Brits won't give immunity to agents protecting Bush; no "mini-gun" either

[pruner]

'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.

<snip>

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.'

<snip>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1086413,00.html

[Wonk]

1. Immunity from prosecution for "intentionally shooting to kill" protesters?

:crazy: :wtf: :crazy:

Having this printed in the paper today will make him even more 'friends' over there, too, I'm sure. Have a nice trip!

[lcordero]

2. using a mini-gun????

Are they smoking dope?



I used to work on the F-model cobras and I know a slight bit of history on them. A mini-gun is a version of a gatling gun.


You see what the guy is working on in the picture? Well that is a mini-gun.

[MnFats]

10. mini-gun among armaments used in 'Predator?"

if i'm not mistaken, the mini-gun was used in the schwarzenegger movie.
it may have been our beloved (sarcasm) governor, Jesse Ventura, or Carl Weathers who took down half the jungle with a mini-gun trying to shoot the invisible predator......

am i wrong?
(not an expert on firearms...)

[funkyflathead]

11. Yep. Ventura had one.

I saw a civilian legal mini gun for sale for $20,000 recently.

[SahaleArm]

16. Gropinator in T2

[Hieronymus]

3. Thank God

the Brits are standing up to Bush's outlandish demands.
I had read about the request for immunity of those protecting Bush, how more imperialistic could they get?
There have been other crazy demands made, like stronger glass in the windows of the palace, heavier curtains, and special security clearances for those who have spent a lifetime serving the Queen. Who the hell does this fool think he is?:wtf:

[aldian159]

6. "Who the hell does this fool think he is?"

A question I've been asking since he beat Richards in 94.

[Philostopher]

4. Maybe they can just laminate him with Kevlar.

And put a diving helmet on his head. You know, the big cast-iron ones with the grated window on the front.

Oh, and Wonk -- I love that Bucky reference in your sig.

[funkyflathead]

5. Aren't their 9mms enough?

And those 300 WIN MAG sniper rifles??

A mini-gun is outrageous for ANY president. I'm shocked they even have one.

[TexasMexican]

12. .45s

Nah we should have never switched over to 9mm from the .45.

But the mini-guns does seem a bit over the top?

Does the President's motorcade usually carry mini-guns in them somwhere? Where would they stick them? Do they pop out of the Blazers incase of an attack or something? WTF?

[funkyflathead]

14. I think the SS uses 9mm hydrashocks

Pretty potent if you ask me.

Yeah that mini gun way too much IMHO.

I think their snipers with 300s is too much too.

Bush is paranoid.

[Eloriel]

7. Fantastic

First they backed off on closing everything down so protesters couldn't get close and now they're saying, "Nuh huh" to Bush's imperial demands re immunity.

TERRIFIC.

Eloriel

[WindRavenX]

8. This is really outrageous

Bush really thinks the whole friggin' world revolves around him...
It should also be telling that he's this paranoid.

[alfredo]

9. England knows the arrogance of empire.

Glad they are not letting him have his own way.

I have the distinct impression that they don't really care what happens to him.

[pansypoo53219]

13. can kill dozens

and is called MINI?!?
isn't water canons good enough for these bastards?

[pruner]

15. any gun can kill dozens (with enough bullets)…

I suppose they mean kill dozens AT ONCE.

[OldSoldier]

19. It's called "mini" because it is

The medium-size one is called a Vulcan. It fires 20mm rounds at something like 4000 per minute in high speed and half that in low speed.

The big one is the gun on the A-10, which fires 30mm rounds at 3000 per minute.

Miniguns fire 7.62mm rounds.

A protection detail with one of these things is beyond obscene, though.

[lancemurdoch]

17. What is he, James Bond?

He needs Double-0 "licensed to kill" people with him? What are they smoking down at the White House? He probably wants a car that can dump tacks from the back to slow down pursuers as well.

[dsc]

18. Remember after Oklahoma City when Clinton closed PA Ave

and the hoots and crys conservatives and the media indulged in. Just imagine if Clinton had asked for anything remotely like this from a foreign land. We would still be reading articles about it. If this is the WH version of a humble foreign policy I would sure hate to see an arrogant one. I guess it would involve replacing QE2 on the money with Bush and Rove.