Document: Major resources needed for Obama Africa trip (Cancels side safari after WaPo Qs $$)

The Washington Post ^ | Thursday, June 13, 2013 | Carol D. Leonnig and David Nakamura

[kristinn]

When President Obama makes his first extended trip to sub-Saharan Africa this month, the federal agencies charged with keeping him safe won’t be taking any chances.

Hundreds of U.S. Secret Service agents will be dispatched to secure facilities in Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. A Navy aircraft carrier or amphibious ship, with a fully staffed medical trauma center, will be stationed offshore in case of an emergency.

The first family is making back-to-back stops from June 26 to July 3 in three countries where U.S. officials are providing nearly all the resources, rather than depending more heavily on local police forces, military authorities or hospitals for assistance.

The president and first lady had also planned to take a Tanzanian safari as part of the trip, which would have required the president’s special counterassault team to carry sniper rifles with high-caliber rounds that could neutralize cheetahs, lions or other animals if they became a threat, according to the planning document. But the White House canceled the safari Wednesday after inquiries from The Post about the trip’s purpose and expense, according to a person familiar with the decision.

SNIP

One hundred agents are needed as “post-standers” — to man security checkpoints and borders around the president — in each of the first three cities he visits. Sixty-five are needed to meet up with Obama in Dar es Salaam. Before the 2-1 / 2 hour safari in Mikumi National Park was canceled this week, another 35 post-standers had been slated to protect the Obamas and their two daughters there, according to the document.

[Tennessee Nana]

Michelle MarBelle, her girls, her Mom amd several extended Robinson family members went on a safari in 2009/10 already