[Iain]

I know there will be other threads about this, but as one of the resident Brits I thought I would give you guys the opinions of people I know, and if he does make it up to Sedgefield in County Durham then that is pretty local to me.

The story so far. Bush is due to arrive tonight and have a private audience with the Royal Family before his official state welcome tomorrow. There were rumours he was to come to Durham (my home town) to visit our glorious cathedral ("I unhesitatingly gave Durham my vote for best cathedral on planet Earth." Bill Bryson, Notes from a Small Island.) The rumours go on to say that this plan was abandoned because Bush wanted Durham shut down for a day and a half. Durham is a small city, only a city because of the cathedral and the university. The university is spread out throughout the town and there are approx 11,000 students. This would be impossible to shut down, many would not be able to leave their college, inc those of my old college which is situated right behind the cathedral. My housemate looked annoyed when told this news and said 'If it was good enough for the Queen not to shut Durham down, then it is good enough for Bush'. Many agree.

Pictures are being shown on TV of the preparations for the visit to Sedgefield. Manhole covers are being welded shut. The anticipated cost stated on national news for County Durham's police operation alone is £1,000,000. The operation in London is the 'biggest ever'. There will be protests and I am pleased that the Metropolitan Police have allowed these protests to pass within earshot of Bush, regardless of my views on the validity of the protest or the protestors themselves. As one policeman put it (and I paraphrase) they are having to be careful not to annoy the American security advisors otherwise half the Virginia FBI school will turn up with Bush. There are to be approximately 250 armed security guards with Bush, they will not recieve diplomatic immunity however.

Will keep you all posted, news will be on all the time for the next few days, will be interesting to gauge the mood of my country, hope you are interested too.

[Iain]

Part 2 (wasn't expecting it to be so quick)

The murder trial of the man and woman (huge British news story) accused of killing two girls in Soham is to rise early today due to the security arrangements for Bush's visit.

[feedthehogs]

Bush doesn't decide personaly on what gets shut down.
The secret service does.

It may be safe for the Queen, but who wants to shoot a woman who looks like a guy in drag?

Blair would be the one they'd be after.

[Iain]

It may be safe for the Queen, but who wants to shoot a woman who looks like a guy in drag?

Heh.

I would say though, we had this thing called the IRA (and their mates) and if they could have killed the Queen (like they managed with Mountbatten) I imagine they would have. Not as much of a target as politicians, but a figurehead to many and so a target.

[Waitone]

Sounds to me like Bush's security handlers are asking for what normally is done here in the colonies. Welding manho. . . .excuse me, personhole covers shut is pretty much SOP around the president as well as any large gathering, oh say Times Square on New Year's eve.

Shut a town down? Possible. But again in perspective I was in Noo Yark city in the 80's during Gorbechev's (?sp) state visit. The city was nailed down tight.

What is happening to you guys may seem extreme but it pretty much sounds familar to me.

[MuzzleBlast]

We live in a place where our political leaders have a genuine concern about getting assassinated, because all us commoners have the means to do it. Not entirely sure this is a bad thing.

[Master Blaster]

We live in a place where our political leaders have a genuine concern about getting assassinated, because all us commoners have the means to do it. Not entirely sure this is a bad thing.

There is not a single country in the world where this is not a concern that I am aware of.

Even Sadaam Hussein, worried about assasins when he was at the height of his power in Bagdad.

There is always somebody with a bone to pick against anyone in power.

[Cosmoline]

Personally, I've been getting a big kick out of seeing all these "unarmed" British LEO's packing more heat than our LEO's ever have.

[Mike Irwin]

"Durham... my home town..."

You lucky, lucky, bastard.

Long, long ago I put Durham at the top of the English cathedrals that I want to see, right up there with Lincoln and Salisbury...

[Iain]

Durham is top in my mind, despite having seen the 'Duomo' in Florence and St. Peter's Rome. There is an austere beauty to Durham, Norman architecture serves it well.

Personally, I've been getting a big kick out of seeing all these "unarmed" British LEO's packing more heat than our LEO's ever have.

It seems that there are more MP5's on display in London right now than are available to you private US citizens.

Is there a lot of coverage of the preparations?

There will be 14,000 police on the streets, Ag can correct me if I am wrong but I believe the MET have over 2,000 firearms officers available.

[agricola]

people of durham = posh geordies :D

st johns,

The total over the three days is 14,000 (a large proportion will be the same people working all three days) - this (4000 - 5000 per day) is a similar amount to May Day and much less than the New Years Eve "fun" every year.

Apparently (according to the papers) all leave for the firearms officers (SO19 and the DPG) has been cancelled, this is probably because they need to provide the outer level of armed security as well as supply the borough units with the armed response.

Fortunately I'm not involved in securing your President (unless he takes a shine to the ladies of the mid-morning in Shacklewell Lane).

[Khornet]

wouldn't have to get their shorts in such a twist if it weren't for all those peace lovers with their established record of peaceful, rational, orderly protest. Bush can come to any ol' burg in the US without these problems.

[Monkeyleg]

"Fortunately I'm not involved in securing your President (unless he takes a shine to the ladies of the mid-morning in Shacklewell Lane)."

Agricola, I believe you're thinking of our former president. ;)

[MPFreeman]

Hypothetical questions about this Bush visit.

What would the fallout be if there were an attack upon our President? How would the markets react? Would there be chaos in the markets after a severe attack? How would the European governments react? How fast would Europe collapse under its Nanny state if America reacted in a very hostile manner towards European goods? Not just "freedom fries". How would the Arabic nations react? Would Asia fall in on itself if American consumers spooked and started stuffing money in mattresses and not spend it at WalMart? Lots at risk if an attack is attempted not to mention if it succeeds.

I see real value in protecting the POTUS in these times. I don't care if it was Nader as POTUS. The stability of the free world could be in danger if such an attack were attempted, not to mention if such an attack succeeded.

The security boys have a serious job to do. I hope the security is good.

MPF

[Iain]

An undercover reporter has exposed flaws in royal security by gaining a job as a footman at Buckingham Palace by using a false reference. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3282625.stm

So our 'great' media has succeeded in making the Royal's look stupid again. That must be so hard. Nice sensationalist story though: "Had I been a terrorist intent on assassinating the Queen or American president George Bush, I could have done so with absolute ease."

When asked by Sir David if he believed that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction that could be unleashed in 45 minutes, Mr Bush would not answer but replied: "I believed he was a dangerous man." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3274331.stm

Hmmmm. Let's leave this one alone.

And he appeared unperturbed about the expected protests due to accompany his visits by those against US involvement in Iraq.

"Aren't you lucky to be in a country that encourages people to speak their mind?" he said.

"I value going to a country where people are free to say anything they want to say."

This is good, hope he has a quick look at the protests.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3280165.stm - excerpts from other countries media on the Bush visit. Notably - "It would be wise for the visiting president (and his touchingly delusional host) to mind the gap that there is in today's Anglo-American relations." (Hindustan Times)

"We want to give people a chance to be a visible voice of dissatisfaction," said campaign organiser Tim Ireland. Where was Tim Ireland's mob at the last general election? You can bet most of them weren't in a polling booth! Yet again, the vocal minority are plastered all over the media, ranting and raving above the silent majority. Try voting instead of marching and ranting! People died for your right to rant!
Simon Allen, Coventry

Of course people have the right to protest against Bush's visit and voice their opinion. But however they feel...neither Bush nor Blair can go back on what has been done in Iraq and as our only true allies we should support Bush in return for the support the US has given us over the years.
Sophie Cross, Swansea, Wales

From an illegal election to an illegal war, the Bush administration will stop at nothing to see to the interests of the energy industry. The Bush trip to England was meant to boost his popularity in the States, to secure his re-election. Thank goodness for the London protesters. You are doing more for the United States and the world than you could ever imagine. Thank you so much. I feel that my time protesting before Gulf War 2 was not in vain.
David Simon, USA http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/3276755.stm Highly recommend this link.

Using the BBC as primary media right now because there is a wide variety of people's opinions etc there right now. The British newspapers will have much to say over the next few days.