Sydney is far too unsafe for President Bush
Summary: If Sydney is so unsafe that during his visit, the US president has to be followed around by a huge black helicopter that blocks mobile phone signals, I think he should stay at home and use videoconferencing instead.When George Bush comes to Australia for the APEC summit later this year, US military-owned helicopters will be buzzing around Sydney, roads will be diverted and train stations closed.
If Sydney is so unsafe that during his visit, the US president has to be followed around by a huge black helicopter that blocks mobile phone signals, I think he should stay at home and use videoconferencing instead.
When George Bush comes to Australia for the APEC summit later this year, US military-owned helicopters will be buzzing around Sydney, roads will be diverted and train stations closed.
The presidential security circus will, no doubt, leave Sydneysiders in shock and awe as they hail the "leader of the free world".
What a joke.
How can someone who can't walk down the road unless they are being followed around by thousands of people and hundreds of millions of dollars of hi-tech equipment, consider themselves to be free?
All that hardware and personnel are supposedly in place to guarantee Bush's safety.
One thing I have learned is that as you increase security, you reduce flexibility -- and freedom. If I wanted to absolutely, completely and utterly guarantee that a laptop would never catch a virus or be hacked, I would lock it in a safe and throw it into the sea. Of course the laptop would be rendered useless but at least it would be safe from hackers and malware.
Wouldn't it be safer for both the president -- and Sydney's residents -- if Bush remained on his Texas ranch and used videoconferencing instead?
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Talkback
Agreed 100%
BTW, The safest way for him to travel would be on his own in a pair of glasses and a fake mostache, not with all the neon lights saying "here I am!"
Why Sydney
Why all the hubbub?
I mean seriously... a helicopter which blocks cell phone transmissions?! I would put money on a public disaster occuring because of his protective services disregard to public safety.
He would be much safer off rolling down the street in a M1 tank than taking these ridiculous measures.
And for god's sake, why Sydney. You are asking for problems by controlling the already uncontrollable traffic problems.
Why not goto Adelaide, he won't come back after going there j/k
Sydney is too unsafe, etc
Your hypothesis ignores the fact that diplomacy is much more than just public speeches made at such events. The real work is done, more often than not, in informal discussions and out of event dialogue when leaders have the chance to freely and frankly discuss issues requiring far more nuance than simple public speeches (which become fodder for journalists looking to increase their readership by putting a spin on what is said and creating controversy when none is there in the first place).
Whilst videoconferencing is a useful tool, it is just that - a tool, rather than a replacement.
As for security, one can be sure that this is not the first time Sydney has been required to crank up such arrangements. Remember the Olympics?
If this is such a good and simple idea Munir, then let me ask you - why are you the only one to have the right idea when so many people involved in organising these events (right through to security staff, intelligence experts, logistics personnel, diplomats etc etc) did not put such ideas in train? Do you know something they don't?
Great idea
Nail on the head
You have to ask why
Who wants him here anyway, unless we need some entertainment. He really is a buffoon!
Good lord Glenn
who cares..