Prologue to Britain update

Britains have vowed to "make sure that the biggest photo opportunities are ones of streets filled with protesters" for George Double-face Bush's upcoming visit. In case you missed it, check my earlier post here.

And so...

American officials want a virtual three-day shutdown of central London in a bid to foil disruption of the visit by anti-war protestors. They are demanding that police ban all marches and seal off the city centre.

But senior Yard officers say the powers requested by US security chiefs would be unprecedented on British soil. While the Met wants to prevent violence, it is sensitive to accusations of trying to curtail legitimate protest. article

Unlike here in the land of the free.

US officials are reportedly insisting on an "exclusion zone".

They say terrorists could use the crowds as cover to attack the President.

The terrorists! The terrorists! I've got news for Bubblehead Double-face - it's not the terrorists who would like to get at him. They're working a gold mine because of him. It's those average citizens around the globe, including in his own home, who'd like to get their hands on Cowboy Creep.

He will stay at Buckingham Palace and his staff want The Mall, Whitehall and part of the City closed.

Part of the city!

Anybody want to bet he won't go if he doesn't get what he wants? He wanted a guaranteed standing ovation for a EU appearance a while back. They said no. He didn't go.

Commissioner Sir John Stevens said his force was facing "a very tough" time over the visit, which will see the biggest security operation ever mounted in Britain.

Just like the Asian tour. Cities and countries forking over enormous sums of money just because this asshat blows through town looking for photo ops. Why doesn't he spare everyone and just get Hollywood to stage these visits with some footage they must already have on hand? Hell, it'd be cheaper and safer for everyone if they'd just fly the Queen and Tony the Tiger to New York and prop them up against a backdrop from some old footage of a coronation or something.

"We are on the highest alert that we have ever worked at," he said. "We are working two-and-a-half times harder than we did at the very height of the Irish terror campaign."

Two-and-a-half times greater expenditure of effort for these people than when they are actually under attack from terrorists. Think about it.

The Yard has cancelled all leave for the three-day visit and mobilised 3,800 officers...

...But the Met and the US Secret Service have reportedly agreed "rules of engagement" allowing Bush bodyguards to shoot anyone they believe is clearly threatening the life of the President.

I wonder if they need to publish just what activity they might "believe" constitutes a clear threat.

....hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

Update 11/12/03: They could have a riot on their hands if the Brits get too p.o.'d.

"To create a situation in which perhaps 60,000 people remain unseen would require a shutdown of central London which is just not acceptable."

It is reported that Mr Bush's entourage will number around 500 with up to 200 members of the security service. The Americans are also said to be bringing a US Marine Corps Sea King helicopter, a Black Hawk helicopter and 15 sniffer dogs.

Organisers say they expect between 50,000 and 70,000 people for the biggest protest against a visiting head of state.

...George Galloway, the MP expelled from New Labour over his opposition to the Iraq war, said "What makes the whole matter ludicrous is that on Thursday next week, when the main march takes place, we don't think Bush is even going to be in London. We think he will be in Sedgefield with Tony Blair.