15 November 2011

POTUS road closures

| johnboy
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ACT Policing is advising the public that as an operational security measure for the President of the United States’ (POTUS) visit, access to Glenora Drive in Pialligo will be restricted from 6am Wednesday, November 16 until 2pm Thursday, November 17.

Other restrictions will apply to all access roads to Parliament Drive, including the access ramps leading to and from Commonwealth Avenue, Melbourne Avenue, and Kings Avenue. Parliament House staff have been advised of these restrictions.

Vehicle access to Federation Mall will be restricted from midnight on Tuesday, November 15, until noon on Thursday, November 17.

Under the ACT Major Events Security legislation enacted for the POTUS visit to the Australian War Memorial on Thursday, November 17, there will be no vehicle access to Treloar Crescent, in Campbell, on that day.

Road users may be inconvenienced for short periods of time as the motorcade moves through the city and its environs.

Road users are reminded that all traffic direction provided by the ACT Policing motorcade security team must be strictly obeyed.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

UPDATE: Parliament House have also produced a circular on their road closures.

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We may well talk about the POTUS road closures but if TAMS don’t get off their collective arses there will be some POTHOLE road closures in the Territory soon. Don’t these people drive cars themselves? Some are so large that one has to flash the car lights when driving out.
Who does one send the bill to for a tyre shredded by one of these “speed traps”?

I came in early just in case the police got a bit over-zealous. They’re already camped out on the Fairbairn access road with cones and flashy blinky lights. That will get interesting later, quite a bit of worker traffic goes in there. There was a toyota troop carrier parked just in Beltana Rd, with a cop standing around smoking, suddenly the back doors opened and a bunch of them scurried out (I expect they were finishing off their McDonalds inside), and commenced combing the weeds for bombs. Which suggests that they are bringing him out via Fairbairn and Pialligo, rather than the back way they used for Bush.

creative_canberran12:53 am 16 Nov 11

Far south of Canberra and the choppers have buzzed over a few times already, nice.

For those after some comic relief as noisy excess screams overhead costing $60,000/hr per Super Hornet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTVpxxzb2Dc

Hmm, since America is broke you’d think they couldn’t afford all this international travel. Perhaps they’re here to ask for a loan?

grunge_hippy said :

does anyone know when AF1 lands? I love watching 747’s try to pull up in time before they hit the fence.

Heh. It’s meant to be half past 3, which means it probably won’t be. I’m interested in watching the landing, especially as we have incoming weather and so there might be wind and even squalls, which will mean a high-power landing. Add that to a 747 and a short runway, and you have fun.

grunge_hippy said :

does anyone know when AF1 lands? I love watching 747’s try to pull up in time before they hit the fence.

+1 I would love to find somewhere with a good shot ermmm, view of the arrival.

Well I for one welcome our star spangled overlord

grunge_hippy9:08 pm 15 Nov 11

does anyone know when AF1 lands? I love watching 747’s try to pull up in time before they hit the fence.

What a shame the hebe planters up Anzac Parade are (disgracefully) still empty. What happened to the promised January 2011 report on progress regarding these? FAIL!

The septics love to make a big show of everything. I wonder if James Cameron isn’t in charge of the whole production, running it from a script by Robert Ludlum.

Some people clearly think Hollywood action movies are documentaries, and have fervent imaginations when they gaze skywards

Jungle Jim said :

johnboy said :

Has there ever been a presidential assassination where the killer was not also an american?

Not according to wiki, but there’s been attempts by non-US parties:

April 13, 1993: Sixteen men in the employ of Saddam Hussein smuggled a car bomb into Kuwait with the intent of killing Bush [George H. W.] as he spoke at Kuwait University. The plot was foiled when Kuwaiti officials found the bomb and arrested the suspected assassins. Bush had left office in January 1993. The Iraqi Intelligence Service, particularly Directorate 14, was proven to be behind the plot.

Also, an attempt on Bill Clinton in Manila in 1996, where the mastermind was allegedly Osama bin Laden.

A couple of Puerto Rican dudes tried to bump off Harry Truman back in the 50’s. There was a mighty, mighty gunfight and a cop was killed, along with one of the villains. The details of the fight are fascinating, but I won’t go into that here.

amarooresident3 said :

dvaey said :

amarooresident3 said :

There is nothing so predictable as people who winge about some minor inconvenience when a head of state visits. Will it really ruin your life that much?

Im whinging about why the US head of state is more deserving of special laws and protection than our own?

Or do you believe that Australia should treat the US head of state in a higher regard than our own?

The same head-of-state who has flip-flopped on whether he can even be bothered coming here.. 3 times now..

All visiting heads of state (including our own) should be treated as the risk and threat assessments dictate. It’s not a matter of regard.

I find it funny that we get ‘visits’ from our head of state.

I find it tragic, shameful, appalling, disgraceful and a whole lot of other adjectives. But funny? No.

Pork Hunt said :

If you are a Costco member and are followed by ASIO, just go shopping. Those nazis at the door will stop anyone…

Your making the assumption that ASIO has not already brought a Costco membership for just the reason you mention…

If you are a Costco member and are followed by ASIO, just go shopping. Those nazis at the door will stop anyone…

basketofcat said :

From what I’ve heard, when GWB came over the US SS were armed in APH. Don’t they trust our security measures?

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/22/1066631506482.html

johnboy said :

I shudder to think the watch lists we’re all going on.

Probably lots by now, “Jihad”, you never know what the US is, “bomb”, spying on with their, “Mohammed”, echelon mates…………”No Free Trade”

amarooresident33:50 pm 15 Nov 11

Deref said :

basketofcat said :

Road users are reminded that all traffic direction provided by the ACT Policing motorcade security team must be strictly obeyed.

No mention of sworn deputies or representatives, so make sure to bite your thumbs at the US security goons!

That’s my biggest problem with all of this security theatre: I don’t mind Commonwealth law enforcement carrying weapons on Australian soil, but the thought of having to obey the orders and directions of some trigger happy, extremely paranoid alien really pisses me off.

+1

Can you imagine Australian security forces being given the OK to line the streets of Washington DC and to direct US citizens? I can’t.

Where does it say US security forces will be lining the streets?

I bet this thread has gradually been rising up some watch-lists all day but when certain keywords are repeated time and time again, I bet we’re at the top of said lists by now. Nice know you guys 🙂

Deref said :

basketofcat said :

Road users are reminded that all traffic direction provided by the ACT Policing motorcade security team must be strictly obeyed.

No mention of sworn deputies or representatives, so make sure to bite your thumbs at the US security goons!

That’s my biggest problem with all of this security theatre: I don’t mind Commonwealth law enforcement carrying weapons on Australian soil, but the thought of having to obey the orders and directions of some trigger happy, extremely paranoid alien really pisses me off.

+1

Can you imagine Australian security forces being given the OK to line the streets of Washington DC and to direct US citizens? I can’t.

From what I’ve heard, when GWB came over the US SS were armed in APH. Don’t they trust our security measures?

p1 said :

But why is so much necessary for Obamababy? I thought everyone loved him?

The Americans don’t! Even democraticky ones are very disappointed in him.

When good ol’ G Dubbya Bush was pres and visited, I figured it made sense. I mean, lots of people wanted him dead. I probably would have shot him myself give the chance. And it would be kinda embarrassing if he was whacked on our watch.

But why is so much necessary for Obamababy? I thought everyone loved him?

They are piling up metal barriers on the roads around the airport precinct. I do hope they haven’t forgotten that rather a lot of people WORK out here.

creative_canberran3:15 pm 15 Nov 11

I think talk of reciprocity, thereby comparing the AFP and SO14 with the Secret Service and co is just silly. This isn’t security as much as military, I mean a USMC Blackhawk was over Canberra yesterday.
They are not bound by the reasonable force requirements of regular law enforcement, but by military style rules of engagement. You wouldn’t see our people or SO14 consider using a spray and pray weapon in a crowd like this agent did: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cwvson9ls4&t=43s

Ambassador Bleich is having a bit of a gush about the visit on Facebook

basketofcat said :

Road users are reminded that all traffic direction provided by the ACT Policing motorcade security team must be strictly obeyed.

No mention of sworn deputies or representatives, so make sure to bite your thumbs at the US security goons!

That’s my biggest problem with all of this security theatre: I don’t mind Commonwealth law enforcement carrying weapons on Australian soil, but the thought of having to obey the orders and directions of some trigger happy, extremely paranoid alien really pisses me off.

+1

Can you imagine Australian security forces being given the OK to line the streets of Washington DC and to direct US citizens? I can’t.

johnboy said :

But ANYONE can run around with a gun in the US! (And buy them at walmart)

True, but it has no bearing on our reciprocity rules… Because we can run around with guns there, they can do the same here.

amarooresident32:28 pm 15 Nov 11

johnboy said :

But ANYONE can run around with a gun in the US! (And buy them at walmart)

I remember when you could buy firearms in Kmart at Belconnen Mall. God I’m old.

But ANYONE can run around with a gun in the US! (And buy them at walmart)

johnboy said :

I shudder to think the watch lists we’re all going on.

No more than any other gun crazed blogger… Just remember that when ASIO starts following you, you’ll only find out about it when they want you to find out about it…

johnboy said :

Has there ever been a presidential assassination where the killer was not also an american?

Not that I know of, but there have been attempted assassinations of visiting heads of government on Australian soil in the past.

We usually use reciprocity when it comes to letting other countries goons have firearms here. I do believe that our security guys are allowed guns on US soil, and thus we allow their security guys to have guns when they come here. (A fairs fair approach)

Also we have in the past arrested foreign security guards who have illegally being in procession of firearms, so no we don’t just pander to the requests made by other countries when it comes to security.

Yes we do listen to security requests made by the secret service, but we ourselves still have final sign off, and no we don’t always agree to everything the secret service asks for.

johnboy said :

I shudder to think the watch lists we’re all going on.

Yeah, there’s a heap of flag words in this thread!

I shudder to think the watch lists we’re all going on.

creative_canberran1:56 pm 15 Nov 11

johnboy said :

Has there ever been a presidential assassination where the killer was not also an american?

Not a successful one on a sitting president, but if we broaden it to attempts on sitting presidents::
Giuseppe Zangara
Oscar Collazo & Griselio Torresola
and also the 93 attempted car bomb against Bush in Kuwait by Iraq

And then there’s presidential candidates too:
Sirhan Sirhan

Having said that, rioters may like to look back at where the whole settling disputes with guns thing started in US Politics: Hamilton and Burr.

johnboy said :

Has there ever been a presidential assassination where the killer was not also an american?

Not according to wiki, but there’s been attempts by non-US parties:

April 13, 1993: Sixteen men in the employ of Saddam Hussein smuggled a car bomb into Kuwait with the intent of killing Bush [George H. W.] as he spoke at Kuwait University. The plot was foiled when Kuwaiti officials found the bomb and arrested the suspected assassins. Bush had left office in January 1993. The Iraqi Intelligence Service, particularly Directorate 14, was proven to be behind the plot.

Also, an attempt on Bill Clinton in Manila in 1996, where the mastermind was allegedly Osama bin Laden.

Road users are reminded that all traffic direction provided by the ACT Policing motorcade security team must be strictly obeyed.

No mention of sworn deputies or representatives, so make sure to bite your thumbs at the US security goons!

That’s my biggest problem with all of this security theatre: I don’t mind Commonwealth law enforcement carrying weapons on Australian soil, but the thought of having to obey the orders and directions of some trigger happy, extremely paranoid alien really pisses me off.

Stevian said :

johnboy said :

Has there ever been a presidential assassination where the killer was not also an american?

Since the United States is not the only country to have a President it is a certainty that there has been a presidential assassination where the killer was not an American

Gee, do you think we’re talking in the context of the US presidency? Oh wait, we are.

johnboy said :

Has there ever been a presidential assassination where the killer was not also an american?

Since the United States is not the only country to have a President it is a certainty that there has been a presidential assassination where the killer was not an American

johnboy said :

Has there ever been a presidential assassination where the killer was not also an american?

Depends on who you believe on the whole JFK thing.

Has there ever been a presidential assassination where the killer was not also an american?

dvaey said :

Or do you believe that Australia should treat the US head of state in a higher regard than our own?

I hardly think increased protection and security equates to higher regard. In fact, I’d suggest the opposite is true. The Americans are so loathed and despised around the world that the survival of their president is dependent on greater security. Our head of state on the other hand isn’t really involved with the business of governance, and even if she was wouldn’t be quite as big a target, and therefore she warrants less security. Likewise our head of government, having no symbolic significance as the monarch and governor general do, isn’t so great a target; and none of them, individually, would be such a great loss to our country as the US President would be to theirs, since the weight of our three roles are combined in the one person for them.

At any rate, the greater regard certainly goes to the less political of the two heads of state, and the greater security to the more political. So Obama isn’t being treated with greater regard; he’s being treated with greater security. Think of it as an insult to the office, and you’ll feel better!

dvaey said :

amarooresident3 said :

There is nothing so predictable as people who winge about some minor inconvenience when a head of state visits. Will it really ruin your life that much?

Im whinging about why the US head of state is more deserving of special laws and protection than our own?

Or do you believe that Australia should treat the US head of state in a higher regard than our own?

The same head-of-state who has flip-flopped on whether he can even be bothered coming here.. 3 times now..

Isn’t it more about the level of risk rather than the status level?

After all who would want to take out the Queen and Phil the Greek (apart from perhaps some Irish traditionalists) whereas half the world would have a grudge against Barack.

amarooresident312:28 pm 15 Nov 11

dvaey said :

amarooresident3 said :

There is nothing so predictable as people who winge about some minor inconvenience when a head of state visits. Will it really ruin your life that much?

Im whinging about why the US head of state is more deserving of special laws and protection than our own?

Or do you believe that Australia should treat the US head of state in a higher regard than our own?

The same head-of-state who has flip-flopped on whether he can even be bothered coming here.. 3 times now..

All visiting heads of state (including our own) should be treated as the risk and threat assessments dictate. It’s not a matter of regard.

I find it funny that we get ‘visits’ from our head of state.

thy_dungeonman12:08 pm 15 Nov 11

amarooresident3 said :

There is nothing so predictable as people who winge about some minor inconvenience when a head of state visits. Will it really ruin your life that much?

I have an exam on Thursday so if I can’t get the bus from woden to civic (I hope I read it right that I still can) then it will be pretty inconvenient.

amarooresident3 said :

There is nothing so predictable as people who winge about some minor inconvenience when a head of state visits. Will it really ruin your life that much?

Im whinging about why the US head of state is more deserving of special laws and protection than our own?

Or do you believe that Australia should treat the US head of state in a higher regard than our own?

The same head-of-state who has flip-flopped on whether he can even be bothered coming here.. 3 times now..

OzChick said :

Is anyone going to the airport? Please take pics of Air Force One. Thanks.

But be aware of any black vans parked anywhere near you or ‘suits’ with dark glasses and earpieces, talking into the cuff of their sleeve.

Is anyone going to the airport? Please take pics of Air Force One. Thanks.

amarooresident3 said :

There is nothing so predictable as people who winge about some minor inconvenience when a head of state visits. Will it really ruin your life that much?

In the long run yes.

amarooresident311:24 am 15 Nov 11

There is nothing so predictable as people who winge about some minor inconvenience when a head of state visits. Will it really ruin your life that much?

Holden Caulfield11:21 am 15 Nov 11

PBO said :

Buck Ofama, what a waste of money this exercise is. This is another example of how this county is turning into a brown-nosed panderer to the will of the USA.

Don’t you mean, has turned into?

Buck Ofama, what a waste of money this exercise is. This is another example of how this county is turning into a brown-nosed panderer to the will of the USA.

Isnt it Ironic how OUR head of state visits for a week, and the most they do is close off the immediate access road to her accomodation (to vehicles, but remaining open to pedestrians and cyclists).. infact, they go and put her on the lake for an hour in view of the entire public…

but, when this wanker from the states comes to visit for a few hours, the city gets shutdown, road closures and even entire access to public facilities such as OUR war memorial.. Why doesnt he go visit the US memorial, close down the roads around Russell Offices, and see how well that goes down with the military brass instead of just the poor tourists to our memorial, and those trying to get around our city.

So if I’m map-reading correctly, the airport will be open but the President will go out the back?
Copy Maverick?

And judging by the fencing on the roads surrounding the Hyatt Hotel, there will be no parking on any of those roads or in any of the carparks.

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