In role reversal, president rescues Secret Service agent

Washington Times ^ | 11/21/04 | James G. Lakely

[kattracks]

SANTIAGO, Chile — President Bush broke up a fight last night between his lead Secret Service agent and a Chilean security detail, pulling the agent through a wall of men trying to bar his bodyguard's access to a state dinner

[snip]

Mr. Bush calmly turned right as the other three continued on and inserted himself into the fight. The president reached over two rows of Chilean security guards, grabbed his lead agent by the shoulder of his suit jacket and began to pull.
    The tape of the incident, viewed by reporters last night, could not pick up any words the president might have been saying as he worked to get the agent through the line.
    A few Chilean guards turned their heads and noticed that the arm draped over their shoulders was that of the president, and the line softened. Mr. Bush pulled his agent through, who was heard to say, "Get your hands off me" as he passed roughly through the doorway.

[snip]

The Secret Service source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the president's security detail and that the Chileans had argued about security procedures all day and that he wasn't surprised to see last night's skirmish unfold.

The Chileans, he said, were determined to take charge of security, but the president of the United States is the only world leader who takes his bodyguards with him wherever he goes. Normally, foreign countries defer to that demand. The Chilean security detail resisted, the source said, and was determined to take a stand at the dinner.

    Chilean security knew that the Secret Service always accompanies the president and knows how to identify them by the pins on their lapels, the source said, but blocked them anyway.

[larryjohnson]

favorite

[ontos-on]

I second that emotion on the "already posted" jazz.

[Plutarch]

the president of the United States is the only world leader who takes his bodyguards with him wherever he goes.

Never ever call a Secret Service Agent a "bodyguard".

[truecons]

Anybody who says this was no big deal is out of their minds. That kind of distraction is EXACTLY what would be used to initiate an assassination attempt.

We have to remember this is South America. They assassinate their leaders like we play golf. W has too many enemies around the world to let things like this happen. We need to let it be known around the world that presidential visits will be entirely handled by our Secret Service and that any interference will NOT be tolerated.

[Mister Baredog]

On a lighter note I see for a fairly new member you have taken the time to put up a very nice homepage.

This is greatly appreciated by this FReeper, thank you for that, I frequently check homepages to learn about my fellow FReepers.

This is another great way to enjoy this forum. Many "veteran" FReepers haven't taken the time to even put up a flag(see my tagline).

FReegards
Baredog

P.S. My wife and I LOVED our two week trip to Italy in May 2001.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

From what I read in the post, it seemed to me the president was on the side of the Secret Service man, getting his man out of the fray.
If anything, Bush probably told his Secret Service man to go home, take a week off, then, come back. If the CHILIANS were at fault, I doubt if Bush will fire him.

[Hop A Long Cassidy]

>>>"Anybody who says this was no big deal is out of their minds. That kind of distraction is EXACTLY what would be used to initiate an assassination attempt."

Bump, and agree.

I'm waiting for a formal apology from Chile and heads to roll. Otherwise, we should recall our Ambassador for a couple weeks, etc. Everyone knows the story on terrorism, and South American drive-by's.

Hoppy

[Republican Wildcat]

Five times? This is the FIRST time this article has been posted. Did you do a search?

[Prophet in the wilderness]

I suppose the French had something to do with this, before our president got to Chilie ?
The protection of our president should never be farmed out, or sourced out to others.

[Republican Wildcat]

Posting additional articles within threads?

[ClintonBeGone]

Yes, I agree with you. The disrespect carried by the French only encourages other countries to try to top them in terms of their level of rudeness.

[alessandrofiaschi]

Thank you for your kind words! This is my unique home page and I think I'll add several links in the future (I don't know much the HTML... and I've not a lot of time). Anyway, I'm not so new. I read occasionally FR from 2002 (January), even if I didn't register myself. If you're going to come here (in Rome), you'll be welcome.

Alessandro

[ClintonBeGone]

Posting additional articles [information] within threads?

[Prophet in the wilderness]

I think we should pull all of our troops out of EU and our companies from Europe.
That's amazing, the french and Germans tell us we can't have more troops from them, but, they cry when we even mention any word we are going to pull our own troops out of Europe.
The EU's ( mostly the french and Germans ) are such hypocrites and cry babys. The french are the most egotistical, arrogant, rude, cowardly country on earth.

[Old Student]

"I bet you there's an agent on his way back to D.C. even now. When the president of the United States has to pull you out of a fight, you know you're in trouble."

I bet you you're wrong. If the agent had started a gunfight there, then you might well be right, but not otherwise. President Bush is familiar with the Latino culture, so I doubt he was at all surprised there was a problem.

[Republican Wildcat]

This is not an article that has been previously posted.

In any event...this is upsetting you way more than it should.

[ClintonBeGone]

In any event...this is upsetting you way more than it should.

Not really. I've worked in a jail, the board room and in government. I'm used to the ignorant.

[FreedomCalls]

Coverage of the event last night. Incident about 1/3 of the way through.

At about the 19:00 minute mark.

[eyespysomething]

newer more info

[Republican Wildcat]

So according to you:

It's ignorant to post a story that hasn't been posted.

It is intelligent to say a story has already been posted when it hasn't been.

I see. Thanks for enlightning me, and indeed, the rest of the forum to this amazing new concept.