What happened in Santiago?

Powerline Blog ^ | 11/21/2004 | Powerline

[waterman478]

This is very scary because it's so plausible. Add on to this rumors that Al Qaida has been recruiting in South America, and it feels worse. If you watch the video, it does look like the classic Mafia hit scene, where the bodyguards are taken out first, leaving the target unguarded...This needs serious investigation.

[BurbankKarl]

Not only that, but the cancelling of the state dinner at the end of the summit. Chileans refused to go through metal detectors so the President cancelled the huge dinner, instead dining with Mr Bush and the Chilean President and wife.

[FairOpinion]

I am sure that while it is being downplayed in public, it is receiving a lot of attention behind the scenes, including contingency plans to never, ever let anything like this happen again.

[baltodog]

My wife and I were talking about this.

What kind of fool, anywhere in the world, doesn't realize that the Secret Service goes everywhere with the President.

I suspect an ulterior motive on the Chileans' part.

Scary stuff.

[drt1]

This piece echoes exactly what I thought upon hearing about (What I suspected) the attempt to separate GW from his bodyguards. Frankly, given the abundance of nut-cases willing to die and the enormous sums of money available for an assassination, I'm surprised/concerned that W does any foreign travel under the circumstances that apparently surrounded the Chile meeting.

[onyx eyes]

Yeah. I thought it too, that Bush had maybe saved his own life. And,that would be by not reacting as they expected him to.
Tell you one thing. They better not touch a hair on the head of that one, particular cowboy, Pres. Bush....

[Theresawithanh]

It's definitely plausible. I thought the same thing, and when I saw it here on FR, my first thought was "assassination". This should be investigated, and on all future visits to S. A. or anywhere by President Bush, it should be understood that where President Bush goes, so does his S.S. detail, without questioning or quibbling, and if there are metal detectors, they are there not only for the president's security, but for everyone's.

[ClintonBeGone]

This piece echoes exactly what I thought upon hearing about (What I suspected) the attempt to separate GW from his bodyguards. Frankly, given the abundance of nut-cases willing to die and the enormous sums of money available for an assassination, I'm surprised/concerned that W does any foreign travel under the circumstances that apparently surrounded the Chile meeting.

It's not unlike sending the Pacers back to Detroit without bodyguards, or you or I showing up at a DNC rally.

[Libloather]

I don't think you guys realize the seriousness of what happened in Chile. Let me put it into perspective: the president has been marked for death by hundreds of terrorist groups;

North America, South America, what's the diff?

[lainde]

I got it and was horrified. And why was there only ONE SS there? Where were the REST?! (I like the suggestion that he could be accompanied by a detail of marines). I do believe the president is in God's hands...But I sure wish he'd stay at home more. Let the tinpot weasels come to the whitehouse. It's a beautiful place and less opportunity for life-threatening "mischief".

[drt1]

Yeah, and I'm closer to the arena than to Detroit and I can tell you, we have nut-cases here who are not above more than a thrown beer!

Re: W - It really concerns me that he is so evidently exposed in these settings. In this case he was so exposed a Company of Marines would have been in order. I hope they are treating this incident with the seriousness it deserves.

[poindexter]

"If the first thought that popped into your mind when you heard about that was not "assassination," then your mind is still laboring in a pre-9/11 world."

That's what I thought too. I'm surprised (and disappointed) that no one on the detail pulled their piece and insisted on accompanying the President. Well, they're the pros, I guess they knew what they were doing.

[Bogey78O]

If that was Clinton, Bill would have kept waling.

[tallhappy]

Whole APEC thing is bad. Chile is the host and pulls these stunts.

But APEC will not let Taiwan's President even attend.

And Bush goes along with it as he has for four years.

[snowman1]

Yeah but the nut cases aren't after one of their own like SLICK WILLIE.

[Merry]

As soon as we heard of the incident on the local news last night, my husband and I were scared for the President. This entire incident was very odd. We will be happy when he is back home. President Bush has been looking very tired since the election. I hope he is planning to take a vacation soon.

[GeronL]

They also kept out the bodyguards of the Chinese leader and probably all leaders. It was a massacre

[nanak]

Q: What happened in Sick-Tiago?
A: Our PRESIDENT sent a message, "don't mess with us." Even though I don't agree with my PRESIDENT on many issues, but I know that if needed he will use every last option to defend us.

[Quix]

I AGREE!

[Quix]

Have been close to a major Taiwan APEC rep for a long time. It's certainly creeping globalism top to bottom.