PHOTO SEQUENCE - Bush frees Secret Service agent from Chile guards...

myway.com ^ | Nov 20, 8:51 | myway.com

[crushelits]

Bush Pulls Top Security Agent From Fracas

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) - 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. Continues...

	One of US President George W. Bush 's Secret Service bodyguards (L) is prevented by Chilean security from entering the Mapocho cultural center where the APEC leaders attended an official dinner in Santiago(AFP/Martin Bernetti) AFP - Nov 20 11:47 PM
	Unidentified US and Chilean security agents argue after a US secret service agent was blocked from accompanying President Bush inside the former Mapocho Train Station where leaders of the 21-member APEC are attending a formal dinner Saturday Nov. 20, 2004 in Santiago, Chile. The Secret Service agent was later allowed inside. (AP Photo/La Tercera/Carlos Quezada) AP - Nov 20 6:25 PM
	Unidentified US and Chilean security agents argue after a US secret service agent was blocked from accompanying President Bush inside the former Mapocho Train Station where leaders of the 21-member APEC are attending a formal dinner Saturday Nov. 20, 2004 in Santiago, Chile. The Secret Service agent was later allowed inside. (AP Photo/La Tercera/Carlos Quezada) CHILE OUT AP - Nov 20 6:15 PM
	U.S. President George W. Bush , center left, reaches in to the crowd for his Secret Service Agent who was blocked from entering the Estacion Mapocho Cultural Center for the APEC Summit dinner, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004, in Santiago, Chile. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson) AP - Nov 20 5:35 PM
	President Bush , second from left, reaches out to an unidentified agent during a commotion at the former Mapocho Train Station where leaders of the 21-member APEC are attending a formal dinner Saturday Nov. 20, 2004 in Santiago, Chile. During a welcoming ceremony, Bush turned back after noticing a commotion apparently when one of his secret service agents was prevented by Chilean police from entering. The secret service agent was later allowed inside. (AP Photo/Josh Stephenson) AP - Nov 20 5:55 PM
	U.S. President George W. Bush (2L) reaches out to retrieve one of his secret service agents that was stopped by Chilean police from following him into the Estacion Mapocho cultural center for the state dinner at the APEC leaders meeting, in Santiago, November 20, 2004. President Bush himself returned to the door to make sure one of his agents was allowed to enter the building, after he noticed the commotion from inside. REUTERS/str Reuters - Nov 20 5:37 PM
	U.S. President George W. Bush (R) reaches out to retrieve one of his secret service agents that was stopped by Chilean police from following him into the Estacion Mapocho cultural center for the state dinner at the APEC leaders meeting, in Santiago, November 20, 2004. President Bush himself returned to the door to make sure one of his agents was allowed to enter the building, after he noticed the commotion from inside. REUTERS/str Reuters - Nov 20 5:31 PM
	U.S. President George W. Bush , center, reaches in to the crowd for his Secret Service Agent who was blocked from entering the Estacion Mapocho Cultural Center for the APEC Summit dinner, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004, in Santiago, Chile. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson) AP - Nov 20 5:38 PM
	A US Secret Service officer, center, argues with Chilean police officers at the entrance of the Mapocho Space right after some members of President George W. Bush were not allowed to enter with him to a state dinner for APEC leaders, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan) AP - Nov 20 5:26 PM
	Chilean uniformed (L) and plainclothes police stop a U.S. secret service agent (C) from following President George W. Bush into the Estacion Mapocho cultural center when he arrived for the state dinner at the APEC leaders meeting, in Santiago, November 20, 2004. President Bush himself returned to the door to make sure one of his agents was allowed to enter the building, after he noticed the commotion from inside. (Sergio Moraes/Reuters) Reuters - Nov 20 5:24 PM
	U.S. President George W. Bush (top, R) reaches out to retrieve one of his secret service agents that was stopped by Chilean police from following him into the Estacion Mapocho cultural center for the state dinner at the APEC leaders meeting, in Santiago, November 20, 2004. President Bush himself returned to the door to make sure one of his agents was allowed to enter the building, after he noticed the commotion from inside. REUTERS/str Reuters - Nov 20 5:31 PM
	U.S. President George W. Bush (R) stops while walking with his wife Laura (2nd-L) and Chilean President Ricardo Lagos (L), when he noticed that his secret service agents were arguing with Chilean police that stopped them from entering the Estacion Mapocho cultural center for the state dinner at the APEC leaders meeting in Santiago, November 20, 2004. President Bush himself returned to the door to make sure one of his agents was allowed to enter the building, after he noticed the commotion from inside. REUTERS/Andrew Winning Reuters - Nov 20 4:54 PM
	In this image from pool television, President Bush turns his back after noticing a commotion apparently when one of his secret service agents was prevented by Chilean police from entering the former Mapocho Train Station where leaders of the 21-member APEC are attending a formal dinner Saturday Nov. 20, 2004 in Santiago, Chile. The Secret Service agent was later allowed inside. (AP Photo/Pool TV) AP - Nov 20 4:43 PM
	In this image taken from pool television, President Bush , center, reaches out during a commotion involving one of his security detail. Bush turned back after noticing when one of his secret service agents was prevented by Chilean police from entering the former Mapocho Train Station where leaders of the 21-member APEC are attending a formal dinner Saturday Nov. 20, 2004 in Santiago, Chile. The Secret Service agent was later allowed inside. (AP Photo/Pool TV) AP - Nov 20 4:43 PM
	In this iage taken from pool video, Presiden Bush, foreground, walks away from a site of a commotion after one of his secret service agents, man with mustache, was allowed to follow him during the welcoming ceremony at the former Mapocho Train Station where leaders of the 21-member APEC are attending a formal dinner Saturday Nov. 20, 2004 in Santiago, Chile. The Secret Service agent was later allowed inside. (AP Photo/Pool TV) AP - Nov 20 4:43 PM
	In this image taken from pool television, President Bush , foreground, walks from a site of a commotion after one of his secret service agents, man with mustache, to the right of the president in this image, was allowed to follow him during the welcoming ceremony at the former Mapocho Train Station where leaders of the 21-member APEC are attending a formal dinner Saturday Nov. 20, 2004 in Santiago, Chile. The Secret Service agent was later allowed inside. (AP Photo/POOL TV/Roberto Candia) AP - Nov 20 4:43 PM
	This is In this image taken from pool television, President Bush poses with first lady Laura Bush, second from right, Chilean President Ricardo Lagos, left, and his wife Luisa Duran prior to a commotion involving a Bush's security detail. Bush turned back after noticing a commotion apparently when one of his secret service agents was prevented by Chilean police from entering the former Mapocho Train Station where leaders of the 21-member APEC are attending a formal dinner Saturday Nov. 20, 2004 in Santiago, Chile. The Secret Service agent was later allowed inside. (AP Photo/PoolTV) AP - Nov 20 4:43 PM
	U.S. President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura arrive at the Estacion Mapocho Cultural Center at the APEC Summit, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004, in Santiago, Chile. To the right is the unidentified U.S. Secret Service Agent who was originally blocked from entering. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson) AP - Nov 20 4:41 PM

[gatorbait]

Ciao, paisan! Glad to see you!

[backhoe]

Thanks! Made clickable:

http://www.bcast.co.jp/cgi-bin/yahoo/news.asx?cid=20041121-00000022-ann-int-movie-001&media=wm300k

[snopercod]

Yellow lanyard guy has a wedding ring on his left hand. Don't men wear them on the right hand south of the border?

[anonymoussierra]

Thank you

[gatorbait]

Thank You!! Hot damn,Polish EOD men in action!

[johnnyb_61820]

Do you think its conceivable that there was a plot on Bush's life? This is one of two incidents that occurred there. First, they tried to get Bush alone without his security guards, and then they try to have a state dinner without using metal detectors. It just sounds fishy -- like they're trying to leave Bush vulnerable.

[not_apathetic_anymore]

Don't know where wedding rings are worn in SA.

But if he has the ring on his Left hand...that goes along with my (far too slowly arriving) insight that yellow lanyard guy just may be USSS. (The wires may have gotten it right!)

[johnnyb_61820]

Do you think its conceivable that there was a plot on Bush's life? This is one of two incidents that occurred there. First, they tried to get Bush alone without his security guards, and then they try to have a state dinner without using metal detectors. It just sounds fishy -- like they're trying to leave Bush vulnerable.

[anonymoussierra]

Thank you
Be strong America good country!!

GROM: Polish Special Forces!!!

Spec Ops World here we come...

Although a new unit, (created in 1991) Poland's GROM has worked hard and diligently at becoming a first class Counter-terrorist unit. GROM operators are pulled from Poland's Special warfare community--both army (1st Commando Regiment) and naval combat diving forces . GROM is very protective of its operators; as such, the units numbers and order of battle are classified.
However, it is believed that they have around 270 members. It is known that GROM operates in four-person teams, each team being a highly proficient and cohesive unit. Women are also present in GROM, but due to security reasons, their functions are unknown (although it is believed they are routinely involved in intelligence gathering and stakeouts). All members of a team are fully trained as combat assault personnel.

Realizing the possibility of casualties in an assault, fully 75% of GROM operators are certified paramedics or nurses. In addition, there are several medical doctors attached to the unit.These doctors also act as combat assault personnel, carrying their medical kits along with their assault weapons. In addition, each GROM operator is expected to know at least two languages.

Grom also has fully functioning support teams, ranging from technicians and analysts to EOD (Explosives Ordinance Disposal) personnel. Many of the people running these support teams are ex-operators themselves who have been injured enough to lose their assault status or are too old to participate in the assaults but want to continue serving. These former operators bring and maintain experience and skills. Additionally, GROM is supported by a PZL W-3 Sokol helicopter for air delivery. Future plans include acquisition of at least one UH-60 Blackhawk.

All training is done with live ammunition. GROM operators are known as excellent marksmen (markspeople??). Weapons include the HK MP-5 9mm submachinegun family and the indigenous Tantal 5.45mm assault rifle (a Polish-produced AKS-74U) as well as the newer Beryl .223 assault rifle. Personal sidearm selection is left up to the individual. Snipers are equipped with either the HK PSG-1 or Mauser 86 7.62mm rifles. In some cases the RPG-76 Komar grenade launcher is carried.

Poland is blessed with a very diverse and changing terrain, because of this, operators train in different settings and locations. Urban as well as alpine and mountainous settings are used. In addition, because of Poland's many ports, GROM personnel are trained in maritime operations and are fully SCUBA qualified. Members of the maritime unit are known to train with the US Navy SEALs and are outfitted in a similar manner.

Because of their dedication and skill (particularly in the VIP protection arena) GROM was selected in 1994 to take part in Operation Restore Democracy, the American led invasion of Haiti. Fifty-five troopers were sent to train with members of the US 3rd Special Forces Group in Puerto Rico. There, they were educated in Haitian politics and social systems ad allowed to acclimate to the climate.

Upon deployment to Haiti, GROM operators provided security for several important VIPs, including UN General Secretary Buthros Buthros Ghali and US Secretary of Defense William Perry. One VIP, Lalhdar Brahimi, had a $150,000 bounty placed on his head by groups who opposed Aristede's return.

In one incident, GROM operators were stopped by a mob of slum dwellers; a boy had been taken hostage by a group of heavily armed gunmen. With the help of US. Army Military Police, the operators were able to storm the building (extinguishing a fire that had started in the process) and free the boy.

Because of the ability and professionalism displayed by its members, US Major-General David C. Meade awarded Colonel Slawomir Petelicki (GROM's creator and commander) the Army Commendation medal; the first time in American history that a foreign unit has been commended in such a manner.

At one point 50 GROM operators were deployed to Bosnia in support of the Polish battalion stationed there. They successfully pulled of a prisoner snatch of a Bosnian national suspected of war crimes in June of 1998.

GROM recently saw a major upheaval. Control was shifted from the Ministry of the Interior to the Ministry of Defense in October of 1999 and many of the senior officers were dismissed. The exact nature of this shift remains unclear; however, it appears that some members of the Polish government were upset over some illegally obtained electronic surveillance equipment. With the new command comes a new mission; in addition to counter-terrorism missions GROM is now tasked with performing guerilla warfare in case large portions of Poland are ever invaded.

GROM has been operating quietly with US forces in the war against terrorism. Commandos from GROM were sent to Afghanistan to aid in the search for Taliban and terrorist soldiers.

GROM took part in the US-led Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operating closely with US Navy SEALs, 56 members of GROM helped clear the port of Umm Qasr and nearby oil terminals and also participated in the capture and holding of the Mukarayin Dam, which could have been used to flood Baghdad

[radiohead]

I swear if he needed to jump in a fighter jet to defend the country against some giant space ships hovering over a U.S. city he would do it

ROFLMAO!! But I'm thinking the same thing!

[bonfire]

I don't know....seems we have just as many nuts and hater in the the U.S. The pres just isn't the sort of guy to "hole up" or drive around in a pope-mobile.

[johnnyb_61820]

"I wish he wouldnt take such chances, the agent is there to protect him not for him to protect the agent"

I think Bush _was_ being safe. You have foreigners trying to get Bush alone without his body guards. After this incident you have foreigners trying to get Bush to go to a dinner without running everyone through a metal detector. Sounds fishy to me.

[snopercod]

Actually, I think this whole thread is just a test to see if FReepers are observant or not. Kinda' like a game of "Clue".

[Selkie]

My thoughts exactly.

Yes its very cool that Bush dragged his agent out of the fracas, but the whole event transpiring seems sinister.

These things are coordinated way ahead, its seems very fishy that this could even occur for a split second.

Chilling.

[stopem]

I know thats whats scary.

But I still think that was one of the coolest thing he ever did.

[not_apathetic_anymore]

LOL... screening exam for intelligence photo analysts:) I failed!

[snopercod]

I found one website that indicated the custom in Chile is to wear the engagement ring on the right hands, then switch to the left during la boda.

[Gucho]

We all out to kick "dupa." :)

[snopercod]

In picture #9, it sure looks like yellow-lanyard has the uniformed officer in a ninja finger-lock with his thumb. Anybody ever done that to you?

...with his hand around the neck of the blue-lanyard just in case.

I'm thinking he's one of ours, and very highly trained.

[TexKat]

President Bush and President Of Chile about to give a news conference - Fox News.