A writes: A quick comment on your question about the hands position of the SS agents. I have worked as a bodyguard in Japan for a long time. This was one of the first lessons I received from people I was working with: when escorting the principal through a crowd of people who are expecting him and engaging in contact with him (shaking hands, asking for an autograph, etc.), you hold your hands somewhere around the level of your lower ribs, like in http://cryptome.org/info/usss-hands/pict28.jpg or the guy in the background (between Hillary and the black lady) in http://cryptome.org/info/usss-hands/pict6.jpg Reason for this is that if there's a stabbing attempt or something similar you can quickly react and slap/push down the attacking arm quickly, without having to waste precious moments on raising your own arms and then changing the direction of movement of your hand (losing more time) and pushing theirs down. In most of other pictures, where the hands are at the general hip level, it's just a regular 'ready for action' stance. JB writes: I have studied a number of Close Quarters Battle (CQB) systems in both civilian and DOD forums and have cross-trained in a wide range of "martial arts" in both the US and Japan. I think if you examine a Krav Maga method called "bursting" you will find the answer to your query. You will also note the distinctive waist-level natural "stance". Krav Maga is popular with police and law enforcement and is currently very fashionable among well-trained combat troops and bodyguards around the world. I personally believe the most likely foundation of this stance is Japanese Aikido. Which also has a similar "stance" sometimes called the natural position. It is best understood as a position of relaxed readiness. In the case of bodyguards it allows a ready position primed for action that is non-threatening to an uninitiated observer. It also signals an initiated observer that these individuals are adequately trained and ready for action. You may also see hints of these positions emanating from a Russian methodology called "systema". While it is usually denied among practioners I believe there is a direct link here with Aikido and more than adequate historical and practical evidence to make a solid case for the claim. Systema and Krav Maga are routinely taught to both government and private security professionals. You probably have a Krav Maga school in your area and maybe an Aikido school. Systema is a bit harder to track down. I would highly encourage you to not take my word for all of this and simply take advantage of even the free introductory class(es) offered almost universally in martial arts schools and see for yourself. Krav Maga alone should convince you but a visit to a Krav Maga school and an Aikido dojo ought to make it even more clear. There are likely a lot of plausible theories that have come your way about why they might stand like this and they are likely relevant but I think you will find that this is not proprietery Secret Service behavior and can be explained as training and field-tested methodology. JM writes: I'm not a member of law enforcement, but I do hold a concealed-weapons permit and have some of the same training. This sort of "counter grab" hand position would be almost instinctive in a crowd, and comes as no surprise to me. I don't see this as being aggressive, but rather defensive without looking aggressive unless somebody paid close attention.