USAF Counter-Terror Funds Buy "Comfort Capsules"

An anonymous reader writes "The Washington Post reports, 'The Air Force's top leadership sought for three years to spend counterterrorism funds on "comfort capsules" to be installed on military planes that ferry senior officers and civilian leaders around the world ... Air Force documents spell out how each of the capsules is to be "aesthetically pleasing and furnished to reflect the rank of the senior leaders using the capsule," with beds, a couch, a table, a 37-inch flat-screen monitor with stereo speakers, and a full-length mirror.' Congress told the USAF twice that they could not spend the money on this frivolous project, but they did it anyway."

huh?

I've read several articles and I still have no clue what the hell a "comfort capsule" is. Is it a whole plane? Is it an add-on to a plane? Is it one of those napping pods like you can find here [primidi.com]? Am I alone in this one?

RTFA mate?

Production of the first capsule -- consisting of two sealed rooms that can fit into the fuselage of a large military aircraft -- has already begun.

Air Force documents spell out how each of the capsules is to be "aesthetically pleasing and furnished to reflect the rank of the senior leaders using the capsule," with beds, a couch, a table, a 37-inch flat-screen monitor with stereo speakers, and a full-length mirror.

Re:huh?

There are pictures in the link in the OP [washingtonpost.com]

Re:huh?

It's just a unit loaded onto the plane. Former SecDef Rumsfeld had what was called the "Silver Bullet." It was a small oblong silver trailer type unit that was secured on top of pallets then loaded into the aircraft just like any other pallet train. Inside he had a desk, couch, TV (with sat) and a bed. Funny note, he takes his pants off while he's in there during flight. We, the flight crew, didn't get anything like that.

Re:huh?

Funny note, he takes his pants off while he's in there during flight.

Sad note, the older men get, the more sensitive their testicles get to pressure, and the more their mass drops into the part of the abdomen constricted by a belt. Business slacks become pretty uncomfortable for long periods of sitting. I'm 48, and I can already see where things are headed.

Just something for you to look forward to (assuming you're male).

Re:huh?

The comfort capsule is essentially a module that they can load into the plane the same way they would load a shipping container. So they can convert a military cargo plane into a private jet for the top brass.

I read the article yesterday and was disgusted. I suspect that we are going to see more than a few careers end over it. Every military promotion above a certain level has to be ratified by the Senate. Once the generals behind this boondoggle are identified they are going to find they don't see another promotion.

How?

How does this happen?

Who's actually in charge of how they spend it? Is it not Congress?

If Congress says no, is this a "we think that's frivolous, bad dog, no biscuit", is it a "you will be breaking the law", or are congressional meetings about this stuff just for fits and giggles?

--Q

Re:How?

In Pelosi's House, it results in a sternly-worded letter.

Re:How?

some military types have no respect even for the constitution or their own rules of conduct ( http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/08/atheist.soldier/index.html [cnn.com] ), so what makes you think they'll listen to congress when it comes to spending money on luxuries for themselves?

Watch Yes Minister

Or rather, the sequel, Yes Prime Minister.

It should be mandatory viewing because among other things it shows how little real power politicians have.

After all, how long does a general serve compared to a senator? And the general doesn't have to fight a war every 2 years and defeat his rivals.

WTFOMGBBQ?

I was worried that these capsules might leave our betters and brass fatigued when they arrived at their destinations, until I saw that the vulgar and degraded brown leather had been replaced with suitably dignified blue, and the wooden fittings replaced with cherry, restful to the eyes and mind of the higher orders. The DVD player, also, will be of incalculable military utility, I have no doubt.

Seriously, I can understand the logic of having people be able to sleep on the flight, so as not to waste time at the destination; but how could anybody possibly justify this level of ostentation(or, for the amoral weasels who just don't care, how could they possibly believe that they could get away with this level of ostentation(erm, besides a quick assessment of what people have been able to get away with these days, that is, never mind about that one))?

Re:WTFOMGBBQ?

Coup d'ottoman?

As a previous member of the Air Force...

...doesn't surprise me at all

Congress told them?

The USAF doesn't report to Congress. Since their Commander in Chief treats Congress like a jizz rag, it's unreasonable to expect anyone in the armed forces to show them any respect. They won't cut budgets, and the most that they every do is write Sternly Worded Memos, or go running to the courts like little snivelling bitches, wailing "Pretty please make everyone obey the law."

I swear, the USA is one lost staring contest away from a bloodless military coup. I mean, if it hasn't already happened. How would we tell the difference?

Ambiguous Headline

Did anybody else read the headline and think cyanide pills?

...and a full-length mirror

"comfort capsules"..."aesthetically pleasing and furnished to reflect the rank of the senior leaders using the capsule," with beds, a couch, a table, a 37-inch flat-screen monitor with stereo speakers, and a full-length mirror.

Dear USAF,
For the last time - NO, you CAN NOT use taxpayers money to fund your personal fuck-rooms.
 
Sincerely yours,
US Congress

Lt. Col. Brilliant: "General, I have an idea! Lets call them "comfort capsules" instead."
Gen. Protection Fault III: "Comfort capsule...? CC... umm... catchy... BRILLIANT Brilliant! Write that down and start ordering. I'll be in my f... in my comfort capsule."

I gotta get into military contracting.

You pay me $16.2 million.
I go down to the local RV salesman and buy a couple 30-foot travel trailers [dutchmen-rv.com].
I spend another couple thousand to paint UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on the side.

You roll 'em right into your planes and lash 'em down.

I pocket $16.0 million.

Obvious question:

Obvious question:

Does the comfort capsules come with a companion cube?

Fire Them

So congress told the Air Force not to guild these things, twice, and they went ahead and did it anyway? Obviously, the Air Force thinks it is in charge. Now, either congress has to discipline them, harshly, or the Air Force really is in charge. If the Air Force is in charge, then you've got the beginnings of a military state on your hands.

Hypocrisy?

I find it kind of odd that congress told the Air Force that when a four star general flies to the AOR they cannot make use of a higher class accommodation on board a military aircraft but whenever a member of congress flies their they get their own personal high class commercial aircraft. I'm not saying that the Air Force is right here, I don't think any of our public servants should be getting first class rides at taxpayer expense.

Write your congrescoundrel.

It's not only a waste of money, it's horrible leadership. Any officer in the military pushing for this kind of thing should be immediately railroaded out of the military - being a good military leader and seeking this kind of fluff are absolutely mutually exclusive. Some pig high ranking General lavising in luxury while ordering people to risk their lives and live in cramped air carrier quarters is fucking disgusting.

Wtf?

What about war is comfortable exactly? And why are we trying to shield officers and civilians from reality (even further)? Why isn't this being spent on the comfort and (psychological/physical) well being of our troops?

Re:How is this News For Nerds?

Are you suggesting that, because it is regular practice, we should ignore these transgressions? Shouldn't the fact that this happens all the time be all the more reason to spread awareness? Your post makes little sense to me.

Re:USAF...

Bullshit, the USAF does NOT build golf courses first. They build the O-Club first then whatever money is left goes to the golf course. They delay the runway and other necessary ops till the Army has to have them and pays for 'em.

Re:Some of this stuff is absolutely necessary!

Occasionally, to interrogate the truly hardened terrorist suspect, one may have to resort to soft cushions or the comfy chair.