US Embassy questions security boost for its embassy, but draws strong criticism

[Suradit69]

22 hours ago, Pib said:

The U.S. provides it's own security at the embassy via contract with a Thai security company....G4S Security Services I think has the current contract.  Of course there will be some U.S. Marines in the background if needed.    

 

How has Thailand increased security at the U.S. Embassy?   Maybe they have posted some police in front.  If so, that's probably not security for the embassy just the BIB setting up a traffic checkpoint to collect donations issue traffic tickets.

 

You really think the security of the US Embassy is in the hands of some local rent-a-cops who screen visitors to the consular services section of the embassy and a few low rank Marines? You can't be serious.

 

Quote

Diplomatic Security: Diplomatic Security Officers are members of the Foreign Service, designated as "specialists." Although Diplomatic Security officers are law enforcement special agents, their role is more of a management one when it comes to protecting the embassy and its staff—they work with the host country to provide security. Diplomatic Security also has other responsibilities, ranging from investigating visa fraud to screening potential local employees interested in working for the embassy.

 

Quote

"The primary mission of the Marine Security Guard (MSG) is to provide internal security at designated U.S. diplomatic and consular facilities in order to prevent the compromise of classified material vital to the national security of the United States."

 

[zydeco]

Does this mean that the long line every day outside the embassy of Thais desperate to get into the US is going to be shorter now?

[Khon Kaen Dave]

I'm not sure about this,because i dont really care about the USA elections,and i'm not that politically minded,but are the questions about bolstering security because of the protestations of Trumps victory? if so,and if the protests did occur here,then wouldnt that contravene article 44,and surely that would involve the Thai Army?

Just askin'

[kannot]

20 hours ago, Suradit69 said:

 

" They think we're all fortune tellers and mind-readers.   "

 

Apparently that's true in your case given how much you "know" about the situation. The mindless, pointless Thai bashing by the self-appointed pukka sahibs never ceases to amaze.

as  does  the  defence.........case  adjourned

[55Jay]

Very unusual that RTP would increase security measures without first discussing rationale with the USE BKK RSO shop.  I can see why USE BKK would view this uncoordinated, unilateral action as highly dismissive and disrespectful of normal protocol.   Whether that was meant as a political insult or somebody just forgot to make a phone call, or have a quick meeting to discuss it....is what's interesting to me about this.  Not to mention diplomatic communication via Facebook.....

 

Having read the RTP spokesman's comments (Coconuts link), at face value,  RTP probably had good intentions based on their view of events around the world; the optics of which the US would prefer to downplay, and not appear to be in "siege" mode as the banana republic burns around them. 

 

[LomSak27]

32 minutes ago, 55Jay said:

Very unusual that RTP would increase security measures without first discussing rationale with the USE BKK RSO shop.  I can see why USE BKK would view this uncoordinated, unilateral action as highly dismissive and disrespectful of normal protocol.   Whether that was meant as a political insult or somebody just forgot to make a phone call, or have a quick meeting to discuss it....is what's interesting to me about this.  Not to mention diplomatic communication via Facebook.....

 

From a person who was at the Embassy on Thursday, this was all about US and Thai nationals concerned that something was HAPPENING. What it was,  who knows, but in these times people worry about terror attacks. This was nothing about Trump, you probably missed this but there were warnings, threats of attacks on election day in the US. So customers of the embassy were bloody well concerned! People had been mentioning this to the Embassy people inside the compound and people had been phoning up to CANCEL appointments. That is why they put it on the facebook site as they thought it might help some of those people.    Unfortunatly someone decided this was  ... gasp, wait for it ...... DISRESPECTFUL and so the Thai websites plunked it up .... and the populist blatherers had a great time blathering about it

 

End of Story!

[55Jay]

21 minutes ago, LomSak27 said:

 

From a person who was at the Embassy on Thursday, this was all about US and Thai nationals concerned that something was HAPPENING. What it was,  who knows, but in these times people worry about terror attacks. This was nothing about Trump, you probably missed this but there were warnings, threats of attacks on election day in the US. So customers of the embassy were bloody well concerned! People had been mentioning this to the Embassy people inside the compound and people had been phoning up to CANCEL appointments. That is why they put it on the facebook site as they thought it might help some of those people.    Unfortunatly someone decided this was  ... gasp, wait for it ...... DISRESPECTFUL and so the Thai websites plunked it up .... and the populist blatherers had a great time blathering about it

 

End of Story!

Ah, I see....  This is my former line of work  (but not here in Thailand) and I was sitting here thinking this whole thing was very unusual, almost unbelievable given my understanding of the (normal) coordination between host nation and dip security staff.  Thanks for calibrating and filling in the blanks.  Cheers.   

[Sakeopete]

On 11/12/2016 at 10:13 AM, Jingthing said:

I don't really agree with you.  There is always a threat of terrorism against U.S. targets abroad, and given trump's disgusting and racist Islamophobia, Islamic Jihadist types may feel motivated to act in response to the election results. I get that the embassy is saying there  is no new specific threat (and if there is, they should definitely be informed about that), but there's always a non-specific threat. 

There wouldn't be any threat if Hillary had won the election consider she is in the pockets of the House of Saudi. Oh wait aren't the Saudi's the biggest contributers to Islamic terrorism? 

[atyclb]

On 11/12/2016 at 8:44 PM, Grubster said:

GW Bush was a puppet just like Reagan, HW Bush, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Obama.  Do you really believe the right and left of Congress don't like and agree with each other?  Try going to the top dollar restaurants in DC and watch them laughing and joking together about how they are making millions off us idiots. " Who are you gonna lobby for" " Looks like Halliburtan and you" " I'm stuck with Toyota I guess".  They are also exempt from insider trading laws.  Have you heard one on either side talk about changing this? Time for a big change man. I'm willing to take the risk as most of the American dream is gone anyway, what more can we lose.

 

 

interesting.  kinda like what jesse ventura says about it "a two party dictatorship"