Thread: Travelling light, Obama-style: 20-vehicle convoy, SWAT team

20-vehicle convoy, SWAT team, Air Force One and nuclear codes accompany him on holiday

Travelling light, Obama-style

Saturday, August 28, 2010
By James White, UK Daily Mail
Last updated at 6:25 PM on 27th August 2010
Comments 61

Most families go on holiday to get away from it all, to forget work and responsibilities and day-to-day worries.

For Barack and Michelle Obama, there has been no such escape since taking their daughters for a 10-day holiday on the exclusive island of Martha's Vineyard.

Accompanied by legions of secret service agents, aides, medical staff and friends, the 'first family' have had their every move followed by press and fans as they stay on a rented farm.


Protected: U.S. President Barack Obama speaks with reporters outside Nancy's restaurant in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, accompanied by four secret service agents


Superstars: Crowds of hundreds of people turned out to greet the President on his holiday as First Lady Michelle Obama says hello to a young child


Family outing: President Obama with daughters Sasha, centre, and Malia as they leave a bookshop while on holiday

Just popping to the shops for some light reading in the Massachusetts town proved a logistical headache for minders who made up part of a 20-vehicle motorcade.

The attention-grabbing column was headed by a titanium-plated Cadillac One dubbed The Beast for its five-inch thick bulletproof glass.

Other security measures in the Presidential limousine include unbreakable tyres, an air filtration system to protect against biological attack and a tear gas cannon.

The rest of the motorcade was made up of four bullet-proof vans filled with secret service agents, two buses for journalists and TV crews and an ambulance with six medics on board.

Additional security was provided in the shape of SWAT team van and a radar-jamming vehicle.


Motorcade: The 20-strong convoy containing the presidential limousine includes an ambulance, right, a radar-jamming vehicle (in front) and a SWAT team van (next)


Protection: Cadillac One, also known as The Beast, has five-inch thick bulletproof glass, tyres that can't be burst and an anti-biological warfare system to keep the President safe

Another member of the entourage is a military officer who carries the codes needed to initiate a nuclear attack.

Arriving at the shops, the Obamas were then surrounded by well-wishers and spent minutes shaking hands and speaking to fellow holidaymakers.

Earlier in the trip, the couple and daughters Malia, 12 and Sasha, nine, arrived by Air Force One which has armour-plated wings allegedly capable of withstanding a nuclear blast from the ground.

They then transferred to presidential helicopter Marine One, preceded by a police helicopter which swept the across the island.

On the ground, police sniffer dogs were used to check for terrorist threats on the route to the 25-acres holiday estate.

It boasts a five-bed farmhouse and three other houses with ocean views and access to a private dock.


Waiting: Crowds of holidaymakers wait patiently for the Obamas to finish their lunch in the holiday island of Martha's Vineyard


Crowd pleaser: President Obama is happy to spend time shaking hands with fans after his lunch

Yesterday, President Obama managed to complete his fourth trip to the golf course, playing 18 holes at Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs.

It came a day after skies over the island off Cape Cod finally cleared following four straight days of drenching rain.

In the president's foursome at Farm Neck were White House trip director Marvin Nicholson, Obama's Chicago friend Eric Whitaker, and Cyrus Walker, a cousin of White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett.

The White House allowed reporters and photographers to watch the group from a distance as they putted on the first green.

Obama gave Nicholson one of his trademark fist bumps after the aide sank his putt.

Reporters also saw the president as he drove a golf cart between the ninth and 10th holes, and briefly as he teed off at No. 10.


Golf course convoy: Usually uncrowded fairways become a traffic jam when Mr Obama arrives, requiring a motorcade of golf buggies

Even a bike ride! Mr Obama and daughter Malia can't even get in a little two-wheel fun without an entourage of pedalling secret agents following along behind them

After he finished, Obama returned to his rented farm in Chilmark for the evening.

Obama played the semi-private Farm Neck course during last year's summer holiday.

It also was a frequent stop for Bill Clinton when he holidayed on the Vineyard as president.

On Wednesday, Obama took the first family and some friends to a wharfside restaurant for lunch, then played nine holes at the Mink Meadows Golf Club in Vineyard Haven.

And before the weather turned, he played 18-hole rounds last Friday and Sunday at the Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldne ... urage.html

The security we all know about. It is ALL the vacations they need that is in question. This guy OUGHT to be taking care of business in DC with all the job losses and illegals taking over in this country ,which Obama says we do not have the resources to deal with. BUT YET HE TAKES ANOTHER VACATION!.