U S Sharpshooters Near Thai Govt House

[webfact]

US sharpshooters near Govt House

The Nation

Goverment House of Thailand,. File photo, source wikimedia

Snipers to be based on buildings for visit next Sunday; Secret service team seeks 'small' meeting with Yingluck

BANGKOK: -- The US Secret Service will station sharpshooters on tall buildings around Government House as part of security for President Barack Obama's scheduled visit to the compound on Sunday evening, a well-informed source said yesterday.

Obama will make an official visit to the Kingdom on Sunday and Monday.

The Government House source said the US president would also be guarded by Secret Service officers during his visit to Government House, while Thai security officials would monitor at a certain distance.

The Secret Service will deploy its sharpshooters on buildings around Government House, including the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives building, the Civil Service Commission building and the National Anti-Corruption Commission building, the source said.

Obama is scheduled to arrive in Bangkok at 3pm on Sunday and will visit Government House at 5pm. He will stay overnight before leaving for Myanmar the next day. The source said Obama might stay at the Hyatt Erawan Hotel or the Conrad Hotel near the US embassy.

The planned visit prompted the US Secret Service to deploy a forward team to Government House yesterday to inspect the area as part of the security preparations.

The forward team made an inspection along with Thai officials for half an hour before meeting on details and schedules of the visit to provide protection for Obama.

According to the source, the US Secret Service forward team was told that Obama would be escorted by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to review the guard of honour at a welcoming ceremony in front of Government House. Obama would then proceed to a reception room in the Thai Kufah building for a bilateral meeting.

The US Secret Service team asked that only the prime minister and a few Cabinet members attend the meeting for easier security, the source said.

The source said Yingluck and Obama would hold a joint press conference, but reporters would be allowed only four questions - two to Obama and two to Yingluck.

The US Embassy informed Thai officials during the meeting that 80 foreign reporters and 20 reporters from the White House would follow the US president to cover the visit at Government House, while about 100 Thai media crews would cover the event.

The US Secret Service team asked Thai officials to strictly check identification cards of Thai reporters. The team also informed the Thai side that only a cameraman of Modern Nine TV and a photographer from Government House would be present during the bilateral meeting and the reception party inside the Santi Maitree building.

The source said the US Secret Service would send its officials to check the Government House compound every day until Sunday.

As part of the security arrangements, Phitsanulok Road from Chamai Maruchet Bridge to Misakawan Intersection and the Rama V Road from Phanakorn Commerce School to Orathai Bridge would be closed to traffic, the source said.

The source said it had not been decided whether Obama would stop to see an exhibition of the Loy Krathong festival when he leaves the outer Santi Maitree building to enter the inner

Santi Maitree building for the reception party. The US wanted the president to walk by, but the Thai side wanted him to stop to see the exhibition on the open ground between the two buildings, the source said.

-- The Nation 2012-11-13

[tominbkk]

Cool!

[Thai at Heart]

I am sure part of the point is that this well informed source isn't meant to brief the newspapers.

The Secret Service will deploy its sharpshooters on buildings around Government House, including the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives building, the Civil Service Commission building and the National Anti-Corruption Commission building, the source said.

God almighty, if someone in the uk blagged a thai very vips security plan to the papers, they would go mad. But hey obamas only a head of state right.

[Unkomoncents]

It's good to see old, old allies (the country that defended Thailand from British repayment schemes after WWII again working with the country that angrily, as a result of treatment by the French during the colonial period, succumbed to the overwhelming force of the Japanese and officially [though without committing soldiers, financing or equipage] declared war on France and Britain) working together. It's sure starting out a chipper news day in Thailand. Gotta love the Asian 'Truman Show'-effect with the media.

[keemapoot]

I hope those sharpshooters don't get distracted by all the cute uni girls in short skirts.

[Thai at Heart]

It's good to see old, old allies (the country that defended Thailand from British repayment schemes after WWII again working with the country that angrily, as a result of treatment by the French during the colonial period, succumbed to the overwhelming force of the Japanese and officially [though without committing soldiers, financing or equipage] declared war on France and Britain) working together. It's sure starting out a chipper news day in Thailand. Gotta love the Asian 'Truman Show'-effect with the media.

Another thread said people were frustrated about obamas security planning. What do they want to achieve with statements like these?

We would rather he didn't visit? What next, articles about what nice guys wen ji baos security are in comparison with obamas?

[Moruya]

Hahahahaha!

I'd be looking to cancel after that amount of info hits the press. Completely compromised if true.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect App

[Mitker]

Quote:

"but reporters would be allowed only four questions - two to Obama and two to Yingluck"

Quote.

I'm really curious about the last 2 ones

[keemapoot]

What next? GPS coordinates of every security detail, along with their radio frequencies? How about Obama's room number at the Hyatt?

[rkidlad]

The Government House source said the US president would also be guarded by Secret Service officers during his visit to Government House, while Thai security officials would monitor at a certain distance.

Quite a bit away I imagine. I hear they will be given toy guns with buttons you press on them that sound just like real guns!

Edited November 13, 2012 by rkidlad

[Payboy]

They better watch out for the guy that shot Seh Dang.

[asiawatcher]

All this wasted money for an overnight stay. No-one cares of course. Why can't Yingluck meet him at the Hyatt? Far easier to secure.

[keemapoot]

All this wasted money for an overnight stay. No-one cares of course. Why can't Yingluck meet him at the Hyatt? Far easier to secure.

I can just see Monday's headlines: "Yingluck meets leader of the free world in lobby bar at the Hyatt."

[Rionoir]

Wouldn't be surprised if he cancels now, thanks to Yingluck's press snitch...

[Pond Life]

Bring on the clowns.

Oh, don't bother, they're here !

[FOODLOVER]

Now they want the President to stop in open ground to review their festival and let everyone know beforehand!?

" Thai security officials would monitor at a certain distance". No doubt.

[Soupdragon]

What no futsal ???

[cannonball]

Hahahahaha!

I'd be looking to cancel after that amount of info hits the press. Completely compromised if true.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect App

No reason to cancel, the whole world knows that the Secret Service goes in advance of the POTUS visiting any country. It sure as hell wouldn't do them any good to set up on lower roofs further away. Get a clue, or don't worry about it. It's called SOP!

CB

[bendejo]

How about redshirt loonies claiming those sharpshooters can't be trusted?

They can provide better security with their own blackshirts.

Oh wait, those guys don't exist.

[angsta]

Those red shirt loonies you mention were assassinated by some "sharp shooters" so you can kinda understand the lack of trust in that particular relationship.

Have a think about it and see what registers.

[noitom]

If it is the same crew that was with Mr. Obama in Colombia, the Thai girls better get the prices straight and get cash up front. Otherwise they may be fighting in the hallways of the Conrad the next morning.

[Buchholz]

Hahahahaha!

I'd be looking to cancel after that amount of info hits the press. Completely compromised if true.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect App

No reason to cancel, the whole world knows that the Secret Service goes in advance of the POTUS visiting any country. It sure as hell wouldn't do them any good to set up on lower roofs further away. Get a clue, or don't worry about it. It's called SOP!

Actually, according to the Secret Service's own clued-in website:

Protective Operations

The Secret Service is world-renowned for the physical protection it provides to the nation's highest elected leaders and other government officials. To safeguard Secret Service protectees, the agency does not generally discuss the specific types and methods of its security operations.

.

[chooka]

Wouldn't be surprised if he cancels now, thanks to Yingluck's press snitch...

Maybe it is just a way for the Thais to try and claim credit for the security.

[keemapoot]

Hahahahaha!

I'd be looking to cancel after that amount of info hits the press. Completely compromised if true.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect App

No reason to cancel, the whole world knows that the Secret Service goes in advance of the POTUS visiting any country. It sure as hell wouldn't do them any good to set up on lower roofs further away. Get a clue, or don't worry about it. It's called SOP!

Actually, according to the Secret Service's own clued-in website:

Protective Operations

The Secret Service is world-renowned for the physical protection it provides to the nation's highest elected leaders and other government officials. To safeguard Secret Service protectees, the agency does not generally discuss the specific types and methods of its security operations.

.

Yup, and can you spell mis-direction on purpose? Could be some of that going on to, wrong info leaked to the press.

[smutcakes]

This is fairly normal is it not? one example off the top of my head was when Obama visited Ireland a couple of years ago there were pages and pages of info on all the security arrangements in the papers, on the news etc etc Its not exactly a big secret that when persons like Obama or royalty visit other countries, there are huge security arrangements which are not exactly hidden, and having 'sharp shooters' on the roof of surrounding buildings is not exactly a breach of security <deleted>. Talk about people trying to create an issue and bash Thailand for nothing.

[Pib]

Why didn't they just contract-out security to the Men in Black? Apparently these folks got sharpshooting experience during the Bangkok riots a few years ago.

[jonb1942]

Whoppy poo,here come da man.

[geriatrickid]

Question: Isn't the President supposed to meet the King first, and should the King be unavailable, a designated representative of the Royal Household?

The POTUS is the head of state for the USA and the PM of Thailand is not.

Where's the protocol here? Will The Prince be at the airport for the offical greeting?

[theajarn]

What next? GPS coordinates of every security detail, along with their radio frequencies? How about Obama's room number at the Hyatt?

Perhaps it was Yingluck who posted it on her Facebook.

[Colabamumbai]

Is she going to serve him Somtam?