Air Force orders review of overnight stays at Trump resort

[Mrs. Overall]

Source: The Hill

The Air Force is ordering a review of its overnight stay location selection process after revelations that air crews had occasionally stayed at President Trump's Scotland resort while refueling, Politico reported Sunday.

The news outlet had reported Friday that a C-17 crew stayed overnight at Trump’s Turnberry resort in Scotland in September.

Air Force Brig. Gen. Ed Thomas told Politico that “initial reviews indicate that aircrew transiting through Scotland adhered to all guidance and procedures."

He acknowledged that “lodging at higher-end accommodations, even if within government rates, might be allowable but not advisable. Therefore, we are reviewing all associated guidance."

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/460462-air-force-orders-review-of-overnight-stays-at-trump-resort

[MyOwnPeace]

1. EVERY little bit helps.........

More and more people in position of power actually standing up and questioning - WTF!!!!!!
It has to grow - it has to keep going into 2020 - it has to be SO LOUD in a year from now - there will be NO question - IQ45 MUST GO!!

[amcgrath]

2. They will keep trying to turn this back to the cost of accommodation

The fact is that over the months and years, $11m was spent at the nearby airport on fuel alone.
This flight represents a detour to get to that airport. Fuel was purchased there at full commercial rates rather than refuelling at a US army base, where bulk purchasing reduces the cost.

This airport has been struggling badly and suddenly, under Trump it started to make a profit. This is the closest airport to Trumps golf course.

Tax payers were spending money on subsidizing a civilian airport which serves Trumps golf course.

[SunSeeker]

5. Exactly. Taxpayers kept that worthless airport affloat just for Trump's golf course.

[zaj]

11. Again, the refueling contract was signed under Obama

It's right there in the opening of the article.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/07/us/politics/military-stopover-trump-turnberry.html

[stopdiggin]

13. so some chicanery .. but perhaps not the quite the bombshell advertised

in other words, add this to the growing pile of every day mendacity?

[Miguelito Loveless]

3. So, before he even begins the investigation

he is saying its all fine.

I am sure the investigation will be quite thorough, since the conclusion has already been reached.

[riversedge]

9. I was thinking the same---the Air Force has already said there was nothing unusual going on.

[Perseus]

4. In my calculations from the $11 million spent at that airport, there were 102 stops for refueling

That is considering that jet fuel is about $3.85 a gallon, it could be more in Ireland, I don't know that. Each CT cargo plane holds 28,000 gallons...that is how I came to the 102 number.

[Sneederbunk]

6. Very interested in refueling practices at airport prior to Jan 20, 2017.

[canetoad]

7. Prestwick airport

Is not Glasgow's main airport; it's about 30 - odd kilometres SW. Trump Turnberry is roughly another 26-28 kms south of that, but to get there, the air crews have to travel through Ayr the county main and largest town which happens to be right next to Prestwick. No one can tell me that even if they refuel at Prestwick, Ayr isn't going to have appropriate accommodation for the crews.

[TeamPooka]

8. I'm a psychic. The report will come back and the inspector will say it's all fine.

just like Trump getting to keep the DC hotel even though the lease specifically says no elected official can have a stake in it.

[riversedge]

10. There needs to be outside, independent investion NOW!

[Gothmog]

12. From Natasha Bertrand

Link to tweet

[Scarsdale]

14. I am sure I read that

these particular stops at Prestwick only started AFTER the orange ass took office? There were free rounds of golf offered, too. Why not, he made enough on the lodging and food. Scammers gotta scam. Too bad the US military is so accommodating for him. Way past time the Pentagon budget was audited. What exactly are taxpayers getting for the billions the military takes from the budget? Pull the curtains aside and let's find out.

[lark]

15. Total fucking BS.

They won't do one damn thing but if pushed will say we investigated and it's totally ok, or we investigated and the pilots made bad decisions and will have to repay the govt. It will never be the truth that they were told to stay there, great digs, America pays the president - all good stuff as far as they are concerned. Guarantee you nothing will be done about this by the Air Force - 100%.

[turbinetree]

16. What the fuck.......................they are about a day late and they "adhered to all guidance

and procedures"............................BULLSHIT. They could have refueled for starters

https://militarybases.com/overseas/united-kingdom/

RAF Alconbury in Alconbury, United Kingdom. ...
RAF Fairford Air Force Base in Fairford, United Kingdom. ...
RAF Lakenheath Air Force in Lakenheath, United Kingdom. ...
RAF Mildenhall Air Force in Mildenhall, United Kingdom. ...
RAF Menwith Hill Air Force Harrogate, United Kingdom.


Who fucking guidance and procedures that orange hair dickhead along with that pud head pence..........................making a stop..............Hey Brig, General Ed Thomas, I want your ass to be called into the committee in the House and explain what the fuck does guidance and adherence mean when it comes to going to some private/public airfield to get gas for military plane which by the way is near a fucking golf course and tghis fucking gas lighting that you are trying to pass off...........................owned and operated by some traitor that was seen having joke in the white house oval office with Russian Spies.........................................

[ffr]

22. +1

[bucolic_frolic]

17. 259 stopovers and 220 overnight stays in the area in the first eight months of 2019

Link to tweet

[bucolic_frolic]

18. Something's popular in Scotland!

hmmmmm

[Mr.Bill]

21. Is there a massage parlor at this resort? n/t

[machoneman]

19. What the AF didn't say: If we find malfeasance, those responsible will be punished via....

court-martial and dismissed from the service. Watch, no one and I mean no one will be punished. Sad!

[madville]

24. Punished for what?

I used to travel alot under the JTR, there is more leeway under the travel regulations than most people think. There are CONUS (GSA) and OCONUS (State Dept) per diem rates established each FY, generally as long as the member stays within the authorized lodging rate everything is good and they can choose their lodging within a given region.

We used to stay at some nice places because they would offer the per diem rate for federal travel, sometimes it was more than 50% lower than their normal advertised rates to the public.

I do wonder if they had a designated travel lead that booked for the group or if they arranged their iteniraries individually.

[Mr.Bill]

20. Even if you forget about the money aspect of all this,

What about the security and integrity of the fuel going into our airplanes? And the security of the aircraft if they stay over night? It would seem that sabotage would be easier at a small private airport than it would be at a military air base.

[IcyPeas]

23. since 2014.....

Link to tweet

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