Was at the hotel when suddenly, a boat load of POLICIA MILITAR lined up along the corners of the street. I didn't know what was going on, but these police were lined up strategically all along the road corners leading to the hotel. As I was walking down the hill from the hotel, I asked one of the security guys holding a machine gun, what was going on if there had been a threat to the hotel. To my surprise, he let the cat out of the bag. President of Chile was staying in town in the hotel. In the Marines, we had the fifth general order. "TO TALK TO NOONE EXCEPT IN THE LINE OF DUTY." I had learned previously that in El Salvador, they use alot of armed private contractors to provide security. They look almost paramilitary in form. Boots, utilities, automatic weapons pistols and radios. Right at the hotel, they had bomb sniffing dogs and armed guards. But these guys were El Salvador military police. The paramilitary security contractors were used mostly for manpower to guard enterances and exits leading to and from the hotel. I give them an "A" for appearance and readiness, but I'm not too impressed with their slack intelligence. They should be teaching these guys that if they are going spill the beans and talk to guys like me while on duty, the least they should do is to try to pass out some MISINFORMATION to keep open ears like myself in check. I do appreciate being told the truth, and probably was not preceived as a threat, but YOU NEVER KNOW.....DO YA! Lose lips sink ships.