Foreign Travel 101

What can you expect when you send a bunch of young Americans to a foreign location?

Be they  Law Enforcement, military troops, political staff or even private citizens I don't think we can expect choirboy behavior when their work day is done.

The politicians and the media are all atwitter because an advance party of Secret Service and military support troops managed to make the news when one of them tried to cheat a young lady out of the negotiated price for her services. In Columbia being a prostitute is not illegal (there are apparently no laws against it) so what the politicians and the media are talking about was a business arrangement between two consenting adults. It was an agreement somewhat similar to the relationship between President Clinton and an upward striving intern, or as they say in the gaming industry “Pay for Play”. But if you are not "important" than correct behavior is demanded. I’m not the least surprised by a young footloose male doing what that SS agent did, but I am disappointed that he tried to renege on the deal. For that, and that alone he should have been fired, we don't want to develop an Ugly American reputation.

I guess the best way to prevent any future reoccurrence of good guys making wrong decisions (good luck with that idea) is that all future advance parties will be staffed only by married agents.

And their wives will accompany them.