Posted on 11/20/2004 4:13:02 PM PST by wjersey
Edited on 11/20/2004 7:38:20 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
President Bush stepped into the middle of a confrontation and pulled his lead Secret Service agent away from Chilean security officials who barred his bodyguards from entering an elegant dinner for 21 world leaders Saturday night.
Several Chilean and American agents got into a pushing and shoving match outside the cultural center where the dinner was held. Bush noticed the fracas after posing for pictures on a red carpet with the summit host, Chilean President Ricardo Lagos and his wife and first lady Laura Bush.
Don't get me wrong. I have enjoyed my travels in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Columbia, Panama, Peru, Chile, etc. My point is that, at this critical time, President Bush should avoid traveling to countries where opportunities for his assassination would be fairly high. In this regard I would include virtually all of central and South America.
I realize that this could adversely impact Bush's effectiveness at the bully pulpit, but his work at home is mission critical. There is no reason why these international summits cannot be held in countries where security would be handled much more effectively. I present today's experience in Chile as exhibit "A".
Bush is physically a strong guy.
You are very wrong. Their eyes are always scanning the people around, how do you think they could see danger to the president if their eyes were on him. You evidently know nothing about guarding someone.
I read through the whole thread and this is just so telling of this man. A good man who goes into action right away without a global test.
That's the leader I elected alright!
AH, Pardon me, he met what?????????????????
OR for a direct link:
http://callisto.unete.cl:8080/ramgen/canal13/disco7/cdn/nov/20/apec_1120_cena_lideres.rm
Coverage of the different leaders arriving at conference. It's about 1/3 of the way into the video.
Okay Mr. SS.
You are probably quite right on all counts!
I faxed their ambassador at the Chilean Embassy in DC.
Just watched the video (link at Post 695) and am even more disturbed about this incident. A couple things really struck me.
First, I watched all 21 leaders arrive and enter the building. In none of those arrivals, except Bush, did Chilean guards attempt to block the doorway. As soon as Bush and wife had entered, Chilean guards immediately sealed off the doorway as if expecting something to happen.
Second, once Bush and wife were in, the Chilean president had them linger at the doorway area much longer than any of the other leaders lingered, as if waiting for something to happen.
This whole thing spooks me. I feel nervous about Bush's safety in the US, let alone on foreign soil. As a law student in Seattle, I can tell you that some of the things I hear from students and law professors alike is chilling.
One humorous note in watching the video (again Post 695) is that the incident caused a bit of a delay of the motorcades that came after Bush. For some reason, I liked seeing Vladimir Putin's motorcade at a dead standstill in the middle of the road, while Bush's SS straightened things out.
What an intelligent contribution to this thread. Have you any more?
Thank you very much for pointing me to the video
Video.... can be found at:
http://teletrece.canal13.cl/
It starts after minute 18, a little over a third through the 45 min video.
Bush certainly handled it amazingly calmly, but the few moments were really worrysome.
If anyone hasn't seen it, I would recommend you watch it -- it's just a couple of minutes, once you get to the right part.
If I do, I won't waste them on you.
Clinton would have just had Reno burn his house down. (with the agent and his kids in it)
I know I'm a little late to the thread, but the security was needed at the PISTONS game.
Good, I hope you won't waste then on anyone.
Does anyone have the phone number to the Chilean Embassy? Leats Freep these jerks. They endangered W.
Obviously, you must think they're pretty good, since you posted to me twice.
How much time does an offensive line (American football) spend looking at the Quarterback? None. The lineman work with their back to the Qback.
Look at the many pictures on Daily Dose the last four years that have an SS agent visible. How often do you see the SS agent looking at the President - none. How often at the crowd or possible source of a theat - always.
Though, for another reason, I will change my position, taken earlier on this thread, that the wall of security types in suits that W. reached over are American Secret Service. Instead, I take it now that they are Chilean security. If they were our SS, they would have let the trapped agent through, without hesitation.
Someone above noted that the problem started when they let W. out of the limo in the middle of that crowd, with just a couple of rope lines holding the mob back a few feet. They should have taken stock of the situation, and drove on. I agree.
And the Chilean security, having just seen W. and his security form a bubble of protection around him and the Limo surely must have known that the man they were blocking was coming off the tail of that bubble. What in tarnation were they thinking by blocking him?
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