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[Baffler]

Basically, a guy jumped the fence on the white house lawn, in the front door, and around the first corner into the building, before an agent tackled him.  He was carrying a pocket knife.  People are outraged that anyone would be able to make it that far, and saying the guy should have been shot or had dogs released on him as soon as he jumped the fence.

Also, your standard "the next time this happens could be a planned and organized terrorist attack" bullshit.

Who is saying this? The way I see it, the situation couldn't have been handled better without the guy suddenly realizing the error of his ways and calling the guards himself.

[SalmonGod]

Basically, a guy jumped the fence on the white house lawn, in the front door, and around the first corner into the building, before an agent tackled him.  He was carrying a pocket knife.  People are outraged that anyone would be able to make it that far, and saying the guy should have been shot or had dogs released on him as soon as he jumped the fence.

Also, your standard "the next time this happens could be a planned and organized terrorist attack" bullshit.

Who is saying this? The way I see it, the situation couldn't have been handled better without the guy suddenly realizing the error of his ways and calling the guards himself.

Umm... everyone in that video.

[BurnedToast]

Basically, a guy jumped the fence on the white house lawn, in the front door, and around the first corner into the building, before an agent tackled him.  He was carrying a pocket knife.  People are outraged that anyone would be able to make it that far, and saying the guy should have been shot or had dogs released on him as soon as he jumped the fence.

Also, your standard "the next time this happens could be a planned and organized terrorist attack" bullshit.

...you don't see how this is a problem? Really?

How did they know he was only armed with a knife? He could have EASILY had a pistol or worse, a bomb.

He should not have made it that far, period. I'm not saying they should have sniped him off the fence as he was climbing it or something, but do you *REALLY* think it's perfectly fine that he managed to get over the fence, across the yard, into the building, and had time to wander a round a bit before an off duty agent noticed him and tackled him?

This is supposed to be one of the most secure buildings in the country, yet if he'd been intent on serious harm and less stupid, he could have done some real damage and apparently nobody gave a damn.

[SalmonGod]

I don't get the impression that he "wandered around a bit".  It sounded to me like he full-sprinted into the building and was probably inside for only a few seconds before getting tackled.  He only ran through the first room and then turned a corner into a hallway.

I'm generally against "kill everybody just to be safe" style protocols.  Everybody could something always.  Anyone who enters the White House could be bringing something dangerous with them, unless strip and cavity searches become mandatory for anyone to enter.  Personal opinion will always vary, but there is definitely a point where security makes life more miserable than the bad thing it's ostensibly preventing.

I don't think it's "perfectly fine" that it happened, but I also think that the reactions in the video to the event are ridiculous.  I do not like any notion that involves projection of overwhelming force, or fear-mongering about terrorists.

[Sirus]

I'm in the "he shouldn't have gotten that far" camp, but not to the extremes in the video. Getting over the fence? Well, that's doable. Getting across the lawn to the front door? A little worrying, but maybe the guy's a fast sprinter and I wouldn't go so far as to order sniper teams to gun him down unless he was visibly packing heat.

Getting inside the White House? That should not have happened. Why weren't there guards posted outside the doors, ready to intercept anyone rushing the entrance? Or if there were guards, why didn't they react more quickly?

[10ebbor10]

Or, you know, locks.

[Dutchling]

All I have to say on the matter is that the incident contributed to a greater than normal variation of muderization considerations.

[Graknorke]

Getting inside the White House? That should not have happened. Why weren't there guards posted outside the doors, ready to intercept anyone rushing the entrance? Or if there were guards, why didn't they react more quickly?

If my extensive experience* means anything, it's probably because he dropped a coin on the ground or something.

*(Read: Playing Hitman)

[BurnedToast]

I didn't watch whatever video you're talking about, so if the guys in it are acting particularly crazy and that's who you were talking about then I misunderstood and I apologize. I thought you were suggesting that anyone who thought this was a big deal at all was overreacting.

Also I suppose "wandered around" is....not the best choice of words since he probably was running. He did however manage to make it from the north portico, through a hallway, and all the way to the southern end of the green room (map here: http://firstladyblog.typepad.com/.a/6a0133f1803698970b0192aa844610970d-320wi) so it's not like they stopped him right inside the place, he basically ran across the whole bottom floor (including past the stairs that lead up to the president's residence.

I also don't think they should just gun everyone down, but there's a huge difference between "kill everyone" and "let some crazy guy charge into the white house". We shouldn't give in to fear mongering, but on the other hand.... this was pretty seriously bad.

[andrea]

it does highlight some security holes. Nobody should make it  that far.

But I find it horrific that for some people the first thought is that those holes should be packed full of gunshots and murder. Is the situation so bad that US isn't able to keep people away from a place without outright killing them?  ( most likely, not)

[Bauglir]

Yeah, holy shit, "Guards handle situation with the appropriate level of force, too slowly" should not be met with "Should've used more violence, guys". You kinda want to be able to trust the Secret Service with being capable of quickly appraising a situation to determine the appropriate level of force to use; we expect that much out of random street cops, I think we can expect it from these guys. The problem here was speed, that's it.

[Sergarr]

The secret service guys are just jealous of Ferguson police.

They, too, want to kill people with impunity!

I wonder, if that escalation of nation-wide violence continues, how long it will take until the revolution breaks out?

[SalmonGod]

Also I suppose "wandered around" is....not the best choice of words since he probably was running. He did however manage to make it from the north portico, through a hallway, and all the way to the southern end of the green room (map here: http://firstladyblog.typepad.com/.a/6a0133f1803698970b0192aa844610970d-320wi) so it's not like they stopped him right inside the place, he basically ran across the whole bottom floor (including past the stairs that lead up to the president's residence.

That's more ground covered than what was described by the video link.  I also agree that it's strange guards aren't posted at the door.  That's... basically the hallmark of building security anywhere since the beginning of time.

Regardless, I was just chiming in on the overreactions. 

I didn't watch whatever video you're talking about, so if the guys in it are acting particularly crazy and that's who you were talking about then I misunderstood and I apologize. I thought you were suggesting that anyone who thought this was a big deal at all was overreacting.

The reporter said people were wondering why the guy wasn't shot or had dogs released on him.  Then there were clips from a congressional hearing, where one congressman said the goal of the secret service should be to project an image of overwhelming force, and another one saying "next time it happens could be a terrorist attack!!"

[Descan]

Yeah, but congressional hearings are more about grandstanding and rabble-rousing than actual... you know, anything practical.

Replace "Congressional hearing" with "any open-to-the-public government action". :v

[LordSlowpoke]

most actions of the government should be open to the public

question remains if the public will give a fuck

* LordSlowpoke blows soap bubble

they don't seem to here