Diplomatic Security Behind the Scenes

Exclusive Look at Little-Known, Highly-Skilled Division within the State Department

(CBS)  More than 150 foreign leaders were in New York City this week for the opening of U.N. General Assembly. CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at a little-known, highly-skilled division within the State Department whose job it is to protect the Secretary of State and visiting dignitaries, as well as more than 200 U.S. embassies and consulates around the world.

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Moments before dawn Monday morning, a 14-car motorcade roared through Manhattan with shift leader John Koretke quarterbacking every move. The principal is inside a bubble protected by very special agents from Diplomatic Security.

Today's final destination - a hotel near the United Nations. The Diplomatic Security (DS) Agent in Charge, Chad Scheatzle, is shadowing the subject as he emerges from an armor-plated limousine. It is Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, a controversial leader with no shortage of enemies - and at least two assassination attempts already on his life.

"We are constantly playing a mental chess game," Scheatzle said. "You have to be two, three, four, sometimes five steps ahead of where you actually are."

"We're looking for things that don't belong, what's unusual, what shouldn't be there," said Koretke.

Three days inside a DS detail is like a spy novel come to life - a geo-political thrill ride set in a city already on edge. Controlled chaos, snaking through the streets, two dozen agents on high-alert as one president goes to a private meeting with two others, attends receptions, and speaks at the United Nations.

The Abbas security detail is undoubtedly high profile, but it is just one of 43 such details protecting foreign dignitaries around New York this week.

"This is the Super Bowl of protective services," said Director Pat Donovan.

Donovan allowed CBS News an exclusive look inside this Command Center in a midtown Manhattan hotel where the movements of nearly one-third of his 1,700 agents worldwide were being orchestrated.

"We have over 500 agents in New York," Donovan said.

Any assassination attempt on Abbas would come up against DS agents like Justin Rowan, carrying enough weaponry to fight a war. Rowan wears body armor and carries an M-4.

Scheatzle is the last line of defense - willing to take a bullet if necessary for a foreign leader.

"Our job is protecting human life," Scheatzle said. "We're here to protect him, period. And we have to do what we have to do."

[hungry1968-16]

by summarex September 26, 2009 12:55 AM EDT
I went down there wednesday on my bydaily round the island bike ride which unfortunately goes by the UN building because there is no greenway on that stretch (thanks to the UN). The amount of police was absurd. They were all over the place some were standard police thugs. But I also saw armed goons wearing vests that said somethiong like community affairs" or somethiong. Crossing on the green, I almost got run over by a police car full od "deetectives" as the animals like to call themselves. There were also a bunch of what looked to be state police and dozens of UN security guards. I said to myself, this is turning out to be one huge police overtime banquet courtesy of the NY and US taxpayers. It's as if all the corruption of the modern era had converged on six blocks of first avenue. I saw the faces of parasitism up. I was sickened by the whole thing and got out of there as fast as I could.






Should have seen it here in Pittsburgh yesterday. ALL of downtown was shut down, and all of the major intersections and bridges had National Guard and police "protecting them".

It was like the city was "locked down". Most people didn't attempt to walk in, since most businesses were closed anyway.

The whole thing cost the city tens of millions of dollars.

Keep this nonsense in Washington next time.

[summarex]

I went down there wednesday on my bydaily round the island bike ride which unfortunately goes by the UN building because there is no greenway on that stretch (thanks to the UN). The amount of police was absurd. They were all over the place some were standard police thugs. But I also saw armed goons wearing vests that said somethiong like community affairs" or somethiong. Crossing on the green, I almost got run over by a police car full od "deetectives" as the animals like to call themselves. There were also a bunch of what looked to be state police and dozens of UN security guards. I said to myself, this is turning out to be one huge police overtime banquet courtesy of the NY and US taxpayers. It's as if all the corruption of the modern era had converged on six blocks of first avenue. I saw the faces of parasitism up. I was sickened by the whole thing and got out of there as fast as I could.

[wtcmedic-911]

You have to be a total and complete idiot. if only a HRT truck had made you a greasy spot. Can you truelly be this stupid? these are world leaders with a high price on their heads. perhaps you need to stay home with mommy instead of being out in the big city.

[amsteryank]

Firstly, learn how to put together a coherent and spelling error free sentence before you start rambling about much needed security. Secondly, I feel so sad you were so horribly inconvenienced by big bad policemen during your precious bike ride yesterday.

[slownewsday_5]

"by wtcmedic-911
Can you truelly be this stupid?"

It's priceless when you try to call someone stupid at the same time you manage to spell "truly" incorrectly...

[timetocomeclean]

Great, short piece on a tough, tough profession. Hats off to those of our protecting these people even putting personal feelings aside and for keeping this event a non-event.
Bravo Zulu

[stuart-johns]

I wonder how many of these guys are divorced or unmarried?