The American presidency has become grotesquely imperial, and when a president travels overseas, the contrast between the entourage and security measures commanded by a president versus an ordinary head of government of a major nation is downright embarrassing to citizens of a democratic republic. The left wing UK Guardian reports:  As Belgium's capital and host to the EU and Nato, Brussels is used to deploying heavy security when big names pop by. But US President Barack Obama's visit on Tuesday will strain the city like never before with €10m (£8.4m) of Belgian money being spent to cover his 24 hours in the country. The president will arrive on Tuesday night with a 900-strong entourage, including 45 vehicles and three cargo planes. Advance security teams orchestrating every last detail have combed Brussels already, checking the sewers and the major hospitals, while American military helicopters were last week given the green light for overflights....(Read Full Post)