Luxury cars ‘rolling’ in

Felix Ang’s Cats Motors, the exclusive distributor of Mercedes Benz, Chrysler and Dodge in the Philippines, will be launching the new generation Mercedes Benz E Class at the Rockwell Tent in Makati on June 27. This week, Willy Tee Ten’s Autohub – the group that brought in the Mini Cooper – will have a very private launch (by invitation only) for Rolls Royce at the Manila Pen.

Doomed spy

Legislators are demanding for the head of former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, calling the man who leaked sensitive information about the US government’s data collection program a “spy” and a “traitor.” His disclosure has put American lives in danger, said Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss, the ranking member of the Select Committee on Intelligence, adding that terrorists have changed their tactics to avoid detection.

Snowden threw the US intelligence community into chaos when he openly admitted being the source of several news articles exposing the cyber surveillance activities of the government that include the collection of telephone and Internet records of Americans. The 29-year-old high school dropout has fled the US and is currently in Hong Kong, triggering questions and suspicions about Snowden’s motivations since he also claimed that the US was monitoring the Internet activities in mainland China and Hong Kong.

Several Chinese demonstrators expressed their support, urging the Special Administrative Region (SAR) government not to surrender the American and instead, allow him to stay in Hong Kong. The administration of Leun Chun-ying has remained cautious, stating that they will handle the case of Snowden according to the laws and established procedures of the Hong Kong government. But whether the American is allowed to stay or not – the most likely probability is that “he is doomed.”

That’s according to convicted spy Christopher Boyce, the man who was imprisoned for 25 years for selling US secrets to the Soviet Union. Not many remember that the real-life story of Boyce became the basis for the 1985 spy film “The Falcon and the Snowman,” about two former altar boys turned spies.

Like Snowden, Boyce also worked for a National Security Agency contractor, giving him access to classified information – one of which was a CIA cable he accidentally got hold of allegedly discussing the ouster of then Australian Prime Minister Edward Gough Whitlam. Indeed, a constitutional crisis in 1975 caused the firing of Whitlam by Governor General John Kerr who then appointed Malcolm Fraser as caretaker prime minister. Boyce claims he became a spy because he was outraged by the US government’s activities, similar to the reason given by Snowden for leaking sensitive information to the papers.

“He is always going to be a fugitive, until they get him. And eventually, they will,” Boyce says of Snowden, adding that like him, the young man will be made an example with the US government wishing to inflict revenge to ensure that anyone who even thinks about spying and betraying America will be gripped by fear. “He’s going to go through life not being able to trust anybody… I think that… it will end badly for him.  One way or another, they’ll get their hands on him. He’s gong to pay for it. He’s doomed,” was Boyce’s dire conclusion.

Expensive US presidential trips

Americans certainly understand the need to protect US citizens from the threat of terrorism, but discovery of the government’s extensive data gathering activities that include the collection of phone records and snooping on emails does not sit well with many, fearing that their right to privacy might be violated. However, revelations about the huge costs to protect US President Barack Obama’s upcoming trip to South Africa – which could reach as much as $100 million – is fueling outrage, with many taxpayers wondering whether all that expense is necessary to secure one man.

Sources say the logistical requirements for the eight-day trip will be massive: a navy aircraft carrier carrying a fully-equipped medical trauma center to be stationed offshore, 56 support vehicles including 14 limousines and three trucks carrying bulletproof glass (for the windows of the hotels where the First Family will be staying) to be airlifted from military cargo planes, fighter jets that will be flying in shifts 24/7 to protect the presidential airspace plus hundreds of Secret Service agents.

And since it is Africa, the plans include a visit to Robben Island (where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned) and a safari in Tanzania – but the latter has been dropped not only because of the expense but the added complications of having to bring in a special counter-assault team of sharpshooters armed with sniper rifles to shoot down  – not terrorists – but cheetahs, lions and other wild animals that could threaten the US President and his family. Besides, one can just imagine the flak Barack Obama will get from animal rights and wildlife preservations activists.

US presidential trips are very costly because of the extraordinarily high levels of security and preparation required. George W. Bush’s 2004 eight-hour visit to Manila cost the American taxpayer a $25 million tab. Aside from an advance party of Secret Service operatives, the cost covered two B-747 aircraft labeled “Air Force One” with one used as a decoy, as well as several bulletproof limousines flown in by C-130 aircraft.

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