G8

[Tequila Sunrise]

This isn't a political discussion, no arguing... understood?


Hers the deal, Mr. Bush landed at Prestwick and the place is buzzing with US Marines, 2000 according to local papers. There are patrols of CH-53's and AH-1's. Also there is supposedly an American Carrier off the coast.

What I was wondering is what is the point, fair enough that the US president should have an esscort but dosn't anyone else think that this is a little over the top... especially when you consider the fact that there is the RAF, RN and Brittish army running around as well  ::)


Craig  ::)

[ozzy72]

GW obviously just loves playing to a crowd, and frankly I'd sooner play to the Marines than those anarchists. They aren't the sort of crowd anyone should play to unless they are Rambo

[ozzy72]

Two thousand Marines and he still manages to hit a policeman whilst riding his bicycle

[Tequila Sunrise]

lol  yeah, just eard that  ::)

poor guy ended up in hospital  :P

[ozzy72]

If I was the USMC I'd fly home straight away, I mean a President armed with a bicycle is just one hazard to many

[Souichiro]

If I was the USMC I'd fly home straight away, I mean a President armed with a bicycle is just one hazard to many

Imagine giving him a moped..

[ozzy72]

Whoa his Secret Service team would quit

[TacitBlue]

[Woodlouse2002]

[quote] This isn't a political discussion, no arguing... understood?


Hers the deal, Mr. Bush landed at Prestwick and the place is buzzing with US Marines, 2000 according to local papers. There are patrols of CH-53's and AH-1's. Also there is supposedly an American Carrier off the coast.

What I was wondering is what is the point, fair enough that the US president should have an esscort but dosn't anyone else think that this is a little over the top... especially when you consider the fact that there is the RAF, RN and Brittish army running around as well

[beefhole]

Guys with excellent security teams will always prefer their own people to somebody else's excellent security team.  Tis all.

[Woodlouse2002]

[quote]Guys with excellent security teams will always prefer their own people to somebody else's excellent security team.

[beefhole]

A security team is maybe two dozen men that go ahead to make arrangments with maybe half a dozen to do the actual body guarding. 2000 marines, and aircraft carrier and half an airforce worth of aircover is a tad extreme.

Not really.  They were afraid the Brits would use the Typhoon to protect GW, so they leaped into action and provided some F/A-18s to ensure his safety.

[Woodlouse2002]

[quote]
Not really.

[Craig.]

lol. Thats ok, why waste the typhoons time. I believe they have an appointment with an Evian plane wash this week. when it has to protect it will be high class and clean. Then it'll kick the ass of everything it comes up against home again in time for an evian scrub down.

[beaky]

Seems there was an awful lot of security in place for the summit in general, partly because many groups had promised to not only protest, but disrupt the proceedings (very constructive!::)) ... and I'd imagine it'd be an assassin's  fantasy to have those eight leaders in one place at the same time. Can't say I blame them for the overkill, but I also think having 2000 (!?) Marines near the Prez would also present ample opportunity for operatives carefully planted among the troops to do their thing (not unheard of-remember what happened to Sadat?)... you'd think there would be a less conspicuous small group of Secret Service agents instead.
As for the aircraft and ships: seems like a pointless show of force, IMHO- as if they were expecting a conventional military strike.  How can a carrier group protect the President and the other leaders  from a lone bomber or gunman (which is the far more likely threat)?