Secret Service hit for not reacting quickly to shoe throwing

John Byrne
Raw Story
Tuesday, Dec 16, 2008

“A day after President Bush was nearly struck in the head by flying footwear at a Baghdad news conference, U.S. Secret Service officials faced questions Monday about how an Iraqi television reporter was able to hurl not one but two shoes at the president without the agents responsible for protecting him being able to move into the line of fire,” Tuesday’s Los Angeles Times reports.

Security experts the paper interviewed said the shoe-throwing imbroglio would probably lead to tighter security around the president — in particular, agents closer to the president’s body.

So what do really have here?? Is this a gaff by the USSS?? I'd have to say ..yes!
I'm sure that the people in the room were properly screened but where was the guy that jumps in front of the President in times of danger??
All he had to do was block a shoe for God's sake, it was even a lethal object!!
It really would get me thinking if I was Bush as to what good these guys really are and if they really care for my safety now that I'm leaving office.

Who cares? It's G. Bush!

I want to know if he managed to get his shoes back and if they were damaged in any way.

Maybe they left to get more shoes...?

THE SHOE-NOMENA!

17 December 2008

Media Release: The Shoe-nomena – Mass Shoe Send to President Bush

The world has seen the footage of Iraqi journalist, Mutzar Zaidi, who threw a shoe at President George Bush at a recent press conference. In a movement known only as 'Shoe-nomena' Edgar J. Steele has asked everyone to send a shoe to the White House in a protest to the Bush's administration.

Throwing a shoe in Arab culture is one of the most insulting things a person can do. The shoe is classed as being the lowest party of your body in contact with the dirty elements of society.

As a result of Steele's protest, a youtube campaign has begun, calling on people from all over the world to send a shoe in either physical, paper or digital format to the White House.

The creator of the “Shoe-nomena” youtube campaign, Pierre, says his video is a vehicle to motivate people to show their dislike of the Bush Administration.

"I made the video “Shoe-nomena Mass Shoe Send to Bush” as a vehicle to motivate people to have the last say in the exit of one of the world’s most notorious leaderships," he said.

"I designed the video so that it would reach all walks of life from all over the world and I want the concept to be accountable, I want everyone who participates to return to the site and leave a message of their participation, this tally will be counted up and offered the major media outlets in January as a final good bye to these perpetrators of an unjust war.”

"This is designed to be a peaceful protest... Lets face it Mr Bush has the lowest approval rating out of any other president!"

To view the “shoe-nomena” video go to: au.youtube.com...

-ends-

For more information email [email protected].

Firstly, I echo the point of its Bush, so who cares?
IMO he deserves a whole lot more.

But, and from a Security professional here, all Security is about assessing the risks and acting to prevent incidents WHERE POSSIBLE.

They check and double check equipment, the backgrounds of those in the room, they set up cordons and vet everyone coming in or out. As far as they are concerned the area is secure.

Short of stripping everyone, removing all jewelery, glasses, contact lenses, and putting a wall between Bush and those he is talking to, what else can be done?
You can't have an agent standing directly beside every person in the room, ready to hold them down should they raise an arm too quickly!

The only flaw here is that there wasn't and agent standing right next to Bush. And if they had done this the propaganda and rumors resulting from that would be more damaging than the incident that occurred.

Prior to this event, no one had considered an Iraqi journalist throwing his shoes that the president to be a threat.

The debate is ridiculous. They assessed the risks, and rightly decided that there were few.
You cannot act against the unforeseen, you can only act on the consequences, and this was completely unforeseen considering they had taken all appropriate action to protect him and prevent incidents.

You have a seat belt in your car, but that doesn't mean you will never die in a car accident. It is there to increase safety and possibly prevent more damage in the event of an accident. The safest thing would be to never get into a car in the first place, but as this isn't practical, you accept the slight risk and deal with the consequences if needed.

This is nothing but a bunch of people who have no idea about basic Security measures thinking that they know this and that. They know nothing.

It's another non-story written by people being paid per word.

First of all, I disagree with the posters here who think that because it is Bush it is OK. That is very childish. He is our president.

Next, there is a thread here that posts an interview with a former SS agent, and gives his take on the incident. Basically, he was OK with the way things were handled.

Me, I'm not so satisfied. Response was much too slow. Heads should roll. If it had been lethal, it could have been interpreted as an act of war, and Cheney would have been well within his rights to retaliate militarily.

Originally posted by jsobecky
First of all, I disagree with the posters here who think that because it is Bush it is OK. That is very childish. He is our president.

Well, that's down to personal opinion and, personally, I think the man is both an idiot and a maniac.
I think it's funny that this happened, and I refuse to apologize for my emotional response to seeing him face public reaction to his decisions.

Originally posted by jsobecky
Heads should roll. If it had been lethal, it could have been interpreted as an act of war, and Cheney would have been well within his rights to retaliate militarily.

What?
Who exactly would they attack militarily? Journalists? I didn't know they had their own nation and government.
Or maybe just destroy the country you've spent several years "freeing from a dictator"?

It has to be one of the most nonsensical statements I have ever seen on these boards.

He had shoes thrown at him, big deal!
He didn't die, he wasn't injured, and it gave the world something to laugh at for a few days.

Maybe people need to focus on what the people of Iraq and Afghanistan have had to deal with before feeling any pity for this man, or even focusing on this story for very long.
I'm sure that if all those murdered for oil had a choice, they'd rather have shoes thrown at them than have their families and friends slaughtered by an invading military force.

Originally posted by jsobecky
First of all, I disagree with the posters here who think that because it is Bush it is OK. That is very childish. He is our president.

Next, there is a thread here that posts an interview with a former SS agent, and gives his take on the incident. Basically, he was OK with the way things were handled.

Me, I'm not so satisfied. Response was much too slow. Heads should roll. If it had been lethal, it could have been interpreted as an act of war, and Cheney would have been well within his rights to retaliate militarily.

To be on the safe side why don't you just annihilate the whole world and be done with it?

Blind support for a spokesman that has aided the machine of tyranny on the world deserves no sympathy - especially from Americans.

How about rolling the heads of people that have killed hundreds of thousands of people in the world for greed? Oh, it's ok I hear you think, they are not Americans...Please!

jsobecky - Congratulations for the most idiotic post I have ever read. It seems you have a lot in common with G. Bush Jr. hence your outrage.

[edit on 17-12-2008 by Jinni]

reply to post by detachedindividual


reply to post by Jinni



Typical example of the fact that I cannot state facts on this board without being attacked and my words twisted.

Typical examples of emotional responses from non-thinking individuals sheeple.

HATE BUSH! It's OK, it's GOOD, it's the RIGHT THING TO DO!

It's the current group-think and group-speak thing to do!

Condone violence, because you disagree with a man's politics.

And, dammit, if anyone dares disagree with the mass mind meld, then ATTACK!

Originally posted by detachedindividual
Firstly, I echo the point of its Bush, so who cares?

YOU should.

The fact that someone was able to get that close to a POTUS and was almost able to physically harm the POTUS - no matter who he or she is - should be of concern to you.

If a person can get that close to a POTUS that you don't like, then they can get that close to someone that you DO like. Think about it for a while. It might sink in.

The Secret Service fell down on the job.

Originally posted by FlyersFan

Originally posted by detachedindividual
Firstly, I echo the point of its Bush, so who cares?

YOU should.

The fact that someone was able to get that close to a POTUS and was almost able to physically harm the POTUS - no matter who he or she is - should be of concern to you.

If a person can get that close to a POTUS that you don't like, then they can get that close to someone that you DO like. Think about it for a while. It might sink in.

The Secret Service fell down on the job.

There is no president ever worth liking in this day and age. The powers that be always dictate what the president must do.

They are ALL crooks.

9/11 anyone?

Line of fire? OMG. Well the SS must have been conentrating on hearing gunfire instead of footfire! ROFLMAO!!!


Cheers!!!!

Originally posted by Jinni
There is no president ever worth liking in this day and age.

Sure. No arguement there. I don't like Bush43. I don't like Obama. I don't like McCain (well .. I liked McCain of 2000 - but the McCain of 2006 is very different)

But the fact that someone was able to get that close to harming a POTUS should be of concern to everyone. No matter who the POTUS is - Bush, Obama, Clinton, Carter ... whoever. The fact that the Secret Service failed and that a POTUS could have been harmed - which would have caused problems - should be of concern.

Originally posted by jsobecky
reply to post by detachedindividual

 

reply to post by Jinni

 

Typical example of the fact that I cannot state facts on this board without being attacked and my words twisted.

Typical examples of emotional responses from non-thinking individuals sheeple.

HATE BUSH! It's OK, it's GOOD, it's the RIGHT THING TO DO!

It's the current group-think and group-speak thing to do!

Condone violence, because you disagree with a man's politics.

And, dammit, if anyone dares disagree with the mass mind meld, then ATTACK!

i think as has been said in a previous post, the SECRET SERVICE assesed the setting to be safe for the president. anybody could have thrown a pencil or pen or eyeglasses at the president and he could have been hit. but this did not make the setting unsafe. whenever a president is out in public, there is always a chance of injury, however slight it might be. the president is well aware of that and they take all precautions.

Yes, recruit all new secret service personnel since this reporter was able to fire, reload and fire.

The best solution is to keep the president out of the real world (which brings up the question of whether he is ever in the real world) and keep his activities in a guarded room. The up side is it will be even easier to have a puppet speaking to the world.

What's next, shake down for pea shooters and paper wads.

Edit:

HEADLINE: US nukes half of world after paper wad thrown at president.

[edit on 12/17/2008 by roadgravel]

Originally posted by jsobecky
reply to post by detachedindividual

 

reply to post by Jinni

 

HATE BUSH! It's OK, it's GOOD, it's the RIGHT THING TO DO!

It's the current group-think and group-speak thing to do!

You must be out of your mind if you think that this is a result of group-think and speak. Actually, people here typically use their brains and investigate only to find out that they are being shafted by their own government.

What kind of government kills thousands of their own people so they can make lots of money? (9/11)

Do you know what 'sheeple' means?

Here's a present for you:

designcrack.com...

Reloading...

Im pretty sure everyone was searched prior to entering. A shoe is not considered a deadly weapon so why should the secret service take is as a serious threat? Bush's life was not in serious danger.
What if it was a decoy and the secret service acted with full force and used every man they had to subdue the shoe throwing criminal. Meanwhile the real assassin jumps up and drives a spike through the presidents forehead.
Its just a shoe. Dont take it too seriously. In thier culture its an insult. In our culture its... "Look at that idiot throwing shoes"

Originally posted by Darkice19
Meanwhile the real assassin jumps up and drives a spike through the presidents forehead.

If that assasin is succesful would that mean less wars, murder and tyranny perpetrated throughout the world?

Probably not. It would just give the tyrannical powers just another excuse.

They would feed the world "Look! they killed our president! let's nuke'em" then the sheeple go YAY!

Considering the big picture and the interest of the world there is no point in killing or harming the goof Bush.

So I agree, the SS should be more aware and someone should get him a "Bush Mobile".

Save Bush, Save the World [thanks to all the damn non-thinking, brainwashed sheeple].

reply to post by Jinni


Just because you think the gov't was behind 9/11 doesn't make it true.

You are a typical example of group-speak and group-think. Saying things like "911 anyone?" as if by saying that, it should be accepted as truth.:shk:

You hate Bush. You've been told to hate him. That's fine.

But you also fail to see the danger of *any* POTUS being attacked in a foreign nation. That is troubling. You don't know history.

Remember, WWI was started by the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.

At least have a sense of history. Don't let your hate and ignorance blind you to real life.

He only threw shoes. It could have been grenades.

Originally posted by jsobecky
reply to post by Jinni

 

Just because you think the gov't was behind 9/11 doesn't make it true.

You are a typical example of group-speak and group-think. Saying things like "911 anyone?" as if by saying that, it should be accepted as truth.:shk:

You hate Bush. You've been told to hate him. That's fine.

But you also fail to see the danger of *any* POTUS being attacked in a foreign nation. That is troubling. You don't know history.

Remember, WWI was started by the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand.

At least have a sense of history. Don't let your hate and ignorance blind you to real life.

He only threw shoes. It could have been grenades.

No, you are wrong. I haven't been TOLD by anyone - your assumptions are truly pathetic I must say!

I say what I say because I HAVE DONE MY OWN INVESTIGATION!!!!!

So what would make you happy? Love Bush, 9/11 isn't an inside job? - now I see that you need some 'help'.

I don't hate nor am I ignorant - you using those words against someone who just dissaproves of Bush and 9/11 is great brainwashing NLP example.


[edit on 17-12-2008 by Jinni]