"Also the cops SHOULD have gone in sooner and picked off these rabble."

The problem is we have laws in this country.  You can't (or shouldn't) be arrested without committing the crime.  It isn't a crime for example to have a rock in your hand.  Or a gallon of gas for that matter.  Unless there is evidence you plan to use something to commit crime (conspiracy). In many cases they are confiscated without arrest.

Most of these 300 were performing for live cameras.  No doubt the video will form the basis for the charges brought forward by the Crown.
They should all take a bow:  Stupidity upon idiocy.

Am I suggesting the police did nothing wrong? No.
Am I suggesting they didn't overstep their bounds? No.  No, even though the feces, spittle, urine, rocks, curses and whatever else happened to them.  They should have taken it like a **man**.  They shouldn't have pushed back.  But let the crowd push them where ever it wanted.  It wasn't a mob after all.  Right?  It was just *peaceful protesters*, who wanted to sit on a world leader's lap and tell him just how unhappy they were.

The police had an impossible job.

I think it would have been more effective if the protesters had their protest on the internet, or on skype or something.  It certainly would have been less costly.  They wouldn't have had to pay those airplane tickets, motel room, restaurant costs.  The expense! (sic)  And we wouldn't have had to pay for their baby sitting.