Flameout

I'm watching a live feed from the ABC affiliate KGO-TV in San Francisco of the snail-like, circus-like progression of the Olympic flame through the streets of SF. (AFP photo, left). From the helicopter view it looks like semi-controlled pandemonium ... three lines of police security on either side of the torch runners. First there are 15 or 20 police, in black uniforms and holding truncheons at the ready, jogging alongside the runners, who stop every 0.1 mile or so to switch off. Then there's a line of motorcycle police on either side, then another row of defensive linesmen on the run on the outside perimeter, scuffling frequently with protesters feverishly running along the periphery, across grass and around corners in the route, holding up signs and some carrying what appear to be Tibetan flags. Some are seen being pushed back or dragged off the street. So from the air there are six black lines snaking along, with a knot at the head of the procession of eight or nine of the security types in those blue track suits ... who seem to have been internationalized somewhat -- not all Chinese any longer, there appear to be at least one white woman and at least one African American man among them. The runners, in pairs, are in bright red and white outfits. Latimes.com says the route was cut in half and rerouted to try and shake protesters, but TV shows the flame was rooted out. Poor police and security detail don't seem to be getting any respite.