Posted on 08/14/2009 10:13:13 AM PDT by VeniVidiVici
ZHUKOVSKY, August 14 (RIA Novosti) - President Barack Obama has banned U.S. Air Force planes from participating in MAKS-2009 air show in Russia citing the ongoing economic crisis, the show organizer said on Friday.
"Eight U.S. aircraft were originally set to be showcased at MAKS and two more to participate in demonstration flights. But the U.S. president's last-minute decision was not to send the planes, which is due to economic, rather than political, reasons," said Vladimir Borisov of the Aviasalon firm.
Earlier reports said over 711 companies, including 465 Russian firms, will participate in the biennial air show outside Moscow on August 18-23.
MAKS bills itself as "a demonstration of the advantages and development trends of Russian science and industry in such high-tech areas as aviation, space, missile engineering."
The United States dispatched nine Air Force planes to the previous show, including a B-52 Stratofortress which stirred intense interest, as well as F-15 Eagle and F-16 Falcon fighter jets that performed demonstration flights.
Borisov also said the A-380 airliner, the world's largest and most technologically advanced aircraft to date, would not be showcased either due to a busy schedule of test and routine flights.
Russia's Interior Ministry said on Friday the crisis would not affect the number of visitors to the show this year, with 100,000 tickets already sold and up to 220,000 visitors expected next Sunday alone.
$1 billon$ to ACORN but not one penny for defense!..................
When are the Olympics? Mr. Obama sounds like Mr. Carter here.
But then, Mr. Obama gets to spend 10 days in a 28-million-dollar home on Martha’s Vineyard as his sacrifical vacation.
GWB often went to his ranch in Texas to clear brush(which is damned hard work), but he was excoriated by taking off too much time by the MSM.
Holy cow, this is frustrating, isn’t it?
What a douche bag....guess he doesn’t realize that going to an airshow is a reward for the troops that get to go....the troops take it in the a$$ for this douche bag once again....+
Amazing. The pittance it would cost to participate in this airshow would most likely be more than offset by sales results. Instead, the administration chooses to make an empty gesture toward fiscal responsibility while encouraging our enemies and friends to view us as too poor to attend an airshow that any number of banana republics can afford.
what would make more sense is to pull all the military transports that take politicians and their families and their staff entourage around the world on high class junkets!
And don’t forget the 73 million to Zimbabwe.
Or the gift of over 500 million dollars in helicopters to the corrupt Afghan Muzzie president.
Just another way to put a hit on the economy.
Billions for Acorn and other crap but not a brass farthing for the military, esp. the USAF.
“Gates, no airshows for the USAF it is just too expensive. Hey Michelle, load up the kids in AF1 and let’s run out to Montanna for a little trout fishing today. Tell that bunch in out at Andrews AFB to break out the C-5’s and load up the helicopter and a few vehicles as well.”
I hate this bastard. Absolutely hate him.
I wonder if this is retaliation for the Pentagon’s protest of the money that was appropriated for purchasing those new Congressional jets.
He has succeeded in smoking himself out, hasn’t he?
Yeah, heaven forbid we get any aircraft sales (jobs, you bonehead!) out of the show. Let the commies get all the orders.
Superbly stated.
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