Yes...
 

RickAir,

You are correct and I agree with you. I was hard on politicians in general in my last post. I want my President, the Commander-in-Chief to be safe at all times with a total means of escape. What I don't understand is the overkill of all of the support staff. I agree that there needs to be secret service with the man, but when he came to Iowa, why did he need 5 helicopters? He is ONE man. I think he should have the 2 helicopters that he uses any day in Washington D.C. One is his and the other is a decoy. Make the press people and all the traveling phonies take a bus. It just seemed like overkill especially when the world is so obsessed with being green right now.

I also agree that a back-up AF1 is a good idea for overseas missions. I should have made that more clear, but one thing he could have done in Iowa and other domestic places is utilize the local resources. DSM has an ANG base and just north of Des Moines about 40 miles is a base with Black Hawks. Why didn't he use the local military to haul him around instead of having to load down a fully fueled C-17 with 5 helicopters?

I just don't get it. But forgive my ignorance, for I am not in the military.

The President uses three helicopters most of the time. They constantly rotate to confuse possible attackers. I don’t know why he had five then, but there probably was a reason. It may have been for security reasons or it could have been to carry his dog and the other just because he could.

As far as flying in helicopters and cars rather than using local military transportation, again, it is for security. As we recently found out, not all military personnel can be trusted. The military personnel that travel with the president and prepare for his arrival are specially chosen and have extensive background checks.

We did a lot of things on the cheap before...everything in place now is because of the JFK and Reagan shootings.

Because regular aircraft in the military are maintained at a far far far lower, almost criminal level, I wouldn't let my wife fly on one. And "local military," most of the people that would have to be involved don't have appropriate security clearances (Weeks in advance, Sgt Joe Shmoe and Airman Snuffy would know all of the presidents movements because he's getting a Blackhawk all suped-up for the big guy, blabs this to all his friends that will listen). Either way, local military or not, the contents of those C-17s need to move with him.

I'm perfectly fine with the measures used to safely move the Pres...its a National Security issue.