More than 10,000 police will guard Bush during Israel visit

[kskiska]

Source: The Guardian

Israeli officials in Jerusalem are to deploy more than 10,000 police officers in a vast security operation ahead of the arrival this week of George Bush, the first US president to visit in a decade. Graffiti are being cleaned off walls, road markings are being repainted and hundreds of American flags are being put up across the city. The floodlights which illuminate the stone ramparts of the Old City will stay on for an extra two hours every night, until 2am, to give the president the chance to catch the view.

Hundreds of hotel rooms across Jerusalem have been booked for Bush's group, as well as for the media and even Israeli officials, who fear they might not be able to make it home in the evenings.

Bush, who arrives on Wednesday for his first visit as president, will stay at the King David hotel. Eight truckloads of equipment have already arrived in advance of his two-night stay. All the hotel's rooms will be taken by his entourage - tourists have had their bookings cancelled.

The security precautions, dubbed Operation Clear Skies by the Israeli security services, are immense. Roads around the hotel will be blocked, despite the huge traffic jams that will entail. A force of 10,500 police and security staff will be deployed and Bush will be flown in to the hotel by helicopter from the airport near Tel Aviv. "There will be so much security nobody will be able to get anywhere near the president," said Micky Rosenfield, Israel's police spokesman.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2236314,00.html

[Lint Head]

1. He must really be hated to need that kind of security.

I know I can't stand the son of a bitch. :dem:

[Marrah_G]

59. Ya think?? n/t

[lpbk2713]

2. Who's going to pay for all that security?

It wouldn't be necessary if he wasn't the world's biggest asshole.

[gtar100]

13. You and me and the rest of us taxpayers

This is testament to a sad and pathetic life. And all that money that he has no feeling for - where it comes from or where it goes. A truly lost soul suffering poverty in spirit. He doesn't stand a chance to know or understand the consequences of his actions. He's doomed to a wretched ignorance. And he thinks that's his freedom. I call that bondage. To pay for protection when really all it takes is humility, honor, and compassion. Real treasure in life this man will never know. And to think, those 10,000 people cannot protect him from what he fears the most.

[arcos]

15. Israeli taxpayers, maybe... nt

[frogcycle]

31. Wow, insightful analysis!

I thought he was just an asshole.

[SammyWinstonJack]

36. He's that too and much more.

[ClintonTyree]

20. Could be from the $5 Billion a year in foreign aid.....

we give Israel? :shrug: Probably not though. I'm sure the U.S. will receive a bill for the added security. Bush will probably pay it off with weapons or State secrets.

[DesertFlower]

3. now after 7 f------ years, he goes to israel.

that's an insult to the israeli's IMO.

[chelsea0011]

17. "First visit in a decade" was being polite to Bush

[angstlessk]

24. that sentence caught my eye too...it really means...boosh visits for the first

time in his pResidency...he's been there 8 of those 10!!!

[Roland99]

26. *10 days* after taking office he withdrew from peace talks with Israel/Palestine.

*10 days*!!!


Fucking piece of shit.

[onehandle]

57. Won't somebody please think of Bush's legacy!

Bush will.

[alfredo]

67. He's probably there to talk about a joint strike on Iran.

[frogmarch]

4. I hope they can keep him safe.

Though I know it will likely never happen, I want bush (and cheney) to end up in the Big House.

[frog92969]

18. I'm not that picky.

[frog92969]

19. Delete

Sorry, double post. (connection crapped out)

[Journeyman]

5. Let us hope it's enough to keep him safe. . .

for the sake of us all . . .

[bdamomma]

48. is cheney going with him???

he is always in the shadows.

[madrchsod]

6. i bet the citizens of israel feel really safe knowing

there will be no one protecting them....

[tom_paine]

7. That's creepy. The scale of it. And the American Flags all over the place.

It terrifies me as well as crushes me with irony that Israel, or at least the Israeli Leadership, seems quite willing to play Kinder and Genlter Mussolini to Bush's Kinder and Gentler Hitler.

The flags seems a tactical echo of the Nazi Flag Fetish. I wonder if such ultra-flagging has ever occurred for previous visits from the Presidents of teh Old American Republic.

Did they deck with flags when Jimmy Carter visited? Reagan? Bush I?

I would feel better if I knew that this flag fetishizing has some precedent from the days when America was a free nation.

[Art_from_Ark]

68. I seriously doubt Carter was into the flag fetishing

and I wouldn't feel any better if Bitburg-boy had done it.

[bobthedrummer]

8. I swear I read about this in both the Old and New Testaments...

"the abomination of desolation" gets the royal treatment...

[chervilant]

10. I wonder...

Is it frightening to anyone else that a fair number of the remaining Bush supporters still believe Bush has been chosen by God to lead us into Armageddon? My own sister believes this with every fiber of her being. I'm sure she and every believer is convinced they will be Raptured up before the shit hits the fan.

I bet that 10,000 is still not enough to keep Dubyah from crapping his pants about this trip...

[bobthedrummer]

11. What is truly frightening are the military/religious orders with real WMD's

like the Pentagon's Prayer Team, General Boykin, the USAF command structure-all "fundamentally" unsound...

[MisterP]

12. "Jesus Camp" and "Journeys With George" shows that they worship him

plus his "God speaks through me" in Amish country '04: you just know there's only one step left...
As I recall, JPII was worried that * was the Antichrist.

[bdamomma]

50. yes, I remember reading that article about JPII.

JPII was a smart man.

[loudsue]

60. JPII was a smart man. And it may well be the dark side that took his place.

Opus Dei supporter that he is.

[monktonman]

9. I've still got my fingers crossed n/t

[Viva_La_Revolution]

14. So... 10 years ago, Clinton visited.

I wonder if we can find anything online about his security. hmmm...

edit: nothing on security yet, but I did find this..

Terrorists freed by Arafat since Clinton's visit to Gaza

Communicated by the Office of the Prime Minister, February 1, 1998

Within days of U.S. President Bill Clinton's December 14, 1998 visit to Gaza, Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat began releasing dozens of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists from prison, including those who have killed Israelis and Americans.

http://www.likud.nl/extr54.html


:evilgrin:

Final edit: I found pages and pages of articles on the "first historic visit to the Palestinian areas by an American president" but not a bit about security. Such a stark contrast to this http://www.google.com/search?as_q=bush+israel+security&hl=en&num=10&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&cr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=w&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&as_rights=&safe=images

[peacebird]

21. Clinton also had 10k cops guarding him - at Israels insistance - in 1996

SUMMIT IN EGYPT: CLINTON;A FORCE OF 10,000 GUARDING CLINTON

By SERGE SCHMEMANN
Published: March 14, 1996
Arriving in Jerusalem to show solidarity with Israelis, President Clinton also stepped into an epic security operation today -- and into some feisty politicking as well.

After four suicide bombings in the last three weeks, which created the crisis that Mr. Clinton came to help defuse, the Israeli police have been on the alert for more. Their fear is that the Presidential visit, coming on the heels of a "Summit of Peacemakers" in Egypt at which terror was condemned, would be a prime target for Islamic radicals.

Thus 10,000 policemen, almost half of Israel's entire force, were mobilized to protect the President in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv during his 24-hour visit.

The entire route from Ben-Gurion International Airport to Jerusalem -- the nation's busiest highway, linking Tel Aviv to Jerusalem -- was completely sealed off for the President's motorcade, and most major Jerusalem streets were closed while he went to call on the Israeli President and then to his hotel.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE5DE1639F937A25750C0A960958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

[LiberalFighter]

33. Interesting 10K for Clinton who was probably liked more than Bush

Still 10K for Bush 10 years later.

Where will they post those 10K? In a stadium?

[santamargarita]

16. Hitler had a lot of security too...

Don't the Jews know how Bush family made their money?

[greyghost]

25. I believe that they do, hence all the security. eom

[Amonester]

22. "More than 10,000 police will guard Bush"

If only it was because they threw his war criminal a in jail...

Dreams can come true, can't they?

[sam sarrha]

23. i absolutely LOVE IT when he does these REALLY STUPID things... just love it...!!!

[greiner3]

27. And all it takes is one cop;

Who thinks that bush is a terrible man, to...

[rodeodance]

28. and THOUSANDS of our OWN military in addition to these!

[Demeter]

29. Do You Think That's Enough?

He's going to need guards to guard the guards that guard him and that keep the guards from doing the world a favor, not to mention the food testers, and the bootlickers, and Cheney's secret spies, and whatever else this delusional and paranoid man, who is correct in assuming that if it could, the world WOULD be out to get him....

[MilesColtrane]

38. Indeed, who watches the watchmen?

[lunatica]

43. Don't forget the poop carrier

The Super Duper Pooper Scooper who's in charge of Bush's State Secret Craps.

[kskiska]

30. Floodlights? 2 am?

The floodlights which illuminate the stone ramparts of the Old City will stay on for an extra two hours every night, until 2am, to give the president the chance to catch the view.

Isn't he in bed by 9:00 pm?

[LiberalFighter]

34. Yep... so why the need to provide an extra two hours?

[Deny and Shred]

32. Wow, he's leaving Crawford ?

I assume this is a tacit acknowledgement that Condi's work isn't going anywhere. Ultimately, this is just another photo-op, albeit an expensive, dangerously provocative one. Olmert and Abbas are not the ones who need to budge to find a peaceful solution between Pal/Isr. That would be Isr. hard liners and Hamas (Pal. hard-liners.) That is where the real work needs to be done, and it won't on this trip.
I wonder if our fundamentalist Christian in Chief is aware that Israel is a Jewish state. His ignorance knows no bounds, particularly of anything overseas.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

35. The REAL story isn't how many police will guard Bush...

but what this meeting with Israel is really about. I'm not stupid enough to think Bush goes to the Middle East for the first time in his entire presidency because he has a sudden desire to restart peace talks. I call bullshit.

He knows he has one year to hit Iran. The Likudnics know ol' George is their best bet in the Oval Office. I think Iran is still "on the table" and this meeting is part of it.

[bdamomma]

51. of course he is not going to promote democracy and freedom.

this visit is total BS and is being supported big time by uncle dick and the neo cons.

[Mr_Monday]

61. Agreed

Bush will continue his war(s) for Israel until his term ends. I just hope we can stall his newest plan with Iran.

[Ian David]

37. If Bush believes he is fulfilling Biblical Prophesy (as I believe Bush thinks he is)...

... as either The Messiah or The Antichrist...

Which Biblical passages would require him (in his role as either) to be in Israel when nuclear war with Iran breaks out?

On which day of Bush's tour is he planning to visit Megiddo?


See:




Revelation 16:12
The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east.


Revelation 16:13
And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs;

The apostle John depicts evil spirits as "frogs" because they have the ability to "jump" from person to person like frogs to influence people to join the Battle of Armageddon. Many Christians are not aware that many demons have already been cast out from heaven and do posses and influence many people. These evil spirits are doing Satan's bidding.

<snip>

Zechariah 14:4
In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south.


More:
http://www.rapturechrist.com/armageddon.htm



Granted, I personally do not believe in Biblical prophecy. But I believe Bush does. And I believe he has been using it as a road map for his foreign policy. And whether there is a god or a satan behind this road map, following it will lead to oblivion, with or without divine intervention.

[kineneb]

41. His god is Mammon

the good 'ol buck. Long ago he sold whatever soul he may have had.

[watercolors]

39. Is he going to ride in SUV with sun roof

nt

[saigon68]

46. He can't ride-- Chimps don't ride

[complain jane]

66. I hope he has just as good security as Bhutto did.

[catmandu57]

40. Let's cross our fingers that nothing happens to the son of a bitch

I don't want world war four started because dead eye the dicK saw a perfect excuse to get things rolling. I want this sick motherfucker to spend a long long time locked up, not made a martyr for some sick cause.

[bdamomma]

52. true they will blame the Iranians and start something.

[Solly Mack]

42. "Operation Clear Skies" LMAO...Bush better hope they mean what they say

think Clear Skies initiative ...

[dkofos]

44. hope that's not enough

[fshrink]

45. Takes about as many here... That's popularity. nt

[bdamomma]

47. 10,000 to protect the boy/king??

what a POS he is. Protecting his sorry a$$, that is how much he is hated. Sorry excuse for a human being.

[mod mom]

49. Beloved by the people of the world.

:sarcasm:

[Sancho]

53. How many guards does it take to protect shrub from WMD's in Israel?

Leaked from the NIE daily briefing:

Anthrax takes 10,000 guards (all would die in an attack).
Poison Gas takes 20,000 guards (all would die in an attack).
Nuclear weapons from Iran takes 30,000 guards (all would die in an attack).
Nuclear weapons from North Korea takes 50,000 guards (all would die in an attack).
One crazy VP with a shotgun can't be stopped no matter what! He has security clearance.
The CIA has no estimate on the lethality of pretzels.

[OwnedByFerrets]

54. Must make him feel really, really important....

to be THE MOST HATED PERSON IN THE WORLD.

[IronLionZion]

55. "the first US president to visit in a decade"

because we've had so many presidents between Clinton and Bush...so many. Asshole. Clinton visited and tried very hard to broker peace agreements. Bush has been avoiding this issue.

[endarkenment]

56. We need to dethrone the imperium.

This is crazy shit. Our president needs to be reduced to the role of regular guy. Remember when Carter walked to the White House after his inauguration?

[Az_lefty]

58. how embarrassing...he should just stay home.

[DemCam]

62. womit

[kitty1]

63. The King David Hotel staff will probably be searched up.the .....

yazoo for this visit. Not to mention the canine unit out in full force in the parking lot, etc checking for bombs, etc...
If this is anything like his England visit, the Israelies are probably going to be pissed off at all the inconvenience this will cause them. Road blocks etc...Sounds like how the Californians felt about his visit too.
The chimp will never leave the Holy Land the same.
It should be interesting to see what foibles happen here.

[sarcasmo]

64. I will refrain from comment on this thread.

[HughBeaumont]

65. Did anyone go to his 2005 Coronation?

When his motorcade passed, there were literally five layers of police separating the crowd and Der Fuhrer for most of the length of Pennsylvania Ave. They must have been from more than a few states. I wonder how many speeders, accidents, robberies and whatnot happened that day so the Third World Dicktaters could live in their bubbles far from the salt of the earth? One of the photographers was disgusted: "This is the sort of thing that happens in Banana Republics and Third World Juntas .. . right here. Disgraceful. Utterly disgraceful."

Let's not count the thugs with yard-long riot batons along the route, criminal police videotaped beating protestors with clubs and the infamous firehose pepper spraying.