Melania Trump Trapped in House by Protestors

[Ben]

Melania Trump is currently trapped in the guest house where she is staying due to G-20 protestors outside. She's the only high level spouse currently missing a scheduled event because she can't leave.

I thought the krauts had that new state of the art water cannon. They need to fill it with urine and give the antifas and Bill DeBlasio a taste of their own medicine. I can't help but think that Merkel thinks this is funny.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/07/07/melania-trump-blocked-by-g-20-protesters-from-leaving-german-guest-house.html



Edited because you guys have nothing better to do than be spellcheck and grammar nazis.

[MechAg94]

That should be embarrassing for the German govt.  I am not sure if they will see it that way.  I am inclined to say Trump should leave if Germany can't keep the protesters out of the way.  It will only escalate if the protesters get the idea they can do what they want.

[Perd Hapley]

Easy to see why she's the target. Typical ugly American. Probably never been to Europe before, and you know she doesn't bother to learn the language.

[RevDisk]

Numerous vehicles on fire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMze4mpZRIQ

German cops hitting protestors with water cannons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMSEQXXDzqs

Live updates on the rioters
https://www.thelocal.de/20170707/live-fresh-clashes-erupt-between-police-and-protesters-as-g20-gets-underway

[RevDisk]

For the other side:

https://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/1056668.brennende-autos-beim-g-nationalfetisch-auto.html

Rough translation:
Germans love their cars. It's a very important capitalist symbol to them. It's almost worse to damage someone's car than to try to kill them. Police are bad, police doing their job is very bad. The regular citizens love their cars enough that police excess is acceptable. Even an official police state would be acceptable to people if it meant their cars would be safe.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp4igqZL27k&feature=youtu.be

More on antifas and other groups throwing glass and other objects at police. The police, to me, are being extremely cautious and not confronting large groups. The regular locals do not look happy.

[Ben]

For the other side:

https://www.neues-deutschland.de/artikel/1056668.brennende-autos-beim-g-nationalfetisch-auto.html

Rough translation:
Germans love their cars. It's a very important capitalist symbol to them. It's almost worse to damage someone's car than to try to kill them. Police are bad, police doing their job is very bad. The regular citizens love their cars enough that police excess is acceptable. Even an official police state would be acceptable to people if it meant their cars would be safe.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp4igqZL27k&feature=youtu.be

More on antifas and other groups throwing glass and other objects at police. The police, to me, are being extremely cautious and not confronting large groups. The regular locals do not look happy.

I can confirm all that, at least regarding the run of the mill krauts. The German police (management, not cops on the front lines) pussyfooting around has me a bit perplexed. I'm wondering if someone (commie pinko Merkel!) told them to either be hands off and/or step back, or if they were just completely overwhelmed with the number of protestors.

[Perd Hapley]

OK, I have to point out that her name is not "Melanie."

[Scout26]

My guess would be that most of the protesters aren't German. (I was very surprised at the graffiti in the St. Pauli video, although thinking about it that area of Hamburg has always been kind of craphole.)  I'm betting that many are the same ones that go from summit to summit protesting, and leaving behind a giant mess.

The thing is most Germans very much are clean and orderly (In Ordung, is the national philosophy), and have little patience for litter or other lack of cleanliness.  Soldiers that lived off post would get in trouble with their German Landlords if they weren't doing their part to keep the outside of the building clean and swept.   (And yes, they got Counseling Statements from Squad Leaders or the Platoon Sergeant if it got bad enough...)

So yes, cars on fire, broken bottles, and other trash from these protesters, I'm shocked the Polizei haven't gone all jackboot on these 'tards.  

[Ben]

OK, I have to point out that her name is not "Melanie."

You're a real pain in the ass this week. I hadn't had my coffee yet when I posted that. Fixed.  

[RevDisk]

I can confirm all that, at least regarding the run of the mill krauts. The German police (management, not cops on the front lines) pussyfooting around has me a bit perplexed. I'm wondering if someone (commie pinko Merkel!) told them to either be hands off and/or step back, or if they were just completely overwhelmed with the number of protestors.

Hamburg is one of the most anarchist friendly cities in Germany. Plus, yes, Merkel. The German police could absolutely crush them. So, someone is ordering them to be as kid gloved as possible. They're still being accused of excess and brutality anyways, which I'm sure is thrilling.

[Scout26]

They're still being accused of excess and brutality anyways, which I'm sure is thrilling.

Again, if you are going to accused of it might as well make it worthwhile and go all Bull Conners on them... 

So, someone is ordering them to be as kid gloved as possible.

Apropos on nothing, the Polizei were ordered to be smiling, friendly, and huggable at the 1972 Olympics...and we all know how that turned out. 

[Pb]

I thought German cops were a lot tougher than this... this is an embarrassment.

[KD5NRH]

How much OC would it take to fill a crop duster?

[Monkeyleg]

I wonder if a large number of SS agents could go heavily armed to the house, with orders to shoot if necessary, and get Melania out.

[Perd Hapley]

I wonder if a large number of SS agents could go heavily armed to the house, with orders to shoot if necessary, and get Melania out.

I suppose a small number of them, lightly armed, could do it. Might be a bit of a PR issue, though.

[Ben]

I suppose a small number of them, lightly armed, could do it. Might be a bit of a PR issue, though.

I did not see more information on the incident beyond the link I posted, but it seemed to be not just a matter of getting her out of the house safely, but anywhere out of the neighborhood. I think the rioters were blocking all the streets. Not that the appropriate military vehicle couldn't have solved that. 

[Perd Hapley]

I did not see more information on the incident beyond the link I posted, but it seemed to be not just a matter of getting her out of the house safely, but anywhere out of the neighborhood. I think the rioters were blocking all the streets.

Then a small number, lightly armed, wearing comfortable walking shoes.

[KD5NRH]

Anybody else think it's a little odd that the "guest house" used in this case apparently doesn't have a secure area that could be used as a helipad?  That would have solved the problem with a phone call to the nearest US military facility, or a request to have a German military helicopter get her wherever she needs to go.  (And maybe arrange to completely move her to a safer location.)

[Ben]

Anybody else think it's a little odd that the "guest house" used in this case apparently doesn't have a secure area that could be used as a helipad?  That would have solved the problem with a phone call to the nearest US military facility, or a request to have a German military helicopter get her wherever she needs to go.  (And maybe arrange to completely move her to a safer location.)

That's actually an interesting point. You'd think that the Secret Service plans for multiple routes out and would only approve a residence that would give them that. My understanding is that the residence is usually used for German politicritters. Though it seems the SS was deferring to the recommendation of the kraut cops to stand fast, so there might be a lot more information that we're just not seeing.

The  whole incident seems to have died down very quickly, which I bet we wouldn't see if it were Michelle Obama trapped there. Every MSNBC reporter would be screaming to "send in the SEELs!"

[Perd Hapley]

I think we're all overlooking the fact that the SS might have been distracted by the local hookers, and just not answering the phone.

[Scout26]

Anybody else think it's a little odd that the "guest house" used in this case apparently doesn't have a secure area that could be used as a helipad?  That would have solved the problem with a phone call to the nearest US military facility, or a request to have a German military helicopter get her wherever she needs to go.  (And maybe arrange to completely move her to a safer location.)

Nearest US military facility is about 400 miles.  2AD(FWD) left Bremerhaven about 25 years ago.

[MechAg94]

Nearest US military facility is about 400 miles.  2AD(FWD) left Bremerhaven about 25 years ago.

So close enough for a cluster bomb strike?

[KD5NRH]

Nearest US military facility is about 400 miles.  2AD(FWD) left Bremerhaven about 25 years ago.

Meh; anyone who's seen Airwolf knows helicopters could cover that in ~90 seconds back in the 80s.  They've got to be better now.

(And not exceed Mach 2 in the process.  And when they were willing to risk going just over Mach 2, Airwolf could cross CONUS from Washington state to Washington DC in ~11 minutes on a single tank of fuel with plenty left.  I really wonder what their technical advisor was smoking.)

[TommyGunn]

Meh; anyone who's seen Airwolf knows helicopters could cover that in ~90 seconds back in the 80s.  They've got to be better now.

(And not exceed Mach 2 in the process.  And when they were willing to risk going just over Mach 2, Airwolf could cross CONUS from Washington state to Washington DC in ~11 minutes on a single tank of fuel with plenty left.  I really wonder what their technical advisor was smoking.)

    AIRWOLF  had technical advisers?

[RevDisk]

I thought German cops were a lot tougher than this... this is an embarrassment.

They are. However, the city is the most anarchist friendly city in Germany and many absolutely loonie folks are in local government. Think Berkeley, Portland or SF. But probably worse. The city has had the arm on the police to be ineffectual for years.

I wonder if a large number of SS agents could go heavily armed to the house, with orders to shoot if necessary, and get Melania out.

*snort*  One rookie Secret Service agent with a side arm could have cleared a path. The local window smashers are not brave, competent or sacrifice making type. Undoubtedly the locals were told or did the telling to treat the rioters with dignity and respect that was certainly more important than preserving property, guarding foreign diplomatic folks of allied countries or not embarrassing yourself in front of the world. Hilariously, said squishy types in Germany screamed about police brutality ueber alles even when the police were being incredibly hands off.