Posted on 06/12/2007 9:20:33 AM PDT by OldCorps
When the FBI asked Congress this spring to provide $3.6 million in the war spending bill for its Gulfstream V jet, it said the money was needed to ensure that the aircraft, packed with state-of-the-art security and communications gear, could continue to fly counterterrorism agents on "crucial missions" into Iraq. Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the bureau has made similar annual requests to maintain and fuel the $40 million jet on grounds that it had a "tremendous impact" on combating terrorism by rapidly deploying FBI agents to "fast-moving investigations and crisis situations" in places such as Afghanistan. Interactive Map Mueller's Travels Save & Share Article What's This? DiggGoogle del.icio.usYahoo! RedditFacebook But the jet that the FBI originally sold to lawmakers in the late 1990s as an essential tool for battling terrorism is now routinely used to ferry FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III to speeches, public appearances and field office visits. In fact, Mueller's travel now accounts for nearly a quarter of the flight time for the lone FBI jet able to make international flights. FBI officials acknowledged to The Washington Post that Mueller's use of the Gulfstream is a marked departure from the travel practices of his predecessors, such as Louis J. Freeh, who flew commercially or used a smaller Cessna Citation jet. They said that Mueller's aides first check with the counterterrorism division to make sure the Gulfstream is not needed for terrorism operations, and that the Justice Department approves each flight. They also said that Mueller's logistical and security advisers have urged him to use the plane routinely. "It's not like he is the one checking the box for which plane he uses," Assistant Director John Miller said. "He is the CEO of the FBI's part in the war on terror.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Thanks for your reply, Hillary.
Gulfstream V operating cost: math from the article, $4,000 per hour, his share, $720,000.
Cessna Citation operating cost: about $1,500 per hour, cost to fly 180 hours, $270,000.
Annual savings to the taxpayer should he fly the Cessna like he's supposed to: $450,000.
WTF?
I was responding to your (inane) comparassion of this this plane to Air Force 1...
AF1 sole purpose is to transport the President...
If this plane had been obtained with the purpose of ferrying the Director around then it would not be an issue.
The "stated" purpose of this plane was for CT purposes, not transporting the FBI director to speaking engagements ... if thats not co-opting it's intended use what is?
I would think that, "revisiting" that type of situation would be a defininte case of "too little, too late".
Why even risk it?
Good point, I didn't think that far down. So it's not just $1,500 vs. $5,000.
Let's take four hours of flight in the "public servant" world. Flunky takes commercial: $300. Mueller takes Cessna: $6,000. Gulfstream sits idle. Total: $6,300.
Now for the "executive privilege" world: Flunky takes Cessna instead of commercial: -$300 + $6,000 = $5,700. Mueller takes Gulfstream: $16,000. Total: $21,700.
Four hours blew $15,400, so 180 hours is: $693,000.
I have no problem with that course of action as long as they listen to the operations group and as long as the operations group takes into account the concievable risks and allows for them, without feeling that somehow they have to accomodate the Director.
There has been no allegation that any thing of that sort is going on.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.