WH wants Central London closed for three days so not to upset King Dubya

[Loonman]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/7602147?source=Evening%20Standard


Pathetic!

[bobbieinok]

1. sounds like some protesters may be killed because

they're a 'threat' to aWol

[CityZen-X]

23. The Cheney Factor

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

Don't they realize that Bu$h*t has the ultimate safety zone! Little DICK Cheney is the supreme safety buffer. You take out the Resident, then you have his puppet master in full control. (Or is he there already?)

Rule Brittania, show up like you did when there was a million of you in the streets protesting this criminal war. If they shoot any of you, declare war on America, this time we will help you!

[nostamj]

2. if they give in to the little crybaby....

well, it's not easy to be THE MOST HATED MAN ON EARTH

:grr:

[LittleApple81]

3. Looky here. The Americans can kill...

last paragraph of the article:
snip...

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.

[theivoryqueen]

6. Yipes!

The brits actually agreed to this?

[Loonman]

8. Of course they did

Tony Blair is the jello-spine man.

Guy has no character, whatsoever.

[Supormom]

4. Close down Central London...

Sure, give them another reason to hate Americans! :thumbsdown:

[soup]

5. Rules of Engagement?

Yikes.

From the article:

"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."

The Yard has cancelled all leave for the three-day visit and mobilised 3,800 officers for the £4million security operation.
>>>>
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.


Can't ya just feel the love?

The picture accompanying the article - classic *jr.

[hayu_lol]

11. Maybe its time Bush just stayed in Crawford...

Cannot see the Brits picking up the security tabs of 8-10 million dollars for Bush's 3 days in Britain. No reason for them to do so. Bush has yet to repay the security bill for his fundraising activities in the city of Portland, OR.
Surely the GOP can spare a few bucks to convince Bush to stay home and talk to his cows.

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Picture is Dubya, and horse's arse for comparison (n/t)

[nostamj]

24. the picture...

indeed, classic chimp

[proud patriot]

7. The World Emperor has spoken

I'm embarrassed for my countrymen and women

[eileen_d]

9. Some euphemism - "exclusion zone"

Shrub can't leave home without one!

...with tens of thousands of protestors from around the UK set to join blockades and marches during the Bush trip, US officials are reportedly insisting on an "exclusion zone".

His whole damn administration operates by exclusion! Exclusion of facts, exclusion of intelligent human beings, exclusion of compassion... and on and on...

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. The last time the phrase had currency in the UK

was in the Falklands War, when Thatcher declared one around the islands, and then used it as an excuse to sink the General Belgrano, despite the fact it was steaming away from the islands.
I wonder who used the phrase? The Americans (who might not have the same associations), the police (who mighht be using it because they object to the concept), or someone who wants to give a warning that protestors won't be safe when close to Bush?

[eileen_d]

18. Thanks for the context on the phrase.

Very interesting - I had never heard it before, but it certainly fits Bush to a tee. I wish the exclusion zone worked both ways, so I could be in more complete denial that he is not my president.

[Pallas180]

20. Actually that's waht bushco has been doing in the U.S. all along, where-

ever he appears here at home, without announcing an
"exclusion " Zone which would be a violation of our
civil rights, he has cops put up blockades leading to
wherever he is speaking.

Hasn't anybody noticed that the only places he usually
speaks to are Army//Navy bases?

Somebody give the lil fascist bastid a big box of pretzels.
preferably stale.

[Mysterio]

10. not only is Bush taking away our freedom of protest...

but he's taking away OTHER country's freedom to protest. How sick this man is.

Mysterio

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. Ooohhh this burns me up. Yet another sign of Bush's idea of

divine right. Grrr.

[NicoleM]

13. Sickening

While the Met wants to prevent violence, it is sensitive to accusations of trying to curtail legitimate protest.

Legitimate protest? What's that? We're not allowed to do that over here anymore.

[Kamika]

15. Thats nothing

Whole COUNTRIES should be shut down when the president of the US comes to visit :D

[Spazito]

17. Countries should have an excusion clause against Bush....

he causes nothing but havoc and major expense everywhere he visits. He has cancelled visits to Canada and I am very glad.

[bpilgrim]

19. oh, the city will be shut down all right... WHO'S STREETS?! ;-)

OUR STREETS!

:bounce:

more...
http://bbs.globalfreepress.com/coppermine

peace

[Stephanie]

33. That's a beautiful picture, but NYC is now a POLICE STATE

The NY Police have used a system of penning in the crowds at Times Square on New Years Eve for a few years now. They used the same system at the protest you have pictured above - crowds were BLOCKED from entering the side streets to join the main protest on 2nd Avenue - we were forced to walk north for miles before they'd allow us to turn south toward the protest. Barricades blocked every street.

NOW they have just done the same thing for Halloween this year. I live one block away from the parade route on 6th Avenue. It has always been a crazy, informal, friendly sort of event. This year, for the FIRST TIME, they announced that there would be a strong police presence. Well, they blocked off all the side streets (everything east of 7th Avenue, in my area) and left thousands of people in costumes, children, everybody, LOCKED OUT from viewing the parade. It was insane.

And I am VERY SURE that this was practice for the convention. It's the frog in cold water who slowly boils to death - they are imposing these UNAMERICAN restrictions on movement, speech, assembly, at unnecessary times so that when the people try to speak out in September 2004 the system will all be in place and the precedent will have been set.

After attempting to view the Halloween Parade this year and being turned away by these Police State Tactics, I am ready to leave NYC. This is not my city anymore.

[Richardo]

21. Attention New Yorkers: you'll get the same treatment during the RNC

convention next year.

What a way to win votes...Oh I forgot, they don't need any stinking votes.

[mikehiggins]

25. Attention EVERYBODY. Everybody will get the same

treatment, protestor or bystander or independent media, whatever.

Hey, can I say this again? I guess I'll find out in a hurry.

Holding demonstrations in NYC during the GOP convention is as stupid and self destructive an idea as anyone could ever come up with.

Stay home.

If you want to protest the GOP convention, do something at home. Hold
memorial services for the men and women who have died in Bush's War. Visit a VA hospital, organize a blood drive, do voter registration, hold a concert or ten, but under no circumstances be stupid enough to put yourself in harm's way and in the video cameras of the media and Rove. You will be doing the GOP's work for them. How dumb is that?

There will be little more than two months between the GOP convention and the election, and the images from that event will be all over the press, all over the world, and in every US television set that can pull in a signal.

What do you think the message will be?

Is it possible that anyone could be blind enough to ignore what has gone on with the media in this country over the last decade? Does anyone really think any newsreader is going to go out in the street to learn the truth and take a chance on getting hit? Does anyone really think any media type is going to try and raise a ruckus on the Convention floor? What is wrong with you people? Is it conviction or ego?

And what kind of moron looks forward to something like what happened in Chicago? Some protest leaders are bragging that people are going to die; that there'll be blood in the street. If someone looks forward to that, just how can they claim to be any different from the Bush League?

Does anyone think the world doesn't know there are lots of people who don't like King George? Watch BBC news if you have any doubts. So what are exactly you going to prove by confronting the NYPD and the Secret Service except your ability to get hit?

Spokespeople on the left are doing what the old style generals always do, fighting the last war.

2004 is not the 60's and 70's. This administration already knows a huge number of americans are in opposition to them and their putsch. They don't care. All that will happen that week in September will be spun as proof that only terrorists and protestors are against Bush.

Pictures of protestors "desecrating" the 911 site will play round the clock across the nation, even if the Bush League has to use its 200 million to pay for the airtime. Mass arrests will follow and lots of those arrested will be charged with terrorism under the Patriot Act. Others around the US will be dealt with the same way and no one can count on some brave newsperson standing up for the victims.

You must know this is likely.

Avoid NYC like the plague next September. If there was someone or some group out there with the resources to do it, concerts could be set up to take place that whole period, stealing some of the attention from the GOP convention and focusing it on what would be much better for all concerned.

My vision is of empty streets, lined with GOP agitators without crowds of dupes surrounding them, facing rows of bored NYPD cops standing around drinking coffee and eating donuts.

On overtime.

Stay home and do something constructive where it will make a difference, where the people who are going to vote are.

[sleepyhead]

32. not to hijack this thread or anything...

But the true "desecration" of the 911 site will be that of Chimpy and his band of thieves, smirking as they lay the cornerstone of the memorial, DURING THE CONVENTION, as Repukes everywhere cheer. I refuse to mutely witness the co-opting of my city for political gain, and I fully intend to be there and express my utter contempt for Bushco. (I *do* like the idea of concerts, though! Wonder if it could be done on such a large scale as you suggest....)

[Don_G]

22. UK Is Paying 4 Million Pounds To Shut Down London?

To satisfy the whim of a whimpering brat and giving permission to let visitors shoot citizens of a soverign nation?

[jonoboy]

26. hows this for a quote :

"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."

from the Met Commander

[mrgorth]

27. grrrrrrrrrr

.

[adriennel]

28. To all the (potential) London protestors

I really hope that the UK does not allow Bush to have his way (again)

To all the (potential) London protestors: the Bush regime is truly undermining the freedom of assembly in the United States. American protestors are required to stay within a confined area, often miles away from the appearance or event they are protesting. One anti-Bush supporter was arrested for trespassing in South Carolina, while others with pro-Bush signs in the same area were not arrested.

Do not allow Mr Bush to restrict civil rights in the UK as he does in the United States!! Even if you can't see American protestors on the news, believe me, we are here and appreciate the anti-Bush solidarity.

[roguevalley]

29. I would give a kidney to be in London with you guys. Just know

millions of Americans will be thinking of you and
holding our heads down in embarrassment. SIGH

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

31. Trust me -- there's gonna be protests

all over the shop. Stop the War have done an excellent job of putting together a week of various activities -- & I really doubt that Bush will get away with blocking the largest protests.

This'll give you an idea of what's planned for the week:

http://www.stopwar.org.uk/Resources/bushevents.pdf

Also, as far as I'm aware, American's will be strongly represented in the rally's & protests -- I can't remember the group's name, but there's a Europe wide expat American organization which has formed to protest Bush & they'll be in London in force.

[SemperEadem]

30. Uh, didn't WE fight a war against THEM because WE were sick of THEM

taxing us and telling us what to do?