OK, for the most part, I generally stay off my soap box when writing a blog entry. If I can’t stay off the box, I try to avoid a foray into the political. However, today, I have been irritated just enough that I can do neither. I simply must take odds with President Bush’s secret surprise trip to Iraq.
As you may be aware, the President has been holding a summit on Iraq with his cabinet members and advisors. On Tuesday’s, June 13, 2006, agenda, was a scheduled video conference with the new government of Iraq. Instead of hanging with his advisors, the President decided he would hop his plane, at our expense, and participate from across "The Pond".
As you may be aware, the President has been holding a summit on Iraq with his cabinet members and advisors. On Tuesday’s, June 13, 2006, agenda, was a scheduled video conference with the new government of Iraq. Instead of hanging with his advisors, the President decided he would hop his plane, at our expense, and participate from across "The Pond".
Monday evening, President Bush, indicating that he was tired and “losing altitude” excused himself at 7:34pm Eastern time from the Camp David meeting. Instead, however, of going to bed, he snuck off to Andrews Air Force Base, where, at 9pm Eastern time, he boarded Air Force One, and departed for Iraq.
What’s wrong with this you ask? After all, he is the President of the United States! Well, my problem is the cost of the excursion! Air Force One landed in Iraq an 8am Eastern time. The President plans on spending approximately 5 hours on the ground in Iraq. This is an 11 hour flight (22 hours round trip) for a 5 hour meeting. The cost of operating Air Force One is in excess of $60,000/hour. Yes, that is correct, $60,000/hour. On April 7, 2005, the Washington Post reported that “In 2000, when jet fuel prices were lower, the GAO estimated that flying Air Force One cost $54,100 per hour, or $60,250 in today's dollars.” In the same article, the Washington Post further reported “Excluding security and aircraft costs, the White House has estimated that staff costs on presidential trips average between $22,000 and $59,000”.
Not included in Air Force One's direct costs are the support equipment required for a Presidential visit. According to CNN “Accompanying any tour are at least two C-5 Galaxy heavy transport aircraft carrying the president's bulletproof limousine, a stand-by limo, a fully fitted ambulance, occasionally his personal helicopter and -- for especially sensitive areas -- several additional limos for use as decoys.” Want to guess what they cost to operate? According to the Military Analysis Network, the C-5 has the highest operating cost of any weapon system. They further report it consumes 46 maintenance man-hours per flying hour.
I can’t even being to guess what the security costs for this trip are. The President travels with a battalion of Secret Service men, not to mention the US military assets where used to secure the Baghdad airport, streets and meeting places in Iraq. Just looking at the things we do know, $60,250/hour for Air Force One and staff costs at a minimum of $22,000 the cost of the trip has already topped $1,347,500! In all fairness, the White House is reporting the trip was planned well in advance of today, however, it is still a colossal waste! It wouldn’t surprise me of the total cost of the trip was into the tens of millions of dollars.
What’s wrong with this you ask? After all, he is the President of the United States! Well, my problem is the cost of the excursion! Air Force One landed in Iraq an 8am Eastern time. The President plans on spending approximately 5 hours on the ground in Iraq. This is an 11 hour flight (22 hours round trip) for a 5 hour meeting. The cost of operating Air Force One is in excess of $60,000/hour. Yes, that is correct, $60,000/hour. On April 7, 2005, the Washington Post reported that “In 2000, when jet fuel prices were lower, the GAO estimated that flying Air Force One cost $54,100 per hour, or $60,250 in today's dollars.” In the same article, the Washington Post further reported “Excluding security and aircraft costs, the White House has estimated that staff costs on presidential trips average between $22,000 and $59,000”.
Not included in Air Force One's direct costs are the support equipment required for a Presidential visit. According to CNN “Accompanying any tour are at least two C-5 Galaxy heavy transport aircraft carrying the president's bulletproof limousine, a stand-by limo, a fully fitted ambulance, occasionally his personal helicopter and -- for especially sensitive areas -- several additional limos for use as decoys.” Want to guess what they cost to operate? According to the Military Analysis Network, the C-5 has the highest operating cost of any weapon system. They further report it consumes 46 maintenance man-hours per flying hour.
I can’t even being to guess what the security costs for this trip are. The President travels with a battalion of Secret Service men, not to mention the US military assets where used to secure the Baghdad airport, streets and meeting places in Iraq. Just looking at the things we do know, $60,250/hour for Air Force One and staff costs at a minimum of $22,000 the cost of the trip has already topped $1,347,500! In all fairness, the White House is reporting the trip was planned well in advance of today, however, it is still a colossal waste! It wouldn’t surprise me of the total cost of the trip was into the tens of millions of dollars.
3 comments:
Dann, good observations and math skills. As you know, I flee at anything requiring math in my entries.Nightmares from basic college algebra!!! By the way if Maguro Goma Tataki's (Seared Spicy Tuna Salad) at my favorite restaurant comes out about to 12.50 after tax. How many of these could Bush have bought me? or the world for that matter? P.S. It's good to get on a soapbox once in a while. The air is more fresh, the view is better, and by the way, it is your blog. Later Gator.
Without the use of any advanced math skills, it comes to a minimum of 107,800 Maguro Goma Tatakis, not including tip, of course.
OOOHHHH, I think I might get tired of tuna for a while.
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