Security Theater in American Diplomatic Missions
I noticed this in an article about how increased security and a general risk aversion is harming US diplomatic missions:
“Barbara Bodine, who was the U.S. ambassador to Yemen during the Qaeda bombing of the U.S.S. Cole in 2000, told me she believes that much of the security American diplomats are forced to travel with is counterproductive. “There’s this idea that if we just throw more security guys at the problem, it will go away,” she said. “These huge convoys they force you to travel in, with a bristling personal security detail, give you the illusion of security, not real security. They just draw a lot of attention and make you a target. It’s better to fly under the radar.”
It’s a good article overall.
Tom • November 19, 2012 7:08 AM
The experience of living in a city where the US president comes to visit is quite something. I was living in Adelaide when George W Bush visited; a large section of the central business district was locked down for weeks, effectively becoming a little American fortress. Did you have a business in that area? Sorry.
The contrast with when our own head of state, Elizabeth II, visits is striking. She goes for a walk in the city, talks to people, shakes their hands. I once saw her walking in St James’ park in London. She had some police officers with her, sure, but nobody felt the need to close the park and lock down part of the city.
I don’t think the USA wins any friends like this. In fact I’m pretty sure you lose them. Why would we want to be your friends? Being your friends means we’re not allowed into half our city whenever you decide to come to visit.
Obviously the president doesn’t want to be killed. Natural. But I think you as a country need to stand up to him and say, “Tough. If you want to be president, that’s the risk you run.” It’s not that long ago that our kings led troops into war. Sometimes they got killed. But it wasn’t the end of the world, or our country, or our way of life. Just the same, if the president did get killed, what would be the result? You’d get a new president.
Part of the point of the modern bureaucracy is to keep government going even when politicians change. I’m sure many in Whitehall think the point of bureaucracy is to keep politicians out of the business of government, often without them realising it. So if you lose a president by assassination, rather than election, how much difference will it really make?
I’d point out, as well, that the people who have successfully killed American presidents have all been American. The vast majority of failed attempts have been by Americans. Maybe you should refocus your security efforts?