"Fortress London" readies for Bush visit

[smirkymonkey]

Mon 17 November, 2003 13:36

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=404460§ion=news

By Paul Majendie

LONDON (Reuters) - Armed police have turned the capital into "Fortress London" amid heightened fears of a guerrilla attack on the eve of U.S. President George W. Bush's visit.

The White House, wary of an al Qaeda strike, has insisted on tight precautions. Traditional events such as a horse-drawn carriage ride with the Queen will not be staged.

(snip)

But Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush's staunchest ally in his "war on terror", insisted: "Now is not the time to waiver. Now is the time to see it through."

"This is the right moment for us to stand firm with the United States of America in defeating terrorism wherever it is and delivering us safely from what I genuinely believe to be the security threat of the 21st century," he told business leaders in Birmingham.

POOR GEORGIE WON'T GET HIS CARRAIGE RIDE!

ANY GUESSES AS TO HOW THIS VISIT WILL GO??

[rainy]

1. Bombard US MEDIA

We should start writing letters right now to our media and let them know that we are aware of the huge protests planned for Bush in London. We expect to see them on the front pages as this is major news.

[Briar]

16. Don't count on huge protests

Most Labour voters back visit - poll
Press Association
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,1271,-3399204,00.html


More than half of Labour supporters back US President George Bush's state visit to Britain, according to a survey.

They were among an overall 43% of voters who told pollsters ICM they welcomed the visit - some 7% more than the 36% who said they would prefer the President to stay away. Twelve per cent were undecided.

...

it indicated that public opinion in Britain is overwhelmingly pro-American, with 62% of respondents agreeing the US was "generally speaking, a force for good", compared to 15% who described it as "an evil empire".

.....

Opposition to war in Iraq fell by 12 points since September to 41% of all voters, the poll suggested. Meanwhile, pro-war sentiment grew by nine points to 47%.

[pippin]

2. it will cost the Britsh tax payer

five million pounds just for the security. Ordinary people in UK are not well off on the whole and the lives of the working classes are much tougher than their counterparts in the US. This trip is one big disgusting waste. No wonder the masses revolted in France and Russia and executed the nobility.

Did you ever wonder where the rest of Bush's retinue will be staying (something like 800 of them) while he and lumpenfrau will be in Buckingham palace?

[LibLabUK]

5. Umm

It isn't costing the British taxpayer. It's costing the London tax payer.

IIRC, the costs are being met by the GLA which is funded by the Council Tax.

"No wonder the masses revolted in France and Russia and executed the nobility."

Ofcourse, it wasn't all patriotic songs and increased freedom for the people (esp. poor) in post-revolution France and Russia. People suffered quite horribly under the new regimes.

Besides, drawing parallels between Late 19th - Early 20th Century Russia, Late 18th Century - Early 19th Century France and 21st Century Britain is a bit of a stretch don't you think?

[yellowcanine]

3. George will say something inappropriate to the Queen

"Black sheep" Georgie will ask the Queen how it feels to be "dictator", not realizing that the Queen does not run the government. Or maybe say something ignorant about the Queen's horses, which is one of many subjects that he knows nothing about, but since when has he let that stop him?

[dbt]

4. Show him your butts, England!

Wish our country was as free as yours!

:bounce:
dbt

[smirkymonkey]

6. I wish there was some way

we could convey our support to the protestors. Any ideas?? We can't continue to let them think we are all behind this dork.

[norrinr]

7. Brits still think highly of average americans

.... although we had our doubts when you let Bush be elected in the first place.
If it happens again.... well US citizens are going to be thought less of. Once can be a mistake - twice - well that's just asking for it.

The UK protests are anti-Bush not anti-US.

[jpgray]

8. Spellcheck is on the fritz for UK! "Waiver"?!

First "phased" instead of "fazed" in a Scottish paper, and now "waiver" instead of "waver"! They should hire me as an editor. :)

[grasswire]

9. I saw that, too

But I wondered if it is a colloquialism.

[LibLabUK]

10. Umm

"First "phased" instead of "fazed" in a Scottish paper, and now "waiver" instead of "waver"! They should hire me as an editor."

Have I missed something, or do you guys not realise that we spell words differently?

"waiver" and "phased" are both spelt correctly according to my OED.

If you're just larking about, then forgive me. :)

[jpgray]

12. Right spelling, wrong definition

Their spell-checker as editor isn't working very well.

edit: and as far as I know, "waver" is exactly the same in English and American English. Is it "fased" in Britain? :)

2nd edit: Here you go:

faze
verb INFORMAL
to surprise and worry someone:
No one is fazed by the sight of guns here any more.

phase
verb
to introduce something in stages over a particular period of time:
The reduction in armed forces will be phased over the next ten years.

waiver
noun
an agreement that you do not have to pay or obey something:
We had to sign a waiver, giving up any rights to the land in the future.

waver
verb
1 to lose strength, determination or purpose, especially temporarily:
I'm afraid my concentration began to waver as lunch approached.
He has never wavered in his support for the leader.

2 If you waver between two possibilities, you can not decide which of them to choose or you keep choosing one way and then the other:
"What are you having?" "Er, I'm wavering between the fish soup and the mushroom tart."


All from the Cambridge dictionary. Should be legit. :)

[LibLabUK]

13. OOps

Okay, the "waver" query is my mistake... I misread the post... I'm kicking myself right this minute :)

I'll concede the "fazed" because I'm an idiot (and didn't check the definition properly) :)

I'm feeling suitably chastened :)

[jpgray]

14. Hey, we're none of us perfect.

:hi:

I feel a lot of respect for those across the water right now anyway. Thanks for doing what we can't do ourselves.

:toast:

[karlschneider]

17. Uh, they are spelled (spelt) differently because they're different words.

In all deference to your honourable dictionary. ;-)

[LibLabUK]

18. Hmm

Rubbing it in just isn't cricket ;P

[peterh]

11. It wouldn’t surprise me if Faux….

Is already putting together a piece with old footage of a previous Prez and with a little cut and pasting, will present to it’s gullible viewers, a glorious welcoming on British soil.

[norrinr]

15. Don't the democrats have any decent lawyers?

I mean how difficult can it be to prove that Faux News is not "Fair and Balanced".
Surely one of you guys can put a stop to that ridiculous claim.