Scoop: Skirmish in Beijing over the nuclear football (when Trump was in Beijing)

Axios ^ | February 19, 2018 | Johathon Swan

[cba123]

This happened November 9th.

Is just being publicly released now:

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On Thursday Nov. 9, when President Trump and his team visited Beijing's Great Hall of the People, Chief of Staff John Kelly and a U.S. Secret Service agent skirmished with Chinese security officials over the nuclear football.

I've spoken to five sources familiar with the events. Here's what happened, as they describe it:

When the U.S. military aide carrying the nuclear football entered the Great Hall, Chinese security officials blocked his entry. (The official who carries the nuclear football is supposed to stay close to the president at all times, along with a doctor.)

A U.S. official hurried into the adjoining room and told Kelly what was happening. Kelly rushed over and told the U.S. officials to keep walking — "We're moving in," he said — and the Americans all started moving.

Then there was a commotion. A Chinese security official grabbed Kelly, and Kelly shoved the man’s hand off of his body. Then a U.S. Secret Service agent grabbed the Chinese security official and tackled him to the ground.

The whole scuffle was over in a flash, and the U.S. officials told about the incident were asked to keep quiet about it. Trump's team followed the normal security procedure to brief the Chinese before their visit to Beijing, according to a person familiar with the trip — but somebody at the Chinese end either didn't get the memo or decided to mess with the Americans anyway.

(please see full article at the link)

[daniel1212]

Another little issue that was not known for a “while:”
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/10/why-clintons-losing-the-nuclear-biscuit-was-really-really-bad/65009/

Former President Clinton’s office declined to comment today on reports that he managed to lose the personal identification code needed to confirm nuclear launches and never told anyone about it...

A former military officer with knowledge of NCA procedures helps fill in some of the details.

Let’s say that the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detects an inbound air warning; the NMCC immediately calls the Sit Room or the military aide, which plugs in the President, who then provides an alpha-numeric code to verify his identity. Once verified, the President can (to invoke ICBM language) execute or terminate sorties. The military aide—known as the Milaide—goes everywhere with the President. Even when the President travels in a hotel elevator, the Milaide (and the president’s doctor) accompany him. (Yes, every POTUS elevator trip is monitored.)

So what happens if the President doesn’t have his identifier?

The commander in chief of NORAD resorts to the next person the NCA list, the Vice President....

Fill in the the blanks here_____

[daniel1212]

See below

[daniel1212]

That should have been “see above” (the Russians hacked my previous response).

[SharpRightTurn]

“Former President Clinton ... managed to lose the personal identification code needed to confirm nuclear launches.”

Hey, if Bill had the code in his pants pocket, and then forgot where he left his pants, what’s the big deal? Can’t we just “move on”?

[Tallguy]

Chinese Gung Fu was merely adequate.

[bagster]

The mysteries of Secret Service style are rarely spoken of and not often challenged.

Chinese style gung fu, while adequate in commonplace situations, is no longer adequate on the international stage.

The round eye barbarians have surpassed the masters.