Bush comes to aid of Secret Service agent

AP ^ | 11/20/2004 | AP staff

[wjersey]

President Bush stepped into the middle of a confrontation and pulled his lead Secret Service agent away from Chilean security officials who barred his bodyguards from entering an elegant dinner for 21 world leaders Saturday night.

Several Chilean and American agents got into a pushing and shoving match outside the cultural center where the dinner was held. Bush noticed the fracas after posing for pictures on a red carpet with the summit host, Chilean President Ricardo Lagos and his wife and first lady Laura Bush.

[Graymatter]

>>Very scary, even if it's a misunderstanding. The arrangements should have been (and probably were) worked out ahead of time.

Yes indeed---let's hope it wasn't a rehearsal, or a test of the President's security.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Looks like W is not in a good mood even upon getting out of this car. Maybe he sees it coming. This, as he heads up the steps to the red carpet leading into the banquet hall Mapocho, without secret service agents behind him (his is about to). I'll post more front on fotos of the confrontation:

[ken5050]

The other thigs I noticed from the pics is that this USSS guy must be the smallest one they have. Where's the 6'5" 280 lb.shaven head dude who played linebacker bor BC, nd then was a Recon Marine, before joing the USSS?

[myprecious]

I was kind of hoping he'd show up at my mother-in-law's...sigh!

LOL! Now that would be a treat!

I will be at In-laws again and stranded from FR for days, maybe a quick look on the nephew's computer. Last time, W went to Bagdad and the thread was 2,000+ posts before I knew. Bad withdrawl.

[TexKat]

They don't want none of us.

DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS!!!

GWB at Apec 2004

[republicangel]

Earlier I was thinking that if someone in the SS detail had pulled a gun, it could have led to a shootout with the Chilean security detail. That would not have been good obviously. Maybe they exerted great self control by not pulling weapons and only shoving.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Mrs. right after him, up the steps. Agents were about to be confronted right afterwards.

[SevenofNine]

I saw that on Fox news earlier in the day he didn't look too pleased I think some of his Latin American counterparts was giving him bad part

I tell you one thing that photo going down as most post often photos on FR History before Dubya in flyboy suit

[AmericanInTokyo]

Official photo, with all hell about to break lose behind him, about 10 feet away in the background.

[ppaul]

#138 Sure'd like to see that pic Photoshopped with a footbal in GWB's hand.

[cubreporter]

The second and thhird photos of Laura are sooooooooo cute. First one where she is eying the drinks on the tray and then the second one in which she looks like a little girl trying to prove a point. So cute. So sweet. Man, we have the most handsome President ever and...the sweetest, cutest First Lady ever. No nonsense couple. God bless them.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Some of the action in midstream: USSS vs. local LEO:

[Dashing Dasher]

Thanks...
You really should get into it... it's fun !

I'm arguing with people about disowning their families for voting for Bush and now I just started up with someone about the tax structure.

As if they know what they heck their talking about...
FUN!!!

[BobS]

It was a territorial dispute. In other words, who gets to be the bigshot. All dressed up and acting like little boys. Bush saw it and stopped it.

[daybreakcoming]

Wouldn't you love to know what he said to get the Chilean guards' attention?

[NonValueAdded]

As OhioWfan points out, this is not the first time that GWB has demonstrated that all important attribute of a fighter pilot: situational awareness. Read this thread about the incident OhioWfan mentioned for another reminder: President Bush is a good man, period.

[DaughterofEve]

I'm just so enthralled that he's our President again. What a treat...fabulous pix of W and all of Free Republic in my own home. God Bless America (and my cable connection)! Happy Thanksgiving!

The good thing about being stranded from FR is all the great reading you get to do when you return home.

[nw_arizona_granny]

From a faint memory, I think the President comes first, then the First Lady.

If the President was in trouble, she would have to leave Laura.

You must admit, a brawl is trouble....

I laughed at the graduation photos, Laura was so pleased with herself, and her daughter and the lady in red was so engrossed in being her protection, that I think she would have taken a bite out of anyone who got too close.

I have read that Laura considers the agent to be a friend.

Note, that I do not have great knowledge on this, but only impressions from things that I have read.

I don't watch TV, so pay deep attention to the photos that I see here.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Kerry would have gone full throttle in the opposite direction, returned when the fracas was finished, then put himself in for a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for tripping over a cocktail waitress, who he then cursed.

[demlosers]

I guess the linebackers were left behind to watch the fort. :)