Bob Shepherd working as a commercial security adviser to the media in Iraq in 2003
With two assassination attempts on President Donald Trump by lone individuals in as many months, it goes without saying that a third may not be far away, or even an attempt on another extremely high-profile individual in the running.
America is hurting right now. The talk on the street with well-thinking people is that they have had enough of the two-party system, and enough of the same old faces and names popping up time and time again to run the country and its domestic and foreign policies. The split between families, friends, neighbours, and work colleagues is unnecessary in today’s America. The country has a population large enough to have 5 strong political parties as opposed to the two splitting the country today.
The American media with its left/right biases only fuels (and shamelessly profits from) these divides. The Fourth Estate – one that is impartial and holds truth to power – has never been more essential.
However, all of this is today seen as normal, and therefore nothing to what the Secret Service has to put up with on a daily basis.
To answer the questions that the American people and the media are asking about recent failings, in particular with Trump’s team and their attachments to the first attempt just over two months ago, they feel that they need to describe on TV, just how they go about covering him from a tactical viewpoint.
No, you’re the Secret Service by name and you need to be Secret by nature. In other words, be answerable only to those who need to know.
During many years working in conflict areas around the world, I would see security details, Royal, military, diplomatic, and commercial…bend time and time again when a principal wanted to do something unsafe and therefore negligent.
Playing golf on a course in a warzone was one of them, a female principal wanting to go “downtown” to have her hair done another…and principals wanting to go window shopping yet another. And yes, these things would happen. If I had a $ for every time I saw or had been told of security people telling me just where they were off to with their principal, into a crazy and dangerous scenario, I’d be a very rich man now.
I have no doubt that POTUS and those previous POTUS’s, all of whom still have Secret Service agents by their sides trying their level best to keep them safe, just want a normal life and therefore push the boat out to have it. At what expense though? And just how hard does the individual responsible for their security go to ensure that limited travel equals limited exposure?
Today I hear of both today’s POTUS, Trump and others calling for more funding for more security. That’s not the answer. Security detail higher management standing strong on their principles of security is what’s required, allowing their teams to operate within a realistic environment (an open commercial golf course not being one of them)…or get out of the way.
Yes, these high-profile individuals from POTUS to Royals to other heads of government to CEO’s, etc all want a normal life. Yet they need that life while still being REALLY secure.
For Trump, he can play golf on a safe military establishment. For the lady requiring her hair done in a hostile environment, the hairstylist can come to her. For those seeking shopping within the same environment, they can send a local hire.
There’s always a way, but common sense must prevail…always.
Security of an individual other than yourself is tough, especially when they DON’T THINK LIKE YOU and won’t accept reality.
Security of POTUS, those who have been in the position of POTUS, and those running for POTUS, is the toughest in the world, just because of who he/she is. They have to be seen…but not by the would-be assassin!
In today’s world, many think of the assassin as the sniper or shooter, as mainly that’s the way it’s played out in the past. But look around the world, especially over the last 30 years or so. The sniper or shooter’s bullet is not always the number one choice.
There are many other choices today where the obvious barrel of a weapon is NOT to be seen at all. From the Greater Middle East to today’s conflict in Ukraine…you don’t even have to be in a direct line of sight to kill an individual!
Yes, indeed the Secret Service and those on the ground with pricipals to protect have their work cut out.
A principal who plays the game seriously is what helps from day to day. But keeping up with, and being well ahead of the assassin’s mindset is everything, if you want to keep your principal alive.
Yes indeed, Secret Service or any other detail for a principal, needs that principal to play ball, otherwise you’re all in a “can’t-win-world.”
Bob Shepherd 