For the great honor of hosting the president of the world, Israeli taxpayers are being soaked to the tune of $25,000 an hour for the duration of George W. Bush’s visit to Jerusalem. Note, too, the ridiculous security arrangements: an entire hotel emptied of all other guests (the norm since 9/11 and the allegedly hugely successful Iraq invasion, according to the article) and 8,000 police and security officers, including snipers, bomb-sniffing dogs, and bodyguards (”including reservists called up especially for the visit”).
“White House staff, State Department officials, Secret Service agents, technicians and even marines have already arrived at the King David Hotel to prepare for the visit and secure the surrounding area. Security robots have been positioned in nearby street sewers to make sure there are no surprises underground. Snipers will be placed on nearby rooftops, and a balloon with camera and night-vision equipment will be on the lookout.”
Empire is expensive and dangerous.
(Link via Antiwar.com.)
