Obama's Africa Trip Could Cost $100 Million

NewsMax ^ | 06/14/2013 | Lisa Barron

[SeekAndFind]

President Barack Obama's trip to Africa later this month could be one of the most expensive of his tenure, costing the government as much as $100 million.

According to a confidential internal planning document obtained by The Washington Post, hundreds of Secret Service agents will be dispatched to secure facilities in Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania, which the first family will visit from June 26 to July 3.

A Navy aircraft carrier or amphibious ship, with fully staffed medical trauma center, will be stationed offshore in case of an emergency.

In addition, military cargo planes will airlift in 56 support vehicles, including 14 limousines and three trucks carrying bulletproof glass to cover the windows of the hotels where the Obamas will stay. And fighter jets will fly in shifts to provide around the clock coverage over the president's airspace.

The president and first lady Michelle Obama also had planned to take a Tanzanian safari during the trip, which would have required a special counterassault team to carry sniper rifles in the event of a threat from wild animals, the Post reported, citing the document.

But the safari was canceled in favor of a trip to Robben Island off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, where Nelson Mandela was held as a political prisoner, officials told the newspaper.

The Post noted that when it first asked White House officials about the safari last week, they said no final decision had been made, adding that the official said Thursday that the cancellation was not related to the newspaper's inquiries.

Former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush also traveled to Africa multiple times. A report from the Government Accountability Office, according to the Post, showed that Clinton's 1998 trip to six African nations cost the federal government at least $42.7 million.

[rhubarbk]

Oh and yes, I’m waiting on the call from the IRS.

[SeekAndFind]

I’ll be happy with half of what you want... :)

[Tzimisce]

...think about that while you’re job hunting. :)

[Chode]

could, as in the low end of could... it'll prolly be more like $200million!!!

[Girlene]

Pretty sad how he and his family have such little respect for how hard many Americans are working to provide this luxurious vacation.

Many Americans will be taking “staycations” this year. Many won’t even be doing that since they’ve had to pick up a second parttime job because of obamacare.

I know they won’t, but the obamas should be ashamed to do this.

[pepsionice]

Just a suggestion....but couldn’t we just put these 500 entourage folks, and the royal couple...onto one aircraft carrier, with their vehicles, machine guns, etc, and just skip this air transport business? Run one aircraft carrier over....put the First couple in some Airstream RV trailer onboard the carrier...park the carrier at the right bay...run some landing craft back and forth, and then deploy back?

We could even make this a permanent use deal, and just park a aircraft carrier down by the Potomac...ready to take the President anywhere...with just fourteen days notice.

[SunkenCiv]

Go ahead — try *not* to root for al Qaeda now.

Thanks SeekAndFind.

[Windflier]

“As democracy is perfected, the office of President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and complete narcissistic moron.”

-— H.L. Mencken, The Baltimore Evening Sun, July 26, 1920

[AlanGreenSpam]

The King and Michelle Antoinette: “Let them eat cake...”

[Daffynition]

If Nelson Mandela passes away....they’ll get to do this all over again. Cha-ching.

Or perhaps he’ll snub Africa like he did the UK with Maggie Thatcher. Meh.

[doc1019]

No Mandela is both black and a communist ... Obama would never let his passing go without fanfare and a visit to South Africa, besides, he and his family have never been there. Another vacation on the American dime.

[Daffynition]

Yeppers. :(

[Irenic]

General William ‘Kip’ Ward demoted for lavish travel, spending
Associated Press ^ | Published: 02:09 PM, Tue Nov 13, 2012 | AP

Posted on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 10:01:26 PM by haffast

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has demoted the former head of U.S. Africa Command who was accused of spending thousands of dollars on lavish travel and other unauthorized expenses, a senior U.S. official said Tuesday.

Panetta stripped Gen. William “Kip” Ward of a star, which means that he will now retire as a three-star lieutenant general despite arguments from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff against the demotion. Ward also has been ordered also repay the government $82,000.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2959220/posts

[machogirl]

After Europe, his black half is taking the vacation to Africa. Americans are suffering and he’s milking it for all he can take us for.

[PLD]

While children are going to bed hungry these loons are spitting in our face..I will continue to pray that God will give these freeloaders what they deserve and it won't be another vacation to Africa..

[TheOldLady]

Excuse me, Lisa Barron, it costs the government NOTHING. The cost is laid upon the backs of we, the tax payers.

The government has no money, creates no wealth, owns nothing without stealing it from we, the tax payers.

[grumbles about people who say that things “cost” the government or that the government “pays” for things]

[unixfox]

President Barack Obama's trip to Africa later this month could be one of the most expensive of his tenure, costing the government slave workers (taxpayers) as much as $100 million.

Let's get that straight, shall we?

[RipSawyer]

Rush is wrong, he is an African UnAmerican.