Secret Service Catch Mexican Official Nabbing White House BlackBerries

yeah.. you'd think so. or at least have a SS agent standing patrol outside of the door and watching the items.

Perhaps that's why you hear about government equipment missing so often.

Wow, whoever thought of this plan to leave these devices on the table should be fired, and this thief severely punished.

Me too. I thought, "how cute, I have to read this!"

I'm really surprised they haven't done anything, or that this hasn't caused a bigger international incident. Theft of White House property by foreign officials seems to be pretty major.

I have a huge black berry patch across the street, and I was about to scream "LIES" cause they are just flowering now. But if this guy gave me his addy, i'd send him a small blackberry basket, in the spirit of good relations with our neighbor downstairs.
Things get renamed all the time and it annoys me. You know I even remember when rush was a band.

I am of the blackberry generation and I still thought they were referring to the fruit, when I saw the headline. :-)

Same here. I hadn't ever even seen a BlackBerry (the phone/e-mail thingy) until early 2007. I still don't get the appeal of having access to my e-mail 24/7. Maybe I'm too old to be 25.

"I wonder if Mexico's press is anything like ours. If so, I would assume the guy took them just hoping to get a great story out of it"

He was a diplomatic official, not a reporter.

'Press attaches' have been used as a cover for intelligence officers before....so my first thought was maybe that's what was going on. But if that was the case why beat feet for the airport so quickly? Why not just go straight to the Mexican embassy or consulate where the 'blackberrys' could be hacked without disturbance, or at least hidden in a diplomatic pouch, and protected from interception and recovery?

No....he's probably just another corrupt Mexican official who saw an opportunity to steal something that he could use to make some money by selling....as hardware, or for info to any interested bidder he could find....not necessarily a news service. An international company; another government; his own government; who cares.

I just hope this teaches somebody to be more watchful, and that they formally expel and ban him from re-entry permanently.

Interesting story....thanks for posting it.

How disturbing is this? I have to wonder if Mexican officials would have been so understanding; "Let me show you your diplomatic immunity-- right here in this room with no windows."

shaun, too true, hense the comment "let me show you.." :-)

JoulesBeef-

Naa...CoO....Crime of Opportunity.

Corrupt Mexican official + unguarded valuables + diplomatic passport = incentive to do something stupid while believing you can get away with it untouched.

It's pretty insulting to the Moussad to even have their name mentioned regarding such all around bungling....even in the positive light you use.

Ahem. BlueTooth exploit would be much "slicker". Tiene Pringles?

I agree.. diplomatic immunity is bull****. If you mess up in another country, you should have to pay for it no matter who the hell you are. of course if this were the case Bush would be in a heap of trouble.

True. I wonder I could start up a business and sell an Advanced Individual Diplomatic Security - Durable Ultra Mountable (AIDS-DUM Pro 2000) Container System that would help solve these issues? Maybe a cool $5 mil a pop, since it's an important matter.

Don't tell anyone, but I will just buy a few of these things, change the color scheme and labels, and retire in short order! See ya'all in Cabo... I'll be snatchin' marlin, margies, and senoritas, in no time! Wish me luck... ;)

Now that's just a very evil idea SM............very funny too!!

I do have a healthy dark side and a wandering mind... though I try to harness it for good purposes, and limit it mostly to humor! Here's a bibliography for my nefarious coincidental "to do" entries:

May 1... May day a.k.a. international workers day... Though not it's only heritage, "Communist and anarchist organizations and their affiliated unions universally conduct street marches on this day.", especially in the latter context. "Coincidentally", it was recently chosen for a immigration "strike" and rally. Not a wise choice to show how friendly and "American" a body of immigrants are (while also waving Mexican flags) while making demands on the American public! A PR blunder, but admirable in honesty, at least. ;) Also informative regarding the higher level organizers, more than the general participants (though a general cultural ignorance and insensitivity is partly relevant -- and indicative of our failing to properly educate and assimilate).

May 5... Cinco de mayo... Not a "Mexican independence day from Spain" as is sometimes assumed, but rather a celebration of key victory over France, indeed related to independence! Hence, my devilishly playful allusion to France's "territorial" interests. (Also, not as celebrated by the indigenous in Mexico... who are often those who seek better opportunity to the north)

July 4... Date is obviously patriotic, and phrase is from Marine Corp. Hymn regarding the holding of Chapultepec Castle near Mexico City in MexAm war. Ooh-rah ;)

June 15... (the date is apparently only pinned down to 14th - 17th range) but represents California's Bear Flag Revolt against Mexican rule, and combined with a dig on "the left coast" by saying we should just cut them from the union and happily return them to Mexico! I won't explain the "code name", you'll have to research that one if you are unfamiliar! Let's just say it's a wee-bit rude. ;)

Just having a little dirty fun and blending in some info and opinion!