Obama Will Move Around Town In The Safest Car On Earth. Here Are The 10 Cool Things You Should Know About The Beast
Kenyans have already been treated with the arrival of cars that will be part of President Obama’s motorcade and that will be accompanying him as he makes a grand entry into Kenya for the first time since becoming President of the free world 6 years ago.
The cars that arrived at the JKIA are meant to carry around the secret service, an organ that provides high profile security to the US President.
But it is prudent to note that Kenyans are yet to be treated with the real deal of a car. I mean the Cadillac One famously referred to as The Beast by the Secret Service Agents. This is the car that goes wherever the United States President travels.
So whether or not Obama hops into his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta’s ride to move around the country for the short period he will be around, the persuasively luxurious limousine will be around the corner.
Here are the 10 phenomenal characteristics of the Car that the Federal Republic of the United States Of America launched in 2009 purposely to give its leader the security he deserves after President John F Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 while he moved around in an open car.
Doors
The doors of the Beast are amour-plated and are 8 inches thick, three inches thicker than President Bush’s limo doors. Their weight is the same as that of the door of a Boeing 757 cabin door. An additional safety feature includes steel overlaps between the seams to protect against bullets entering in the space between the doors and body.
Windows
The windows on this state-of-the-art limo are reportedly 5-6 inches thick, bomb-proof and can withstand armour-piercing bullets. Obama’s car has more window space that provides a better outward visibility. The driver’s window is the only window that opens, at only 2.75 inches. So the driver can speak with secret service agents outside the vehicle.
Driver
The driver is not just a regular chauffer. He/she is a CIA agent specially-trained for situations ranging from driving during challenging situations to regular types of mechanical break-downs as well as how to handle any emergency that may come up. He/she also has access to helpful equipment such as a communications system and GPS unit in his compartment.
Interior
It is believed to be completely sealed in case of a chemical attack. The car has also a lock-safety mechanism that, in case of emergency, seals off the entire car similar to how a bank vault can be during a robbery.
Defensive Equipment
Several pieces of defense equipment are believed to be on board. Night-vision cameras, pump-action shotguns and tear gas cannons are among some of those weapons speculated to be included. If Obama is injured during an attack while in the car, there are supposedly bottles of the President’s blood in case he needs emergency transfusions. The trunk of the car also houses an emergency oxygen supply and firefighting equipment.
Fuel Tank
The car’s fuel tank is armour-plated to help repel bullets. As a second line of defense, similar to what race cars use, the fuel tank on Obama’s limo is filled with a special foam that prevents it from exploding even if it sustains a direct hit.
Chassis
The car is commonly known as Cadillac One but has been nicknamed by the Secret Service as The Beast. This limo is believed to be based on a Cadillac DTS when it comes to style, but may be built on a truck chassis in order to support its weight and all the equipment it carries. There is also believed to be a reinforced 5-inch steel plate that runs underneath the car in the event that a bomb is placed there.
Tyres
To protect the leader of the free world from bullets, spike strips or any other device aimed at disabling the car’s Goodyear tyres, the limo is believed to be equipped with specially designed, Kevlar-reinforced, shred and puncture-resistant tires. If indeed someone or something was able to destroy the tyres, the car also has steel rims and a run-flat device so that if the tyres are disabled, the car can still drives at high speed to escape any imminent danger.
Body
To fend off anything from bullets to rocks, the body of The Beast is composed of a mixture of hard and soft material that work to halt and scatter the energy of the missile so that no matter what type of missile may be hurled toward the car. The outside protection will not be penetrated. Typical materials used for this types of cars are a combination of dual hardness steel, aluminum, titanium and ceramic.
Passenger Section
The area where Obama and any of his approved guests ride is a space of both security and luxury. The section generously seats four and includes a glass partition that can only be opened by Obama as well as a panic button for summoning help. While in the Beast, Obama can still work and stay connected safely on his fold-away desktop that includes a laptop with secure wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) capabilities and a satellite phone with a direct line to the Pentagon and the Vice President.
Source: Rediff News
