According to an article in the Washington Post, Senator McCain has rejected Secret Service protection despite the fact as the GOP candidate he is entitled to it. Is this a questionable decision by McCain? After I read his comments, I have to say I wonder about his rational for doing us and whether he really understands either the role, capabilities and functions of the Secret Service or the threats that he faces.
Senator McCain is basing his decision on the lack of a threat stating that “The day that the Secret Service can assure me that if we’re driving in
the motorcade and there’s a guy in a rooftop with a rifle, that they
can stop that guy, then I’ll say fine,” he said. “But the day they tell
me, ‘Well, we can’t guarantee it,’ then fine, I’ll take my chances.”
McCain also said “Why do I need it?” This is an unfortunate tone on the part of Senator McCain. The absence of indicators of a threat should never be construed as the absence of a threat.
In response to Senator McCain’s comment that the Secret Service can’t “guarantee” that they can stop a threat, I would say the Secret Service in its wisdom would never “guarantee” any protectee that they can stop any threat. There are simply too many variables in any potential attack scenario to guarantee the ability to stop any attack despite the extensive resources of the U.S. Government. John Hinckley, firing a revolver, managed to get six shots off in just a few seconds.
However the best prevention is not relying on the Secret Service to
react but to prevent. In Executive Protection, whenever you get to the
reactionary stage you are already behind the power curve. At the reactionary
stage, the adversary has all of the advantages and you have almost all
of the disadvantages. The adversary has the element of surprise,
initiative of attack, the ability to pick the time and place of the
attack and the type of weapon. The Secret Service can’t do their job if they aren’t afforded the opportunity.
I admire Senator McCain and the obvious courage he demonstrated while a POW. But I have to tell you that his perspective makes me very uncomfortable. However I am equally uncomfortable that this information has made it out in the news.
