'Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization.' -- Eugene V. Debs

Sunday, November 21, 2004

The Worst Guest in the World 

Well, Bush is running around Chile making an ass out of himself: (from Reuters)

Chilean security officials stopped several members of Mr Bush's Secret Service detail, and a shoving match ensued. It occurred as Mr Bush was entering the Mapocho Station cultural centre for an official dinner of the 21 leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum on Saturday.

Mr Bush was posing for photographs on the red carpet with his wife, Laura, and Chile's President Ricardo Lagos and his wife, Luisa Duran, when he became aware of the confrontation that was developing behind him.

He stepped away from them and reached into the crowd and hauled the leading Secret Service agent from Chilean security agents. For a few seconds Mr Bush seemed to meet resistance from the Chilean officers. He was seen shaking his head and muttering under his breath as he walked away.

So the guy's not willing to eat at a fancy dinner with world leaders without having his bodyguards a few feet away from him? Maybe Bush should get a court food taster? -- who knows what those Chileans are sprinkling on his sea bass!

The incident Saturday night leads directly to this

An elaborate state dinner tonight for US President George W. Bush was scrapped after US and Chilean officials failed to agree on security measures at the presidential palace, Chilean media reported.

Reportedly the secret service demanded that the 200 guests be forced to walk through a metal detector, and Chile wouldn't go for it. There's a vein of paranoia in these reports that really makes one aware of just how unpopular Bush is around the world.

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