Having created another trillion-dollar deficit for the current fiscal year, President Obama is working on yet another deficit buster with his extravagant two-day visit to India in November.
As reported at Reference 1, in part, Obama’s travel scheme is hardly what one would expect from a president dedicated to deficit reduction:
To ensure fool-proof security, the President’s team has booked the entire the Taj Mahal Hotel, including 570 rooms, all banquets and restaurants. Since his security contingent and staff will comprise a huge number, 125 rooms at Taj President have also been booked, apart from 80 to 90 rooms each in Grand Hyatt and The Oberoi hotels. The NCPA, where the President is expected to meet representatives from the business community, has also been entirely booked.
The officer said, “Obama’s contingent is huge. There are two jumbo jets coming along with Air Force One, which will be flanked by security jets. There will be 30 to 40 secret service agents, who will arrive before him. The President’s convoy has 45 cars, including the Lincoln Continental in which the President travels.”
Since Obama will stay in a hotel that is on sea front, elaborate coastal security arrangements have been made by the US Navy in consonance with the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard. “There will be US naval ships, along with Indian vessels, patrolling the sea till about 330-km from the shore. This is to negate the possibility of a missile being fired from a distance,” the officer said.
The President will be accompanied by his chefs, not because he would not like to savour Indian cuisine, but to ensure his food is not spiked.
While all agree that presidential safety is an overriding priority, is it really necessary to book 855 rooms, including 570 at the Taj Mahal Hotel?
Other burning questions that deserve intelligent answers:
* Why Mumbai, other than as a symbolic gesture to terrorists? Can America afford such pricey, meaningless gestures?
* Where is the cost-benefit analysis? Just what benefits will accrue to the American people as a result of this elitist misadventure?
* What can Obama hope to accomplish at the Taj Mahal that he could not accomplish just as well in the Oval Office with a collect call to India? Remember, Mr. President, these are tough times—a truth that applies even to spend-happy Marxists!
If, and when, Republicans recapture the House and or Senate (next week?), the first priority for the new Congress should be to monitor and control travel by the first family.
That means control over trips (domestic and international) by the president and by his reckless spouse whose European vacations are a scandal in these times.
Time to put an end to foolish travel expenses by our out-of-touch elitist president!
Reference 1: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Barack-and-Michelles-Mumbai-darshan-plans/articleshow/6797379.cms
