34 Warships Rumors Are Not True

Stars And Stripes ^ | November 4, 2010 | Jeff Schogol

[84rules]

Rumors are running rampant about President Barack Obama’s upcoming trip to India, including one that he has dispatched a flotilla of 34 warships, including an aircraft carrier, to provide security while he is in Mumbai starting on Saturday.

“The measure has been taken as Mumbai attack in 2008 took place from the sea,” according to a story by Press Trust of India, which did not indicate where this information came from. Nevertheless, it was the lead story on the Drudge Report on Thursday morning.

Even Teddy Roosevelt, who sent The Great White Fleet around the world, might find sending that many warships a tad excessive, so The Rumor Doctor decided to delve into the matter.

Sure enough, there are not 34 ships – and there isn’t an aircraft carrier – supporting the president’s trip, said a defense official, who declined to provide any information on security measures for presidential trips.

[84rules]

Someone had to crush the story. I already don't like Obama. I don't need worthless rumors to add to that.

[skeeter]

Right. The 3000 person retinue, scores of limosines, renting the entire Taj Mahal Hotel, the bomb proof security tunnel, etc, etc, are plenty reason to consider this jerk an egocentric megalomaniac.

[Responsibility2nd]

I read this article. This guy is a low level blogger. I wonder if he has taken orders directly from the CIC.

Untill I see credible proof (or denial) from the MSM, I will continue to belive Obama is taking 34 warships for a 2 billion dollar joyride.

[Paladin2]

Probably 70 ships.

[Cicero]

Sure enough, there are not 34 ships – and there isn’t an aircraft carrier – supporting the president’s trip, said a defense official, who declined to provide any information on security measures for presidential trips.

So, this article is based on a tip by an anonymous defense official who refuses to say anything about how many ships there are? Wow, that's convincing evidence!

[ASOC]

LOL

Doesn’t matter if the story is true or not.

What matters is that the story is completely believable to most Americans.

And that is the REAL problem.....

[Responsibility2nd]

Don't forget removing all them CMD's

 

(Coconuts of Mass Destruction)

[E. Pluribus Unum]

"It's not the nature of the evidence that matters, it's the seriousness of the charge."

What goes around, comes around.

[Naplm]

It does sound over the top, but really nothing is debunked at the link.

[animal172]

The real story is India is actually taking all the coconuts off the trees so that the Chosen One won’t be injured.

[darkwing104]

The million dollar question should be "Where did the Press Trust of India get that info"?

Besides this opinion piece only quibble about numbers.

[null and void]

What matters is that the story is completely believable to most Americans.

And that is the REAL problem.....

Bingo.

[Frantzie]

Stars & Stripes? LOL! The chicken sh*t brass of generals, admirals and full bird colonels are Obama’s boys now. I do not trust them. They are snakes doing Obama’s bidding.

The Pentagon is infested with muslims now. Americans traded their liberty for a TV clicker.

[bigbob]

So how many? 33?

[throwback]

So if there aren't 34 ships being deployed and $200 mil/day being expended, what are the numbers? Seems like if you're attempting to refute a rumor, you should refute it with some actual facts. Curiously, all the wild numbers come from the Indian press, but the highly sophisticated American press has no numbers and cannot estimate. Funny, they can estimate the impact of cow farts on the atmosphere, but can't estimate the cost of moving x number of bodies and equipment half way around the world. I watched Cooper sneer at Bachmann last night over the same issue, but he didn't know the real numbers either.

[Frantzie]

Obama is giving America the finger once again. The military brass will do what ever he says.

He is just like Mugabe.

[84rules]

What matters is that the story is completely believable to most Americans.

And that is the REAL problem.....

Judging from several of the replies here, I'd say you're right. I wonder how these people will feel when the Presidential visit happens and there weren't 34 ships or even an aircraft carrier re-assigned for this?

[Iron Munro]

“Admiral, make it 33 or 35 ships and swap the Aircraft Carrier for a Helicopter Carrier so I can have press secretary Gibbs deny the story in its entirety.”

“Aye, Aye, Mr. President.”

[DanMiller]

Security concerns are understandable. However, it seems very unlikely that for the White House to post a total dollar amount for the trip, with a promise to provide detailed figures after President Obama et al return safely to the White House, would raise legitimate security concerns. Since we are paying for the thing, it is reasonable to have that much now.

We can wait for the final figures and see whether they add up to the posted total.

[lstanle]

Just routine maneuvers-—Near Mumbai.