Politics

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Video on Fox shows group of Trump rally attendees pointing at shooter and screaming “There he is, he’s on the roof, he has a rifle!!” 1 minute and 26 seconds prior to shots fired. 30 minutes prior to that, a participant showed a LEO a photo of a person with what appeared to be a range finder. Laziness or DEI at its finest Maybe both.

Text book example of Charlie Foxtrot.

 

[Wheels]

Perhaps I have been too critical of the female agent who couldn't holster her gun after Trump was shot. Some reports coming out now say that she was a DEA Agent temporarily assigned to the protection detail. Her badge placement for easy identification at the event is probably where she normally wears her holster.

That may also apply to the agent who bent over to pick up Trump's hat leaving his torso completely exposed.

 

[Altitude sickness]

We are all picking on this one agent. Rightfully so. But there are others that showed poor training also.


It’s still a sad commentary that someone is that close to an Ex President with a rifle under her jacket and a handgun and doesn’t have enough training, experience or knowledge on where her holster needs to be.

An E-3 in the basic infantry would be broomed or displined for mishandling a firearm like that. But yet she is a presidential protection agent

It’s embarrassing to show our incompetence to the world. They now know how unsophisticated our protection is.

Our tier two military teams provide better protection to nobody’s in 3rd world countries.

Perhaps the SS should hire retired Tier one operators to train them. Some feelings may get hurt during the selection and training though. And we all know that is what matters these days.

 

[mdwest]

Some reports coming out now say that she was a DEA Agent temporarily assigned to the protection detail.

The video isnt 100% clear.. but I think its highly doubtful she is DEA...

2 problems with that theory...

1st - she is part of the close protection team.. she's on the back side of the group of agents that surround the president and then escort him to the armored vehicle that extracts him from the area.. the USSS isnt typically going to let anyone in that inner circle that isnt one of their own or isnt at a minimum specifically trained on how to conduct specific maneuvers that team has to know how to do (walking formations, extraction formations, etc..)... and her conduct when they are extracting shows she at least has some level of training (notice she doesnt draw her firearm while escorting.. she only draws it once they reach the vehicle and she begins providing perimeter security.. while she poorly executes even those tasks (escort, perimeter security, etc).. she does demonstrate she has been trained what to do and when to do it... Other than a very, very small number of DEA agents that provide protective services to the DEA Director (last I checked it the DEA Directors detail was 6 agents in total.. and only 2 on shift at any given time).. the DEA doesnt train their agents in protective services...

2nd problem - while I cant get a great image of her badge.. it doesnt look like a DEA badge.. the DEA's badge is different than most federal badges in that it uses a maltese cross background vs most other federal agencies use a shield.. her badge from what I can tell has a shield...

then there are the other subtle things.. like the Perry suspenders.. while anyone can buy a set of perry's.. thats a trick that cops that wear suits routinely pick up on.. not something your typical cop or fed that is not in a suit all the time would pick up on, much less own several pairs of (when I was doing this sort of work I literally had Perrys in every color I had suits in.. olive drab, black, blue, brown, etc..).. your run of the mill DEA agent that just happened to get assigned ad hoc to augment USSS security wouldnt know to wear Perrys, and wouldnt be very likely to even own a set...

 

[John Wasmuth]

The usss hires only those that are qualified under the DEI program since the nut jobs were put in charge, Capabilities are shoved aside to make way for the modern equivalent of Affirmative Action. I noticed last night Trump was surrounded by a different group of agents and none of them looked green or confused as to what the actual mission is.

 

[Brent in Az]

Dan Bongino, a former SS agent, went scorched earth on that entire security debacle

 

[John Wasmuth]

The video isnt 100% clear.. but I think its highly doubtful she is DEA...

2 problems with that theory...

1st - she is part of the close protection team.. she's on the back side of the group of agents that surround the president and then escort him to the armored vehicle that extracts him from the area.. the USSS isnt typically going to let anyone in that inner circle that isnt one of their own or isnt at a minimum specifically trained on how to conduct specific maneuvers that team has to know how to do (walking formations, extraction formations, etc..)... and her conduct when they are extracting shows she at least has some level of training (notice she doesnt draw her firearm while escorting.. she only draws it once they reach the vehicle and she begins providing perimeter security.. while she poorly executes even those tasks (escort, perimeter security, etc).. she does demonstrate she has been trained what to do and when to do it... Other than a very, very small number of DEA agents that provide protective services to the DEA Director (last I checked it the DEA Directors detail was 6 agents in total.. and only 2 on shift at any given time).. the DEA doesnt train their agents in protective services...

2nd problem - while I cant get a great image of her badge.. it doesnt look like a DEA badge.. the DEA's badge is different than most federal badges in that it uses a maltese cross background vs most other federal agencies use a shield.. her badge from what I can tell has a shield...

View attachment 620021


View attachment 620022

then there are the other subtle things.. like the Perry suspenders.. while anyone can buy a set of perry's.. thats a trick that cops that wear suits routinely pick up on.. not something your typical cop or fed that is not in a suit all the time would pick up on, much less own several pairs of (when I was doing this sort of work I literally had Perrys in every color I had suits in.. olive drab, black, blue, brown, etc..).. your run of the mill DEA agent that just happened to get assigned ad hoc to augment USSS security wouldnt know to wear Perrys, and wouldnt be very likely to even own a set...

Exactly

 

[Altitude sickness]

Mdwest, thanks for sharing your first hand. Real experience here.

 

[mdwest]

found an image of the agent in question where some of the details of her badge can be seen a little better..

shes definitely USSS.. shield (not cross) and the USSS star on top of that shield and the USSS eagle (wings at more of a 45% slope where the DEA eagle has its wings folded in a more "rounded" appearance)..

 

[Wheels]

The video isnt 100% clear.. but I think its highly doubtful she is DEA...

2 problems with that theory...

1st - she is part of the close protection team.. she's on the back side of the group of agents that surround the president and then escort him to the armored vehicle that extracts him from the area.. the USSS isnt typically going to let anyone in that inner circle that isnt one of their own or isnt at a minimum specifically trained on how to conduct specific maneuvers that team has to know how to do (walking formations, extraction formations, etc..)... and her conduct when they are extracting shows she at least has some level of training (notice she doesnt draw her firearm while escorting.. she only draws it once they reach the vehicle and she begins providing perimeter security.. while she poorly executes even those tasks (escort, perimeter security, etc).. she does demonstrate she has been trained what to do and when to do it... Other than a very, very small number of DEA agents that provide protective services to the DEA Director (last I checked it the DEA Directors detail was 6 agents in total.. and only 2 on shift at any given time).. the DEA doesnt train their agents in protective services...

2nd problem - while I cant get a great image of her badge.. it doesnt look like a DEA badge.. the DEA's badge is different than most federal badges in that it uses a maltese cross background vs most other federal agencies use a shield.. her badge from what I can tell has a shield...

View attachment 620021


View attachment 620022

then there are the other subtle things.. like the Perry suspenders.. while anyone can buy a set of perry's.. thats a trick that cops that wear suits routinely pick up on.. not something your typical cop or fed that is not in a suit all the time would pick up on, much less own several pairs of (when I was doing this sort of work I literally had Perrys in every color I had suits in.. olive drab, black, blue, brown, etc..).. your run of the mill DEA agent that just happened to get assigned ad hoc to augment USSS security wouldnt know to wear Perrys, and wouldnt be very likely to even own a set...

Thanks for the education. The backgrounds and wealth of information AH members possess is truly amazing!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

She's apparently a southpaw too.

 

[Datchew]

The problem always is too few citizens (especially the older generations) are intelligent enough to recognize political bias. Not disparaging their critical thinking, rather their utter faith in modern “journalism”.

This is an interesting statement that I think bears repeating.
And not just journalism but moreover not recognizing corruption in organizations.

A lot of the never-trumpers that I refer to as country club blue blazer repubs often clutch their pearls when people criticize establishment entities. Not just journalism but things like the 3-letter agencies, the rot in the upper brass in the military, and things like that.

It seems to me they get sensitive because it's a part of their identity. Especially if they were in for a long time. Especially if they perceive you as a "you're not us, you're them."

When I was in there was a saying - "the (insert branch here) takes care of it's own."
It had several meanings but one of them was defensive. I.e., butt out, this is family internal business.
I think that gets ingrained a little too much and these types develop a blind eye for the rot. One of those "but overall we do a lot of good so if we turn a blind eye occasionally..." type of views.

I would further speculate that a lot of the severe distaste for Trump and what they refer to as his "ilk" is really a manifestation of them being offended that he challenged things that are part of their identity and they cannot separate healthy criticism of real problems from an overall attack on the whole.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Just gonna leave this here.
View attachment 619920

What are you alluding to with this photo? The water tower, apparently draped for sandblasting and/or painting looks to be a good vantage point for LE but apparently wasn't manned.

 

[YancyW]

The video isnt 100% clear.. but I think its highly doubtful she is DEA...

2 problems with that theory...

1st - she is part of the close protection team.. she's on the back side of the group of agents that surround the president and then escort him to the armored vehicle that extracts him from the area.. the USSS isnt typically going to let anyone in that inner circle that isnt one of their own or isnt at a minimum specifically trained on how to conduct specific maneuvers that team has to know how to do (walking formations, extraction formations, etc..)... and her conduct when they are extracting shows she at least has some level of training (notice she doesnt draw her firearm while escorting.. she only draws it once they reach the vehicle and she begins providing perimeter security.. while she poorly executes even those tasks (escort, perimeter security, etc).. she does demonstrate she has been trained what to do and when to do it... Other than a very, very small number of DEA agents that provide protective services to the DEA Director (last I checked it the DEA Directors detail was 6 agents in total.. and only 2 on shift at any given time).. the DEA doesnt train their agents in protective services...

2nd problem - while I cant get a great image of her badge.. it doesnt look like a DEA badge.. the DEA's badge is different than most federal badges in that it uses a maltese cross background vs most other federal agencies use a shield.. her badge from what I can tell has a shield...

View attachment 620021


View attachment 620022

then there are the other subtle things.. like the Perry suspenders.. while anyone can buy a set of perry's.. thats a trick that cops that wear suits routinely pick up on.. not something your typical cop or fed that is not in a suit all the time would pick up on, much less own several pairs of (when I was doing this sort of work I literally had Perrys in every color I had suits in.. olive drab, black, blue, brown, etc..).. your run of the mill DEA agent that just happened to get assigned ad hoc to augment USSS security wouldnt know to wear Perrys, and wouldnt be very likely to even own a set...

For sure, she was on the contact team.

 

[Wheels]

What are you alluding to with this photo? The water tower, apparently draped for sandblasting and/or painting looks to be a good vantage point for LE but apparently wasn't manned.

To me, the photo doesn't look like a draped water tower. It looks like a google earth photo that has been tilted down. Also notice the trees.

The reason for the post I don't know.

 

[YancyW]

The head of the USSS saying the building the shooter used had a slopped roof so, and for safety reasons they decided to secure from within. So there you have it, CS teams can only operate on flat services, and there is no possible way to make a sloped surface flat....


Here is actual quote: "That building in particular has a sloped roof at its highest point. And so, you know, there's a safety factor that would be considered there that we wouldn't want to put somebody up on a sloped roof."

 

[mdwest]

The head of the USSS saying the building the shooter used had a slopped roof so, and for safety reasons they decided to secure from within. So there you have it, CS teams can only operate on flat services, and there is no possible way to make a sloped surface flat....

She would be FAR better off just shutting up and joining Biden in the basement for a couple of weeks...

Every interview and/or statement she has given so far just brings more scrutiny to her, her position, and the service she leads..

She wasnt physically there.. and she wasnt involved in any of the decisions made that day... THAT should be her statement... "I wasnt there.. I do however trust my leadership team that was on the ground.. there is an active investigation... Im sure we will learn a lot in coming weeks.. until we have ALL of the facts and ALL of the information necessary to figure out what went wrong and what decisions were made or not made that led to this occurring, Im not going to comment any further.. I am the Director of the US Secret Service.. ultimately the buck stops with me.. I assume responsibility for this... but until I know exactly what happened, how it happened, why it happened, and all the decisions that were made that led to this happening, I have nothing further to say"...

then let the white house press secretary and the USSS chief communications officer deal with it until things blow over a little more..

she appears to not be able to help herself though.. and keeps running her trap (not a highly desired trait for a team of people that are supposed to be QUIET about almost everything)..

 

[skydiver386]

What are you alluding to with this photo? The water tower, apparently draped for sandblasting and/or painting looks to be a good vantage point for LE but apparently wasn't manned.

Exactly.

Even to the untrained eye, this is the first place to put an LP/OP at least. Other than the area masked by the trees, the height of that water tower would afford a view not possible from the barn that the Secret Service Counter Sniper Team actually used.

I'm not saying that's where they should have been, but to not have someone with good optics and Comms at that height seems like an oversight. Piss Poor Planning to my mind.

 

[Brent in Az]

Someone should remind the head of SS that Saturday's sniper team were on a sloped roof. The roof the shooter was on had a similar slope.

 

[mdwest]

Exactly.

Even to the untrained eye, this is the first place to put an LP/OP at least. Other than the area masked by the trees, the height of that water tower would afford a view not possible from the barn that the Secret Service Counter Sniper Team actually used.

I'm not saying that's where they should have been, but to not have someone with good optics and Comms at that height seems like an oversight. Piss Poor Planning to my mind.

Agree...

Im not seeing a particularly great sniper perch there (although it might could work.. just cant tell what kind of railing and walkway, etc. are around the tower or what angles you might could get on threat areas)... but at a minimum it would be an excellent place for an observation team to be placed with a high power set of binos and some good camera equipment..