Author Topic: Dallas II?  (Read 713 times)

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BT

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Dallas II?
« on: February 22, 2008, 11:24:49 AM »
Police concerned about order to stop weapons screening at Obama rally


By JACK DOUGLAS Jr.
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
DALLAS -- Security details at Barack Obama's rally Wednesday stopped screening people for weapons at the front gates more than an hour before the Democratic presidential candidate took the stage at Reunion Arena.

The order to put down the metal detectors and stop checking purses and laptop bags came as a surprise to several Dallas police officers who said they believed it was a lapse in security.

Dallas Deputy Police Chief T.W. Lawrence, head of the Police Department's homeland security and special operations divisions, said the order -- apparently made by the U.S. Secret Service -- was meant to speed up the long lines outside and fill the arena's vacant seats before Obama came on.

"Sure," said Lawrence, when asked if he was concerned by the great number of people who had gotten into the building without being checked. But, he added, the turnout of more than 17,000 people seemed to be a "friendly crowd."

The Secret Service did not return a call from the Star-Telegram seeking comment.

Doors opened to the public at 10 a.m., and for the first hour security officers scanned each person who came in and checked their belongings in a process that kept movement of the long lines at a crawl. Then, about 11 a.m., an order came down to allow the people in without being checked.

Several Dallas police officers said it worried them that the arena was packed with people who got in without even a cursory inspection.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because, they said, the order was made by federal officials who were in charge of security at the event.

"How can you not be concerned in this day and age," said one policeman.

http://www.star-telegram.com/667/v-print/story/486413.html

Lanya

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Re: Dallas II?
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2008, 11:48:38 AM »
My thought, too.  How can you not be concerned?
Federal officials...wonder who, exactly. 
Planned Parenthood is America’s most trusted provider of reproductive health care.

BT

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Re: Dallas II?
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2008, 11:58:45 AM »
My best guess is a request to speed up entry came from Obama staff to the agent in charge and they cooperated.

I doubt seriously it came from DC.


Rich

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Re: Dallas II?
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2008, 12:31:45 PM »
Oh come on. Who are trying to kid. Of course Bush is behind this. Well, Cheney probably.

kimba1

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Re: Dallas II?
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2008, 02:03:17 PM »
I agree with BT
It`s really quite common for officials to disregard security & safety measures for the sake of convenience.

BT

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Re: Dallas II?
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2008, 03:18:03 AM »
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (UPI) -- The U.S. Secret Service Friday denied reports that security measures at a recent Barack Obama rally in Texas were relaxed or deviated from established plans.

Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren said there was no order from the Secret Service to stop screening people going to the Obama rally Wednesday at Dallas's Reunion Arena. He said that the event's security plans didn't involve having each participant pass through a magnetometer, as may be the case at other events.

The Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram reported that some police at the event expressed concern about people not passing through metal detectors.

"Any allegations to the fact that we had suspended screening or deviated from the original security plan would be entirely inaccurate," Zahren said.

Obama, D-Ill., spoke before some 17,000 supporters at the rally ahead of the March 4 primary election in Texas. There were no security-related incidents.

While stressing that security preparations are different for each venue and event, Zahren said officials were happy with the security plan for the rally at Reunion Arena and the way it was implemented.

Limited use of metal detectors "in no way constituted a security lapse at this venue," Zahren said, adding that the security measures were developed with Dallas-area law enforcement personnel.


http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=upiUPI-20080222-125522-8554&show_article=1