The current official car of the President of The United States is a Cadillac. It is the first presidential limousine not to have a specific model name (The previous presidential limousine, used by George W. Bush, was a modified Cadillac D.T.S). It has the call sign, Cadillac One (The presidential plane has the call sign Air-Force One and the presidential helicopter is known as Marine One). It looks so imposing that it has been nicknamed “The Beast” by the Secret Service. It first came into service on January 20th 2009. Like any presidential limousine, the security features are a closely guarded secret, but you can trust us, we’ve been able to unearth them for you.
Cadillac One has eight inches thick armour plated doors that are the weight of the cabin door on a Boeing 757. The door handles incorporate a special system, which can only be opened by trained personnel (secret service). The driver’s window can withstand armour piercing bullets. It is the only window that opens, by just 3 inches, so that the driver can pay tolls or talk with secret service agents. The chauffer is trained by the CIA to cope with the most demanding of circumstances. The driver’s compartment contains a standard steering wheel, but the dash board contains a communications centre and GPS tracking system.
The petrol tank in the beast is armour plated and filled with a specially designed foam that prevents it from exploding if hit. Its bodywork consists of a combination of dual hardness steel, aluminium, titanium and even ceramic to break up possible projectiles. A reinforced five inch steel plate runs under the car for protection in the unlikely event of a bomb being placed underneath. The car is built on the platform of a GMC truck. The tyres are reinforced with Kevlar (the material used in bullet-proof vests) and are shred and puncture resistant, with steel rims underneath, enabling the car to escape at speed, even if the tyres are blasted away. The boot holds oxygen supply and a fire-fighting system. The limousine, like the Cadillac DTS, is equipped with night vision cameras, but the location of the cameras have been moved & are a secret. It is also armed with pump-action shotguns and tear gas cannons. Bottles of blood (the president’s blood type) are kept on board, in case he needs an emergency transfusion. The limousine is environmentally sealed against chemical and biological weapons.
When the president is in the limousine, the presidential seal is affixed to its side and it flies two flags; the U.S flag on the right fender and the presidential flag on the left fender, for domestic trips and the U.S flag on the right fender and the flag of the host country on the left fender for trips abroad. The flags are ventilated and illuminated by High Intensity Discharge (H.I.D) directional flood lights, mounted on the hood.
The limousine is maintained by the Secret Service, which, on delivery, took it apart and swept it for bugs. Two dedicated mechanics travel with the limousine wherever it goes.
TRAVELS
When the president travels out of Washington, Cadillac One is transported by U.S Air-Force C-17 Globemaster III or C-5 Galaxy transport planes to wherever the president is going to.
The president never uses foreign “assets” overseas. He either uses Cadillac One, a Secret Service Chevrolet Suburban (Suburban One), or U.S embassy vehicles (indeed, Marine One, the presidential helicopter, is transported abroad by cargo planes anytime the president needs to use a helicopter overseas). This wasn’t always the case in the past. President Jimmy Carter rode in a Nigerian owned Land Rover when he visited Lagos in 1978.
Another notable exception was when President Richard Nixon visited China for the first time in 1972. The U.S sought permission to fly in their presidential limousine, but Mao Zedong said that there was no need for that, because there were vehicles in China that were good enough to transport Nixon. Nixon agreed, because of the historic nature of the visit. He used Chinese made Red Flag limousines during his trip, though the limousine was taken apart by the U.S secret service and swept for bugs and other dangerous materials. Presidents Kennedy and Clinton used a white U.S embassy Rolls Royce, when they visited Northern Ireland.
The length of the U.S. president’s motorcade varies, depending on the threat level and nature of his trip. It could vary from ten vehicles to forty vehicles (wonder what the POTUS’ carbon footprint is like). When the president is out of Washington, his motorcade usually consists of about thirty-five vehicles. Approximately the first half of the motorcade is known as the “secure package” and contains the presidential limousines, police cars and essential secret service vehicles. The “secure package” breaks away from the rest of the motorcade in the event of an attack. There are usually 2 or 3 identical limousines in the motorcade, one of these limousines carries the president, while the other acts as backup. The second limousine also serves as a decoy and it flies the two flags and carries the presidential seal, just like the limousine carrying the president. The two limousines usually switch positions several times during a journey.
The route the president takes is usually cleared of traffic by local police lining the route. About 6 – 10 local policemen on motorcycles ride ahead of the motorcade to ensure that no other cars are on the route (this is very dangerous work and some policemen have been killed in accidents, while performing this duty). A local police car also drives ahead of the convoy to do a bomb sweep (equally very dangerous work). The local police play a very important part in planning the route, because they know the area, control traffic lights and are better able to plan against traffic jams and assist the secret service in planning escape routes and alternative routes.
Some of the main vehicles that travel with the president are: -
(1) Chevrolet Suburban (The War Truck): - Several Chevrolet Suburbans are in the motorcade and some of them carry the Secret Service Counter Assault Team (C.A.T), whose members are mostly ex-marines. They are well trained and well armed. Under U.S law, the secret service can request for the latest training techniques and weapons from any branch of the military and the military must comply with such request.
There was a proposal that some of the SUVs (particularly the SUV behind the President's limo) should carry the Dillon Aero Mini Gun. It is not known if the proposal was accepted. Some secret service agents expressed concern over possible collateral damage. The Dillon Aero Minigun is a gatling gun that fires 3,000 rounds a minute (50 rounds a second). The SUV is known as “The War Truck”. Its roof opens up (much like a sunroof) and a secret service agent, wielding the gatling gun, pops up on a revolving gun turret. The agent is protected on his left and right flank by the doors of the “sunroof”. The Suburbans will surround Cadillac One if there is an attack on it.
2)Frequency Jamming Vehicles: - There is usually a vehicle (sometimes a suburban, sometimes a van) which sends out jamming signals across different frequencies. This is to prevent the detonation of road side bombs using mobile phones, remote controls, garage openers and other devices that emit radio waves. Sometimes, a helicopter, which flies over the motorcade, is used to jam frequencies.
3)Mobile Intensive Care Unit: - An ambulance (Mobile Intensive Care Unit) is always in the motorcade. It is equipped to handle surgeries and carries bottles of the president’s blood type in case an emergency transfusion is required. It is usually a big black armoured truck in the middle of the motorcade, though there are sometimes decoy white ambulances, which are usually full of secret service agents, at the rear of the motorcade.
President William McKinley was the first to ride in an automobile, but it wasn’t until the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt that the first government owned car was used.
The first car specially built for presidential use was the 1939 Lincoln V12 convertible, called the “Sunshine Special”, used by Franklin Roosevelt. The Ford Motor Company leased the car to the office of the President for $500 a year. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, the secret service became concerned about potential assassination attempts. The following day, 8th Dec 1941, a heavily armoured 1928 Cadillac 341A Town Sedan was used to transport the president to the Capitol for the famous “infamy” speech. Originally belonging to Al Capone, the car was confiscated by the treasury department following Capone’s arrest and stored in a government impound lot until its ironic final duty. Roosevelt used the car until his “Sunshine Special” was modified to be bullet-proof.
The Kennedy White House purchased a Lincoln Continental convertible, which was stretched into a limousine for the president by Hess and Eisenhart. It was the car President Kennedy was riding in when he was assassinated. It had a plexi-glass “bubble” top in case of inclement weather, but this was often removed (as was the case on the day Kennedy was assassinated) because the air-conditioner was not strong enough to deal with the heat in the vehicle.
George Bush’s modified Cadillac DTS (Deville Touring Sedan) once broke down in Rome, Italy, when the president was being driven back to the U.S embassy. Surprised Italians could be heard giggling as the driver tried in vain to restart the car. Bush’s embarrassment was compounded when his back up Suburban was too wide to pass through the embassy gates, so he had to walk into the compound.
It is not the job of the journalist to "protect the guest". The guest is not a baby that needs "protection". The guest should protect himself by preparing for the interview. The job of the journalist is to unearth information for the benefit of the public, which is precisely what they did.
1) They tried to get the NSCDC website address, so that the public will know the address and prospective job applicants won't fall victim to scammers.
2) They showed the public the quality of public officials we have (officials who are paid with citizens' tax money).
The journalists did their job excellently.
(I think this whole "protect the guest" business is a legacy of military rule).
ba7man: There is no car as armed or as bullet proof as the presidential limo Barak Obama rides in.......and he's not known for corruption.
Quite true. Certain categories of public office holders need extra security because of the work they do. Remember, if he is a good governor, bad people will want to kill him (and bad people have no qualms about killing people) because he would prevent them from carrying out their activities.
We also do not know the source of the funds used to purchase these vehicles, whether they are public or private funds.
illrhymes: Please non of you should follow this post. I'm an Akwa Ibomite and this is a fat lie....all this is a plot to run his good deeds down. Godswill Akpabio still remains the best Governor Akwa Ibom has ever had. Just because he gave 2Face and Annie 2 Prado jeeps everybody is shouting....why shouldn't he give them jeeps? Abi was he suppose to give them plastic cups as wedding gifts? Nigerians can be very funny.....This van is not in my State, I would've seen it....and the silly pix is virtual reality!
Some of those vans (plus a Mercedes Benz R Class) have been in Lagos for over a year and they are used whenever His Excellency or the First Lady (usually the first lady) is in Lagos.
Here he (Mr Obafaiye Shem, Lagos State Commandant of NSCDC) is with his "oga at the top", Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ade Abolurin
Of course the Sprinter can "ride on Nigerian roads". Julius Berger uses the regular version (thin skinned) of the Sprinter to convey its staff. The Akpabios usually use a couple of the armoured version (and a Mercedes R class) when they attend church.
In Russia, Vladimir Putin's guards often use either Mercedes Benz Sprinter or Volkswagen Transporter vans.
I've stood on that bridge many times since 1991 (I was even standing on one of the joints when an 18 wheeler passed by), so I know that it vibrates.
So, when in 2006/2007 there were rumours that the bridge was going to collapse because of vibrations (One day I even got a text message that the bridge had collapsed), I laughed it off.
However, a few months later, engineers conducted tests (in response to public outcry) and discovered that the expansion joints were bad. I was forced to eat my words. The bridge was closed in 2008 and 2012 so that the joints could be fixed.
Now people have started complaining again. I'm not inclined to dismiss their complaints. An independent body should conduct tests on the bridge (o wait! The senators say this has been done and that the results show that the bridge is in danger of collapsing) and make their findings public.
Senators Hope Uzodinma and Chris Ngige have raised this issue at the Senate.
watchinglagos: Two major bridges in the South are crumbling and need immediate rehabilitation.
The Third Mainland Bridge is in dire need of rehabilitation as repairs executed by the Ministry of Works did not meet the required standard, a senator has said.
Gbenga Ashafa (ACN-Lagos ) made this revelation on Thursday at a Senate sitting. If the bridge is not immediately worked on, it will collapse, Mr. Ashafa warned. He told newsmen at a briefing later, that an independent assessment showed that repair works carried out in October 2012 by the Ministry of Works did not meet the required standard.
“Repair works embarked upon during the last quarter of 2012 by the Ministry of Works, were just mere window dressing on the expansion joints. “A recent report by some experts in concrete structural engineering found out that the last repairs that were done at the end of October did not meet the entire requirement. The experts went back after those remedial actions were taken and came back with the report that something has to be done urgently.
“So when this alarm was sounded, we thought we have to make it a subject of urgent national importance,” he said. At the sitting, Mr. Ashafa raised a motion on the urgent need to investigate and avert the imminent collapse of the bridge.
Shola Adeyeye (ACN –Osun) said the motion requires urgent action. He said that holding public hearing on the issue would delay the process of rehabilitation.
“When you build a bridge and don’t maintain it, no amount of prayer can save you.
“We don’t need public hearing. What we need to do is to direct our engineers in the Ministry of Works to assess the bridge immediately and report back to us,” he said.
Senate orders investigation
The Senate therefore mandated its Committee on Works to investigate and proffer solutions to avert the deterioration and imminent collapse of the bridge.
The committee was also mandated to work in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works to find out the current state of the bridge and to take urgent action to rectify all the structural damages.
Mr. Ashafa said the Third Mainland Bridge is a national monument on which not less than 70,000 vehicles ply daily. He stressed the need for “comprehensive” repairs to be carried out on its foundation.
On his part, Barnabas Gemade (PDP-Benue) urged the Senate Committee on Works to impress it upon the ministry to accelerate work on the bridge. He advised against holding public hearing, and said that the experts would not be willing to provide the solution to the problem at such a forum.
Babafemi Ojudu (ACN–Ekiti) advised that that the assessment should be handled only by experts from within and outside the public service.
“We should find a way to get experts from within and outside the Ministry of Works to give us unbiased assessment. “We should stand up and do something urgently and should not leave this critical matter to public officials,” he said.
On August 10, 2012, Third Mainland Bridge, the longest in Africa, was partially closed, to enable repairs that would forestall collapse. The partial closure caused untold hardship to residents of Lagos, who had to spend several hours in traffic. Several resources and manpower, including 700 officials from the Lagos State Government and some more from the Federal Government, were deployed for the period of the repairs to direct the traffic situation at the time. On October 30, the bridge was re-opened amidst cheers for the government because true to its schedule for the repairs on the bridge, works were completed within three months. Barely four months later, the Senate finds that the bridge still has defects despite claims by the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, that the bridge did not have any structural defect and would not collapse.
[b]Another bridge is falling down
In a related development, the Senate on Thursday urged the Federal Ministry of Works to undertake immediate reinforcement, repairs, and rehabilitation of the River Niger Bridge at Onitsha.
The Upper legislative chamber said the resolution is to avoid the tragic consequences of the possible collapse of the bridge, which links the South-East, South-South and some Northern States of the federation.
It also enjoined the Federal Ministry of Works to take immediate action to commence work on the second Niger Bridge project before the end of the first quarter of 2013.
Moving the motion, Hope Uzodinma (PDP- Imo) said that the poor state of the bridge led to the conception of a second Niger Bridge project as a permanent structure to contain the heavy traffic across the bridge.
“The River Niger Bridge is in a horrifying state of decay with imminent threat of collapse sooner than later. “The second Niger Bridge has remained on the drawing board for too long with no manifest practical step towards its actualisation as the River Niger Bridge may collapse without notice.
“This could result to a major national catastrophe and tragedy of unimaginable proportions,” he warned.
In her contribution, Margery Okadigbo (PDP-Anambra) expressed concern over the issue of the second Niger Bridge project saying it has been turned into a campaign promise.
“Till date nothing concrete has been done about the second Niger Bridge. It seems the issue has become a political campaign thing.
“We are hoping that the bridge would materialise by the first quarter of this year as promised by the Minister of Works,” she said.
Also speaking, Chris Ngige (ACN-Anambra) said the issue has made the people of Anambra to view their elected officials as fraudulent. He decried the long delay in the commencement of the second Niger Bridge, and said that the government should give priority attention to its actualisation.
“This matter has taken too long that those of us from Anambra are now seen as fraudsters, who use the issue of the bridge for vote procurement,” he said. The Senate President, David Mark, said it is paramount that prompt action be taken to rehabilitate the River Niger Bridge.
He stressed the need for the Federal Government to take issues of infrastructural development seriously to enhance the nation’s economic progress.
“The most important thing is that the bridge, which is currently in use should be rehabilitated.
“The second Niger Bridge is important, but the one we have at the moment should be made operational. We should be very serious about infrastructural development,” Mr. Mark advised.[/b]
coolkris: This is a myopic statement considering the fact that in nigeria,pdp is in the middle of the alphabet,or are we tryin to say pdp has been rigin elections since 1999
Politicians do a lot of calculations when preparing for elections. This is one of the strategies employed (it is not the only one). In a country with high illiteracy levels, especially in the rural areas, the ability of the electorate to recognise your symbol and know where to thumb-print is important. In this case, it's easy to tell the voter to thumb-print the first space on the ballot paper. I don't know if you've ever heard the term "Jeun soke"?
So this is one of the strategies that Bola Tinubu uses. Other political parties also have their strategies that they use to ensure that their illiterate supporters/voters will know where to thumb-print on the ballot paper.
(Notice that the acronyms of all Tinubu's political parties begin with "A": AD, AC, ACN, APC)
Senator Gbenga Ashafa raised an alarm about this back in February.
watchinglagos: Two major bridges in the South are crumbling and need immediate rehabilitation.
The Third Mainland Bridge is in dire need of rehabilitation as repairs executed by the Ministry of Works did not meet the required standard, a senator has said.
Gbenga Ashafa (ACN-Lagos ) made this revelation on Thursday at a Senate sitting. If the bridge is not immediately worked on, it will collapse, Mr. Ashafa warned. He told newsmen at a briefing later, that an independent assessment showed that repair works carried out in October 2012 by the Ministry of Works did not meet the required standard.
“Repair works embarked upon during the last quarter of 2012 by the Ministry of Works, were just mere window dressing on the expansion joints. “A recent report by some experts in concrete structural engineering found out that the last repairs that were done at the end of October did not meet the entire requirement. The experts went back after those remedial actions were taken and came back with the report that something has to be done urgently.
“So when this alarm was sounded, we thought we have to make it a subject of urgent national importance,” he said. At the sitting, Mr. Ashafa raised a motion on the urgent need to investigate and avert the imminent collapse of the bridge.
Shola Adeyeye (ACN –Osun) said the motion requires urgent action. He said that holding public hearing on the issue would delay the process of rehabilitation.
“When you build a bridge and don’t maintain it, no amount of prayer can save you.
“We don’t need public hearing. What we need to do is to direct our engineers in the Ministry of Works to assess the bridge immediately and report back to us,” he said.
Senate orders investigation
The Senate therefore mandated its Committee on Works to investigate and proffer solutions to avert the deterioration and imminent collapse of the bridge.
The committee was also mandated to work in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works to find out the current state of the bridge and to take urgent action to rectify all the structural damages.
Mr. Ashafa said the Third Mainland Bridge is a national monument on which not less than 70,000 vehicles ply daily. He stressed the need for “comprehensive” repairs to be carried out on its foundation.
On his part, Barnabas Gemade (PDP-Benue) urged the Senate Committee on Works to impress it upon the ministry to accelerate work on the bridge. He advised against holding public hearing, and said that the experts would not be willing to provide the solution to the problem at such a forum.
Babafemi Ojudu (ACN–Ekiti) advised that that the assessment should be handled only by experts from within and outside the public service.
“We should find a way to get experts from within and outside the Ministry of Works to give us unbiased assessment. “We should stand up and do something urgently and should not leave this critical matter to public officials,” he said.
On August 10, 2012, Third Mainland Bridge, the longest in Africa, was partially closed, to enable repairs that would forestall collapse. The partial closure caused untold hardship to residents of Lagos, who had to spend several hours in traffic. Several resources and manpower, including 700 officials from the Lagos State Government and some more from the Federal Government, were deployed for the period of the repairs to direct the traffic situation at the time. On October 30, the bridge was re-opened amidst cheers for the government because true to its schedule for the repairs on the bridge, works were completed within three months. Barely four months later, the Senate finds that the bridge still has defects despite claims by the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, that the bridge did not have any structural defect and would not collapse.
Another bridge is falling down In a related development, the Senate on Thursday urged the Federal Ministry of Works to undertake immediate reinforcement, repairs, and rehabilitation of the River Niger Bridge at Onitsha. The Upper legislative chamber said the resolution is to avoid the tragic consequences of the possible collapse of the bridge, which links the South-East, South-South and some Northern States of the federation. It also enjoined the Federal Ministry of Works to take immediate action to commence work on the second Niger Bridge project before the end of the first quarter of 2013. Moving the motion, Hope Uzodinma (PDP- Imo) said that the poor state of the bridge led to the conception of a second Niger Bridge project as a permanent structure to contain the heavy traffic across the bridge. “The River Niger Bridge is in a horrifying state of decay with imminent threat of collapse sooner than later. “The second Niger Bridge has remained on the drawing board for too long with no manifest practical step towards its actualisation as the River Niger Bridge may collapse without notice. “This could result to a major national catastrophe and tragedy of unimaginable proportions,” he warned. In her contribution, Margery Okadigbo (PDP-Anambra) expressed concern over the issue of the second Niger Bridge project saying it has been turned into a campaign promise. “Till date nothing concrete has been done about the second Niger Bridge. It seems the issue has become a political campaign thing. “We are hoping that the bridge would materialise by the first quarter of this year as promised by the Minister of Works,” she said. Also speaking, Chris Ngige (ACN-Anambra) said the issue has made the people of Anambra to view their elected officials as fraudulent. He decried the long delay in the commencement of the second Niger Bridge, and said that the government should give priority attention to its actualisation. “This matter has taken too long that those of us from Anambra are now seen as fraudsters, who use the issue of the bridge for vote procurement,” he said. The Senate President, David Mark, said it is paramount that prompt action be taken to rehabilitate the River Niger Bridge. He stressed the need for the Federal Government to take issues of infrastructural development seriously to enhance the nation’s economic progress. “The most important thing is that the bridge, which is currently in use should be rehabilitated. “The second Niger Bridge is important, but the one we have at the moment should be made operational. We should be very serious about infrastructural development,” Mr. Mark advised.
CHESSBOARD: expatiate....Hey dont soil ur good record here. This is restructuring not politics
Who told you I'm talking about GEJ's decision? I've already given my views about the decision. I'm referring to the crazy reactions on this board. The unnecessary insults, the attempts at spinning the decision this way or that way (based on silly ethnic loyalties, or blind party political affiliations). The attempts to destroy people's reputations, etc.
naptu2: To be fair, I can't blame GEJ for this. He did not want to sack Dr Demuren, despite intense pressure from the National Assembly, but when you are faced with a choice of retaining him and watching the National Assembly cause unnecessary delays and blockage of government’s aviation policies and removing him from office, but allowing him to continue to assist in the background, I believe it’s better to remove him.
Remember, although Azazi was removed from the position of National Security Adviser (due to pressure from PDP), he continued to advise GEJ unofficially.
khadaffi: This is a simple matter. The dress code for NYSC includes trousers and she and her pastors are aware of this so since she ain't ready to wear one she should have applied for exemption on that ground.
chucky234: Maybe you have his status erected in front of your father's compound Legend ko legend ni,park well for corner make I see road jare. No be only Anini na Anita
1a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but not authenticated:
the legend of King Arthur
[mass noun]:
according to legend he banished all the snakes from Ireland
historical the story of a saint’s life:
the mosaics illustrate the Legends of the Saints
2an extremely famous or notorious person, especially in a particular field:
the man was a living legend
a screen legend
3an inscription, especially on a coin or medal.
a caption:
a picture of a tiger with the legend ‘Go ahead make my day’
the wording on a map or diagram explaining the symbols used:
see legend to Fig. 1
adjective
[predic.]
very well known:
his speed and ferocity in attack were legend
Origin:
Middle English (in the sense 'story of a saint's life'): from Old French legende, from medieval Latin legenda 'things to be read', from Latin legere 'read'. legend (sense 1 of the noun) dates from the early 17th century
Car Talk › Re: Governor Akpabio Buys Bullet-Proof Mercedes-Benz Vans - PICTURES by naptu2: 8:33am On Mar 14, 2013
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