Bush Twin, Barbara Bush, Has Purse Stolen in Buenos Aires, Argentina

While the Secret Service looked on from a distance, Bush twin Barbara had her purse stolen while dining at a Buenos Aires restaurant. Any reason why the Secret Service was not close enough to capture the thieves?

A pair of thieves removed the purse from under a table while Secret Service agents stood guard at a distance, La Nacion reported. La Nacion said its sources did not reveal which of the Bush daughters had her purse stolen.

CNN cited a law-enforcement source who was briefed on the incident as saying that “at no point were the protectees out of visual contact and at no point was there any risk of harm.” (ABC, the Blotter)

Oh really? It appears that the Argentine police state there no complaint of any such incident on file, the US Embassy in Buenos Aires said it has no comment, and  the White House, Secret Service and State Department also declined comment. I bet. Allowing individuals so close to the “First Daughter” that one could steal her purse. There is probably a lot of explaining going on as to how anyone could have got that close and made off with her purse while the Secret Service was looking on.

UPDATE: Argentina abuzz over Bush twin purse snatch report

Great PR for the Secret Service, couldn’t prevent a purse snatching. Of course the foreign media are having a field day with that.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Reuters) – Reports that an agile Argentine thief snatched the purse of one of the twin daughters of U.S. President George W. Bush while U.S. Secret Service agents were nearby had local media in a buzz on Wednesday.

“Bush’s bodyguards couldn’t handle San Telmo purse-snatcher,” read a headline in the Web site of official news agency Telam.

Telam said a government source, who asked not to be named, confirmed a report on an ABC News Web site blog regarding the robbery. Different local reports said the alleged purse-snatching happened on Sunday or on Monday.

• Buscan en las cà ¡maras de seguridad el momento del robo a la hija de Bush