Extraordinary security measures for Bush visit to Germany

[OxQQme]

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/feb2005/bush-f21.shtml


<snip>

Extraordinary security measures for Bush visit to Germany
By Marianne Arens and Peter Schwarz
21 February 2005



In advance of Wednesday, February 23, a virtual state of emergency is being imposed in the Rhine-Main area, one of the most heavily populated regions of Germany.

Four motorways are being completely closed, rail travel restricted, navigation of the rivers Rhine and Main halted, schools and local offices closed down. The historical centre of the city of Mainz will be totally blocked off. Helicopters will fly overhead, while the city is besieged by police units and snipers.

The rerouting of traffic and closure of the main routes between Frankfurt airport and Mainz will force tens of thousands of employees in the region, including workers at the huge Opel auto works at Rüsselsheim, to change shifts or take a day’s holiday.

Air space over Frankfurt airport is to be closed for nearly an hour. All private airplanes within a radius of 60 kilometres from Mainz are to be grounded for the entire day. For the first time ever, fighter planes of the German Air Force will be on standby to take off and attack in the event of any disturbance of air space.

US snipers will be posted on balconies and roofs along the route from the airport to Mainz and its city centre—this in a country that normally forbids foreign security forces, even bodyguards, from carrying weapons in public. Days in advance, US Secret Service agents have been surveying the region, and huge armoured cars, helicopters and hundreds of American “specialists” have been flown in.


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[Kali]

1. Obnoxious Asshole

I am so embarrased by this pinhead. Why doesn't he fall out of a plane like he does bicycles?

[No Exit]

2. That is one SCARED little Kennebunkport Cowboy!

He KNOWS millions of people hate him!

I pray that the fear eats into what's left of his brain until he's left a babbling idiot (yes, even more of a babbling idiot than he already is.)

[98geoduck]

3. Maybe he should borrow the Pope Mobile!

[No Exit]

5. I'd go for that if he'd agree to ride in it down the Baghdad airport hwy!

[98geoduck]

7. I had to picture that one and LMAO! Bring em on! YeeeeeHaw!

[No Exit]

18. LOL--Pope Strangelove I inspects the troops in his mobile Pope Pod!

[Buns_of_Fire]

15. Maybe the Vatican will sell it to him

We could rename it the "Dopemobile," put steer horns on the front, and find one of those horns that play "Hail To the Chief" -- you know, make it real klassy, jes' like Little Boots! :eyes:

[No Exit]

16. LMAO!! Hey, does he get a tax break for buying it

like the tax breaks his government minions give idiots for buying SUVs?

[Jacobin]

14. He has a tiny little pee-pee

So he has to overcompensate with all the guns and tanks and planes and swagger.

He's one pathetic little blob of carbon.

[rustydog]

4. Extraordinary procedures oversees, but just ask the

White House press secretary for a pass and a man who could be carrying a handgun can get within a few feet of the president.

[Dave Reynolds]

6. Is this "spreading freedom"?

Just curious.

[Iterate]

8. More troops than Fallujah?

This whole situation here sucks so much, it's so much beyond belief, a surreal police state, beyond what anyone in the states knows about...

I walked around downtown a few days ago and not doubt had my picture taken more than a few times. It’s a ghost town getting ready for the devil. Normally open and friendly, the few people out now eye each other with mistrust. A few residents living nearest the show hurried around buying supplies before the siege. They will be shut in. The school children seemed oblivious. I wonder if endangering their lives is worth it. Polizei and suits were rushing around. A few old Omas going home from the market seemed unconcerned. They’ve seen people like Bush come and go before. No one sits at the sidewalk cafes. No one on the park benches. All signs of a vibrant city have been erased: rollerbladers gone, shops empty, trash bins gone, graffiti gone, posters gone, post boxes gone, streets swept, cars towed, flower beds freshly plowed. Not even the Easter Bells are to be trusted.

We are being used as a stage prop, a Hollywood set for the evening news. Don’t believe it. There will be more security troops here than in Fallujah. Only 11% or so of the people here support him or his policies; the rest detest him. He’s the most despised American of all time. He’s one-upped Pappa B. again.

The Bush people wanted to have a 'town hall' meeting but German authorities strongly advised against it. They couldn’t find enough willing Germans to make it look good and couldn't guarantee a crowd of 'happy campers'. Maybe they’ll get enough of them together in time, maybe not.

Instead we have the news that the few residents living along the motorcade route have been informed to keep their steel "Rollo" shutters closed. No peeking, or else. Officials want to "avoid misunderstandings", which means being shot by one of the 1,000 rooftop snipers who wear blue and carry American passports.

That one in particular doesn’t add up. Let’s be blunt: it’s an 80 car caravan of armored limos, darkened windows, racing by at 70mph and Germans don’t own guns. But they do have eggs, lot’s of eggs.

No, don't believe it. If all of the security was for a few potential assassins, you go after them: you don’t lock down half a million people. (Where is that Bin Laden fella’ anyway?)

Still, there will be a protest. It will be kept small and away from the press. Not many people can get here. They expect to be locked in traffic, or have their trains cancelled. Not many can take two days or more from work, travel for hours and arrange a place to stay, all so they can march in circles, a restricted zone a kilometer away, for two hours, in the cold, with no one paying attention except the snipers on the roofs, the helicopters above and the Polizei at the barricades.

Let’s be clear what all the security is about. Not bombs, but eggs. Not extremists, but ordinary citizens. It’s about maintaining fear and creating an image.

[Stephanie]

10. Welcome to DU, mainz_68

I know it's bizarre, but we have been living like this for four years now. When George Bush decides to vist NYC, whole sections of the city are shut down.

I believe he is the most hated president in the history of the U.S. I'm sorry you have to suffer through this, but be glad that it is a rare occasion. You can say goodbye to him, we are stuck.

Our Apologies - signed, Rational America

[Iterate]

12. None needed

Thank's Stephanie.

No apologies needed. As as an expat I do enough explaining and apologizing for everyone.

[Spazito]

19. Thank you for posting this!

It is great to be able to get the facts from someone living there.

Welcome to DU, great post!

[Stephanie]

9. George Bush is completely paranoid with delusions of grandeur

I mean come on, get over yourself. Is it really worth inconveniencing the whole world over your paranoia? Get a grip!

[K-W]

11. These people need to be permanantly seperated from power.

If we have any hope of progress.

[bobthedrummer]

13. The War President doesn't travel light.

I can't stand him or Cheney or the neo-conservative traitors that have launched PNAC. Most of the world views this as an extreme administration. I wonder if he uses DYN-CORP to supplement the armed forces of the United States of America, The Secret Service and all the other perks of the Office.
:puke::argh::grr:

[lala_rawraw]

17. And who payes for this?