Too Good To Check
Obama’s trip to India will cost $200 million a day: The story has been making the rounds, and even landed Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., in hot water with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, but really – $200 million a day?
So reports New Delhi TV:
Mumbai: The US would be spending a whopping $200 million (Rs.900 crore approx) per day on President Barack Obama’s visit to the city.
“The huge amount of around $200 million would be spent on security, stay and other aspects of the Presidential visit,” a top official of the Maharashtra Government privy to the arrangements for the high-profile visit said.
About 3,000 people including Secret Service agents, US government officials and journalists would accompany the President. Several officials from the White House and US security agencies are already here for the past one week with helicopters, a ship and high-end security instruments.
For a little perspective, Bill Clinton’s multi-country jaunt through Asia in 2000 cost $50 million – for the whole trip, not per day – according to this report, which pegs the cost of operating Air Force One at $100,219 per hour.
Obama’s nine-day trip also includes stops in Indonesia, South Korea, and Japan, and for their stay in India the presidential entourage has booked the entire Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, all 570 rooms, plus hundreds of more rooms at other luxury hotels scattered throughout Mumbai.
But $200M a day?
Hey, who am I to doubt the veracity and journalistic integrity of New Delhi TV?
We need your help! If you like PunditHouse, please consider donating to us. Even $5 a month can make a difference!
Short URL: https://pundithouse.com/?p=4100
