Paranoia doesn’t look good on you.
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.
It appears that poor Bushie is going to feel uncomfortable in another country where he can’t safely quarantine the protestors in “Free Speech Zones” blocks and blocks away from wherever he is.
Of course, it’s a good thing that there are some people in the British government who are still awake. Awake enough, at least, to know that giving Bush’s gurads carte blanche to shoot “rowdy” protestors and then allowing those guards to cart a minigun through London (yes, they asked for that, too) might be a bad idea.
As a matter of fact, the demands made of the British government carry a hint of paranoia – which is not a word that I use lightly, here.
Protestors have been gearing up for Bush’s arrival – painting signs and negotiating(!) demonstration routes with the police.
So, naturally, somebody’s afraid that there might be a suicide bomber in the Tube network. And that they might detonate their bomb while on the Tube. After somehow determining that Bush is overhead. Through many feet of dirt and concrete.
Excuse me, I think I just sprained something in my brain while trying to think like the Bush administration.
There’s a healthy amount of concern over the President’s safety – Kennedy in Dallas shows that readily enough.
But Bush even wanted British security troops removed from the area while he was in London – he wanted only Americans to be allowed to work security. Because, y’know, a Brit is a Brit – and Bush can’t trust any of them aside from his friendy Tony.
Workers in the British government are being asked to work from home during his visit because the U.S. requests “cleared secured vehicle routes around London,” and Bush’s security will be working hard to create “a sterile zone.”
The man wanted immunity in the event that any British people got shot!
Oh! Ouch! There it goes again!
November 18th, 2003 at 4:44 am
that is seriously funny, all funny aside this is seriously disturbing. How are our allies going to think of us after this escapade?
November 18th, 2003 at 6:12 am
Pretty soon security is just going to carry Bush around in a bullet proof box, and just prop his silly ass up at a podium when he has to be a talking head.
I was thinking about making comments about air holes, but the walls have ears.
November 18th, 2003 at 6:38 am
they are already interviewing people for look alike Bush’s, they are also reviewing plastic surgeons for facial reconstruction of the look alikes.