Here's another take, based on the fact that we don't know anything about the arrangement of that room or whether it had a door to elsewhere. Allen saw the agent, ducked into the room, and turned behind something to slip out of sight. The agent followed the dog's lead and looked in the room, saw nothing for several seconds, and surmised Allen had moved on. This was not a federal facility and event security at large was the responsibility of the organization that put on the event. It is not clear that the SS had permission to intrude on other areas of the event that were not within the defined security perimeter. Allen, having taken the moment to shuck his coat and unlatch his weapon, peeping around the corner, could see that the agent had lost interest and took his moment to dash.
But this does not get the agent off the hook, or any of the rest. A more reactionless outfit would be hard to find. The dog agent saw Allen, and did not move. He was basically in a "Huh? What the fuck?" mental paralysis. Didn't even pursue Allen, just stood there like a potted plant.
Meanwhile, as I have mentioned elsewhere, the agent standing behind the big tool cabinet on the floor, was perfectly positioned to intercept Allen with his body, but his initial reaction was to recoil away---not throw himself in front! The one agent that was in front of Allen, at a distance of less than 2 yards, drew, fired multiple shots, and missed all of them! Incredible. (I would like a post-op investigation to seek out the bullets and the casings to confirm what happened. Was he shooting blanks?)
In my view, this does not suggest so much as a complicity, but an incompetence that extends back to their basic training. Would a Marine have been so slow on the uptake, so imbued with fright overriding attack, so terrible a shot at close range? I am kind of disgusted at all the praise for the agents---being caught flat-footed, incapable of using their firearms effectively, and being forced to chase after the would-be assassin to overpower him physically. All their advantages (multiple eyes, dogs, distance, firearms) were fucking useless. Allen was the only one that delivered a shot, but thank goodness for bulletproof vests.
This theme of agency sloppiness seems to run through all 3 attempts. If I were Trump, I would dismiss his SS detail and replace them with Marine MPs. They would know how to protect him on a battlefield. (Admittedly, an exaggeration. They probably would never permit him to be on a battlefield.)
Here's another take, based on the fact that we don't know anything about the arrangement of that room or whether it had a door to elsewhere. Allen saw the agent, ducked into the room, and turned behind something to slip out of sight. The agent followed the dog's lead and looked in the room, saw nothing for several seconds, and surmised Allen had moved on. This was not a federal facility and event security at large was the responsibility of the organization that put on the event. It is not clear that the SS had permission to intrude on other areas of the event that were not within the defined security perimeter. Allen, having taken the moment to shuck his coat and unlatch his weapon, peeping around the corner, could see that the agent had lost interest and took his moment to dash.
But this does not get the agent off the hook, or any of the rest. A more reactionless outfit would be hard to find. The dog agent saw Allen, and did not move. He was basically in a "Huh? What the fuck?" mental paralysis. Didn't even pursue Allen, just stood there like a potted plant.
Meanwhile, as I have mentioned elsewhere, the agent standing behind the big tool cabinet on the floor, was perfectly positioned to intercept Allen with his body, but his initial reaction was to recoil away---not throw himself in front! The one agent that was in front of Allen, at a distance of less than 2 yards, drew, fired multiple shots, and missed all of them! Incredible. (I would like a post-op investigation to seek out the bullets and the casings to confirm what happened. Was he shooting blanks?)
In my view, this does not suggest so much as a complicity, but an incompetence that extends back to their basic training. Would a Marine have been so slow on the uptake, so imbued with fright overriding attack, so terrible a shot at close range? I am kind of disgusted at all the praise for the agents---being caught flat-footed, incapable of using their firearms effectively, and being forced to chase after the would-be assassin to overpower him physically. All their advantages (multiple eyes, dogs, distance, firearms) were fucking useless. Allen was the only one that delivered a shot, but thank goodness for bulletproof vests.
This theme of agency sloppiness seems to run through all 3 attempts. If I were Trump, I would dismiss his SS detail and replace them with Marine MPs. They would know how to protect him on a battlefield. (Admittedly, an exaggeration. They probably would never permit him to be on a battlefield.)