STATE OF PARANOIA

Nov 16 2003


By Chris Mclaughlin And Stephen Martin
 

THEY'RE changing the guard at Buckingham Palace...but instead of bearskins, ceremonial swords and red jackets, this lot will be wearing grey suits with suspicious bulges under their arms and talking into their cuff-links.

When the George Bush circus rolls into town this week, London will have seen nothing like it.

Whole streets will be blocked off for the paranoid President and his incredible entourage - and thousands of motorists left fuming in the capital's biggest security operation ever. And, not content with treating Britain like the 51st State of the Union, ultra-cautious American security chiefs are even set to take over the Houses of Parliament. The incredible security operation for the four-day State visit is costing British taxpayers more than £4million - while the US is forking out a mind-boggling £15million for it.

And the Americans are being given everything they've asked for as Bush becomes the first US President to be given a State visit to the UK since Woodrow Wilson after World War I in 1918.

Scotland Yard has cancelled all police leave and the 700 American secret service spooks over here with Mr Bush have even been told they can shoot on sight at the slightest danger and claim diplomatic immunity from prosecution if they do. The operation will swing into action on Tuesday when Mr Bush flies into Heathrow in Air Force One - the £112million Presidential plane. After being given a formal welcome by Prince Charles, he will be swept away in his armour-plated limo in a convoy of 20 cars and "war wagons" freighted into Britain last week.

The paranoia is such that parts of his visit are being kept secret.

We know he is due to address the joint Houses of Parliament ... but we can't tell you when.

We know his staff have taken more than 900 hotel rooms ... but we can't tell you where.

And if lots of people seem glad to see him, don't be surprised. "Crowd builders" are sent out to ensure he is always addressing cheerful, cheering throngs of people - which means anti-war protesters are being kept well away.

More than 100,000 demonstrators are expected to march through London on Thursday against the war in Iraq - but have been banned from going near Parliament or Downing Street.

Their leaders last night accused the police of bowing to American paranoia in keeping them away.

Many MPs are not happy either after being told they may have limited access to Parliament or may not even be able to get there at all while Mr Bush makes his "secret" visit there to address the Lords and Commons.

One said: "If the Speaker allows this virtual takeover of Parliament by a foreign country he will forever be remembered for surrendering the rights of Parliament - and therefore the nation." We do know the President and wife Laura will stay at Buckingham Palace where a State Banquet will be held on Wednesday evening. Earlier in the day he will give a speech at London's Banqueting House and visit the memorial to the British victims of September 11. On Thursday his schedule includes visits to Westminster Abbey and Downing Street for talks with Tony Blair.

But plans for a procession along The Mall with the Queen - normally a key part of a State visit - have been scrapped because of security fears. The idea was ruled out as a "USR" - unacceptable security risk.

The visit has taken more than three months of detailed planning. A team of 12 Presidential aides first flew to London for a "site survey" to check out all the places he'll be visiting and routes to get there. They included a doctor who assessed which hospitals to use in case of emergency and a photographer who took pictures of all venues for security staff to study.

Six weeks ago, 20 aides arrived to begin polishing the plans. The schedule for the Presidential appearances was finalised - and the aides even worked out the best angles for the TV news crews.

Last week spooks commandeered a local radio frequency to start setting up equipment for scrambling messages. They brought over their own generators in case of power cuts.

Before Mr Bush arrives anywhere, surveillance specialists will sweep all the rooms for bugging devices.

Meanwhile, secret service agents will be driving along all the roads the motorcade will use, to make sure there is enough room for the huge vehicles to turn in if they need to - and that there are enough escape routes.

Lists have even been drawn of who can go into lifts or corridors with the President - and who can't. Schedules and timetables are honed until every minute of his day is accounted for.

Last night a former Presidential bodyguard, Bill Pickles, said: "The thing with the secret service is we don't wait for something to happen, then react. We try to anticipate and head it off.

"We study every assassination attempt that's made in the world. We have a pretty good idea of how an assassination attempt may happen and the type of person behind it.

"Of course, being abroad makes it more difficult. We have incredibly good relations with the British police and authorities, but we are so completely different in our view of the world and the levels of security required."

He was amazed when the Queen visited Kentucky to see thoroughbred horses in the 1980s. "She travelled with one Scotland Yard protection officer!"

It certainly won't be like that this week...

c.mclaughlin@sundaymirror.co.uk

HIS ITINERARY

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19: Ceremonial welcome at Buckingham Palace. State banquet in evening at Palace, with guests including Tony Blair.

THURSDAY: Bush to lay wreath at The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey. Lunch with Blair. Bush to host banquet for Queen.

FRIDAY: President expected to visit North-East England with Blair before flying home.

THE LIMOS

THE President's limo, known by its secret service call sign of Stagecoach, is a custom-built £2million Cadillac De Ville. One of four bought by the White House in 2001, it was freighted into Britain by a C17 cargo aircraft last week.

The limo is 22ft-long - the length of a London bus. It includes a fully-armoured perimeter and firewall, with blast shields in the floor and heavy-duty suspension, brakes and steering.

The president rides with the "football", a briefcase carried by a military aide which contains the launch codes for America's nuclear arsenal.

He insists on the car being stocked with bottles of still water and Diet Coke. A special foam inside the armoured petrol tank prevents explosions, while steel plates inside the tyres enable the car to speed away at 65mph with all four tyres shredded.

A night vision infrared-detection system is included to check for missile attack.

The vehicle interior boasts seven-passenger seating with improved comfort and visibility for all occupants.

There is a rear-seat executive package with a concealed foldaway desktop for holding meetings.

There is even a 10-disc CD player and the presidential seal is imprinted on each of the rear doors. It carries a Washington DC registration plate.

The motorcade will include identical-looking limos each carrying six or seven of the President's most important advisers and security officials. The first six limos are known in spook-speak as "the Secure Package".

The code word for the President himself is POTUS (President of the United States).

There will also be a blacked-out decoy limo, flying the Stars and Stripes from the front wing.

It is packed with armed secret service agents wired up through earpieces to the communications wagon following four vehicles behind.

WAR WAGONS

THE first War Wagon is a black Chevrolet suburban. Following behind the limos are up to four more identical War Wagons and a single black estate car carrying a mounted machine gun. Like the other vehicles, they were flown in last week.

The wagons are armoured similarly to the presidential limousine. The agents inside, members of the elite Presidential Protection Department's Counter Assault Team, carry Sig Sauer P229 pistols, supplemented by Remington shotguns and submachine guns. One of the wagons is likely to be equipped with Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.

GUARDS

PEOPLE-carriers with red and blue lights on the roofs will carry yet more guards talking feverishly into the radios hidden in their coat cuffs. Agents work in three teams and do eight-hour shifts, ensuring 24-hour protection for the President and his wife Laura. Minibuses carry all the computers, fax machines and phone lines required to operate the White House on the move.

DEATH WATCH

A "DEATH watch" van records every moment of the event, keeping an eye out for possible terrorists. It has a TV cameraman on board in case of an assassination attempt.

Overhead fly helicopters ready to rescue the President in an emergency. He will be guarded by a US Marine Corps Sikorsky Sea King helicopter and a VIP version of the White Hawk helicopter. An exclusion zone prevents any other aircraft entering airspace near the President.

AMBULANCE

THE ambulance carries a surgeon, nurses, plasma banks and a supply of the President's blood type. It has state-of-the-art resuscitation gear.

SPOOKS

WHEN the motorcade sets off dozens of police cars and motorcycles empty the roads ahead.

Seven hundred US agents protect the President as a team of sniffer dogs work through waiting crowds checking for explosives.

Plain-clothes agents mingle with passers-by and demonstrators. Snipers prepare to open fire.

GETTING HERE

THE President and his entourage will travel from Washington's Andrews Air Force base in two specially-adapted Boeing 747-200s.

The plane Bush flies in is Air Force One - a 30-year tradition going back to President Kennedy. Standing five storeys high and weighing 400 tons, Air Force One can provide the president, his closest aides and security personnel with up to 2,000 meals a trip, and more than 85 phone lines. The

£112million plane has a crew of 23 and 4,000sq ft of space containing sleeping quarters, showers, a stateroom, TVs, a medical room with operating facilities, two kitchens, and a communications centre. It flies 6,200 miles on one tank of fuel, can be refuelled in mid-air and carries 35 days' of supplies in case of nuclear war.

It flies higher than commercial jets, in its own exclusion zone, and has its own missile defences. It costs £33,000 an hour to run, compared to about £4,300 for a commercial 747.

Each plane is kitted out in luxury trim. The presidential seal is emblazoned on the seatbelt buckles, pillows, mugs, napkins and even his shaving kit. The second plane carries white house staff and secret service officials. A third chartered jumbo carries diplomatic staff and other flunkeys.

'Shoot-to-kill' demand by US

Martin Bright, home affairs editor
Sunday November 16, 2003
The Observer

Home Secretary David Blunkett has refused to grant diplomatic immunity to armed American special agents and snipers travelling to Britain as part of President Bush's entourage this week.

In the case of the accidental shooting of a protester, the Americans in Bush's protection squad will face justice in a British court as would any other visitor, the Home Office has confirmed.

The issue of immunity is one of a series of extraordinary US demands turned down by Ministers and Downing Street during preparations for the Bush visit.

These included the closure of the Tube network, the use of US air force planes and helicopters and the shipping in of battlefield weaponry to use against rioters.

In return, the British authorities agreed numerous concessions, including the creation of a 'sterile zone' around the President with a series of road closures in central London and a security cordon keeping the public away from his cavalcade.

The White House initially demanded the closure of all Tube lines under parts of London to be visited during the trip. But British officials dismissed the idea that a suicide bomber could kill the President by blowing up a Tube train. Ministers are also believed to have dismissed suggestions that a 'sterile zone' around the President should be policed entirely by American special agents and military.

Demands for the US air force to patrol above London with fighter aircraft and Black Hawk helicopters have also been turned down.

The President's protection force will be armed - as Tony Blair's is when he travels abroad - and around 250 secret service agents will fly in with Bush, but operational control will remain with the Metropolitan Police.

The Americans had also wanted to travel with a piece of military hardware called a 'mini-gun', which usually forms part of the mobile armoury in the presidential cavalcade. It is fired from a tank and can kill dozens of people. One manufacturer's description reads: 'Due to the small calibre of the round, the mini-gun can be used practically anywhere. This is especially helpful during peacekeeping deployments.'

Ministers have made clear to Washington that the firepower of the mini-gun will not be available during the state visit to Britain. In return, the Government has agreed to close off much of Whitehall during the visit - the usual practice in Britain is to use police outriders to close roads as the cavalcade passes to cause minimal disruption to traffic.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: 'Negotiations between here and the US have been perfectly amicable. If there have been requests, they have not posed any problems.'

An internal memo sent to Cabinet Office staff and leaked to the press this weekend urged staff to work from home if at possible during the presidential visit. Serious disruption would be caused by 'the President Bush vehicle entourage requesting cleared secured vehicle routes around London and the security cordons creating a sterile zone around him'.

Meanwhile, negotiations are continuing between police and demonstrators about the route of the march. Representatives of the Stop the War Coalition will meet police at Scotland Yard tomorrow to discuss whether protesters will be able to march through Parliament Square and Whitehall. Spokesman Andrew Burgin said he hoped for 'a good old-fashioned British compromise'.

The voices of thoughtful and peaceful people will not be silenced by a corrupted media or the goon squads of the new American fascism.

And somehow I don't believe this will play out in any beneficial way to bolster his ratings. Please stay in your corner, Mr. GWB and save us all this bullshit.

You poltroons can find a reason to get all bent outa shape about damn near anything can't you?

I mean, the shear audacity of Bush to implement such security measures. The nerve!

We finally fight a war worth fighting and you naive bastards are on the wrong side.

Pathetic.

Still breathing, Fresca?
Poor Jerry …nobody trust you.

They're just upset that their little annie friends across the water won't get the chance to take any potshots at Gee Dub.

Assuming any of them grow a pair, that is...

It ain't potshots they're worried about...his handlers just don't want him to realize how much everybody hates him...gotta keep the insular fuck in his fantasy world....same one that Caducada and Fido grub around in....

...fuckin' capons....

"how much everybody hates him"

Everyone doesn't hate him. Another left-wing lie. But, what else are we to expect from a lying SOB like kpc?

Even the ultra left-wing UK Guardian says so.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,1087545,00.html

62% of Brits like US, only 15% say they don't.

Once again, a vocal minority supposes to speak for everyone. Sorta like the left-wing and anarchist freak-show presented here on a daily basis.

Really, Chicken Boy?

You asked everybody...over 6 billion people...and everybody hates him?

That's odd...I don't remember anyone asking me.

I think I see your error.

You hear the strident, annoying, rabid voices here on imc (and not much else, apparently) and draw your fallacious conclusions from an infinitesimal sample.

The most accurate statement you could make is, "Some people hate him. And they want desperately to make their numbers look larger than they actually are."

But that wouldn't be so dramatic, would it?

Though it would have the added benefit of making you look less like an idiot.

Yes, I spoke to every living sole, and everybody hates him....

...you got a problem with that, take it up with da shrub...

...and in case you haven't figured it out yet, da shrub ain't the "US"...

...substitute "da shrub" for "US" and watch those favorable numbers drop from 62% to ZEEERO!

....'cause EVERYBODY hates him!

"Yes, I spoke to every living sole..."

Did you speak to every living sturgeon and grouper, too? How about squid and anenomes?

That's your problem...you're polling seafood.

No wonder your claims are so easily discounted.

>Yes, I spoke to every living sole

That's "every living SOUL", not "sole". "Sole's" are what are on the bottom of shoes or the bottom of your foot. According to you, you talked to a bunch of shoe bottoms or bottom of people's feet. Considering your social standing in life, that's probably not unusual for you.

Come to think of it, that pretty much describes the modern day liberal; just something to be casually walked on. Sorta like how I walk all over you on a daily basis.

FidoFish: "That's your problem...you're polling seafood. That's odd...I don't remember anyone asking me."

That's 'cause I asked every LIVING sole...not rotting dead doggie fish....

"every LIVING sole"

That's every living SOUL, not sole.See above comment. You're talking to people's feet again.

But., I'm sure that looks like up to you.

A few months ago, I ran a regression analysis on da shrubs approval rating since immediately following 9/11. The resulting best fit predictive linear equation is;

y = -0.0416x + 1630.4

With y being predicted approval rating and x being the numerical month. Plug in today's date and you get an approval rating of approx 52%...pretty much in line with what the polls are today.

Plug in 11/1/04 and you get 37.5%....and by then those 37.5% will be too embarrassed to admit it....face it...EVERYBODY hates him!

...buh-bye monkey boy!

Ah, but by using that same formula, it will tell us that space aliens who have been checked through the FEMA internment camps should have taken over the world on 06/15/03, which didn't happen. So the validity of the formula remains highly in question.

'swipe: "That's every living SOUL, not sole.See above comment. You're talking to people's feet again. "

It's a PUN you idiot! Y'know..."sole"...."doggie FISH"...

...whatta fuckin' dimwitted douche....

It's not a pun. You're too fucking stupid to come up with a pun. You meant the bottom of people's shoes.

Idiot.

I understand that 2+X=4 is a strain on your abilities.....but, hey, you're Republican...probably love da shrub 'cause you finally found someone more stupid than you...

...took a while, though....

Here, I'll help the less fortunate;

...look up regression analysis...

...go find the poll numbers....

...then have mommy help you....if you can get her off the street corner....

Dear Mr President,

Today you arrive in my country for the first state visit by an American president for many decades, and I bid you welcome.

You will find yourself assailed on every hand by some pretty pretentious characters collectively known as the British left. They traditionally believe they have a monopoly on morality and that your recent actions preclude you from the club. You opposed and destroyed the world's most blood-encrusted dictator. This is quite unforgivable.

I beg you to take no notice. The British left intermittently erupts like a pustule upon the buttock of a rather good country. Seventy years ago it opposed mobilisation against Adolf Hitler and worshipped the other genocide, Josef Stalin.

It has marched for Mao, Ho Chi Minh, Khrushchev, Brezhnev and Andropov. It has slobbered over Ceausescu and Mugabe. It has demonstrated against everything and everyone American for a century. Broadly speaking, it hates your country first, mine second.

Eleven years ago something dreadful happened. Maggie was ousted, Ronald retired, the Berlin wall fell and Gorby abolished communism. All the left's idols fell and its demons retired. For a decade there was nothing really to hate. But thank the Lord for his limitless mercy. Now they can applaud Saddam, Bin Laden, Kim Jong-Il... and hate a God-fearing Texan. So hallelujah and have a good time.

When I want to brush with stupidity, I simply call on you. And then spit in your face. And then walk away. Cause your too afraid to do anything about it.

When I want to brush with stupidity, I simply call on you. And then spit in your face. And then walk away. Cause you're too afraid to do anything about it.

We yanks love ya, brother! That we surely do.

How 'bout next time I'm over on the Emerald Isle, you and I head out to pub and get pissed?

Hey! That's me!

I marched for Mao, Ho Chi Minh, Khrushchev, Brezhnev, Andropov, Ceausescu, and Mugabe. I applaud Saddam, Bin Laden, Kim Jong-Il. And I hate Bush.

Thank you for recognizing me, Mr. Forsyth. I hope one day to kill everyone who disagrees with me.

Peace.

Dear FF,

Since you're British, I guess we'll have to forgive at least two points of stupidity...da shrub ain't Texan...he's from Connecticut...and anyone who lies without compuction like he does can't fear any God....

Now...please bang out a letter defending that loyal doggie PM of yours...we can all use a good laugh over here....

Please forgive the above statement, Mr. Forsyth. I don't have a clue as to what I'm talking about. I'm a liar, too. I'm a liberal. Of course, as you pointed out, you have the same idiots like me in your country also.

Ummm...Min...The Emerald Isle is Ireland...not England....

Idiot.

Of course, it's not like people can use transportation to travel from one place to another. Things like that never occur to me. I'm an idiot.

Hey, Soul Man...I would love nothing more than kicking your ass up and down the street of your choosing...but something tells me that it would be no great accomplishment....you might talk about spitting in someones face...you're Republican...a Chicken Hawk...talk is always cheep...but if reality gave you a chance you'd run cryin' to mommy at the mere thought of it.

Pussy.

Travel to see Min?

Nah...don't think so...who the fuck would want to see him if they didn't have to? Shit, his wife has to close her eyes just to say his name...

Whatever. Wimp.

All talk and no action.

But we can all rest assured you'll get together with your comrades and sit around and talk about it.

Whaddya mean all talk? I said it would be NICE to kick you ass...but to EASY to bother with...I pity you, I really do! Your the one spouting about spitting in faces and shit...

...bet you got beat up a lot in school...didn't ya? You poor poor sole....

Of course KPC, being the wusified coward that he is, will simply tuck-tail and run.

See ya!

...while the Sole Man is busy...what....

...posting?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

All talk. That's all any of you idiot liberals (that's redundant) ever do. Never any action.

And a year from now, and five years from now, ten years, twenty years, and more, you'll still be bitching about how things don't suit you. But you will have never gotten off your lazy ass to do anything about it. You can't conceive a plan as to how to make things the way you want them to be, much less have any hope of implementing it. You never will. You're too damn stupid. And everyday you come here and complain is just one more day that proves you can't do anything.

It's enjoyable to watch you dorks squirm. And to spit in your face everyday and you not do anything about it. You're scared. Keep it up. It's great entertainment.

Well, Min...why don't you and Sole Man get together and lick each others asses and you can pay me the two bits for the intro...that way, you'll both be happy.

...but, really, can't you guys find a gay chatroom somewhere...Geez....

...yes, we all waste our time while the Sole Man saves the world by sucking shrubdick online...

...but he's changing the world one load at a time!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Leave the cut-downs to those
of us who know how.
You're really no good at it
and just makes you appear
more stupid than you already are.

If I'm so bad at it...why do you keep coming back for more...

...you remind me of Kevin Bacon in Animal House..

"THANK YOU SIR...MAY I HAVE ANOTHER?"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

All too true. I hope one day to put down my bong and try and make things happen. Until then........(strike)........(blub blub blub blub blub.......)

No doubt, dude. We're here to change the world, one toke at a time. Don't bogart that joint, man.

Don't post...ORGANIZE!

I'm organizing my bag right now, dude.

No day would be complete without mindless obscenities from Chicken Boy.

'Course, EVERYthing he says is mindless.

Say, tough guy: Have you ever followed through on your oh-so-intimidating anonymous internet threats?

Oh, that's right...it's all anonymous...you can't.

Too bad. I'm sure you're anxious to prove to the world just how tough you are.

You know, I'm sure it's occurred to you how ANYone can say ANYthing on the 'net and never have to prove it.

Hence the tough guy routine, huh?

Fido...I think you've huffed one shrub milkbone too many...I've never threatened anyone...nope...it is your little buttbandit buddies who like to threaten...y'know..the "Bring it on" types...all I said was that I would like nothing more than to accomodate their little fantasies, but they...as YOU..my little broke dick doggie...are not worth the spittle that would fly from their chins....

...so why do you keep adding these little numbers to your handle...trying to avoid the "ignore" status? Why would we ignore you...your the funniest poodle act in town!

...fuckin' pathetic eunuch....

I just read this whole thread and no one did a "bring it on" except you. Someone talked about how we all spit in your face on a daily basis, but that's not a threat, that's a reality. You need to calm down, son.

BTW, you and your ilk are the EV. This is not a right-wing site. Doubt you ever noticed that. We come here to laugh at and belittle the left-wing and anarchist dimwits like you. It's idiots like you that are the monkeys in the cage we come to watch and see, and we expect to be entertained. And what entertainment it is. You are one of those monkeys. You do what we tell you to do. You always will. That's how it works here. That's how it ALWAYS works here. That's how it will continue to work here, despite your objections.

Now, we got that straight, again. No doubt, you'll have to be reminded, again. Get back to doing the EV. That's an order.

Did somebody just fart in here?

...oh...nevermind...just Republican spew....pretty much the same thing...

Anger with an attempt of humor. Not really a very good effort. No EV points.

Try again.

Funny...we were laughing our asses off...plenty EV points on our end...

Fair EV. Thanx for another attempt. All left-wing and anarchist whackos are automatically eligible for the EV Grand Prize. Keep trying.

Stupidity with an attempt of humor. Not really a very good effort. No EV points. Heaps of SV points..

Try again.