Secret Service agents could be fired for admitting Salahis

[LiberalFighter]

Washington Post

The Secret Service agents who admitted Tareq and Michaele Salahi to last week's state dinner have been placed on administrative leave and face a range of discplinary actions, including possibly losing their jobs, the director of the agency told a Congressional committee Thursday.

Secret Service chief Mark Sullivan took full responsibility for the Nov. 24 security failure, testifying at a hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee that "this is our fault and our fault alone."

Sullivan did not specify how many agents are under scrutiny because of the incident, which has sparked international curiosity and condemnation. He said the agents in question face a range of disciplinary actions, and would not rule out the possibility that they would be fired.

In my opinion, the agents should not be fired. Rather they should be reassigned at most.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Bad move if they were fired.

They have experience and dedication. Not everyone can do SS versus private security.

Reassignment would be a better option.

[vaberella]

4. What would you say if the President was shot or something happened to his family?

I mean...would it still be reassignment?

[atreides1]

5. Experience and dedication?

That worked well last week, didn't it?

[DrDan]

7. I thnk their negligence trumps their experience and dedication

[snagglepuss]

9. Bingo. nt

[Kdillard]

2. All of this could have been avoided if those agents had followed simple protocol.

It is a very serious matter and I am glad the SS is treating it as such because this should never, ever happen again under any circumstances. They were fortunate these were just publicity seekers and not a real threat to the Presdient or his guests.

[Sinti]

3. SOP is not to be messed with

When you violate standard operating procedure it is a very serious offense. Violations of SOP can cause unnecessary death. The SOP is in place for good reason. If you tolerate such violations even once in such a high-profile manner, what message do you think that sends to the rest of the force?

I don't understand why this is such a non-issue for so many people. This totally set me back on my heels - it's outrageous. These were non-screened people in the White House, with the Prime Minister of India in the room. They keep banging this drum about terrorism, for goodness sakes, but this is no biggie, just an oops? Is it because she's blond and he's a polo player?

[snagglepuss]

10. Exactly.

If anything is a reason for dismissal this is it.

[mopinko]

6. they should be investigated thoroughly, and probably fired.

any whiff of loyalty to the last regime or racism or anti-obama-ism, off with their heads.
i can't really think of any mitigating circumstances that would make me not fire them, tho. but maybe obama will spare them, cuz he is that way.

[Dr Robert]

8. they should definitely be retrained

[mkultra]

11. reassign them to junior

[alsame]

12. LOL, you read my mind. nt

[SpartanDem]

13. I was thinking about putting them on Bo duty