Top Air Force leadership sought for three years to spend counter-terrorism money on 'comfort capsules' for military planes to ease the travel of senior officers and civilian leaders, with at least four top generals involved in design details such as the color of the capsules' carpet and leather chairs. Production has begun for the first capsule -- two sealed rooms that can fit in the fuselage of a large aircraft -- and four mobile pallets containing plush, swiveling leather chairs with footrests. Air Force officials say the new capsules are necessary to ensure that leaders can talk, work and rest comfortably in the air. But the top brass' preoccupation has alienated lower-ranking Air Force officers familiar with the effort, as well as congressional staff and a nonprofit group that calls the program a waste of money.
"In all, for the last three years the Air Force has asked to divert $16.2 million from the war on terrorism to the capsules. Congress has twice told the service no."
"Because of the cutback in the number of capsules and pallets, the program is currently estimated to cost $7.6 million."
Rico says a 'waste of money'? Surely not: "Air Force documents spell out how each capsule is to be 'aesthetically pleasing and furnished to reflect the rank of the senior leaders using the capsule', with beds, a couch, a table and a 37-inch flat-screen monitor with stereo speakers."
What more critical thing, in these parlous times, could we be spending that kind of money on than a 37-inch flat screen with stereo speakers for every fucking general who's flying to some crisis somewhere?
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