"That's 'Screw In a Lightbulb, SIR,' Airman!"
This is not a joke. How many Air Force generals does it take to choose upholstery?
At least four. At least that many ranking generals had a hand in choosing the decor of deluxe ''comfort capsules'' for themselves and their peers aboard military transport planes, so the brass don't have to suffer with the enlisted hoi polloi.
The story in today's LA Times describes private jet-like touches -- sofas, beds, leather swivel chairs, flat-screen monitors with stereo -- and also cites a price of $16.2 million for all this, out of the War on Terror budget. That was for the original ten luxury capsules; the number's been dropped to three, and some chairs, which cuts the cost to a mere $7.6 million -- a consolation, no doubt, to men and women who have served their country and then can't get the post-war care they need.
When Air Force brass changed their minds about color and wanted Air Force blue leather seats instead of brown, and a seat pocket, that added $68,240 to the tab.
The description sounds like a brochure for a Gulfstream 5, and the promo job was all about waving the flag. It's patriotic to encase high-ranking butts in luxury that ''the people of the United States would be proud of.'' When, pray, would the people of the United States be seeing this deluxe set-up? And I don't think ''proud'' would describe the sentiments of the enlisted people who got an eyeful of the first-class section they aren't allowed to occupy.
I'm proud that we know how to win one war, slam-dunk -- the war on generals' hemorrhoids.
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Would this be the same military in Iraq who is consistently under equipping our slodiers on the ground? Have we all forgotten the stories of soldier's families sending body armour, flashlights, radios, night vision googgles and bullet proof additions to their Humvees? Have we all forgotten that the parents and friends and churches of these soldiers had to foot the bill for BASIC equipment for our soldiers on the ground? Am I the only one who is outraged by this?
Apparently.
And also quite apparently you are not a Republican!
If President Pan were to squander money on things like this, how could we possibly afford billion dollar no bid contracts for Halliburton?
How could we pay "princely" monthly salaries to Blackwater?
Or pay Charlene and Darlene almost a cool million for two twenty-five cent washers?
It's all a matter of priorities.
As they say, Pan has his priorities "right" (that's a political not moral term as used here)
Here come the $160 hammers and $350 toilet seats again. We have seen all this before - the scandal is that we (the voting public) are not screaming at our elected represenatives for more accountability.
That we are borrowing money from China to pay for "comfort capsules" is a national disgrace.
Those who are spending money in this way and those who are enabling it are guilty of betraying the people of the United States.
Any General or Admiral should have a lap-top to look at while riding a jumpseat. Forget the flatscreen luxury in the rear of the plane. The troops back there would appreciate being fully rested, in comfort, before the plane lands or the arrives at the jump zone.
In a war to promote Capitalism, the promulgators surround themselves in the spoils of "victory".
They are defending Freedom: the freedom of the financial barons to continue their reign of inequity.
The generals must therefore emulate the accoutrements of their masters.
So, is it serving one's country or feeding at the govt trough?
My view the generals are feeding at the trough. In my view, transport for the military should be handled efficiently and safely. There should be no difference between accomodations for officer and the enlisted, except as required by job obligations. I do realize that sometimes officers are dealing with classified paperwork that requires security. That should be provided. No need for leather seate, comfort capsules, or musical liquor cabinets. No need for 32 inch flat screen TVs either. A simple divider in part of the plane if there is a security requirement should be sufficient. If they have a MILITARY need to watch something on TV a much smaller screen should suffice. We the taxpayers are paying for the top brasses fluff and vanity toys and I don't like it. I want someone who will keep an eye on this sort of waste and nip it in the bud. McCain has been an enabler of this sort of extravagance, has voted for it. I guess rich people like he is just don't realize that most people have to be intelligent about their spending, he is oblivious to a lot more than the price of gas, compputers, and the world as it exists now.
400 Million per day for the war in Iraq. 7.6 million is less than 2% of what we spend DAILY. Maybe another 2% to actually pay the troops. Can anyone account for the rest of the $$?
Oh General Eisenhower, where are you when we need you? We've put a dull immature school boy in the White House and he has allowed, and encouraged, our military leaders to run amuck. For most of my life, when thinking of our military, I would conjure an image of you riding around the battlefield in that old Willis Jeep with mud on your boots. Now our military leaders are sitting in capsules, on leather upholstery, watching flat panel televisions. You warned us against allowing this to happen, but we let it happen anyway. Now what do we do?
Sounds like the French or British General Staff circa 1916.
I've witnessed military excess first hand. Army brass with personal chefs, hotel room-like living quarters. One time on a flight back from a mission, our C-17 (not our usual transport) stopped off in Russia to pick up an antique WW2 era Soviet tank. It was in mint condition and probably black market. Regardless, it was a tax payer funded gift for some retiring brass back home. I guess, the flag and the autographed, framed picture of the White House wasn't good enough.
Is this what is meant by the saying "war is hell"?
Once again the loony liberal press misses the point.
The facts tell quite a different story.
There have been no terrorist attacks on American soil since 9/11. Not a one!
Why?
(1) The "Terrorist Watch List" -which kept dangerous jihadists like Nelson Mandela out of this country until a supine defeatist Congress forced his name off the list. And you can sleep well at night knowing that Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) is on the list as well.
(2) The "No Fly List" which successfully prevented Ted Kennedy from hijacking a single plane.
(3) The "Comfort Capsule". Can you imagine the damage done our national security by leaking the details of this critical project? It's probably worse than outing a CIA agent.
I don't see any tigers around here... maybe the tiger charms I have have worked !
I'd also like to point out two other benefits of the "wise" policy and "leadership" of President Pan.
(1) Neither I nor anyone in my family has not been abducted once by aliens since he became President.
(2) Not a single terrorist has followed me or my family home.
But will we be able to say this under President Obama?
Does anyone understand that in order to prevent a coup by the military they have to be bought off (like so many politicians have)? This is NOT a facetious comment, just the unvarnished truth.
What has happened to the military. In the 1930s the military general, Smedley Butler, who found out about a coup turned in the plotters, among them Bushies Grandpa. If now the generals are plotting against the American people, it is just another reason not to buy them off. I say. No differentiation between the enlisted and the generals, except that which is needed to complete their job. They do not need private capsules, private chefs, special toys,or even monogramed silk sheets provided at taxpayer expense. Their salaries are very good, and their pension benefits are excellent. Other than that they should serve just like everyone else.
The Bush/Cheney/McCAin and the republicans are more wasteful than any Democratic Party administration has ever been.
Get over it. The military has been in full party mode since the 9/11. Any amount of money is available for them. You wouldn't want the contractors to be the only profiteers would you? Oversight is a thing of the past. Let that Chinese money flow and party on.
How many first class trips would one of those things pay for?
They'll probably be declared surplus before the contract is finished and they will be selling them for pennies on the dollar.
This really shouldn't be a surprise - look at the luxurious splendor our military contractors are living in - all on the taxpayers' dime. It's kind of surprising that more of the upper military brass becoming contractors - it probably pays a hell of a lot more. It wouldn't be too much different that former members of Congress becoming lobbyists - just ask Trent Lott.
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