Anti-Terror Luxury Capsules?

The Air Force has decided to build mini-hotels for VIPs traveling to war zones. This may be a perfect example of a great idea gone bad. With terrorists looking for "high value" targets to get the most press and recognition, the Air Force would like to hide them in normal cargo transport planes. The idea is to build small office pods that can be loaded on cargo planes. Since cargo planes come and go on a constant basis, a terrorist would never know which one to try to shoot down to garner a headline. And they would not know when to expect a convey with a VIP to come out of the airport or base. And the VIP can travel comfortably and even can take a nap on the bunkbeds in the attached bedroom.

Good enough idea, right? Well, the generals in charge decided to change a couple of details, like getting rid of brown leather and replacing it with Air Force blue leather. At a cost of over $60,000 dollars. What? You can get a full sectional couch from your local furniture store in whatever special order color you want imported from Italy for less than 1/10th of that price.

One email alluded to concerns of General Robert MacMahon, an air force deputy chief of staff, that the capsules be designed for the highest standards of luxury travel, POGO said.

So what you you think the whole module would cost?

The first of the capsules is already in production at a cost of 2.7 million dollars, and is scheduled for delivery in five months, said air force spokeswoman Vicky Stein.

Wow. I'm all for the concept. But can't we make these things any cheaper?

Full story here.