Germany closes four motorways for Bush visit

[Kellanved]

MAINZ - German police are to seal off stretches of four motorways for several hours as part of stringent security measures for next week's visit of US President George W. Bush.

Shipping on stretches of the Rhine and Main rivers will also be stopped while an all-day flight ban for small private aircraft is to be imposed in a 60-kilometre radius around Mainz, police said.

Passenger plane traffic at Frankfurt international airport will not be affected by the security measures for Bush's visit to Mainz on Wednesday 23 February.

Police said stretches of four motorways between Frankfurt, Mainz and Wiesbaden will be closed for four hours in the morning and four hours in the afternoon and evening for Bush's visit.
...
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=26&story_id=16948&name=Germany+closes+four+motorways+for+Bush+visit


The Highways in question are some of the busiest commuting Highway in Germany.

[LynzM]

1. That's gonna SUCK

I mean, there are routinely 4-10 km backups on those roads already, I cannot imagine if they are closed... I hope a lot of people manage to take the day off.

[No Exit]

2. Good God. Why are they so afraid for his safety?

Isn't he greeted with flowers and warm love wherever he goes?

[Oreo]

3. I'm sure that will help to win a lot of hearts

Bush probably figures the Germans already despise him so he'll piss them all off.

This has got to be unprecedented though. Has anything like this been done before? Closing roads, shipping, and air traffic? I don't think Baghdad even had that kind of shutdown when he went there to give the troops a fake turkey

[amazona]

4. maybe he can cut down all the trees while he's at it...

...like he arranged for when he went to Africa.

What a jerk-off.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Kellanved]

6. Oh, the Governor of the Hesse would love to do that

And considering that Hesse is just over the Rhine...

[Tim4319]

5. You can tell he knows he's done wrong in this world!

Why else would they have to take such measures? He is truly and idiot!

[tralfaz]

7. I once sat on the interstate

in KCMO for 2+ hours waiting for President Clinton to go by. This is normal for a president.

[zann725]

8. No...they usually only close a mile or two near where the motorcade passes

This IS obsessive, and clearly indicative of the true world-wide P.R. problem for this President and the International community.

[tralfaz]

9. They actually

closed down I35 in KC for 2+ hours, all of the from Independence, MO to KC International Airport. That is more miles than I can count even if I do take off my shoes to use my toes.