They weren't minis.  At least not what I have come to know as minis.

[img]http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/USPics2/91089.gif[/img]

You can see the uzi and also the open briefcase in the street.  Check out the foam cutout space for padding the weapon.

(edited: oops, beat me to the photo)

In the pic on page two....the NATO building is all mirrored glass, when not standing on the steps we were in two rows facing each other on either side of the path the POTUS took to the podium, back inside. About an hour or so before it was "action" time we saw the guys dressed in black with long cases slung over their shoulders dissapear into the building. Durring hte program I was able to look up and watch a few of the USSS people's reflection in hte window. One guy had HUGE effing binoculars and kept scanning hte crowd, he paused for a second and waved at someone....later my wife (WAY back in the crowd) said some guy in front of her waved at the dude on the roof and he waved back. Funny what they see huh?

You can bet your ass those guys train hard and are absolutely serious about their job.

I had the honor to be waiting outside the pisser while 'she' went to take a leak after a movie (Downtown seattle).

Doing my normal back to the wall/crowd in front of me ritual, there were two guys who came in as 'threat' during my initial crowd scan. Cheap suit, shitty shoes, earbuds, suit open revealing radios (no firearms visible),looked like cheap ass rent a cops, oblivious to me, so it seemed....Eye contact between them from time to time...I scanned the whole theatre, no others [i]appeared[/i] to be with them.

Before she came out another lady came out, walks up to a guy who had his back to me. She takes his hand, they turn and walk away. Joe fuckin Lieberman.

I hope POTUS has much better security than they appeared to be. They never appeard to even notice me (I was behind the two of them). The did no 360 scans and advertised their earbuds. Their suits looked like shit. Maybe GW gave him the two shittiest SS he had, but Joe appeard like he would be better off on his own than with those two. Poor Joe....

That is an AWESOME photo, and one I'd never seen before.

I had always though that SS guy had been carrying the Uzi under his arm. Obviously, however, there was one in that briefcase (though whether it's the same one as in the photo is another matter. I never saw another Uzi during that incident, though.).

As for the previous comment that the people laughing are doing so at the comments about grenades and miniguns, I beg to differ. I know what I saw in the back of that Suburban, and I'd be willing to bet that they carry some pretty nasty stuff with them.

About a year ago I saw a special with Joan Lunden ([i]Behind Closed Doors[/i] I believe the series was called) where she was allowed to film a training scenario the SS uses in Hogan's Alley at the FBI Academy. They simulated an attack on a motorcade. As the limo spead away, there emerged from the left side of the screen what looked like a damn SEAL platoon, while Joan stated that, "we are not allowed to show you where the response team comes from".

I'd be willing to bet good money that any SS guys reading this are laughing their asses off and saying, "If they only knew what we REALLY carry, they'd crap their pants in envy!"

BTW, when I was a First-Classman (senior to you civilian types) at USNA (soon after Gulf War I), George Bush senior gave a speach in Tecumseh Court, which is bounded on three sides by Bancroft Hall, the dormitory building. There were SS snipers on the roof, and YES, there WERE Stingers in place. All the windows facing the courtyard were required to be closed and the blinds drawn shut. We were told, in no uncertain terms, than anyone opening a window or blind while the President was present risked being taken out. All of our automobiles had to be moved to Hospital Point, which is way the hell over at the other end of the grounds.

The SS is perhaps one of the most professional groups around, and they play for keeps because they have ZERO room for error, and because they are ALWAYS on alert. What I find most fascinating about them is how they're willing to take a bullet to protect their principal (ala Agent McCarthy), even if the guy is a complete scumbag like Klinton. THAT'S professinalism!

It's one of the reasons I can't watch the movie [i]Air Force One[/i], no matter how good it is. The thought of the SS being betrayed by one of there own simply turns my stomach. Call me foolish, but there it is.

Yup, saw the same thing on the roof of the building where GWB was a couple years ago. Giant binoculors and two guys with a mat and bipoded rifle.
Once "he" went inside, they started goofing off. Holding their arms out in the big "L" to the agents on the ground, making faces at them, etc. All business though when it mattered.

I was at an AL playoff game at Yankee Stadium in 1999 and talked with some NYPD sharpshooters before they went up to the high corners of the stadium. I actually ended up sitting in the bleachers right below them. I scanned the outer ring of the stadium and saw at least 3 teams total, for complete coverage of the stadium.

I was in elementary school during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.  My father was military and we lived about 2 minutes down the street from Nato Headquarters in Germany.  This particular army base  (Mark Twain Village) isn't fenced off and is built right into the city of Heidelberg.  Anyways during the time we had armed soldiers in our basements, on our roofs, in our spare bedrooms, on my school bus, on the roof of the PX and Commisary etc.  I know it's not SS related but seeing the snipers is truely a crazy thing

Anyone here even been to a "Wheels-Up" party?

did the SS blow away the guy that shot reagan and brady? I seem to remember that he wasn't killed?

why didn't they show his face?

Has anyone seen "Monster Garage"  with that guy Jesse James?

Maybe the SS will ask him to modify a suburban into an MLRS....Maybe they already have...

Do any of you remember an incident about 6(?) years ago where an FBI Suburban was stolen from a hotel parking lot? In Pennsylvania I think it was. Anyway, it was like someone hit a bee's nest with a baseball bat because the agents had left their gear inside the thing while they slept. The main items of concern were their "Kits" or "Mini Kits" they called them. Apparently a kit contains a M16 w/203 on it, HE grenades, and secure commo stuff too. The next day it was headline news. They found the Suburban, burned, pretty quick. Federal "LoJack" system probably.  The fact that they also managed to catch the perp's and recover most of the stuff always impressed me.
    My point is that these were agents NOT protecting the Prez. Of course the SS CAT on Presidential detail has a mini or other belt fed in there. No doubt shoulder fired missles too. Why is this hard to believe? We are talking about the protection of the most powerful man in the world here. The SS no doubt considers that a fast armored car only covers some scenarios. They have to be superior in every category in their buisness. The fact that this is a post 9-11 U.S. seals the deal.

... Yup, and still writing letters to Jodie Foster.

While I can't vouch for the minigun in the SUV thing, I did have the opportunity to take a look in the escort SUV's of both the NYPD and SS. Bavk in 1990 I was an Army MP and worked PSD (personal security detail) for visiting VIP's. The Secrataty of the Army was escorted by a reinforced infantry platoon of firepower including LMG's and LAW's. The NYPD escort SUV's were outfitted much the same way. The building I work in is two blocks from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel and right across the street form the Four Seasons restaurant. I've had NYPD and SS snipers on the fifth floor roof covering different VIP's. I've also seen the AH-64's hovering above the rooftops during VIP events. I pitty the fool who gets in the way of that kind of firepower.