Very interesting Secret Service programs on the Discovery Channel 3/6/12

From the network that brought you the controversial "Kennedy Detail" and "Secrets of the Secret Service", March 6, 2012 saw the airing of not one but three new Secret Service programs, all highly revealing (maybe too much so) and entertaining, as well. "Armored Car/ Presidential Beast" was, admittedly, the least of the 3, as the program narrator admits that they did not have access to the classified details of the new presidential automobile, affectionately nicknamed "The Beast." So, they did the next best thing and resorted to very good deductions and speculation involving the guys from the Texas Armoring Team, a company responsible for armored cars for the elite, rich, famous and powerful. Former Secret Service Agents Dan Sullivan and Will Slade offered their comments, while the Texas Armoring Team demonstrated several armored vehicles and their abilities to stand up to explosives and fire power.

"Secret Service Secrets: The Home Front" was perhaps the most interesting-and perhaps too revealing-of the three, as former Secret Service Agents Joe Funk@ (served 21 years; protected Bush 41 & Clinton; protected Candidate Mitt Romney during early part of campaign 2012), William Pickle#, Joe Petro@@, William Albracht* (served 25 years; protected Reagan, Bush 41; founding member of CAT), Daniel Bongino** (served 12 years; protected Clinton, Bush, and Obama [for 2 years]), and Jerry Parr+ discussed various protective functions and so forth. Items covered: inaugurals, with a special emphasis on President Barack Obama's 1/20/2009 inaugural; "The Beast"; firearms training; White House security (involving PPD, ERT [Emergency Response Team], and the UD); the 10/29/94 Duran assault rifle attack on the White House; canine units; the doomsday bunker; the motorcade or "package"; the CAT team, of which Albracht was a founding member in 1979; driver training; and the 3/30/81 Reagan assassination attempt.

Albracht had a quotable quote: "The worst thing you can do in an ambush situation is to stop"...hear that, Blaine and Greer?

The final program, "Secret Service Secrets: Campaign Nightmare", involved most of the same cast of characters and was fairly interesting, as well.

Vince Palamara
@
http://usss.us/joe_funk.shtml
#
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H._Pickle
@@
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Petro
*
Bill Albracht Announces
Candidacy for State Senate
Albracht: “I’m not going to sit back and watch career politicians destroy our state.”


MOLINE, IL–Retired Secret Service agent and decorated Vietnam veteran William “Bill” Albracht has declared his bid to run for Illinois State Senate in the Illinois 36th Senatorial District. Albracht will announce his candidacy tonight at the annual Mercer County Lincoln Day Dinner in Aledo, IL.

Albracht served 25 years with the United States Secret Service, protecting every President at some point since 1975, including then candidate and current President Barack Obama. Albracht served on the Vice Presidential Protection detail during the Reagan and Bush Administrations, and he was one of the founding members of the Counter Assault Team (CAT), the Secret Service’s elite anti-terrorism response unit.

Albracht also served a tour of duty in Vietnam with the United States Army Special Forces, commonly known as the Green Berets. At the age of 21, he was the youngest Captain to serve in the Vietnam War. Albracht is one of the most highly decorated veterans in Illinois. He was awarded two Silver Stars for gallantry in action, five Bronze Stars and three Purple Hearts for wounds received in combat action. Albracht also served two terms as President of Vietnam Veterans of America, Quad Cities Chapter 299.

Albracht, a trained and proven leader, said effective leadership has been lacking in Illinois for a long time.

“Illinois has lost its focus in recent years,” Albracht said. “Our politicians have forgotten that they are supposed to be serving their constituents, not the other way around. The people are ready for leaders who will have the courage to make the tough choices needed to fix Illinois. I’m not running for State Senate to make friends. I’m running to do what’s best for the people of the 36th District and for the people of Illinois. I’m proud to live in Illinois, and it sickens me to see our state mocked as the punch line to every joke on late night television. No more. I’m not going to sit back and watch career politicians destroy our state.”

A vocal proponent of term limits, Albracht said he vowed to serve no more than two terms as State Senator.

“Part of the problem in Springfield is the culture of career politicians,” Albracht said. “We have people who have worked in government for decades that have become detached from ordinary citizens. I believe two terms is enough time to properly serve the district and then return to life as normal.”

Albracht will be campaigning on three major issues: repealing the tax increase, restoring fiscal discipline, and remembering common sense.

“I believe deeply in a common sense approach to government, and that starts with listening to the voice of the people,” Albracht said. “The best ideas don’t come from bureaucrats in Springfield — they come from everyday citizens. As a citizen who has never held public office, I understand that perfectly. I intend to listen closely to the people of the 36th District so that we can work together to get Illinois back on sound fiscal and political footing.”

Albracht plans to conduct an informal “Listening Tour” throughout the 36th District to trade ideas with constituents about ways to improve Illinois. Stops on the tour will be announced in the coming weeks.

Albracht intends to maintain an open, honest dialogue with the media throughout the campaign. To schedule an interview, please contact Bill at 309-278-8558.

For more information about Bill Albracht, please visit his website at http://www.albrachtforsenate.com.



**see
http://www.bongino.com/
United States Secret Service
Daniel proudly joined the ranks of the U.S. Secret Service in 1999 as a Special Agent where he graduated the Secret Service training academy with honors. Beginning his career in the New York Field Office, he was assigned to investigate federal crimes, including but not limited to, computer crimes, bank fraud, credit card fraud, protective intelligence and counterfeiting. His early career was marked by a number of investigative successes. Although the details of his signature investigation are still for official use only, it involved over 300 million dollars in potential financial fraud and a nexus to international terrorism. This joint investigation in cooperation with the FBI, IRS, SSA and a number of local police agencies, was responsible for collapsing a major international fraud ring. The investigation earned Daniel the Department of Justice recognition award, along with other agency specific awards, for excellence in federal investigations.

Daniel left the New York Field Office in 2002 to become an instructor at the Secret Service Training Academy in Beltsville, Maryland. He was the project manager for the re-design of the investigative tactics training program which he subsequently taught to incoming trainees. Daniel was awarded a number of commendations for his work in researching and re-designing the investigative curriculum to reflect current trends in federal crime.

In 2006, Daniel entered into duty on the elite Presidential Protection Division in the administration of President George W. Bush, graduating at the top of his class in the difficult detail training program. Daniel distinguished himself early by becoming one of the earliest tenured Special Agents to be given responsibility for an operational section of the protective detail. Daniel remained on protective duty during the change in administration to President Barack Obama and again distinguished himself by quickly becoming the highest ranking member of his operational shift of agents. With this distinction came greater responsibility and Daniel quickly rose to the challenge. He was designated as the lead agent responsible for the coordination of the President’s trip to Prague for the signing of the START treaty, his visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, amongst a myriad of terror threats, and finally as the lead agent responsible for the President’s visit to an active war zone in Afghanistan. With the successful coordination of these historic events, Daniel was awarded a series of commendations and left the protective detail as one of the most distinguished agents in their history.

Daniel transferred to the Baltimore Field Office in 2010 where he immediately made an impact on the community, breaking up one of the largest fraud rings in Maryland's history.
+
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_parr