| I struggled with the title of this thread when I first read it as I didn't think it was a fair comment and definitely don't think it fair based on the attacks of the torch bearers in numerous nations.
Being old enough to remember the 1960s- early '70s as a moderate student leader at Simon Fraser University surrounded by campus radicals, I know first-hand how misguided people are who protest by hindering other people's rights.
The protesters will attack the torch bearers as they believe the ends justifies the means. Correction: these morons know the media of the world will give them coverage so that is what this is about. It doesn't matter what the issue is, this is what they seek - media attention.
The irony of ironies is that these clowns have no idea what human rights and freedoms are about and if they did, they'd protest without taking the rights and freedoms to watch an event without fear of it being disrupted.
Make no mistake these protesters would be the first to take away our freedoms if given the chance. The good news, if my experience in the early 70s is any judge, these guys eventually grow up to be responsible citizens who themselves decry the new generation. Go figure.
I know that one of the downsides to holding Olympic Games is the high cost of security and post 911, even moreso. Having guards for the torch makes sense and there is always tension in countries when visiting dignitaries arrive with their body guards and it will go on for our life times and beyond. Why would the torch guards differ?  | 
