The myriad explanations of AWOL South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and staff clearly have raised more questions than they have answered. Specifically, whether his staff and family actually knew he was allegedly in Argentina for the past week.
The reason I ask that specific question is that the vast majority of reported kidnappings worldwide occur in South and Central America — 85% warns a website aimed at Americans abroad. Moreover, cautions the Ex-Pat Exchange which provides information for Americans traveling overseas, It is also not uncommon for corrupt law enforcement personnel to be criminally involved in kidnapping operations.
Follow me below the fold for details:
If it was true that Sanford's security team had no idea where the governor was, it was recklessly irresponsible for him to jaunt off to 'exotic" Argentina, where he could have fallen victim to a tactic known as "express kidnapping."
An express kidnapping occurs when a victim is abducted and is forced to withdraw money out of ATM's. Kidnappers will also take possession of all valuables such as watches, credit cards, cash, cellular phones, and jewelry. It is also common that family members are also ordered to make ATM withdraws in order settle the abduction. Once the kidnapper is satisfied the victim is usually released.
Another technique that is utilized is where the kidnapper abducts a victim and negotiates with family members for a smaller amount of money. The goal is to earn a quick and easy payoff without protracted and complicated negotiations. Violence has been used in express kidnappings to impose a fast payoff. The victim is again usually released after payment.
The fact that Sanford was allegedly traveling alone is not recommended and potentially foolish as author Juan A Garcia Jr. recommends the following tips for Americans overseas:
- Dress conservatively. The flashier you dress the more likely you stand out as a possible target. Blend in with the environment as best as possible.
- Be aware and alert to your surroundings at all times, especially when using an ATM. Know who is around you and what's going on in your immediate area. Look for signs that a possible attack is imminent. Never withdraw money from an open ATM at night. Be prepared to REACT.
- Limit what valuables you have on your possession to a minimum. Keep the expensive watch and multiple credit cards at home.
- Use only well-established facilities to withdraw money and only during day light hours and in populated areas.
5) Avoid traveling alone if possible. This makes the kidnapper's plan much easier to execute. Multiple individuals present a harder target.[My Emphasis]
- Do not become confrontational; your life is worth more than a few dollars, or a watch. NOTE: Each situation will be different. You have to gauge your immediate position and determine if escape or fighting back is to your advantage. This can and will potentially be a life changing decision especially if you have little to no combative skills and training.
- Take personal security training courses or seminars when possible. Learn about awareness, avoidance, and attack recognition skills.
- Do not become complacent. Just because you have not been a victim of a violent attack does not mean that you should just disregard fundamental security concepts.
ABC News reported that a US embassy official in Buenos Aires said that the embassy had “absolutely no idea” that Sanford was in Argentina. According to correspondent Joe Goldman, The embassy official added that this comes "from out of left field -- it would be extremely odd that a US governor would not check in with the embassy."
Given that someone of the stature of Sanford could be a high value kidnapping target, it was rather reckless, IMO, to not notify the Embassy.
Two other aspects of the Sanford trip I found disturbing as well.
According to the US State Department's traveler's advisory for Argentina:
Argentina is a geographically diverse country with mountains, forests, expansive deserts, and glaciers, making it a popular destination for outdoor and adventure sports. Despite the best efforts of local authorities, assisting visitors lost or injured in such remote areas can be problematic. American citizens have been killed in recent years while mountain climbing, skiing, trekking, and hunting. Travelers visiting isolated and wilderness areas should learn about local hazards and weather conditions and always inform park or police authorities of their itineraries. Reports of missing or injured persons should be made immediately to the police so that a search can be mounted or assistance rendered.
For a hiker to travel alone without informing others of their itinerary is shockingly irresponsible. To do so in another country without the necessary precautions is downright stupid.
The other aspect of the trip that I found disturbing is Sanford's account that he went driving along the coastline in Argentina.
Sanford told The State he was alone on the trip to Argentina. He declined to give any additional details about what he did other than to say he drove along the coastline.
Trying to make such a drive could frustrate a weekend visitor to Argentina. In Buenos Aires, the Avenida Costanera is the only coastal road, and it's less than two miles long. Reaching coastal resorts to the south requires a drive of nearly four hours on an inland highway with views of endless cattle ranches. To the north is a river delta of islands reached only by boat.
What is my concern about Sanford and driving in Argentina? Actually it is from the State Department's traveler's advisory about how one literally risks their life as a driver or merely a passenger in Argentina:
Traffic accidents are the primary threat to life and limb in Argentina. Pedestrians and drivers should exercise caution. Drivers frequently ignore traffic laws and vehicles often travel at excessive speeds. The rate and toll of traffic accidents has been a topic of much media attention over the past year. The Institute of Road Safety and Education, a private Buenos Aires organization dedicated to transportation safety issues, reports that Argentina has the highest traffic mortality rate in South America per 100,000 inhabitants.
As we wait for the details of the scheduled press conference, right now it appears that Sanford left the state without informing his family, his staff, his security detail, the US Embassy in Buenos Aires and he failed to temporarily hand over power to his Lt. Governor as is the custom when a sitting governor travels outside the state.
There is one detail that Sanford's staff did seem to be on top of and that was the Governor's Twitter account. That of course was of paramount importance for his staffers to maintain.
An astute observer points out that there have been multiple posts on the twitter page of the possible 2012 Republican presidential contender even though Sanford himself has gone off the radar.
On Thursday, the day the governor apparently 'disappeared,' Sanford's page had two tweets: first to trumpet his appearance the night before on Sean Hannity's show on Fox News, the next to tout the message sent by the famous tea party protests of government tax policies.
tea parties were a tipping point in pushing back against Washington DC's financial recklessness - http://tinyurl.com/... #liberty
Snip.
UPDATE: You know when the first words out of Sanford's mouth were an apology to his wife and kids that it was an affair. I've been busy watching the first half of the US-Spain (1-0) so I blew off the rest of the presser.
The kidnapping meme of my post is moot, but the tone of my post was based on the idea that it was irresponsible to leave the state hanging for a week which heightened the interest in his disappearance which resulted in yet another moralistic GOPocrite getting busted for screwing someone other than his wife. The cover up is always worse than the affair, which by itself is rather irrelevant.