Britain's Colossal Ineptitude

Just watch us, was the byword by British planners for their 2012 Summer Olympics.  Vancouver had been criticized by some in the international community, and specifically by some British sports writers, for its overweening pride in its success in hosting the 2010 Olympics - and Canadians in general for insisting that they would dominate the wins and take the podium.  Britain would show them how to do it with class.


And isn't it very classy that the general security situation as the 2012 Summer Olympics are set to open, that the lack of assurance of security represents "a humiliating shambles", according to one of the major architects of the plan, reporting to the British Parliament?  The very company tasked with ensuring safety and security at this major event where hundreds of thousands will congregate has failed at its task.


The British-based security firm, G4S, which, through the testimony of Nick buckles, with its global empire, should be in a position to present a well-planned and -orchestrated, reliable safety and security apparatus, manned by trained and competent staff has acknowledged that despite the contract valued at over $350-million, his company had been able to hire a mere 4,200 of the ten thousand security guards it had promised would be installed at the event.


The 'guards', furthermore are mostly high school graduates.  Who managed to pass scrutiny with the lightest of security processes.  The training they received was slight and rudimentary.  In response, government has been forced to order an emergency draft of police officers and military personnel.  Many of the country's military just returned from southern Afghanistan, or those whose positions were eliminated in budget cuts are being called upon.


An extra brigade of 3,500 troops has been installed in Olympic venues; several battalions on emergency standby.  Since, even though G4S had 'hired and trained' less than half of the number they had guaranteed, even fewer bothered to turn up and be counted when their work schedule began, this week.  Members of the military, set to police the opening and closing ceremonies, the athletics and aquatic events, took part in a full-scale security rehearsal on the fly.


In the air spaces above the events, unmanned surveillance drones will patrol, sharing airspace with Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets on round-the-clock patrols.  The concern is potential attacks against Britain by Pakistani or Afghan jihadis, as well as possible threats from terrorists linked to al-Qaeda based in Yemen.  Where a notable score on a British target, particularly during an Olympics venue where hordes are certain to be impacted, would represent a victory of immense proportions.

Surface-to-air missile batteries have been placed on two highrise apartment buildings near the main Olympic Park, testimony to the seriousness with which the situation is being met; extreme caution to counter possible bloodshed.  Some of that artillery will have the capability of firing in speeds in excess of 3,00 km/h toward sporting venues, with a high risk of 'collateral damage'.


The Olympic security tab is expected to be in excess of $1.6-billion, over double the estimate when London was awarded the Games seven years earlier.  But the official position of the British government is the absolute requirement of the security shield over London.  Necessary, to make certain that international athletes and spectators remain safe and secure.


After reading this kind of documented data, anyone feeling safe and secure at those venues would of necessity have to be deliberately unaware of how vulnerable the sites are, and those within it.  But then, what could eventuate possibly might conceivably merely represent local thugs and wild street violence, unpredicted riots and millions in property damage. 

And some slight bruises to the reputation of MI5 and the Government of Britain.