2 US embassy officials injured in Venezuela; police official says 1 shot outside night club

[Bacchus4.0]

Source: Washington Post


CARACAS, Venezuela — A Venezuelan police official says a military attaché at the U.S. Embassy has been injured in a shooting outside a night club.

The State Department said two U.S. officials were injured in an “incident” early Tuesday but gave few details.

The police official said that Roberto Ezequiel Rosas was shot in the right leg during an argument outside a night club in the Chacao district of Caracas. She said he was taken to a local hospital. His condition was not immediately clear.

The official spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to release the information publicly.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/police-official-says-us-embassy-employee-wounded-in-venezuela-shooting/2013/05/28/577b29a0-c7b2-11e2-9cd9-3b9a22a4000a_story.html

[geek tragedy]

1. What the hell is a US military attaché doing in a nightclub in Caracas?

Talk about a wanton disregard for one's own safety . . . Caracas is dangerous for anyone, let alone someone affiliated with the US military.

[Bacchus4.0]

5. partying, and I suspect that is what led to this. n/t

s

[geek tragedy]

7. Maybe, but one would expect someone in that position

to exercise a little more judgment than to be partying as a US military attache in the most anti-US country and the most violent city in the Western hemisphere (maybe it's #2, haven't checked San Pedro Sula's stats recently).

[delrem]

13. BS. You're just reflecting the fact that you want the US to see Venezuela as enemy.

[Judi Lynn]

14. They were fighting with EACH OTHER.

Gunfire at Caracas strip club hurts 2 US officials
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Associated Press

~snip~
Police said the two U.S. officials were shot following a brawl inside the club, which is in the basement of a shopping center in the upper-middle-class Chacao neighborhood. A woman who works at the club said the two men got into a fight with each other.

The club's Twitter account features racy photos of nude or scantily clad women pole dancing, posing inside cages or reclining on beds. The text under one photo invites visitors to come and watch the club's "sexy show."

~snip~
Deisy Ron, who identified herself as the club's artistic director, told The Associated Press that she wasn't at work when the shooting happened, but said employees she supervises told her that the men got into an argument and started throwing punches inside the club.

"They were fighting with each other," she said. "One of them pulled out a gun and shot the other in the stomach and the leg."

More:
http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/international/americas/2013/05/gunfire_at_caracas_strip_club_hurts_2_us_officials

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

15. Armed and drunk. What could go wrong? nt

[geek tragedy]

16. Amazing. Where do they find such all-star diplomats? nt

[MADem]

18. That establishment needs to be placed on the Off Limits list.

As do others, no doubt. It's like asking for trouble.

[geek tragedy]

20. If reports that they shot each other are true, it would appear

that these two champs are the problem, not the establishment.

hard to dream up a scenario where being a US diplomatic official in a Caracas strip club is an exercise of good judgment, regardless.

[MADem]

23. Well, the establishment is in the "orange" zone anyway, and

perhaps a review of what constitutes acceptable associations needs to happen. This isn't a place for your military attaches to be hanging out, or your embassy guards, or anyone who works there--it's a James Bondian locale, the place where you'd meet the Russkie operative...rather like that famous topless bar in Hong Kong that made it into one of the JB movies (that place was actually rather...seedy, I guess is the best word--not sophisticated at all--but the camera can both reveal and hide--not to digress).

[Mnemosyne]

2. Wasn't our embassy kicked out of there a short time ago? nt

[geek tragedy]

4. The US and Venezuela have been playing the old game of retaliatory

expulsions, but no embassy closings (yet).

[Mnemosyne]

8. Thanks, knew I'd read something. nt

[Brother Buzz]

6. Venezuela Expeled two US diplomats

Ironically, they were also part of the military attaché

[Mnemosyne]

9. That is what is was, thanks for clarifying it, Brother Buzz. nt

[hrmjustin]

3. I hope they catch the people who did this.

[bitchkitty]

17. They already have.

A Venezuelan did not shoot these clowns. They were fighting with EACH OTHER.

[Sunlei]

10. Our gov. employees shouldn't be allowed to go party, clubbing or to theSA legal hooker nightspots.

Those areas are not secure from the local troubles/violence AND they are more open to other countries attacks.

[geek tragedy]

11. Shooting happened in 'orange zone' for US embassy employees apparently

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1059.html#safety

U.S. Embassy Travel Policy: All U.S. direct-hire personnel and their families assigned to U.S. Embassy in Caracas are subject to an embassy travel policy for their safety and well-being.The policy divides Caracas into three zones: yellow, orange and red. The Yellow Zone has no restrictions but personnel are advised to remain vigilant in those areas. Travel into the Orange Zone between the hours of 8pm and 6am is not recommended. The Orange Zone includes the following neighborhoods: Northern Chacao (El Bosque, La Castellana, El Rosal, Country Club, Chacao, Altamira, Los Palos Grandes, Campo Alegre and Chacaito), Eastern Libertador (Montalban, El Paraiso, Vista Alegre, San Bernardino, Los Chaguaramos, Valle Abajo, Santa Monica, Bello Monte, Coche, El Valle, Sabana Grande, Ciudad Universitaria and La Florida), El Hatillo (La Lagunita and El Hatillo), and Western Sucre (Sebucan, Los Chorros, Montecristo, Los Dos Caminos, El Marquez, Horizonte, La Urbina, Maracacuay, Santa Cecilia, La Carlota, Terrazas del Avila, Urbanizacion Miranda, Boleita and Los Ruices). Unofficial travel into the Red Zone is prohibited. Personnel are only authorized to transit through the Red Zone during daylight hours provided they remain on one of the city’s highways. The Red Zone includes the following areas: Western Libertador (El Retiro, 23 de Enero, Blandin, La Vega, La Rinconada, Las Mayas, Tazon, Oropeza Castillo, Lomas de Urdaneta, Propatria, Casalta, Lomas De Propatria, Carapita, Antimano, Tacagua, Ruiz Pineda, Caricuao, La Quebradita, El Altantico, Sarria, La Candelaria, San Martin and La Yaguara), Eastern Sucre (Barrio Piritu, Barrio La Rubia, Barrio Altavista, Petare, Caucaguita, La Dolorita, Paulo Sexto, El Llanito) and Baruta (Las Minas, Santa Cruz del Este, Ojo de Agua, La Naya, Las Minitas).

So, Embassy employees are told it's a BAD idea to be in that neighborhood for any reason after dark, and this guy's out partying at a nightclub in the wee hours?

I guess really horrendous judgment is a possibility, but I wouldn't be surprised if something else were at play.

[MADem]

19. If I had to guess, I would say they were

out cattin' around, engaging in conduct unbecoming, and their future working in the SECDEF's employ is gonna be brief. These guys apparently aren't just part of State, they're DOD too--and soon, they will likely be a member of the FCU (fired, civilian, unemployed).

[geek tragedy]

21. And if they shot each other, possibly incarcerated.

They make the Secret Service dolts who paid for prostitutes look like geniuses

[MADem]

22. There's definitely a courts martial in the future, assuming

we have a SOFA with VZ that allows us to clean up our own messes.

[bushisanidiot]

12. Can't wait to see Peggy Noonan's sour puss sneer as she blames the POTUS for mishandling

the situation. Maybe McCain will take it upon himself to flight out there to investigate
and get all of the REAL facts on Venezuelan Night Club-gate.