[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

“Thompson pointed out that the cost of the plane would be peanuts compared to the cost to the nation if a top official were taken hostage or harmed taking a commercial flight to a dangerous region of the world.”

When has this happened ? This is about taveling in style,nothing more. I only know of one incident when Con. Leo Ryan flew to Jonestown and it wouldn’t have mattered if he was on a bi-plane.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

I forgot Ron Brown From Wikipedia "On April 3, 1996, while on an official trade mission, the Air Force CT-43 (a modified Boeing 737) carrying Brown and 34 other people, including New York Times Frankfurt Bureau chief Nathaniel C. Nash, crashed in Croatia. While attempting an instrument approach to Čilipi airport, the airplane crashed into a mountainside. Everyone aboard was killed instantly except Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shelley Kelly, a flight attendant, who died while being transported to a hospital.[2] The final Air Force investigation attributed the crash to pilot error and a poorly designed landing approach.[3]" I guess the air force owning the plane doesn't solve all the problems.

[Timeout]

...if a top official were taken hostage...

He seems to think we would want them back. Whazzup with THAT?!