US embassy cable - 04BOGOTA3492

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 003492 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SECSTATE WASHDC PASS TO 7980 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC, PTER 
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL SECURITY PROGRAM MISSION STATUS REPORT 
 
1) Presidential Protection Detail (PPD) - President Uribe 
slowed down his travel schedule during March 2004.  He did 
take a trip to the United States from March 22-25, where he 
met with President Bush as well as Secretary of Defense 
Rumsfeld and Senator Leahy.  President Uribe was accompanied 
by Minister of Defense Uribe and Minister of Commerce Botero. 
 
2) On March 30, 2004, U.S. Security Advisors had a brief 
meeting with President Uribe.  He conveyed that he is 
"infinitely grateful" for all the support the U.S. 
Government, the U.S. Embassy and the Security Advisors are 
affording his administration. 
 
3) On March 12, 2004, U.S. Security Advisors met with Colonel 
Mauricio Santoyo, Chief of  PPD.  Col. Santoyo began the 
meeting requesting that we proceed with the construction of 
bunkers at Presidential residences in Medellin and Monterria. 
 U.S. Advisor Dorsch subsequently spoke with Embassy 
architect Ochoa and she is proceeding accordingly.  It is to 
be determined whether the bunkers will be subterranean or 
aboveground. 
 
The placement of the two radio repeater towers donated by the 
U.S. Embassy was discussed.  It was originally proposed to 
install them in Cartagena and Medellin.  Col. Santoyo 
requests they be placed in Monterria and Medellin.  U.S. 
advisors concur based on the already-established 
radio/repeater network in Cartagena. 
 
Col. Santoyo conveyed that he would send up to 100 detail 
agents through a basic VIP Protection Training Course if it 
were offered by the U.S. Embassy/U.S. Security Advisors here 
in Bogota.  He conveyed that there have been some transfers 
as well as new additions to the details of the President, the 
First Lady and the children.  He also requested an advanced 
course for his five teams of Advance Agents. 
 
Finally, Col. Santoyo, when asked what equipment the 
Presidential Protection Detail was still lacking, stated that 
the acquisition of six mine detectors, to be used by Advance 
Agents, would be a great asset to the protection of President 
Uribe.  U.S. Advisor Dorsch put in the request that day. 
 
4) Vice Presidential Protection Detail - The windows of the 
Vice Presidential farm in Tenjo were covered with Mylar 
anti-blast film.  In addition, U.S. Advisor Delp conducted a 
routine security survey of the area and assessed that all was 
OK. 
 
5) Mayor of Bogot Protection Detail - On March 5, 2004, the 
second group of protection agents completed the basic VIP 
Protection Course. The students were enthusiastic, extremely 
appreciative and, for the most part, worked well together and 
truly strengthened their sense of teamwork. 
 
6) On March 12, 2004, U.S. Security Advisors met with General 
Garcia and Colonel Coba, Chief of Diplomatic Police and the 
individual to whom the Agent in Charge of the Mayor's 
security detail reports.  Mayor Garzon's Agent in Charge, 
Captain Baron, was the main topic of conversation. There is a 
lot of dissension and morale issues amongst the security 
agents and it appears to stem from the management style of 
Captain Baron.  His lack of leadership skills was discussed 
and U.S. Advisor Delp conveyed his commitment to work closely 
with Captain Baron to attempt to improve the issues at hand. 
 
Two representatives from the Diogenes Corporation were also 
present at this meeting. The Diogenes Corporation is the 
company contracted to administer the Voice Stress Analysis 
(VSA) exams to the Mayor's protection detail.  The results of 
the VSA were discussed and specifics were given for the high 
rate of failure of the test of the Mayor's security agents. 
 
7) On March 18, 2004, an armored level V 2004 Ford Explorer 
was donated to Mayor Garzon.  U.S. Security Advisor Delp was 
present, along with Mayor Garzon and the protection detail. 
 
8) Minister of Defense Protection Detail - Minister of 
Defense Uribe had a very active travel schedule during the 
month of March 2004. Besides his trips to Cartagena, Tolima, 
Medellin and other areas of Colombia, he also traveled to 
Washington, DC twice as well as to Lima, Peru.  On all trips 
outside of Colombia, he was unaccompanied by any member of 
his security detail. 
 
9) On March 26, 2004, U.S. Security Advisor Wilkas met with 
MOD Uribe regarding the status of his security/security 
detail.  Minister Uribe stated that he is "supremely 
grateful" for all of the support the U.S. Embassy and the 
Security Advisors have given to his protection detail. 
 
Minister Uribe spoke about the success of his trips to 
Washington, D.C., particularly the second trip when he 
accompanied President Uribe on March 22, 2004. 
 
Minister Uribe conveyed his appreciation for putting eight 
members of the security detail through VIP Protection 
training, particularly the Agent in Charge (AIC), Major 
Romero. He also conveyed his enthusiasm to have the rest of 
the security detail members trained in the same program. 
 
Finally, Minister Uribe invited U.S. Advisors to come to his 
residence in Medellin to look at the property and do a 
security assessment. He conveyed that he feels safe in 
Medellin but that he would like our opinion. 
 
10) During the VIP Protection Training Course, which took 
place from February 23, 2004 - March 5, 2004, there were four 
graduates from the Ministry of Defense.  They were excellent 
students and conveyed that they took with them many new 
tools.  Seeing them at the Ministry of Defense the following 
week, they approached U.S. Security Advisors with smiles on 
their face, proud to convey that they were putting into 
practice many of the concepts from the two-week training 
session. 
 
11) On February 27, 2004, O'Gara-Hess conducted a 15-hour 
surveillance detection course for the newly formed 
Surveillance Detection team, comprised of four individuals 
from Minister Uribe's protection detail.  This course was 
specifically designed around the Minister of Defense - his 
residence, his office and places he most frequents.  The 
report back from the course instructors and students conveyed 
that the students performed very well and that it was an 
excellent course. Again, prior to this date, the MOD 
Surveillance Detection team consisted of only one individual. 
 
12) The AIC for the MOD's Protection Detail will be out of 
the country from April 5, 2004 until April 30, 2004.  He is 
leaving his responsibilities in the hands of Major Alfonso 
Vega.  On March 26, 2004, this U.S. Protection Advisor met 
with Major Vega for a "meet and greet" and express support 
and assistance during his four-week . 
WOOD