Bush could face anti-war protesters (UK trip)

[UpInArms]

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=402778§ion=news

LONDON (Reuters) - Police say there will be no special "exclusion zones" for U.S. President George W. Bush's visit next week and he could easily come into contact with anti-war protesters.

Although Britain joined the United States in waging war on Iraq, anti- Bush sentiment is strong. A poll on Tuesday showed 60 percent of Britons strongly disapprove of his handling of Iraq.

"There is no intention to spare anyone's embarrassment. We have been under no pressure to do so," said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Trotter on Wednesday. "There will be no exclusion zones. He (Bush) could quite easily come into contact with demonstrators."

Tens of thousands of protesters, including some from Europe, are expected for the visit starting next Wednesday, prompting police to mount one of London's biggest security operations.

...more...

[Roon]

1. GOOD!

Maybe this will smack him back to reality..

[SlavesandBulldozers]

2. uh, no

you think Bush is going to come into contact with protestors? I suppose if you consider driving by them at 40 mph behind tinted windows contact, then yeah, sure.

[Atman]

9. Well, yeah...but Rove will cover his eyes.

Or put Lion King in the DVD player. W will never notice the protestors. His "new clothes" will remain unsoiled.

[Coventina]

3. You go Brits!!

Thanks for showing us what freedom of speech and assembly are.

Maybe we can remember.....

[Terran]

4. Excellent!

It won't have any effect on the idiot, but maybe he'll get so pissed off he'll snap a synapse and let loose in public with something godawful. As we have seen in the past, it takes *very* little to upset this spoiled brat.

[SpiralHawk]

20. I think it would have an effect. Bush's weakness is his thin skin

Well, one eweakness anyway. he cannot stand being questioned or critiscized. The protestors would bother him enormously -- especially since he is routinely shielded from the massive dissent against him.

[Cha]

5. Way to go Brits! Isn't is ironic that

they seem to have more freedom across the pond than we do? With a Queen and everything?

[Beetwasher]

6. I Heard They Are Going to Re-Enact the Toppling of the Saddam Statue

Except it's going to be a stature of the Chimp! Really!

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

10. Absolutly! News clip of the preperation:

(I hope!)

Channel 4 News had a short piece on the activists (from a group called "Theatre of War" as they were assembling the statue (made from good old chicken wire & papier mache). It was about 40-45 minutes into the broadcast & if you click on "Latest show video" here:

http://www.channel4.com/news/

& advance it on, you should be able to catch it. (it was just before a piece on the Chinese National Ballet which ended the show, so if you're there, you've gone too far!)

[baby_bear]

7. I don't believe that for a minute

W's handlers will simply not agree to the visit unless protestors are kept at significant distance.

<snip from the same article>
The prospect of Bush, Queen Elizabeth and Prime Minister Tony Blair, Washington's closest ally in the Iraq war, together could present a tempting target for would-be attackers.

A study on Tuesday said London was more at risk of attack by Islamic extremists than any other major city in Western Europe.

Trotter told reporters 5,000 officers would be on duty, including all London's armed units, and all police leave had been cancelled.

Anti-Bush and anti-war campaigners remain angry that a major march will not be allowed through Whitehall and Parliament Square, the seat of Britain's government.

</snip>

This article gives the cover for banishing and silencing protesters-- "Islamic extremists" - even though the real reason is that they want to avoid the embarrassing fact that the people are disgusted with Bush and Blair.


"Speech-free" zones will be implemented, no doubt. I think a lot of people will be angry about it, though. It will probably get more attention than it does here (ho hum). But let's face it -- Blair doesn't want a lot of anti-Bush protesters around. After all, Blair's fate is tied in many ways to W's. And the Queen is probably fed up to the teeth with adverse publicity for other -ahem- reasons.

s_m

[HarryMan]

8. Nah

They are a bunch of smoke filled hippies still looking for the bathrooms at Woodstock.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

12. Yawn. Here you go. http://www.freerepublic.com/

Didn't you say the exact same thing before?

[HarryMan]

14. I was kidding

Someone on another thread is calling me a freedom hater.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

15. You still here? Not for much longer, eh. Shame. Nice knowing you

buh-bye.

[0rganism]

11. or he could get flown around in a chopper

The notion that this president could let himself come face to face with anything other than a focus group of wealthy republicans is laughable. This isn't some baby-kissing re-election stump speach campaign; he'll be thoroughly sequestered.

Tens of thousands of anti-war protestors? I betcha it's more like hundreds of thousands of anti-bush protestors.

[Scairp]

13. This is fascinating

The country we rebelled against to gain our liberties two and a half centuries ago is now the country allowing the freedom to protest our own president. Is this what they call "ironic"?

[0007]

16. junior is a government stamped bona fide COWARD!

junior won't go near any protesters! Must come up with another plan, a real authentic plan for an AWOL coward.

Why doesn't the Queen tell the cabal crook to stay home?
Perhaps the Queen qould endure endangerment

[MoonAndSun]

17. You know that Rove is bringing the hammer down on the Brits,

but they do not seem to be backing down. I hope they keep their resolve and show bush* and his henchmen how a real democracy handles dissent. The people must be heard, no matter how much AWOL doesn't want to hear it.

[grytpype]

18. Yeah! Beautiful!!!!

So sorry Georgie!!!

[eissa]

19. Good for the Euros!

Make us proud! We're doing our part here to help rid the world of shrub and his evil cronies.

[smirkymonkey]

21. And to think all these problems

and expenses and putting peoples lives in danger, etc. etc. wouldn't be an issue if HE JUST DIDN'T GO!!!

What a F**ing, ^&$*%#I*&%#$#*(^@^ !!!

Should I tell you how I really feel about him??
:mad: :puke: :wtf: :argh: :freak: :hurts: :grr: :nuke: :tinfoilhat:

[Jacobin]

22. I predict Rove will cancel the trip

Smirky cannot stand to have dissent or to be insulted or reminded of the fact that he is not GodAlmighty.

[omshanti]

23. You think Dubya is a coward and will hide from protest?

You're right! :evilgrin:

[burrowowl]

24. I sure as H*ll

hope he sees some protesters, 100,000's of them!