Posted on 11/21/2004 7:42:15 AM PST by The Wizard
Just announced: The USSS demanded that Metal detectors be used for ALL entering dinner tonight, and the Chile President *Didn't want to subject his guests to that* so they scaled back the meeting to those already "swept"
I'm sure others wiil add details
The Cuban State Newspaper endorsed him, so you can pretty much guarantee that came from Castro.
Obviously, this does not pass the smell test. In times like these Chile should do everything possible to help the USSS. That they are doing the opposite is all that we need to know.
The President must be kept safe at all costs. At the same time he must not seem to be afraid of the terrorists. The President of Chile is intentionally making it seem that President Bush, or at least his security detail, is/are afraid.
Hence, the President of Chile is knowingly aiding the enemy. This is not even slightly subtle. The President of Chile has slapped the President of the United States in the face. Chile will pay a price. Personally, I hope that price is very large.
Thank you, mysonsfuture. The comment line is open only M-F, 9-5PM EST. Still need an e-mail address for the WH.
Anyone?
Maybe the desire down there is for proper security for someone else who has a goal that would be compromised by our own security measures.
Don't know if anyone watched "Secret Service" on Fox a few weeks back which showed the preparations for a "friendly" visit to LSU graduation exercises. Awesome. And this was done at home.
The U.S. should be on heightened alert and make the 200 guests and dignitaries go through a CT Scan and MRI before they are allowed in the same room with the most important person on the planet. If they have problems with that, screw em. The fact that a state function is that loose on controlling these events is a red flag and we should not ignore the obvious.
It was not only the lead agent, but the other agent who is with the President at all times. From the WashTimes article, there are 2 who are considered his personal agents, constantly by his side. Both #1 AND #2 were prevented from entering right behind the Pres.
Another article last night stated that other agents had been allowed into the event by a different door, so were in the building ahead of this, but their location hasn't been mentioned, that I've seen.
If they were already in the banquet hall, then they were in no position to protect the President as he came through the door a number of feet away. So he would have been unguarded at that point.
Others have said it: GWB has good instincts.
To someone who KNOWS.....Aren't all STATE DINNERS tightly controlled? Isn't security HIGHEST at an event like this? It would only make sense that this would be common practice, it surely is common sense.
guess the Chilean president thinks terrorism only happens to Americans? or to American presidents? haven't they ever had any 'heavy' world leaders there? I'm sure similar procedures would be in place for Blair or Alawi or even Ole Euro's like Chirac and Schroeder.
State dinner for Bush cancelled.
AN elaborate state dinner tonight for US President George W. Bush was scrapped after US and Chilean officials failed to agree on security measures at the presidential palace, Chilean media reported.
The newspaper, citing high-level Chilean sources, said Chile was unwilling to accept security measures sought by the US secret service for today's official dinner in Santiago's ornate presidential palace.
The measures included a demand that all guests for the official dinner pass through metal detectors at the La Moneda palace, but the demand was rejected by Lagos, the newspaper and radio reports said.
Chilean media said the state dinner had been planned for 200 guests. About 20 will attend the working dinner, to be held in Lagos' private dining room in the same building.
====
Article in post 23.
Well? Still blaming the USSS and defending the Chileans?
This WashTimes article has more information, no registration required.
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20041120-113709-8651r.htm
Here's a snippet:
The president's lead agent approached the line of men as quickly as it closed and demanded to be allowed through. Within a few seconds, the confrontation began to escalate with voices being raised and shoving in all directions.
"You're not stopping me! You're not stopping me!" yelled the agent, as captured by several television cameras. "I'm with the president."
During the fracas, another Secret Service agent was roughly pulled from the tumult and pushed against a concrete wall by Chilean security.
The cancelled the dinner for 200. There are ONLY 20 now
and it's a "working dinner" instead of a social dinner.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/11/17/world/main656353.shtml
"....On Saturday night, Chilean security barred
Bush's bodyguards from accompanying
the president into a dinner for Asia-Pacific
leaders. As a pushing and shoving match
ensued, Bush strode over to the melee,
reached into the group and pulled
mustachioed agent Nick Trotta out by the
lapel...
...Trotta has been taking good-natured
ribbing for having to be rescued by the
man he's charged with protecting."
And I'm sure the scanning will NOT be scrapped.
I don't think POTUS should be going overseas any more "for the duration." I hope we have a couple of warships standing offshore and some aircraft fueled and standing on the appropriate runways. If there is an attepmt on him in Chile then they should know ahead of time down there that there will be an unacceptable amount of damage done immediately and a lot more in a little while. If anything happens, these incidents indicate that the government is at least complicit.
If there is no evil afoot then these folks are playing a dangerous game just being rude like that. It can and should be construed as possible enemy action.
That would do it. LOL
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