Our President has done and said many things over the last 6 1/2 years that will make him a prime target for many different groups around the world. His policies and actions have been horrific, plaguing nations and entire regions (including our own) for years and even generations to come. Naturally there will be many that will hold an ever-lasting grudge. So for safety's sake he should be protected just like any other former President starting in January of 2009. But does it take a force of over 100 men and women to do it?
From RawStory:
CNN reported Thursday that the Secret Service expects President Bush to be "a high value terrorist target after he leaves office." They then showed the Secret Service practicing to deal with everything from James Bond-style stealth weapons to roadside IED's in order to meet that challenge.
Retired agent Terry Samway told CNN, "We have the mandate to make sure that whatever they did during their presidency, they are still safe from any of those lingering issues after their presidency."
Even before 9/11, the cost of protection for former presidents was estimated as $24 million a year, and Bush will be guarded by an unprecedented 103 full-time agents starting in January 2009. However, a 1997 law limits the duration of Secret Service protection for former presidents to just 10 years.
When those ten years are up Bush will only be in his early 70s. As long as alcoholism or any other self-destructive behavior does not take him out in that time, he will still need a lot of protection to live out a long, happy life. Keeping a private army for himself will be quite expensive, but I'm sure the money will be there to keep him safe from all of the threats he has helped to create for himself. Personally, I think he should foot the bill for his secret service protection, but we are talking about George Bush, and takers will remain takers.
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