What should have been an elaborate state dinner with some 200 people was downgraded to only a working dinner. According to the following report
Chilean President Ricardo Lagos did not like the idea of having guests walk through metal detectors. On Saturday night, President Bush waded into a
scuffle after Chilean authorities blocked the President's Secret Service agents from accompanying him into a dinner. According to the following
report tempers flared then a shoving match ensued, President Bush himself then pushed into the commotion, grabbed his lead agent, and pulled him
inside.
ABCNEWS.com Full Article
SANTIAGO, Chile Nov 21, 2004 � President Bush tried to mend relations in Latin America with fresh promises of immigration reform Sunday while a new
security spat surfaced with Chile after an embarrassing fracas in which Bush intervened.
What was supposed to have been an elaborate state dinner with 200 people Sunday was downgraded to an official working dinner, reportedly because
Chilean President Ricardo Lagos balked at Secret Service demands for guests to walk through metal detectors. The guest list for the working dinner was
pared down to the leaders, their wives and top aides.
On Saturday night, Bush waded into a scuffle that erupted when Chilean authorities blocked the president's Secret Service agents from accompanying
him into a dinner. As tempers flared and a shoving match ensued, Bush pushed into the commotion, grabbed his lead agent, Nick Trotta, and pulled him
inside.
The incident, shown repeatedly on television worldwide, was an unlikely episode in an otherwise staid gathering of 21 Pacific Rim leaders at the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. In a moment of levity, the leaders posed in colorful, hand-woven ponchos following the summit tradition of
wearing native garb of the host country.
Please visit the link provided for the complete story.
It looks like when you are President of the U.S.A. and head south of the border for dinner, you may want to think twice and go to Taco Bell.
If nothing else President Bush has shown the world he is a "hands-on kind of guy"
According to the above report Bush, arrived at La Moneda palace, greeted Lagos in spanish by saying "Ricardo, aqui esta el gringo."
Translation: "Ricardo, the gringo's here."
Setting aside all of my political bias here... even I can say this .... This one time..
Go Bush!
Related News:
Chile calls off Bush banquet
Bush, Fox talk immigration
[edit on 21-11-2004 by UM_Gazz]