| Thoughts on the Secrect Service scandal? | |
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| Topic Started: Apr 15 2012, 08:58 AM (1,420 Views) | |
| Negrodamus | Apr 15 2012, 08:58 AM Post #1 |
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CARTAGENA, Colombia (Reuters) - A prostitution scandal involving U.S. security personnel in Colombia and an unprecedented regional push to end the isolation of Cuba threatened on Saturday to eclipse President Barack Obama's charm offensive to Latin America. In a major embarrassment for Washington at the Summit of the Americas attended by more than 30 heads of state, 11 U.S. Secret Service agents were sent home and five military servicemen grounded over "misconduct" allegations in a hotel. Prostitutes were taken to the hotel, according to a Colombian police source. The widening controversy was overshadowing a host of weightier topics at the two-day summit that began on Saturday. "I had a breakfast meeting to discuss trade and drugs, but the only thing the other delegates wanted to talk about was the story of the agents and the hookers," chuckled one Latin American diplomat in the historic city of Cartagena. Locals were upset about the bad publicity for their city, and the scandal was raising eyebrows around the region. "Obama's guards expelled in Colombia over prostitution - shame the gringos think that Latin America is a brothel and they act like it too," commented left-leaning Venezuelan political commentator Nicmer Evans via Twitter. Obama's rapprochement with the region - already undermined by the titillating headlines from Cartagena - also faces a rare display of unity among both leftist and conservative-run nations in Latin America in allowing communist-run Cuba at the next summit. Argentina's foreign minister said the final summit declaration was stalled over the issue of Cuba, with 32 nations supporting its inclusion in the next Summit of the Americas, but the United States vetoing that. "We have decided not to participate in future 'Summits of the Americas' without the presence of Cuba," said the leftist ALBA block of nations, founded by Venezuela's theatrically anti-U.S. president, Hugo Chavez. OAS UNDER STRAIN Unlike at previous summits, backing for Cuba has also come from Colombia, Washington's strongest ally in South America. Sunday's proceedings will add to strain on the Washington-dominated system of hemispheric diplomacy that is built around the Organization of American States but is struggling to evolve with changes in the region. From Havana, Cuba's former president, Fidel Castro, weighed in with a withering newspaper column about the OAS and its "guayabera summit" - a reference to the loose-fitting Caribbean shirts being worn by many heads of state in Cartagena. Making no reference to the scandal, Obama tackled head-on accusations he had neglected Latin America while dealing with conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and other faraway priorities. "We've never been more excited about the prospect of working as equal partners with our brothers and sisters in Latin America and the Caribbean," he told business officials. Obama also hailed the potential to boost trade between the "nearly a billion consumers" of North and South America. The reality, though, is different: China has taken advantage of perceived U.S. neglect and is now the main trade partner for various countries, including regional powerhouse Brazil. Running for re-election in November, Obama is also under pressure from domestic voters to show his foreign policies give priority to trade that creates American jobs. Latin American leaders are also pressuring the United States for an overhaul of anti-drug policies, including possible narcotics legalization as a way to take profits out of the trade. "Sometimes those controversies date back to before I was born," Obama said wryly. "And sometimes I feel as if in some of these discussions, or at least the press reports, we're caught in a time warp, going back to the 1950s and gunboat diplomacy and Yankees and the Cold War, and this and that and the other." OBAMA FIRM ON DRUGS Many in Latin America feel a new approach is needed to the drug war - and a shift away from hard-line policies - after decades of violence, in producer and trafficking nations like Colombia and Mexico. But Obama was firm in rejecting calls to legalize either growing or consuming drugs. "I don't mind a debate around issues like decriminalization. I personally don't agree that's a solution to the problem," Obama said. Colombian pop star Shakira brought a splash of showbiz to the proceedings by singing her national anthem at the start of the summit. Missing from the OAS' sixth such hemispheric gathering were Ecuador's Rafael Correa, who is boycotting the event over Cuba's exclusion, and Venezuela's Chavez, who is undergoing cancer treatment. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff gave Obama an earful on U.S. expansionist monetary policy that is sending a flood of funds into developing nations, forcing up currencies and hurting and other rich nations' competitiveness. "The way these countries, the most developed ones, especially in the euro region in the last year, have reacted to the crisis with monetary expansion has produced a monetary tsunami," she said, as Obama listened. "Obviously we have to take measures to defend ourselves. Note the word I chose - 'defend,' not 'protect,'" added Rousseff, whose government's actions to curb imports have been decried as protectionism by some in the region. The host, President Juan Manuel Santos, is using the summit to showcase Colombia's new economic stability after decades of guerrilla and drug violence that scared off investors. Although seeking to position himself as a regional mediator - particularly between conservative governments and the anti-American bloc led by Chavez - Santos nevertheless weighed in to support Brazil's position in front of Obama. "In some way, (they) are exporting their crisis to us via the appreciation of our currencies," Santos said, referring to the damage done to local exporters as Latin American currencies gain strength. "I share President Dilma Rousseff's anxiety." (Additional reporting by Caren Bohan, Laura MacInnis, Helen Murphy, Pablo Garibian, Mario Naranjo, and Luis Jaime Acosta in Cartagena and; Daniel Wallis in Caracas; Editing by Peter Cooney) http://news.yahoo.com/scandal-mars-obamas-wooing-latin-america-002040977.html |
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| Negrodamus | Apr 15 2012, 09:02 AM Post #2 |
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I was reading the comments, since they are always good for a a few lolz moments but came across these 2 comments that stuck out. . 19Please sign in to rate!Please sign in to rate!86 Jimmy Hoffa • Prineville, Oregon • 4 hrs ago FOX NEWS IS # ONE IN HATE AND PROPAGANDA IN RED STATES. • Most CHILD ABUSE … 9 are RED states. • Most incidents of MAJOR DEPRESSION … 9 are RED states. • Most DRUNK DRIVING FATALITIES … all 10 are RED states! • Most METHAMPHETAMINE use … 8 are RED states. • Most FIREARMS DEATHS … 9 are RED states. • Most PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION use … 9 are RED states. • Most TOBACCO DEPENDENCY … 9 are RED states. • Most OVERWEIGHT & OBESE residents … all 10 are RED states! • Most DEATHS FROM LUNG CANCER … 9 are RED states. • Highest CHILD DEATH rate … all 10 are RED states! • Most POLLUTION … 9 are RED states. • Worst PUBLIC SCHOOL systems … 8 are RED states. • Least COLLEGE GRADUATES … 9 are RED states. • Most POVERTY … 9 are RED states. Clearly, what the republicans plan to do is to make cuts that will hurt their own constituents the most … the abused, depressed, drunk, drugged, endangered, medicated, self-medicated, obese, unhealthy and uneducated poor!. THE TOP TEN WELFARE RECIPIENT STATES 1) New Mexico (PURPLE/Swing State) 2) Mississippi (Republican) 3) Alaska (Republican) 4) Louisiana (Republican) 5) West Virginia (Republican) 6) Alabama (Republican) 7) South Dakota (Republican) 8) Kentucky (Republican) 9) Virginia (Republican) 10) Montana (Republican) Sources: Tax Foundation, 2010 Census not left/rightwing biased tv stations (i.e. FOX, CNBC, MSNBC) 17 Replies 5 H8LIBS • 4 hrs ago Back at you dum a*s*s: • First President to Violate the War Powers Act • First President to willfully sell Weapons to Mexican Drug Cartels • First President to be Held in Contempt of Court for Illegally Obstructing Oil Drilling in the Gulf of Mexico • First President to Defy a Federal Judge's Court Order to Cease Implementing the 'Health Care Reform' Law • First President to Require All Americans to Purchase a Product From a Third Party • First President to Spend a Trillion Dollars on 'Shovel-Ready' Jobs — and Later Admits There Was No Such Thing. • First President to sue 3 states for trying to enforce Federal Law and protect its borders. • First President to Abrogate Bankruptcy Law to Turn Over Control of Companies to His Union Supporters • First President to Demand a Company Hand Over $20 Billion to his Political Appointees • First President to ignore Racial Discrimination and Intimidation at Polling Places • First President to Arbitrarily Declare an Existing Law Unconstitutional and Refuse to Enforce It • First President to Threaten Insurance Companies if they publicly speak out on the Reasons for their Rate Increases • First President to Tell a Major Manufacturing Company Which State They Are Allowed to Locate their Factory • First President to Withdraw an Existing Coal Permit That Had Been Properly Issued Years Ago • First President to Fire an Inspector General of Americorps for Catching One of His Friends in a Corruption Case • First President to Propose an Executive Order Demanding Companies Disclose Their Political Contributions to Bid on Government Contracts • First American President to hand over half a billion tax dollars without due diligence to an independent company only to have them turn around and file for bankruptcy. • First President who knew his relatives were in the U.S. illegally and tried to hide it. • First sitting President to turn down an invitation to honor Veterans of Foreign Wars • First President to be sued by 27 states due to his Health Care bill. Obama admits to regrets, President Obama reflected on the first three years of administration and freely admitted he has made mistakes "Oh, I think probably once a day, I look back and I say, ‘You know, I could have done that a little bit better.’" Obama - "I accepted some blame for the gridlock that has engulfed Washington - and acknowledged that I have fallen short of my campaign pledges to lead in a post-partisan fashion." Oh, and for those of you who like to ask, "where's your source", look it up yourself liberals. |
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| Glenn D. | Apr 15 2012, 09:03 AM Post #3 |
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Election year drivel.... Some off duty Secret Service agents, and some off duty solders got laid... Oooooooohhhh scary stuff huh? If I were to choose men to protect me... I'd want some who like to have a good time in their off time... Ones who understand that getting some strange isnt a sin... bad taste maybe... |
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| Cray | Apr 15 2012, 12:41 PM Post #4 |
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What pisses me off is people act like government officials and workers are never suppose to have sex. Who gives a fuck if bill clinton was getting some on the side. I'm sure more than half of the people reporting on it were having an affair or had one. The high ass divorce rates shows this. So an American James bond fucked a hooker. Who gives a fuck |
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| Veritas | Apr 15 2012, 01:20 PM Post #5 |
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Election year drivel is right. They're only scratching the surface at this point. Every little issue is going to be magnified. I agree, if they want to get the some on their time off, good for them. I think where the problem might come in is if those kinds of "indiscretions" would make these men susceptible to compromise and put the President in Danger. I don't think it will be the first or last time something like this has happened. Maybe getting some helps them to keep the stress level down. Make them more effective. No better way to alleviate stress that I know of. Most doctors will support that premise. Even daddy Bush reportedly was geting him some on the side. Frankly, I can't see how most men can look at mama Bush and get stimulated. There is no sexy perfume or sexy outfit from Victoria Secrets she could put on that would induce sexual excitement. The only feelings she would evoke in me is sympathy. Back on topic, these cats just did what some men do. They like women and they like sex. Not ususal. |
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| catdaddy25 | Apr 15 2012, 04:08 PM Post #6 |
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This has been going on for years under many Presidents but when a black man became President it's now a problem. |
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| Cray | Apr 15 2012, 05:25 PM Post #7 |
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Anything to get this man out of office or look bad before next election |
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| Deleted User | Apr 15 2012, 10:28 PM Post #8 |
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Deleted User
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Didn't read the article, heard a little bit about it, my thing is they need to make sure they are doing their job and then have a good time. Nothing wrong with having a good time but like Glenn D. said if it is off duty, then it shouldn't be a problem except they are dealing in illegal activities. With something like this to each his own just protect my President to fullest and with your lives the way you are suppose to. |
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| VoiceofReason | Apr 15 2012, 10:36 PM Post #9 |
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My only thought.... Are they somehow Expensing these trysts or using their own money? |
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| G. A. W. | Apr 16 2012, 01:36 AM Post #10 |
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I love how people in Columbia say, "Yea No"....real fast, like Yeano. LOL Ok. Back to topic...... Personally - These men are doing their jobs.... and if they want some "company" during their off duty time...then well.......... who is it hurting? As long as it's between consenting adults....I think the topic of sex shouldn't even be brought up about political figures..... It's so cliche....... |
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