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Nelson Mandela memorial security scandal: 'There were no checks'
Washington Examiner ^ | 12-14-13 | Byron York

Posted on 12/14/2013 1:41:40 PM PST by afraidfortherepublic

It's becoming increasingly clear that when President Obama arrived at the Nelson Mandela memorial service in Johannesburg, South Africa Tuesday, he stepped into an atmosphere so chaotic, disorganized, and unsafe that under any other circumstances the White House and Secret Service might well have insisted the president not appear.

FNB Stadium, where the memorial was held, seats 95,000 people. Even with a steady rain and thousands of empty seats in uncovered areas, there were tens of thousands of people in the area with the president. It appears most of them got in without going through any security.

"There were no security checks upon entry to the stadium," a local South African activist wrote Friday in a letter to the Johannesburg Star newspaper. "I walked freely to my seat without passing through metal detectors, being searched or any other check."

The stadium's main entrance was "completely unattended," a reporter for a Washington, D.C., television station told Politico. "There were no workers performing bag checks or pat-downs — there were no magnetometers to walk through, no metal detector wands being used — anywhere."

Britain's The Independent newspaper reported that "thousands of guests entering the FNB stadium in Soweto on Tuesday, especially those who had arrived very early, were not searched." In addition, members of the media "were permitted to enter the press area directly beneath where politicians and dignitaries were seated without being asked to show passes." And the Daily Mail reported that "the first crowds entered the stadium without being searched."

When South African security officials did perform security checks, they were often trying to restrain the bodyguards and entourage members of visiting dignitaries and celebrities. But conflicts seem to have been resolved by letting everybody in.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: mandela; nelsonmandela; obama; secretservice; security; signlanguage; southafrica
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To: Bryanw92

I think you just hit on the reason he would even consider a trip under these shady, nonsecure conditions. The only other place as safe would be at a Farrakhan /Rev. Wright/New Black Panther Appreciation Banquet, held in Chicago, with lots of $2000. goodie bags paid for by the tax-payers.


21 posted on 12/14/2013 1:58:25 PM PST by lee martell
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To: afraidfortherepublic
 photo ASLANIM_zps14020436.gif
22 posted on 12/14/2013 1:58:41 PM PST by SWAMPSNIPER (The Second Amendment, a Matter of Fact, Not a Matter of Opinion)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

South Africa has a Black controlled government.

As such, the nation is perfect.

There’s no need to do a security check in a nation like that. /s


23 posted on 12/14/2013 1:59:30 PM PST by DoughtyOne (Zero = zero)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Apparently security was too good, obama got out alive!


24 posted on 12/14/2013 2:01:04 PM PST by dalereed
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

Obviously not interpreting Obama there. Slow it down to about 10% of that, and you might be slow enough. ;^)

And there’s no poignant pauses for effect, smirks, bowing and the like.

Pretty funny.


25 posted on 12/14/2013 2:01:22 PM PST by DoughtyOne (Zero = zero)
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To: SkyDancer

The signer seems legit to me.


26 posted on 12/14/2013 2:01:25 PM PST by Conspiracy Guy (Did the ancients know they were ancients? Or did they see themselves as presents?)
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To: afraidfortherepublic
Hey, he had the immaculate conception in outer space.

He probably thinks he can resurrect as well.

27 posted on 12/14/2013 2:06:46 PM PST by elkfersupper
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To: afraidfortherepublic

I realize the president was there and that he needs to be protected but man...that reads like freedom to me. I miss it.


28 posted on 12/14/2013 2:09:52 PM PST by Irenic (The pencil sharpener and Elmer's glue is put away-- we've lost the red wheel barrow)
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To: SkyDancer

29 posted on 12/14/2013 2:15:22 PM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: afraidfortherepublic
 photo NoCzechs_zps94ee9904.jpg
30 posted on 12/14/2013 2:26:05 PM PST by FredZarguna (Wink wink. Nudge nudge. Know what I mean? Know what I mean?)
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To: JoeProBono

One of my favorite skits from SNL back in the day!!!


31 posted on 12/14/2013 2:44:39 PM PST by ColdOne (I miss my poochie... Tasha 2000~3/14/11) Hey, Harry Reid.. 1-800-318-2596!)
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Any Leaders are former leaders, who went to this Mess, were stupid for going, and stupid to think that it would be secure. Now everyone knows how stupid. Only smart guy was the signer. He fooled them all.


32 posted on 12/14/2013 2:54:15 PM PST by easternsky
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To: afraidfortherepublic

33 posted on 12/14/2013 2:59:09 PM PST by BRL
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Like I really care. If an ANC nut had blown up the entire stadium, what would we be missing besides some number of traitors, commies, racists, Stalinists, Nazis and elitist dictator scum?


34 posted on 12/14/2013 3:50:26 PM PST by sergeantdave
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To: SkyDancer

LOL! Outstanding!

You’ve got my vote for the best post of the day.

More, please.


35 posted on 12/14/2013 3:54:37 PM PST by sergeantdave
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To: sergeantdave

It’s what you get from reading the foreign press. You don’t get news of the US from the US media.


36 posted on 12/14/2013 4:06:33 PM PST by SkyDancer (Live your life in such a way that the Westboro church will want to picket your funeral.)
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To: JoeProBono

Very self satisfied look on his face. He truly loves himself


37 posted on 12/14/2013 4:07:43 PM PST by dandiegirl
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To: BRL

lol


38 posted on 12/14/2013 4:22:33 PM PST by txhurl
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To: afraidfortherepublic

Yeah, beginning to think Al Qaeda screwed up more than the SS this time...heads will roll at the mosque...how could they miss such an opportunity! /s


39 posted on 12/14/2013 4:22:44 PM PST by ThePatriotsFlag (...and to the Republic for which it stood.)
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To: MeshugeMikey
Marching ONWARD wif Obama ...

I see it more as "Slouching Towards Gomorrah"

40 posted on 12/14/2013 4:29:33 PM PST by MissMagnolia (You see, truth always resides wherever brave men still have ammunition. I pick truth. (John Ransom))
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