been invited by the government and the Queen. It is the nation that should pay for it," Barnes, London police's number two, told BBC radio.


"This should not fall on the ratepayers of London," he said.


White House planners have reportedly pressed British authorities to virtually shut down most of central London in a major security operation during Bush's visit.


(snip)

[dArKeR]

1. I don't believe this price tag for a second. More like $50,000,000 at

least. And I guess we send over 2000 agents at least too! It costs us at least $200,000,000.

[E_Zapata]

2. And imagine the cost of shutting down MANHATTAN

for a few days?

Wasn't that the justification for urging the EPA to give an 'all clear' signal to the people so they could get back to WORK......to save the economy?

Who will reimburse all those businesses for Bush's little "I do have clothes, I do have clothes dance-a-thon"?

[ablbodyed]

3. What's the difference between....

A formal state visit of the resident and what every actual president experienced when visiting UK? Why is what was good enough for them not good enough for duck-anus? And BTW ,'d-a' was the first occupier of the WH who appeared in public in military uniform, though knowing men as I do, SOME of them must have worn them for a while, at least) during special night-time 'just the two of us so humor me' activities.

[eileen from OH]

4. I predict. . .

That Bush will come up with some reason to cancel the visit. Really. There is NO way he's gonna face the kind of protests he'll get. And if they do herd 'em away from him, THAT will be the top story of the visit. He ain't goin', no way. Oh, but the reason WON'T be for "security reasons" 'cause that basically says he's a wimp and so hated he can't even visit the country of our staunchest ally.

Remember you read it here.

eileen from OH

[emad]

7. Maybe they'll bust his ambassador W S Farish III and his

gargolyle wife for bringing Regents Park into disrepute and lowering the tone of the Outer Circle - that might be enough for Shrub to cancel....

Otherwise, I expect Queen Elizabeth might drop dead from a heart attack following more seedy revelations about Charles, and Poodle's gang gets busted for masterminding the UK operations of the Enron slush fund

[Military Brat]

5. Make Halliburton, Bechtel, et al., pay for the visit

edited below - mea culpa

[Military Brat]

6. Make Halliburton, Bechtel, et al., pay for the visit

It's being done in their interest, after all. And "Snort" should contribute at least a million of it. It's ridiculous. His a** isn't even worth 2 cents.

[Spazito]

8. Al Qaeda isn't going to touch Bush, he is their best advertisement...

for recruitment. The longer Bush is around there is little doubt that Al Qaeda is gathering more converts.

[JPace]

9. Was watching British News last night.....

they quoted a figure of (can't remember exact number)
between 600 and 800 accompanying shrub on his trip
over there. Has any president ever traveled with
this many people?

[thebeaglehaslanded]

10. All the millions of dollars and thousands of security forces

can't protect him from the scorn and enmity of the good people of the world.

[BiggJawn]

11. Why doesn't he just stay home?

Doesn't he have a fund-raiser for some hopeful usurper in a Democrat state to go to? Also AT OUR EXPENSE!