Do US ambassadors have bodyguards?

dognhorsemom

Schaj is right.

It is a common misconception that US Marines protect Ambassadors and embassy staff. They are actually assigned to protect the Embassy. If an Ambassador or other high-ranking, high-profile FSO needs personal security, these employees are locally hired and are supervised by Diplomatic Security, not by the Marines.

Normal FSOs do not have security at all. We live among the people we are representatives to, ride the subway, drive in traffic, shop in the stores, eat in the cafes along with everybody else.

Iraq, of course, is different. We aren't allowed to leave the compound at all. In Afghanistan, we need a very good reason to venture outside the embassy compound walls.

schazjmd

Regular FSOs (not ambassadors) travel all over the world all by themselves, although I'm sure there are extra precautions in dangerous/combat areas. Ambassadors do not normally have bodyguards, although there are security details assigned to the embassies and consulates.

Andrew M

Yes. Security for US ambassadors abroad is provided by both the Marines Corps Security Guard, who safeguard the embassies themselves, and the State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security/Diplomatic Security Service, who protect the Ambassadors themselves (as well as, theoretically, all other American citizens abroad)

Andrew

Kingston

What is your interest or concern into this matter of U.S. Foreign Officers security detail??

You better watch youself from now on and sleep with at least one eye open!!

Give the internet a rest now.

tennessee

Yes, security has been stepped up since 9-11.
You may not always see them but they are there.

Yes, Ambassadors have bodyguards.
I was in Lebanon, and I always saw Jeffrey Feltman, the current US ambassador to Lebanon suntanning on the same Public beach that I go to. (It's a nice clean beach with free entrance)
Everyone knew he's the US ambassador, but no one talked to him and asked for a visa or anything :) lol
He has Lebanese-looking bodyguards but they are kept a bit far not to disturb him, and one on the entrance of the beach to watch who's coming in and out....

The previous US ambassador to Lebanon (I don't remember his name) also had bodyguards, he came couple of times to lecture about diplomacy stuff at the university where I study, his bodyguards were looked Lebanese not American. I guess that ambassador bought a house and remained living in Lebanon because he fell in love in the country, this is what he was hinting in a TV interview on his last day in office in Lebanon.

kadnil

Yes they do...they have travelling in any country...even in the US....

Doc Hudson

Yes

Floyd G

In general terms, the Marines who guard the embassy are the security for the ambassador and staff.

This may have changed in light of the increase in terror actions against American officials around the world.

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