Air Force defies Congress, spends anti-terrorism money on "comfort capsules" with "aesthetically pleasing wall treatments/coverings"
Link (via /.)The Air Force's top leadership sought for three years to spend counterterrorism funds on "comfort capsules" to be installed on military planes that ferry senior officers and civilian leaders around the world ... Air Force documents spell out how each of the capsules is to be "aesthetically pleasing and furnished to reflect the rank of the senior leaders using the capsule," with beds, a couch, a table, a 37-inch flat-screen monitor with stereo speakers, and a full-length mirror.' Congress told the USAF twice that they could not spend the money on this frivolous project, but they did it anyway...
Changing the seat color and pockets alone was estimated in a March 12 internal document to cost at least $68,240... Air Force documents about the SLICC, dated June 8, 2006, emphasize the need to install "aesthetically pleasing wall treatments/coverings" -- in addition to the monitor, footrests and a DVD player. The beds, according to one document, must be able to support a man with "no more than 50% compression of the mattress material." The seats are to swivel such that "the longitudinal axis of the seat is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft" regardless of where the capsules are facing, the document specified...
The e-mails state that McMahon ordered that the seats be re-covered, and one e-mail complains that the contractor "would not swap out the brown seat belts for replacement blue seat belts." The changes delayed the project by months and added to its cost.
the latest
latest episodes
37 inches? Come on, that TV barely covers that wall!
I don't necessarily have a problem with the idea of comfort capsules, but it appears the USAF was wasting money on certain frivolous aspects of those capsules (blue seat belts vs. brown seat belts? huh-- maybe the blue ones are safer or something, but probably they just wanted it to match their uniforms.)
What I find troubling is that congress said they couldn't do something, and they did it anyway.
That's a very obvious slippery slope.
To be fair, chances are the money wouldn't have actually made anyone any safer even if spent "appropriately".
McMahon said he does not recall intervening on the leather color change, but said he was sure it was unrelated to the Air Force's color. He said that it was probably because blue would not show dirt as much as tan or brown would.
This has led to another Air Force program: Changing the color of dirt from tan or brown to blue.
I say we give the moneywasters responsible, give them guns and let THEM fight in Iraq.
RAGE!
this is nothing less than theft and embezzlement of the citizenry.
these are the minds and consciences that direct our armed forces - who claim to be protectors of american freedom?
they are thieves and con-men.
"...furnished to reflect the rank of the senior leaders ...,"
this kind of phrasing i expect to hear in the court of Versailles, not a democracy, not a government employee. what kind of leadership is this?
the revolution will not be televised -
-it will be webcast.
When I first think of comfort capsules, I was thinking a place where a light & relaxation therapy could be used on PTSD Soldiers which to me sounds while pretty new agey and potentially not wholly effective, at least like a good idea. Then I find out its for the upper brass only and civilian mucky mucks. Using funds that were specifically denied them to do it... if I 'accidentally on purpose' use funds for something I am not supposed to, you better bet someone would hold me accountable for every cent to be paid back with interest! Beware the wrath of accountants, they will FUCK YOU UP!
I don't know how I feel about this. On the one hand it seems like fraud to take money for one thing and spend it on another, especially something so seemingly frivolous. On the other hand, I'm somewhat relieved that they didn't spend the money on some pointless security theatre meassures that it was undoubtably intended for.
They don't call it the "Chair Force" for nothing.
The VIP jets makes sense, as they allow senior leadership to travel quickly without having to rely on large transports or the whims of civilian airlines. The jets aren't used just for four-star officers, however. I would guess that these are available to any officer down to about the 0-6 level (Colonel or Navy Captain), but with availability varying depending on rank and need. Just an educated guess.
Even if these comfort capsules are worthwhile (and I don't believe they are), the PR effort the Air Force is making is terrible. At least that's what Air Force General Pantywaist told me.
@#7
"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi already got her ride taken care of..."
The House sergeant-at-arms ordered planes for Pelosi that could make the DC-California trip non-stop for security reasons, not comfort. Why spread right wing propaganda by the Moonie Times?
This is truly a shameful use of anti-terrorism dollars... but I've seen worse. Consider the Homeland Security Advisory System, with its color-coded levels of fear.
At least we have a Ninja Threat Advisory System now, the first good use of my tax money that I've seen since we sent someone to the moon.
I really hope this guy gets fired. wasting money on making the higher ups in the military be comfortable and disobeying congress. How many guns, armor vests and bullets could have been made with that many spent?
wasn't there something about an officer's trailer in "The Boys From Company C"?
So my brother in Iraq had to steal loose metal and weld it himself to the trucks and Humvees he had to drive, (often transporting AA batteries back and forth across the countryside *No Shit*), Have civis spit in his food, throw feces at him etc,,, , and the commanders travel in bleeding luxury? There are no words.
get with the program you mooslim lover!
http://www.bloggerheads.com/images/bush_hero_flight_suit.jpg
Hilarious! This is exactly the kind of military I want protecting me against my will. Lazy, soft and effete.
What's next? Military Eye for the Civilian Guy?
They could have saved themselves a lot of trouble if they'd called these "Modular Airborne Officer Quarters -- Prefabricated". Where's the MilSpeak when you need it?
... aside from the whole defying-Congress, maybe-we-should-buy-our-soldiers-some-armor-instead thing.
@KEN HANSEN
From http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17035721/
The Air Force transport plane decried by Republicans as an extravagance for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was requested by the House sergeant-at-arms as a matter of security, he said Thursday.
and
“I regret that an issue that is exclusively considered and decided in a security context has evolved into a political issue,” Bill Livingood said in a news release."
and
“This is a silly story, and I think it’s been unfair to the speaker,” White House spokesman Tony Snow said.
and, most importantly:
But Snow on Thursday said the negotiations over Pelosi’s transport have been conducted solely by the House sergeant-at-arms and the Pentagon, with no direct involvement by the speaker or her office — or the White House.
Again, Pelosi didn't request it. Quote the Moonie Times story all you want, but it will remain right-wing propaganda.
"Besides, is she really afraid of landing in America's Heartland (fly-over country) on her trips between CA and DC?"
If anyone is, it's the House Sergeant-at-Arms and the Pentagon. Unless you continue to believe a debunked story from an unethical rag.
Y'know, not everything having to do with government has to be taken as an opportunity for cheap shots against political rivals. Sometimes outrage can, and should, cross party lines--and only when the story is based in truth.
Which pretty much eliminates anything squirted out by the Washington Times.
Besides, is she really afraid of landing in America's Heartland (fly-over country) on her trips between CA and DC?
Hmm. Maybe we should limit their use to those of us who have quite good reasons to be afraid of landing in America's Heartland. America's Heartland doesn't ♥ some of us very much.
And you boys on the frontline, always remember; your weapon was manufactured by the lowest bidder...
I really hope this guy gets fired. wasting money on making the higher ups in the military be comfortable
...and who exactly is going to fire him?
Of course, replacements for the President's helicopter fleet of 28 dedicated helicopters are coming in at 11 billion dollars, according to the Washington Post. For comparison, the entire National Science Foundation budget is about 6 billion per year. (Notably, however, Bush won't actually use the helicopters--they won't be ready until after he leaves office.)
These boxes would presumably be loaded on cargo planes. Military cargo planes are a singularly uncomfortable way to travel. They are cold, with no options for comfortable seats, and shake considerably more than commercial flights. Furthermore, the noise levels require earplugs as a minimum precaution to avoid potential hearing loss. But this is for cargo planes, which VIPs rarely use for travel to begin with. So you have a large insulated hiding place at the front of the aircraft (a remarkably poor idea in case of inflight emergencies) while large numbers of regular passengers end up sleeping in what little area is available of the icy metal floor behind. And again, there are already passenger aircraft specifically for VIP use.
's OK,I got the contract for the speakers. The gas cannisters are tiny.
Y'know, maybe we should have thought twice before placing Xzibit & Mad Mike in charge of military logistics.
Next up for our four-star generals' travel comfort is a vintage Lear jet with such amenities as:
# Chocolate fondue fountain
# Sparkling cider bottle and champagne glasses that rise up in the back seat
# Pop-up rose dispenser and LED candles behind back seats
# Dash-mounted projector and hood that converts to a movie screen
# Custom red leather interior
# Phoenix Gold speakers and subs
# Pioneer headunit
# Dual headunit
# Voce phone service
# Snowcone maker in trunk
# High powered rising binoculars
# Custom “Tiki God” painted on hood
# Pro Hopper airbags that make the Jeep bounce
# Motorized windows for quick outside access to power tools
# Motorized rotating tool box for construction tools and hardware
# 17″ Viewsonic monitor
# Dewalt air compressor, 10″ chopsaw and nailer
# Mac Tools pneumatic hose and airblower
# Software CD Better Homes & Gardens
# Exonic 15″ (x2), 10″ (x2), 5″ (x3), 7″ (x2), 2″(x5) monitors
# Autopage alarm
# Exonic headunit
# Video iPod...
In other news, the Department of Homeland Security has commissioned Alexander McQueen to design new jumpsuits for the guests at the Guantánamo Bay - fashionable and uncomfortable!
The designs feature electric eel skin shock collars and snow-washed denim for the ultimate in high specification fashion humiliation.
People! When you question "foolish" and "unnecessary" spending, you let Al Qaeda win!
That you question the "expensive" and "silly" idea to swap out brown seat belts for blue ones tells me that you know nothing about the War on Terror. Do you know who makes brown seat belts? That's right: Osama bin Laden.
Blue seat belts are made in the good ol' U S of A, by Mexican illegals who unpack them from the containers that are shipped from China and assemble them in the U S of A with tools made in China.
Sure, it might appear that they're wasting your tax dollars, but they're "wasting" them fighting the War on Terror.
{{more complaints about them gol-dern'd lib'rils}}
...You know, once upon a time, all it took to make an Air Farce officer happy was his own office with a wooden desk and two flags seated on either side. Oh, and a wooden model of an X-15 or a B-52 on the desk next to the name plate.
what was under the`desk?
Boney, pale legs.
Honestly, hopefully Congress will now grow a pair and stop giving out money to the military for "anti-terrorism" measures. It's really silly how everything now falls under "anti-terrorism" and Congress is just throwing cash around like it's growing on trees. If the Air Force spent theirs on the stupid comfort pods, then the Air Force shouldn't be trusted with the money and shouldn't get it in the future. VIP's do not need leather seats, matching colors, etc, etc, etc. There is no reason why they deserve to be more comfortable than the average civilian flying coach.
every looked at how the generals live in Burma and North Korea?