Don't You Wish You Had Diplomatic Immunity?

[sayas_eternal_servant]

A Mexican press attaché was caught on camera pocketing several White House BlackBerries during a recent meeting in New Orleans.

Rafael Quintero Curiel took six or seven of the handheld devices from a table outside a special room in the hotel where the Mexican delegation was meeting with President Bush earlier this week.

Everyone entering the room was required to leave his or her cell phone, BlackBerry and other such devices on the table, a common practice when high-level meetings are held. American officials discovered their missing belongings when they left. Secret Service officials reviewed videotape which showed Quintero Curiel absconding with the BlackBerries.

Quintero Curiel made it all the way to the airport before Secret Service officers caught up with him. He initially denied taking the devices, but after agents showed him the DVD, he said it was purely accidental, gave them back, claimed diplomatic immunity and left New Orleans with the Mexican delegation.

[Oneeightytwo]

What a disgraceful lack of security of the devices! This to me seems the REAL problem here!!!! What if they could not have been able to identify the perpetrator so readily? The outcome would have been very different & they would not have gotten the devices, that undoubtedly had sensitive information on them, back. What about national security, what a joke!

BTW I had diplomatic immunity & gave it up.

[SweetyTweety]

Hi, first of all, I'm Mexican and I feel so embarrassed of cause of the stupidity and dishonesty of this guy. I cannot explain how a person, regardless of its position and academic formation could just think of steal from diplomatic officers in the way and circumstances this dumb rat did. How could he ever had to steal!!

I'm sure that the Secret Service should had done a better job of prevention, due that in my opinion, those Blackberry's could have valuable-useful information, from personal to State related.

Second, this guy, which I assure you will NEVER be forgotten in his life (Mexican society is very hard on those guys) doesn't have diplomatic I'mmunity!!. The fact of working in a government position and being outside a country does not give someone Immunity. The US government should have granted an order-injunction at that moment to avoid this guy return to Mexico, cause if this unfortunate guy had the balls to that, what else could he do? spy for terrorist?.

I mean, im not crucifying my Mexican national, but its very very innocent of stupid to say it was an accident, but maybe a bit more stupid letting him go!!.

We are sorry for this guy,.. but, he didn't had diplomatic immunity this man only did logistics.. (as order the agenda and events)... more sorry for US officers that let him escape (despite political effects)..by that dumb excuse..

What a shame my God!!

[Toaster_Jesus]

You racist bastard

[Iceman]

Maybe he thought they were free samples. Hey you know only in America. I'd be more worried about the lack of security for the personal effects of diplomats than this idiot. On the other hand I'd be pretty stupid putting something on a table with sensitive information in it visiting the President. I'd be just as worried about the secret service checking out my info.

[AbigailD]

I don't see how anyone can steal something 'by accident', and certainly not six or seven of them. And why didn't they ask to see his papers-aren't those carrying diplomatic immunity supposed to have papers to that effect?

[snookumsnort]

This news is so shocking, it's almost laughable. How anyone get away with stealing stuff, moreso things which may contain confidential information, during a supposedly secured area is beyond me.

[spiderpig]

You could be onto something with the free samples, but I agree he should not have been able to just pocket 6-7 of them. Something like a checked jacket or valet parked car would be much more intelligent than just piling them on a table and letting anyone take them as they leave, hoping they would get back to the right person.

[layla]

That phrase always reminds me of Lethal Weapon 2... or was it 3. Anyway, I totally agree with all of you who said where the heck was security during the incident?

[Bruce]

This entire incident would have been so laughable for its end to end stupidity if some of the ramifications were not so serious. To think that the guy figured he could get away with the crime, AND almost did. Then to come up with such a lame excuse and then for the much vaunted security guys to just let him go like that - I hardly think diplomatic immunity is the issue here.

To answer the question though, yes, I'd love having diplomatic immunity. Going through airports these days are a nightmare.