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.
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.
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....
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.
North America, South America, what's the diff?
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".
"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.
But APEC will not let Taiwan's President even attend.
And Bush goes along with it as he has for four years.
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.
They also kept out the bodyguards of the Chinese leader and probably all leaders. It was a massacre
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.
I AGREE!
I take my cues from the President.
He did not look like HE felt threatened during the altercation on Saturday, or during any of the events yesterday. In fact, he looks as though he was having a grand old time.
I know Freepers love to escalate things in dramatic ways, but we are not omniscient security experts even though we have internet access and Free Republic logon privileges.
If true, it shows how stupid the terrorists are because the next move on the chessboard would be President Cheney, Vice President Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense Wolfowitz and a bright green glow where most of the Middle East used to be.
OK, well maybe that's a bad example, but this powerblog thing is strictly tinfoil hat stuff.
IMO, the Chileans are currying favor with "old Europe" by doing this.
It was intended to humiliate Bush.
What I don't get is why this wasn't intimately choreographed beforehand - concerning the security detail. I seriously doubt that Lagos told Bush "Hey why doncha come to my place for dinner...say around 5-ish?" and that Team Bush said "Okeedokee, we'll be there, and probably take a cab." What the sam hill is going on here? Either the Embassy or Secret Service didn't do its job, or the Chileans tried to pull a fast one. Does anybody have any insight as to how a colossal f-up like this could have occurred?