The Bodyguard

[ZZZ]

The United States Pentagon was a secure building. Anything can be used as a weapon...an ink pen, phone cord.... you name it.

my point...... if the pentagon (with their gorund to air missiles) could not stop an attack. what is one guy going to do for a palestinian queen who is not respected by her "own" people - before this is deleted or edited, let me remind you of the football game where everyone chanted for him to divorce her. if something is going to happen, it will happen - god gives, god takes.

to demen a man to the staus of handbag carryer, is wrong.

 

[Humera]

give me a break.
Holding a purse for someone while they attend to a task or handing it over to them is not demeaning.
There's a picture of Prince Carl Philip holding his sister Madeleine's purse.
I have seen similar pictures of other royals.
A bodyguard, after all is paid for his services.
Since when is common courtesy demeaning? I cant get over this sort of macho thinking in this day and age, the fact that it comes from women is even more surprising.

 

[madonna23]

i didn't say it was demeaning. i just thought it would have been embarressing for him...which is nothing wrong as many men today would never want to hold a purse even in the west (remember the episode of seinfeld with the "man bag" ) and more so in the east. let's not get into an arguement over this - i was just pointing out that he's with her 24/7 and of course he gets paid for it, that's his job.

 

[ZZZ]

give me a break.
Holding a purse for someone while they attend to a task or handing it over to them is not demeaning.
There's a picture of Prince Carl Philip holding his sister Madeleine's purse.
I have seen similar pictures of other royals.
A bodyguard, after all is paid for his services.
Since when is common courtesy demeaning? I cant get over this sort of macho thinking in this day and age, the fact that it comes from women is even more surprising.

it is not like she was doing something else (i.e. carrying her child, holding something else in her hands etc....) she was walking to her car, with nothing in her hands.

he is paid to protect her, not her purse. how can he do his job of protecting her, when he has to hold onto a handbag? have you ever seen a bodygaurd of any other royal (a prinicipal bodygaurd, main guy) holding anything in their hands? a bag? a glass? a hat? anything? no...... that is because, they are not there to hold you personal items. that is what a personal assistant is for.

 

[Humera]

i didn't say it was demeaning. i just thought it would have been embarressing for him...which is nothing wrong as many men today would never want to hold a purse even in the west (remember the episode of seinfeld with the "man bag" ) and more so in the east. let's not get into an arguement over this - i was just pointing out that he's with her 24/7 and of course he gets paid for it, that's his job.

I know you didnt say it was demeaning.
And most reasonable men would have no problem with holding a bag for a woman for a few minutes, out of pure courtesy and politeness, while she attends to a task. I have seen this both in person, in my own family, and as I've mentioned, in pictures of royals.
Those men who feel that something so simple threatens their manhood obviously have larger insecurities and issues.

 

[ZZZ]

I know you didnt say it was demeaning.
And most reasonable men would have no problem with holding a bag for a woman for a few minutes, out of pure courtesy and politeness, while she attends to a task. I have seen this both in person, in my own family, and as I've mentioned, in pictures of royals.
Those men who feel that something so simple threatens their manhood obviously have larger insecurities and issues.

it is not insecurties, which is the wests blatent excuse for traditions of arabs..

 

[Humera]

he is paid to protect her, not her purse. how can he do his job of protecting her, when he has to hold onto a handbag? have you ever seen a bodygaurd of any other royal (a prinicipal bodygaurd, main guy) holding anything in their hands? a bag? a glass? a hat? anything? no...... that is because, they are not there to hold you personal items. that is what a personal assistant is for.

well its up to him to decide how to do his job, not you.

 

[ZZZ]

well its up to him to decide how to do his job, not you.

im not deciding how he should his job. i am just pointing out the obvious, which you clearly have no argument for. you tried to spin it off by saying it was ok for men to carry bags..... but when i pointed out, that other royal bodygaurds do not carry anything at all, at anytime, the only thing you could throw at me, was that ïts up to him to decide how to do his job" and not me (thank god, i would hate to be the jordanians lackey).

im voicing my opinions on "the bodygaurd" issue and calling it as i see it.... there is no need to make this personal or take it as a personal attack on yourself.

 

[sommone]

sommone, this photo is from the current thread for Abdullah , Rania and family.
Directly behind Rania is a tall man in a dark blue suit with a light blue tie. That is the bodyguard. Id never noticed him until the thread bgan, but if you look back at pictures you can see him.
http://img20.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc24&image=58c95_5351I.jpg

Finally a photo. Thank you, Little Star.

 

[maryshawn]

Yes, many thanks for the photo! I'd never noticed him before--but I guess that's what makes him a good bodyguard. I would imagine they have to try to be somewhat unobtrusive and blend in somewhat? I imagine it would be considered an honor to be promoted to the position of guarding a royal or figure of prominence. The screening process must be arduous as the responsibility is great. I wonder how much say those being protected have as to their bodyguards as they have to spend so much time with them and have, perhaps most importantly, be able to trust them implicitly. I've read a number of biographies on many politicians and royals and have come to the conclusion that for every seemingly relaxed and spontaneous public circumstance, there is a great deal of tension going on before and during the event until everything is wrapped up safely. Makes me glad I'm neither a public figure nor one of those entrusted with their protection!

 

[jordan_frist]

this bodyguard has been with the queen from the days she was a princess. If you notice queen noor's old pictures, she also had the same body guard for a very long time. White haired guy. King hussein's body gurads tended to stay on for a long time. This long time means that there is a lot of trust. As some of you mentioned there are some female bodyguards with the queen too, but not african, jordanian, with dark skin. Its just a recent thing that the royal guards have added women bodyguards.
The whole royal family from the oldest to the youngest have bodyguards with them, its essential.

 

[maryshawn]

Are the bodyguards first trained in special forces of the Jordanian army? I wonder what requirements are necessary in order to qualify for consideration. BTW, thank you for your post; it's very interesting! I know that the loyalty the bodyguards had for King Hussein was reciprocal; his chief of household, an american, left after he was not recognized and was not carrying proper identification and was held by security until the King identified him. While the King apologized for the problem, he said his bodyguards were acting in his best interests as there had been some very serious threats against his life so were on highest alert and he would not be questioning their actions nor disciplining them. The chief of his household staff left shortly thereafter but the King held firm--which I respected; after all John Rolfs, the head of household's name, was not following procedure by carrying his photo ID, and thought he deserved special treatment and/or should have been recognized. But the bodyguards were doing what they had to do. When guarding a King or leader, you can't be too careful.

Does Queen Noor have a bodyguard when in Jordan now? I've seen this asked but don't think it was ever answered.

Thanks again for your insights!

this bodyguard has been with the queen from the days she was a princess. If you notice queen noor's old pictures, she also had the same body guard for a very long time. White haired guy. King hussein's body gurads tended to stay on for a long time. This long time means that there is a lot of trust. As some of you mentioned there are some female bodyguards with the queen too, but not african, jordanian, with dark skin. Its just a recent thing that the royal guards have added women bodyguards.
The whole royal family from the oldest to the youngest have bodyguards with them, its essential.

 

[barbara_41172]

As some of you mentioned there are some female bodyguards with the queen too, but not african, jordanian, with dark skin. Its just a recent thing that the royal guards have added women bodyguards.

Thank you for clarifying that about the female bodyguard.

What about the Korean bodyguards? There were some articles a few years back about the JRF employing martial-arts trained bodyguards from Korea. What happened to them? It seems that mostly they are Jordanian (at least at public events), which is understandably a good strategy.

TC
Love
Barbara

 

[jordan_frist]

Are the bodyguards first trained in special forces of the Jordanian army?

Does Queen Noor have a bodyguard when in Jordan now?

The bodyguards come from a specialized unit in the jordanian army called the "the royal guards" it was tough to figure that one out
they undergo very hard training, and only the best end up serving up close to the royal family. I remember they always had news reports on the graduation ceremonies of the royal guards on the news in jordan tv.

As i mentioned earlier, all members of the family have bodyguards in jordan, so does QN.

As for the korean bodyguards, i have never seen any in amman or anywhere else. Maybe they did the training.

 

[barbara_41172]

As for the korean bodyguards, i have never seen any in amman or anywhere else. Maybe they did the training.

Thanks for replying. I had a look for one of the articles. Their contract was for one year only. Maybe that explains it.

TC
Love
Barbara

Korean Bodyguards to Protect Jordan’s Royal Family

09-30-2003
By Byun Duk-kun
Staff Reporter


A group of five Korean bodyguards from a private security service firm will take responsibility for the protection of the royal family of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan next month.
New Korea Total Service (NKTS) announced yesterday that they signed a one-year contract with the Jordanian royal household to provide personal escorts for King Abdullah and Queen Rania Al-Abdullah. This is the first time a Korean security services company has signed a contract with a foreign government or royal household.

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200309/kt2003093017074411990.htm

 

[ZZZ]

Thanks for replying. I had a look for one of the articles. Their contract was for one year only. Maybe that explains it.

TC
Love
Barbara

Korean Bodyguards to Protect Jordan’s Royal Family

09-30-2003
By Byun Duk-kun
Staff Reporter


A group of five Korean bodyguards from a private security service firm will take responsibility for the protection of the royal family of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan next month.
New Korea Total Service (NKTS) announced yesterday that they signed a one-year contract with the Jordanian royal household to provide personal escorts for King Abdullah and Queen Rania Al-Abdullah. This is the first time a Korean security services company has signed a contract with a foreign government or royal household.

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200309/kt2003093017074411990.htm

intresting, their people were not good enough.

 

[maryshawn]

Yes, this is very odd! I'd always heard the Jordanian army was very well trained and if the royal bodyguards were from a special branch of it, why would they need to bring in contracted guards from Korea?

intresting, their people were not good enough.

 

[madonna23]

fears of a coup, i guess. well-trained jordanian guards are a threat possibly as they may secretly be aligned with other forces. the threat i think is more unlikely from korean guards. just a guess...

 

[Warren]

Indira Gandhi's assassination by her own personal bodyguards would have sent a cold chill through many nervous VIPs.

 

[jordan_frist]

intresting, their people were not good enough.

I really doubt thats the reason. The royal guards are some of the best in the region. Many of the other countries come and train their bodyguards in jordans army. My guess would be that these contratced bodyguards came in as trainers for a certain course, martial arts? hand to hand combat? something like that.

 

[maryshawn]

I'd forgotten about that Warren. Yes, that would give one pause. And with all that's going on, I am sure whomever is in charge of security (and KA likely is very involved given his army background) would be looking at many options. Years ago, KH did have a cook and assistant who got close enough to put poison in his eyedrops and food (don't know how they figured out the eyedrop thing but the cook apparently practiced on enough cats to raise suspicion).

Indira Gandhi's assassination by her own personal bodyguards would have sent a cold chill through many nervous VIPs.

 

[Becky24]

It's quite a switch! Maybe it is for the better.

 

[sommone]

I really doubt thats the reason. The royal guards are some of the best in the region. Many of the other countries come and train their bodyguards in jordans army. My guess would be that these contratced bodyguards came in as trainers for a certain course, martial arts? hand to hand combat? something like that.

I was going to state something similar, Jordan Frist, but thought better of it. I'm glad you pointed this out.

 

[Toledo]

Yes, this is very odd! I'd always heard the Jordanian army was very well trained and if the royal bodyguards were from a special branch of it, why would they need to bring in contracted guards from Korea?

My wild guess is that the situation in the middle east is getting so out of control you cannot tell friend from foe. Bringing foreign help from Korea makes some sense. Not only they are physically different from the locals, thus easier to notice, but also from a separate religious background. Again, the tragedy of Indira Ganhdi killed by native bodyguards who were of a particular sect.

 

[Monalisa]

IMO,the use of foreign bodyguards is a very telling sign of the "health" of the hashemite monachy...

 

[Toledo]

Monalisa, that's a good observation! Never thought of that.

 

[Merlin2011]

Bodyguards

close protection operative is such a better term than Bodyguard,

As a British CPO with British & Israeli training I would say that many Royals like to use foreign Cpo.s as the training is far better, I have many pals working in the Middle East for Royals at the moment,

Many of you dont understand our job and the training we undergo in order to keep our clients safe, We also spend alot of time with our clients, knowing more than some of there partners, Its hard to explain,

Trust is such a big thing, Trusting another person with not only your security, but with things only a wife,husband would know, {or may not!} in some cases,

I have been with the same client for 9yrs, thats a very long time to spend with one client, I am one of the family,