He patiently explained to Hispanic voters that he wasn't a king but I'm not sure he really meant it. It's reported that his entourage will number 3000. That's not a typo.
Here's another story from the Indian press. Are any US news outlets covering this incredibly over-the-top trip?
**Update: I'm relieved to hear that this report has been denied by the Pentagon.** I'm also a bit disappointed that the rumors of Obama going into self-exile are also untrue. Back to the apparently bogus story:
34 warships sent from US for Obama visit
He will also be protected by a fleet of 34 warships, including an aircraft carrier, which will patrol the sea lanes off the Mumbai coast during his two-day stay there beginning Saturday. The measure has been taken as Mumbai attack in 2008 took place from the sea.I was so hoping for elephants. Lots and lots of decked-out elephants.
Arrangements have been put in place for emergency evacuation, if needed.
Obama is expected to fly by a helicopter -- Marine One -- from the city airport to the Indian Navy's helibase INS Shikra at Colaba in south Mumbai.
If this trip is as dangerous as it appears perhaps our president should stay home and save the taxpayers some money.
Thank goodness the coconut threat has been neutralized:
"We told the authorities to remove the dry coconuts from trees near the building. Why take a chance?" Mani Bhavan's executive secretary, Meghshyam Ajgaonkar, told the BBC.The Straight Dope on that.
Last week American security officers inspected Mani Bhavan and its surroundings along with other places the president is likely to visit.
Every year in India people are injured or even killed by falling coconuts.
Previous posts on this trip, in case you missed them:
Obamas have booked the entire Taj Mahal Hotel
India, on $200 million dollars a day
Most recent posts here.
Ref:"If this trip is as dangerous as it appears perhaps our president should stay home and save the taxpayers some money"
ReplyDeleteI had suggested Go TO MEETING DOT COM
http://normanhooben.blogspot.com/2010/11/obama-may-have-never-heard-of-go-to.html
Ref:"He will also be protected by a fleet of 34 warships"
And don't forget the 40 aircraft...
I had two words for him here: http://normanhooben.blogspot.com/2010/11/dear-prime-minister.html
There is just something that smells seriously wrong about the whole thing, and not just the obvious stuff about waste, excess, and ridiculous indulgences on our dime. It looks to me as if he is planning something...
ReplyDeleteGreat elephant!
ReplyDeleteAs of my commenting, this story has been debunked as outrageous in its inflated cost and support. But let's not let these lies as reported here and previously repeated on Fox and the EIB networks keep you from publishing a retraction or clarification or oops.
ReplyDeleteAnd did you hear the one about "during his visit Obama finalized a deal for India to buy some C17s employing as many as 22,000 jobs at the Long Beach, CA Bohing Plant over the next few years?"
??? We'll yeh, but that was just grandstanding, uh showing off, being uppity, ...
The reports originated in the Indian press. And I noted the denial by the Pentagon four or five days ago. See asterisks.
ReplyDeleteThe coconut story is true, though.
And no, we still don't know the cost of the trip. But taking the Clinton or Bush cost of (they say) $10 - $20 million a day and using the Obama multiplier of, say, 4, would probably give us a reasonably good guess.
In this time of trillion dollar spending and 2000+ page bills, you can't blame people for believing stuff that sounds crazy.