Thousands to protect Bush on first India visit

[Judi Lynn]

Thousands to protect Bush on first India visit
Mon Feb 27, 2006 5:10 AM ET

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - About 5,000 personnel including snipers, commandos and U.S. marines using helicopters, bomb detectors and electronic jammers will protect President George W. Bush during his visit to India this week, officials said on Monday.

The personnel would be part of a three-ring security cordon around the U.S. president and First Lady Laura Bush who are due to arrive in New Delhi for their maiden visit to the subcontinent on Wednesday, they said.

"He is a much-threatened VVIP. We are fully geared," Manish Agarwal, a top Delhi police officer involved in security operations, told Reuters.

His comments came as Delhi police arrested two suspected militants belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based militant group fighting Indian rule in disputed Kashmir, the Press Trust of India news agency said.
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-02-27T101045Z_01_DEL115154_RTRUKOC_0_US-INDIA-BUSH-SECURITY.xml

[murielm99]

1. A three-ring security cordon for

the three-ring circus coming to town.

Whole communities are disrupted worldwide whenever bubble boy visits. I wonder how it feels to be so hated. Of course, he might not realize it, he is that stupid.

[The Backlash Cometh]

23. Feel the love.

Hey, you reap what you sow.

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The Backlash Cometh]

45. You better be prepared to get a visit from the men wearing black

shades for that one. :-)

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

54. that's right--we must worship Der Fueher that Couldn't Sieg Heil Straight

the Bungalow Dicktater of Die HomeLand--

who thought of that "Homeland" shit anyway?
That is SOOOO Nazi of them.

[cornermouse]

2. I'm sure he'll consider this to be confirmation of his own importance

and value to the world. (sigh) I just hope he doesn't decide the world won't survive unless he remains President.

[leftchick]

3. They so love bush** in India....

Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout anti-U.S. slogans as they burn an effigy of U.S. President George W. Bush during a protest rally outside the U.N. Military Observer's office in Srinagar, India, Monday, Feb. 27, 2006. Hundreds of Shiite Muslims took part in a rally protesting the bombing of major Shiite Askariya Shrine in the Iraqi northern town of Samarra. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)

[Divernan]

4. So how many Secret Service will he need when he's out of office?

He'll probably "administratively" declare that he needs a lifetime battalion of Marines to protect him when he's no longer president. Or a hundred more secret service guards than is usual for an ex-pres.

[Olney Blue]

9. He will have a far-different life than Bill Clinton.

[dweller]

18. all he'll need is a couple

of prison guards, gods willing.

dp

[Tight_rope]

26. From your mouth to God's ears!

[TankLV]

53. It would be a lot "safer" for him - and for US!

and a hell of a lot cheaper!

[hootinholler]

19. I'm hoping the Levenworth guards will be handling his security. n/t

[juajen]

27. I thought the number of protectors was sorta set in stone

Don't think they can request a certain number. Am I wrong?

[dave123williams]

29. What makes you think he plans on leaving office?

[Thor_MN]

49. He won't need any more than the prison guards....

That's assuming, of course, that he doesn't get the death penalty for his treason.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. Thousands who protect does in no way match the millions

who will protest. Game over shrub.

[flordehinojos]

6. how many pounds of excrement does the man carry around his soul?

the three ring-security cordon and the thousands of people in that cordon protecting that stinking ole soul should be an answer to how many pounds of excrement little shit carries around his soul!

[unhappycamper]

10. None.

_junior has no soul.

[flordehinojos]

32. even judas iscariote had a soul. junior has one with lots of excrement

weighing him down, down, down!

[MadMaddie]

42. You are making the assumption that he has a soul to

carry the dung in....:sarcasm:

[flordehinojos]

47. O:-)

;)

[liberal N proud]

7. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

And for what?

[sofa king]

8. How long will it be before he goes into the bunker for the last time?

[madmark]

11. so how much of our borrowed money was pissed away on this trip

[marmar]

12. Why anyone lets him into their country is beyond me...

He causes civil unrest and ridiculously high security costs wherever he goes. Didn't Lufthansa Airlines sue the U.S. government to recoup revenue lost when his visit to Germany shut down all air traffic?
If I were the president of a country * was planning to visit, I'd say, "Can't we do it by teleconference?"

[Buns_of_Fire]

14. Perhaps they feel they don't have any choice

When you have an idiot cowboy-wannabe with a short fuse and his finger on "The Button," would YOU dare be the President/Prime Minister/Whatever who said "Bug off, creep" to the little creep? Whatever Bunnypants wants, Bunnypants gets. :violent projectile vomiting:

[AndyA]

13. I wonder if he'll "feel the love" from India?

One of these days, he's going to return to America to find the same thing waiting for him here. Keep it up, George. You've taken the wrong turn on the highway of democracy. And the exit coming up is not the one you planned on taking...

[tecelote]

15. Think of how many starving children could be fed with the money

being spent on this!

How can so much go so wrong in just six years?

America, and the world, will never be the same.

[Virginian]

25. India, role model country for Bush

India has many traits Bush thinks desirable for the US.

Big gap between rich and poor --
Clearly defined caste system to keep people in their places --
Starving and sick people having to accept faith based charity --
Poor working conditions, even for white collar workers (no workers rights) --
Cheap labor will do anything, for really low wages and long hours, just to keep from starving (No minimum wage, no 40 hour work week) --
Child labor --
Outdated and overcrowded public transportation --

India is a fine example of how trickle down economics does not work. Their poor are still very poor, even with all the off shore outsourcing jobs that have been sent to India, and the H-1b jobs given to Indians here in the US.

It would be nice if he noticed that college educations are free in India. We could use that here to help level the playing field with globalization.

If I am wrong in my perceptions, please let me know.


I wonder if he will be getting tips on how to set up arranged marriages for his twins?

[liberalpragmatist]

57. Well...

1) Big gap between rich and poor - definitely. But in India's defense, what developing country DOESN'T have a big gap between rich and poor. At least the poor have a voice and there has been steady poverty reduction over the last 20 years, albeit slower than it should be.

2) Clearly defined caste system - big problem, but fading in the cities and generally disavowed even by people who practice it. University seats and most government jobs are dished out according to a quota system to provide jobs to members of disadvantaged castes. Personally, I think it's a pretty inefficient way to provide advancement - the affirmative action programs should be economically-based as there are simply too many divisions in the country to try and satisfy every group. Still, it's something.

3) Starving and sick people having to accept faith based charity - Well yeah. And secular charities and NGOs. There's terrible poverty in India but luckily there isn't starvation as the country is self-sufficient in food production and a food exporter and has not had a famine in decades.

4) Poor working conditions, even for white collar workers (no workers' rights) - Most US white collar workers wouldn't like their working conditions, but for white-collar workers at least, the working conditions are far from terrible and are much better than in most developing countries. Yes, incomes are much lower, but so is the cost of living. An income 1/5 of the average US income gets a tech worker a standard of living comparable to most American tech workers - an apartment, a car, some time for leisure.

5) Cheap labor... - I'm not going to argue against workers' rights, but are you seriously suggesting a 40 hour work week for totally undeveloped countries? The 40-hour work week is a luxury that most developing countries simply cannot afford.

6) Child labor - illegal, but yes, widely practiced, especially in rural areas.

7) Outdated and overcrowded public transportation - Well, they have a vast and pretty efficient train system. Most people use public transportation. There's also a very modern metro system in Delhi.

The poor in India are still very poor, but things are getting somewhat better for them and while I'm no fan of Bush-style economics, a market system is the only way India will ever attain some measure of wealth - the country tried 40 years of a command-style Socialist economy and saw no reduction in poverty or human welfare statistics in that period of time.

And arranged marriages are hardly the evil most Westerners make them out to be. The system is certainly open to abuse - then again, so is a marriage made by choice. Most arranged marriages are done with the childrens' consent and especially among the middle class, they're really more like "assisted marriages" where people are introduced to prospective mates by friends and family, screened by parents, but the actual choice is made by the individuals.

[Bhaisahab]

61. you've made some good points

but in many ways, the roadmap of india's development strategy heads straight towards the american model. and that's bad news.

[liberalpragmatist]

75. I don't know

Poverty isn't ignored in India - with half the country IN poverty, it's a difficult topic to avoid. India also has well-developed socialist and communist movements and the poor are extremely politically active - they vote more than the rich. So I would hope that that all will prevent it from developing an economy like, say, Brazil or other Latin American countries. But who knows how it will end up. I guess we can all just hope for the best and take to heart that there has been some poverty reduction and a steady rise in literacy rates, which hopefully bodes well for the future.

[Virginian]

69. Thanks

My concepts of life in India are only from what I have read or heard. I have not been to India and can't speak with any authority.

The Indians I have worked with describe their arranged marriages like you did. I didn't get my marriage right until the second try, so maybe I would have been better off under that arrangement. -- Maybe not, my Mother introduced me to my first husband, I introduced her to my second.

I joked of the arrangement of the twins' marriages as a control thing for Dubya. With a Stepford Wife, I am surprised he doesn't have Stepford Daughters, too.

[C_U_L8R]

16. George Bush must truly be...

the most hated man in the world.


Have they taken that poll yet??

[catmandu57]

17. Why India? Why now?

I must admit I haven't followed this, I just knew that bunkerboy* was going there. Another vacation for the dsictator, I bet they're cooking up an excuse to invade Iran.

[daleo]

74. India is becoming a significant oil consumer

And either has struck deals with Iran, or is negotiating with them. Thus, some arm-twisting of India may be in order before a military action against Iran takes place.

I think China is a more significant player in this regard though. It will be worth watching how Bush treats China in the near future.

Bush may also have plans for Pakistan, and India would be important there too.

[Coexist]

20. hahahahahahaha .... President Scaredy-Cat

LOL!

:rofl:

[wordpix]

38. despised around the world and needs heavy security everywhere

[tuvor]

21. 'Public court' (India) holds Bush guilty of perpetrating terrorism

On a related note...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2134275

[DemoTex]

22. Loved by none. Hated by all.

Even Laura and the girls hate him. Poppy hates him, too. Perhaps his mother, Barbara Bu$h, doesn't hate him, but I don't think that she is capable of love. The only thing she loves is herself.

[Tight_rope]

28. I second that!

[Maraya1969]

24. Tell the jerk to stay home and stop spending so much money on

security for his own stupid head! Most people obviously do not want him in their country so stay away, (unfortunately that means he has to stay here though).

[antonialee839]

30. Delhi police should do themselves a favor and keep

the Idiot King off his bike.

[gatorboy]

31. Geez Louise...I'd like to see the price tag for that kind of security.

On the other hand, maybe I don't....

[AzDar]

33. V V I P = Vain, Volatile, Idiotic Prick. n/t

[Canuckistanian]

55. Yeah, WTF is this VVIP shit?

Like he's "more important" than a regular VIP? I didn't know their was a "pecking order" among VIP's.

[Bhaisahab]

62. here's the pecking order in india

VVIP - VERY Very Important Person, usually heads of state, or cabinet ministers, or obscenely wealthy celebrities.
VIP - Very Important Person, usually polishitians and high-level bureaucrats
IP - Important Person, any person who has contacts higher up than you!
P - Public, nobody gives a shit about them

[Canuckistanian]

64. Ah, so this is an Indian term

Society there seems to be as stratified as Japan, where you don't even talk to someone until you know if the other person "above" or "below" you.

[Stinky The Clown]

34. This is just fucking ridiculous ......

The bubble .... what ever happened to an accessible governemnt? Wherever he goes, he's in a bubble. I fear that the next president (who will be a Democrat) will be forced to do the same damned thing.

Tell me who's 'winning' when we block off Pennsylvania Avenue, when we have snipers on the rooftops of the White House, when we have black Chevy Suburbans and nasty looking guys with ear buds very much in evidence on every fucking corner of the nations' capitol, when we have to send a shitload of advance people military gear wherever our leader goes, when we have 'undisclosed locations', when we have to literally take over the security deyails of foreign countries just so our guy can go for a fucking photo op.

What have we become?

I think back to one of the last trips Clinton made before he left office .... to Southeast Asia. I remember the pictures and video coming back of him interacting - at a personal level and within 'touching' distance - with the local population.

Yes, we lost Kennedy because he was in an open car. But that's the chance we take to be a free society. Yes, they got to Reagan, too. And Ford. But again ... that's the chance we take. What's the message when we send a fucking army to protect a shithead?

I hate what these motherfuckers have done to our country and our society.

[wordpix]

39. sad but true, BushCo has totally ruined us as a nation. I'm from DC and

look back wistfully to the "good ol' days" when you could enter any federal building, monument or museum without being searched, even stand in line to get into the WH without a pass. Too bad it's not like that any more.

[Stinky The Clown]

66. Yup .... I'm also from the DC area and also remember the good old days

For some buildings, now you need two forms of picture ID. Who carries two forms of picture ID??????

This "may I see your papers?" crap is just fucking bullshit!

[TheModernTerrorist]

35. and this'll cost HOW much?

cuz we're footing the bill...

[LibDemAlways]

36. "much threatened"

If he's so goddamned unpopular then why the hell is he foisting himself on the people of India? Providing security for the dipshit should be the last concern of the Indian government. They should have told him "hell no, stay away."

[lumpy]

37. Bush's War with the World.

He has his own private army of 5000+ in the fight against public opinion.

[QuettaKid]

40. he is also coming to Pakistan.

or so I hear.

[sakabatou]

41. Millions more to throw rocks at him

[SoCalDem]

43. Clinton's India trips

[lumpy]

50. Thanks ever so much for the pics.

Those were the days.....

[latebloomer]

67. What a contrast!

Amazing how far we've deteriorated-- not that I loved Clinton.

[pinniped]

46. I knew this article didn't mean common citizens.

The common citizen with common sense couldn't give two shits about this POS.

The world's #1 hated, whatever it is.

[Rocknrule]

48. You know you're the most hated man in the universe

when you need a small army to protect your sorry ass even in one of the most pacifistic countries in the world

[president4aday]

51. You'd think the Indian authorities would be protecting

Indians from Bush.

But no.......they are his sepoys.

"Agarwal said precautions were also being taken to quell "snap protests" by Muslim groups and communist parties who have announced plans to demonstrate against Bush."

I have this sick feeling that the world is all just one big GOP police state.

[TankLV]

52. Glad to hear it. Hope MILLIONS show up to shove it to him!

Repeat after me:

"bush* IS NOT AMERICA".
"bush* IS NOT AMERICA".
"bush* IS NOT AMERICA".

[lovuian]

56. Much threatened ya have to believe thats an understatement

It gets tougher and tougher for him to go around the world...

[threadkillaz]

58. Target Next: Indian Military Bases

Target Next: Indian Military Bases
http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/apr/21josy.htm
April 21, 2003

(1st of 6 part series, links to parts 2-6 are at bottom of the article page)

A classified report commissioned by the United States Department of Defence, a copy of which is available with rediff.com, states that the country wants access to Indian bases and military infrastructure with the United States Air Force specifically desiring the establishment of airbases in India.

The report on the future of Indo-US military relations, being distributed among decision-makers in the United States and made available to a handful of senior members of the Indian government, also speaks of the USAF's desire for 'having access closer to areas of instability'.

(snip)

"American military officers are candid in their plans to eventually seek access to Indian bases and military infrastructure. India's strategic location in the centre of Asia, astride the frequently traveled Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC) linking the Middle East and East Asia, makes India particularly attractive to the US military," the report says.

The report can be distributed only with the permission of Director, Net Assessment, Office of the Secretary of Defence. The report is the most comprehensive picture of American perspective of its military relation with India and its future aspirations. To some extent it also uncovers Indian military thinking vis-à-vis the US.

It has quoted US lieutenant generals as saying that the access to India bases would enable the US military 'to be able to touch the rest of the world' and to 'respond rapidly to regional crises'.

The report, prepared by Juli A MacDonald, an associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, for the department of defence, is based on interviews of 42 key Americans, including 23 active military officers, 15 government officials and four others.

--

Part II: US tech key to Indian bases
Part III: Of insults, obsessions and distrust
Part IV: Drawn out, but not ready to fire
Part V: Tango's closer, but shop talk's taboo
Part VI: Spats apart, future's rosy

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

59. So much for what outsourcing will buy

That's Bush for you...creating new jobs wherever he goes...

[anitar1]

60. What a freakin' waste of money. n/t

[gimama]

63. "a much-threatened WIP"..? what's a W-I-P? is it "V-V-I-P"?

help me someBody,can't make out this furin english I'm reading.

[area51]

65. GW Hoover's visit to India

"... three-ring security cordon ...."

As another DU'er mentioned, more like a 3-ring circus.

"He is a much-threatened VVIP."

Yeah, right. :eyes: A legend in his own mind.

[superconnected]

68. They must feel he needs that protection for a reason.

[JPZenger]

70. Outsource his security to Dubai

I think King George should outsource his security to Dubai.

(By the way, Dubai is basically one big corporation. A commentator on Air America last night said that Dubai tolerates the biggest illegal arms smuggler in the world, who operates from Dubai. The Clinton Administration tried to pressure Dubai to close him down, but failed. Most of Dubai's residents are migrant "guest workers" who have no rights.)

[cliss]

71. I love this:

"He's a much-threatened VVIP, we are fully geared".

Just imagine! The Indians know it, certainly the Americans know it. There is NO doubt they know what it was like with Clinton.

I'll bet anything Bush will make jokes about it. He knows he's despised everywhere. He just cracks jokes about it, to break the ice. But when the crowds are gone.....Bush is alone with his fears, creeping up his spine...

The world's most hated man. I wonder how that must feel for Bush. Because he taunted the world, 'bring em on'. Well, he got it.

[Rainscents]

72. I thought, India loved Bush?

:sarcasm: They have all our jobs!

[0007]

73. Certainly wouldn't want anything serious to happen to junior

but if he came back home minus his tongue, I wouldn't mind.