Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Inside the Ring: Military strained by Obama trip
WashTimes ^ | 4/2/09 | Bill Gertz

Posted on 04/02/2009 6:14:20 AM PDT by anniegetyourgun

President Obama's European visit this week has strained Air Force heavy-airlift capabilities and obliged the military to hire more foreign contractors to help resupply U.S. and allied forces in Afghanistan, according to military sources.

The large delegation traveling with the president in Europe required moving several transports, including jumbo C-5s and C-17s, from sorties ferrying supplies to Afghanistan to European bases for the presidential visit, said two military officials familiar with the issue. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid any misunderstanding with White House officials.

The Air Mobility Command, part of the U.S. Transportation Command, was ordered to provide airlift for the president's entourage of nearly 500 people, including senior officials, staff, support personnel, news reporters and some 200 Secret Service agents for the European visit, which began Tuesday in London.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; g20; military; obama
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last

1 posted on 04/02/2009 6:14:20 AM PDT by anniegetyourgun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun

500 people ???


2 posted on 04/02/2009 6:15:43 AM PDT by al baby (Hi Mom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun

And let’s all keep in mind that Obama and the Dems are increasing US commitments in Afghanistan, while simultaneously planning on gutting the Pentagon’s budget.

Brilliant.

/do I need it?


3 posted on 04/02/2009 6:16:27 AM PDT by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus (True nobility is exempt from fear - Marcus Tullius Cicero)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: al baby

Give someone with no class a high position and an almost open checkbook and this is what you get!


4 posted on 04/02/2009 6:17:17 AM PDT by WellyP (obama must go!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun

I had just read this on Drudge.

I’m speechless — we’re living in the Age of the Caesars.


5 posted on 04/02/2009 6:17:18 AM PDT by ForeignDude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun

Gotta love his priorities.


6 posted on 04/02/2009 6:17:21 AM PDT by thethirddegree
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun

We’ve got a big problem if this really strained our military transportation infrastructure.....


7 posted on 04/02/2009 6:17:31 AM PDT by Halgr (Once a Marine, always a Marine - Semper Fi)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: al baby
500 people ???

And TWELVE teleprompters!

8 posted on 04/02/2009 6:19:03 AM PDT by Travis T. OJustice (Want to make a conservative angry? Lie to him. Want to make a liberal angry? Tell him the truth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

Another page from the Slick Willie book of governing.

Clinton: Most Expensive Presidential Trip Ever

9 posted on 04/02/2009 6:21:26 AM PDT by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: al baby
Well, of course royalty, such as the wonderful Messiah, has to have a huge entourage to cater to his every whim? Whould he want to play basketball, then we taxpayers will provide a suitable person to shoot baskets with him. We wouldn't want the world to think that he was ordinary, now would we? </sarcasm>
10 posted on 04/02/2009 6:22:19 AM PDT by RightWingConspirator (Impeach Zerobama and send him home to Kenya!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus

If they do not want to fund the military properly, or if Obama and the dems need to use the resources for themselves(as pelosi does), they need to pull the troops out ASAP.

It is not right to compromise them.


11 posted on 04/02/2009 6:22:30 AM PDT by dforest
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Halgr

Perhaps it’s the case that we can’t handle 2 wars and 1 rockstar entourage at the same time.


12 posted on 04/02/2009 6:23:06 AM PDT by anniegetyourgun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun
The 500 number would come more into focus if the press would do its spadework and print how many were in the Bush entourage when he went to the same meetings during his term of office....or at least during his last year.

Maybe someone here knows.

Leni

13 posted on 04/02/2009 6:23:35 AM PDT by MinuteGal (FR Regional Convention (southeastern states) 4/25 Orlando....Y'all Invited. Freepmail Me for Info)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinuteGal

We gave to do our own journalism now - those on this trip are simply DNC operatives.


14 posted on 04/02/2009 6:25:58 AM PDT by anniegetyourgun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun
Washington, D.C. Tea Party 15 April 2009! Lafayette Park 10:00 to 14:00! Be there!
15 posted on 04/02/2009 6:26:45 AM PDT by WellyP (obama must go!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun

There was a report on FOX yesterday that said 0bama brought along 12 teleprompters, just to make sure he’s covered at all times. For a guy who doesn’t like the military, he sure has been putting them through their paces ferrying him and his crew of idiots all over.


16 posted on 04/02/2009 6:27:02 AM PDT by euram
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun
Sorry, not believable. One thing we do have plenty of is Air Transport.

And, as another freeper noted, if the temporary transfer of a few heavy lifters impacts our war effort than we are screwed anyway.

17 posted on 04/02/2009 6:27:42 AM PDT by wtc911 ("How you gonna get back down that hill?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WellyP

Evident with sports stars, straight from the ‘hood, but I’ve never seen such with a president.

It makes me sick.


18 posted on 04/02/2009 6:29:27 AM PDT by jch10
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: anniegetyourgun
This was a mission to an ally country. In contrast, how much USAF AMC SAM support was required to fly President Bush into a war zone on the other side of the world on Thanksgiving? Not 500 pax worth!!

*muttering about Washinton waste/fraud/abuse*

19 posted on 04/02/2009 6:29:47 AM PDT by Jonah Hex ("Never underestimate the hungover side of the Force.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinuteGal

Scan of history tells me that Bush travelled with about the same, though he frequently took lots of Congresscritters with him. Bambi apparently likes to be a one-man-show.


20 posted on 04/02/2009 6:33:28 AM PDT by anniegetyourgun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson