Journalists have to fight with policemen just to get into press conferences. Police manhandled Bloomberg Television anchorman Ty Marega while he tried to enter a building, even though he had the proper credentials. Police officers on two occasions tried to stop me from interviewing locals. Business executives, meanwhile, are being forced to argue and push their way into hotels.
Security may be tight, but it's not always effective. I entered the Shangri-La Hotel at the very moment President George W. Bush was giving a speech. As a journalist, I was forced to use the employee entrance around back, where a group of under-trained rent-a-cops manned metal detectors.
As I walked through, the detector alarm rang. I paused, assuming I'd be frisked. But in all the confusion, the security folks didn't notice and I was allowed in.
I could've had a gun or 10 sticks of dynamite.
Moments later, when Bush walked within 15 feet of me, I couldn't help but think "Wow, good thing I'm not a terrorist."
William Pesek Jr. is a columnist for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.
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