We Win Award For Crass, Narcissism in the extreme

Big gun Dick armed for Sydney
By Kate Sikora
February 22, 2007 02:00am


HE shot his best mate in the head, now US Vice-President Dick Cheney wants to make sure his bodyguards can carry guns in Sydney.

The NSW Government has urgently changed its gun laws to allow Mr Cheney to bring armed Secret Service agents to the city this week.

For three days, the bodyguards will have permission to use their own weapons to protect Mr Cheney, who arrives in Sydney late today.

The Federal Government last week made an urgent request for NSW to amend its laws after it was discovered Mr Cheney might have been forced to skip Sydney.
Roads in the CBD are likely to be overwhelmed for the second time this week, with Mr Cheney's visit coming on the back of the frenzy during the visit of superships Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2.

Mr Cheney's itinerary remained a secret last night on security grounds, but the RTA urged motorists to avoid the CBD.

A spokesman said people should prepare for "significant delays".

Deputy Police Commissioner Terry Collins said inner-city roads would be closed during Mr
Cheney's visit while he was driven through the city. A police escort would provide a "green light corridor" through intersections.

The major closures affect the area bounded by Cumberland, Gloucester and Essex streets in The Rocks, where Mr Cheney is making a number of appearances.
Hundreds of police will take part in the operation, led by the police commander of the Counter Terrorism Command.

"This is a very large-scale operation brought about by the fact that Dick Cheney is certainly high risk in regard to a terrorist-related type threat," Mr Collins said.
Under the changes allowing Mr Cheney's bodyguards to carry their own weapons, visiting foreign dignitaries can now bring armed bodyguards on a trip.
The changes - secretly gazetted by the Government on Friday - give Police Commissioner Ken Moroney power to grant permission allowing foreign armed guards for close personal protection.
It is understood the changes were rushed through specifically for Mr Cheney and will again apply when world leaders arrive in September for the Asia-Pacific Economic Convention.
A spokesman for Police Minister John Watkins said it was not a blanket law and would only be applied for specific occasions.
Mr Cheney made international headlines last February when he accidentally shot a friend during a hunting trip in Texas.
Harry Whittington, 78, was peppered with birdshot by Mr Cheney, who used a 28-gauge Perazzi shotgun.


....and the truth shall set us free.