Waitone
Member
<Poster's Comment>I am amazed at how much nonsense can be packed into one article.
http://www.sundayherald.com/38076
London protesters fear ‘trigger-happy’ agents
By Neil Mackay, Home Affairs Editor
ARMED US Secret Service agents will have the right to "shoot to kill" when they provide the bodyguard for President George W Bush on his controversial state visit to the United Kingdom this week.
Special agent Ann Roman, an official spokeswoman for the US Secret Service (USSS), told the Sunday Herald that the estimated 200 agents who will be in Britain to guard Bush would open fire if he were in danger or under threat.
When asked if US agents would use lethal force, Roman said: "We are trained to protect the President, so we will evaluate the situation and if the situation warranted action to that level then we'd do it."
The UK's security services have now been put on the second highest possible state of alert amid intelligence of a possible al-Qaeda attack. The Home Office said that SO19, the police firearms unit, also had the power to use lethal force. A spokesman said: "Our officers are allowed to shoot someone if it is deemed necessary, and the Americans will be under the same regulations."
More than 100,000 protesters will take to London's streets on Thursday for the Stop The War Coalition's "Stop Bush" demonstration. Organisers fear "trigger-happy US Secret Service agents" could over-react and kill protesters. Politicians opposing Bush's visit fear over-reaction by US agents could cause "mayhem" and want the trip cancelled.
Tensions are running high between the USSS and the Metropolitan Police. Although the Met is technically in charge of the security operation, the USSS is sticking to its decision to maintain its standard "rules of engagement", which means it will be in total control of all presidential protection regardless of the fact that it is operating in the UK. This has effectively sidelined the Met.
Senior Met officers fear a protester could be killed, particularly if an exclusion zone is put in place around the president as many in the USSS wish. The Met believes that if a demonstrator were to break through, the USSS "rules of engagement" could interpret this as a threat to Bush and result in a secret service agent shooting a civilian dead.
There is also considerable concern within the Met that the march could turn into a riot. Anarchist groups have made their way to London to take part in the demo, and there are fears that, if the march route is not long enough to accommodate the number of protesters, demonstrators will split up into small groups. This would cause the police to lose control of security, increasing the chances of the USSS over-reacting.
Protest organisers say they want to get as close to Bush as possible. Organisers will be talking with police chiefs tomorrow to finalise the route the march can take. More than 5000 police officers will also be on duty. Demonstrators say they want the "democratic right" to march down Whitehall and past Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament.
Linlithgow Labour MP Tam Dalyell, Father of the House of Commons and an outspoken critic of Tony Blair and Bush, said: "I'm appalled that US Secret Service agents will have the power of Å’shoot to kill' in the UK. If they act on these powers they will create mayhem. The rug should be pulled from under this trip immediately and the whole thing cancelled."
Paul McBride QC warned that USSS agents could face criminal charges if they were to fire on civilians. "They have no special status in the UK, and if they use unreasonable force they could be charged with murder," he added. Bush will be staying in Buckingham Palace from Wednesday to Friday. He will also lay a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Westminster Abbey.
The big march on Thursday will be led by Americans under the banner "Proud of My Country, Shamed by My President". Friday will see a protest outside the US embassy against the prison camps for terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay.
Fears within the US administration that terrorists could use the huge crowds of British demonstrators as a cover to carry out attacks have led to requests from the US for the closing down of central London and the outlawing of anti-Bush marches.
A Home Office spokesman said the UK government was saying little about the American security arrangements, but agreed that the position put forward by the US Secret Service regarding the shoot to kill policy was "fair and accurate". The spokesman said there were "protocols" with the USSS "which allow them to go armed in this country".
There will be protests all week against Bush's visit, including demonstrations in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Mick Napier, one of the Stop The War Coalition's Scottish organisers, condemned "the US, a British ally, for suggesting it would deploy force against British citizens".
He added: "A peaceful demonstration by a campaign group is now faced by an armed force of the US state. This is surely a step too far for most British people. "Deaths have so far been avoided in the UK. It is intolerable that the US should police the streets of Britain. There is no question of any lethal threat from the Stop The War Coalition. We simply want to ruin Bush's election chances."
http://www.sundayherald.com/38076
London protesters fear ‘trigger-happy’ agents
By Neil Mackay, Home Affairs Editor
ARMED US Secret Service agents will have the right to "shoot to kill" when they provide the bodyguard for President George W Bush on his controversial state visit to the United Kingdom this week.
Special agent Ann Roman, an official spokeswoman for the US Secret Service (USSS), told the Sunday Herald that the estimated 200 agents who will be in Britain to guard Bush would open fire if he were in danger or under threat.
When asked if US agents would use lethal force, Roman said: "We are trained to protect the President, so we will evaluate the situation and if the situation warranted action to that level then we'd do it."
The UK's security services have now been put on the second highest possible state of alert amid intelligence of a possible al-Qaeda attack. The Home Office said that SO19, the police firearms unit, also had the power to use lethal force. A spokesman said: "Our officers are allowed to shoot someone if it is deemed necessary, and the Americans will be under the same regulations."
More than 100,000 protesters will take to London's streets on Thursday for the Stop The War Coalition's "Stop Bush" demonstration. Organisers fear "trigger-happy US Secret Service agents" could over-react and kill protesters. Politicians opposing Bush's visit fear over-reaction by US agents could cause "mayhem" and want the trip cancelled.
Tensions are running high between the USSS and the Metropolitan Police. Although the Met is technically in charge of the security operation, the USSS is sticking to its decision to maintain its standard "rules of engagement", which means it will be in total control of all presidential protection regardless of the fact that it is operating in the UK. This has effectively sidelined the Met.
Senior Met officers fear a protester could be killed, particularly if an exclusion zone is put in place around the president as many in the USSS wish. The Met believes that if a demonstrator were to break through, the USSS "rules of engagement" could interpret this as a threat to Bush and result in a secret service agent shooting a civilian dead.
There is also considerable concern within the Met that the march could turn into a riot. Anarchist groups have made their way to London to take part in the demo, and there are fears that, if the march route is not long enough to accommodate the number of protesters, demonstrators will split up into small groups. This would cause the police to lose control of security, increasing the chances of the USSS over-reacting.
Protest organisers say they want to get as close to Bush as possible. Organisers will be talking with police chiefs tomorrow to finalise the route the march can take. More than 5000 police officers will also be on duty. Demonstrators say they want the "democratic right" to march down Whitehall and past Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament.
Linlithgow Labour MP Tam Dalyell, Father of the House of Commons and an outspoken critic of Tony Blair and Bush, said: "I'm appalled that US Secret Service agents will have the power of Å’shoot to kill' in the UK. If they act on these powers they will create mayhem. The rug should be pulled from under this trip immediately and the whole thing cancelled."
Paul McBride QC warned that USSS agents could face criminal charges if they were to fire on civilians. "They have no special status in the UK, and if they use unreasonable force they could be charged with murder," he added. Bush will be staying in Buckingham Palace from Wednesday to Friday. He will also lay a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Westminster Abbey.
The big march on Thursday will be led by Americans under the banner "Proud of My Country, Shamed by My President". Friday will see a protest outside the US embassy against the prison camps for terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay.
Fears within the US administration that terrorists could use the huge crowds of British demonstrators as a cover to carry out attacks have led to requests from the US for the closing down of central London and the outlawing of anti-Bush marches.
A Home Office spokesman said the UK government was saying little about the American security arrangements, but agreed that the position put forward by the US Secret Service regarding the shoot to kill policy was "fair and accurate". The spokesman said there were "protocols" with the USSS "which allow them to go armed in this country".
There will be protests all week against Bush's visit, including demonstrations in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Mick Napier, one of the Stop The War Coalition's Scottish organisers, condemned "the US, a British ally, for suggesting it would deploy force against British citizens".
He added: "A peaceful demonstration by a campaign group is now faced by an armed force of the US state. This is surely a step too far for most British people. "Deaths have so far been avoided in the UK. It is intolerable that the US should police the streets of Britain. There is no question of any lethal threat from the Stop The War Coalition. We simply want to ruin Bush's election chances."
