[TexKat]

Starting now

[Miss Marple]

OK. So far the Chilean president is being conciliatory.

[lonevoice]

Thanks from the cubicle-bound for starting this thread. I was looking forward to this one. Especially interested in hearing if anything is said about the two security issues in Chile.

[Stoat]

A nice commentary re the Chilean bodyguard scuffle issue:

The Claremont Institute The Remedy

He Handled It Himself

 

You would have expected no less from James Polk, or Andrew Jackson. But in recent history, presidents don't seem to get their hands dirty much. In the age of presidential makeup and haircuts on aircraft runways, its rare to see a president willing to frumple his shirt cuffs, to help out somebody who works for him. So that Bush would step in to personally set to right a mistake of bumbling Chilean guards is, I have to say, impressive.
 

As Bush stepped inside, Chilean agents closed ranks at the door, blocking the president's agents from following. Stopping for more pictures, Bush noticed the fracas and turned back. He reached through the dispute and pulled his agent from the scrum and into the building.

 

 

The president, looking irritated, straightened his shirt cuffs as he went into the dinner.

 

 

This sort of thing reveals a man's character. Would the Clintons, who treated the Secret Service with contempt, have anything remotely similar? Would John Kerry?

 

Tom Karako

 

[Melinda]

Notice the bars on the windows of the building (Capitol of Chile? Anyone?) in the mural behind them? They speak volumes without a word.

[Havoc]

Good evening, we've just come on to warn you in advance that your job is the next to go. I've just signed a deal with Chile' selling more of you out to profit motives of my contributors. Thanks, btw, John, for not pressing that issue.
Any questions?

[not_apathetic_anymore]

Thank you for your hospitality - that has to be diplomaticspeak:)

[McGavin999]

Why do they even bother to have joint press conferences. Nobody every asks anyone but President Bush any questions.

[bd476]

Ping.

[Mount Athos]

Well Chile has made some very smart economic moves over the years that have made the rest of South America look pretty dumb in comparison (except perhaps Ecuador).

Chile is a truly fantastic and safe place to visit, but one comment about those bars on the windows. There is very little violence in Chile, but they have a really terrible problems with thieves of all kinds. Pickpockets are rampant, house breakins. You see bars on windows of houses throughout Chile.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Mon Nov 22, 1:43 AM ET
In a move likely to anger China, Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian (L) has vowed to push through a new constitution describing the island as an independent state and threatened to hold a referendum on Taiwan's future. Here Chen (L) with Australia's Prime Minister John Howard (C) and US President George W.Bush (R) behind Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (2L) and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark(AFP/Omar Torres)