Obama's limo BREAKS DOWN in Israel: President's $1.5m 'Beast' is towed away as he arrives for historic first visit - after his driver puts GAS in the engine instead of diesel
President Barack Obama's historic visit to Israel this morning had an embarrassing setback when his armored limo broke down on the way to the airport. The custom General Motors Cadillac limo was relegated to a pick up truck after the driver accidentally put gas in the engine instead of diesel. Mr Obama arrived in Tel Aviv Wednesday afternoon local time, and earlier that morning, the limo that was designated to his hotel was unable to move after the driver made the silly mistake. Local news reports allege that it was the President's limo that was shipped over specially from Washington that broke down so he was forced to use the second vehicle that they brought over from the U.S.  The downed 'Beast': President Obama's armored limo broke down in Tel Aviv this morning as it was headed to the airport after the driver mistakenly put gas in the engine instead of diesel  Touchdown: President Obama arrived in Israel on Wednesday morning for his first official trip to the region as President  Big mistake: The 18-foot car has an engine that holds 6.5 liters of diesel, and does not work when given gas  Can't take it: The car had to be picked up on a tow truck and it is unclear whether the problem was quickly fixed  Careful crop: From this angle, the downed Cadillac could have been a small four door, but that clearly isn't the case  Quick: Just a few hours later, President Obama got into the back up vehicle that they brought from D.C. The car was pictured by local station 24 Hour News when it was on the back of a flatbed truck. Since the car was not able to take him from the airport, thankfully Obama was always scheduled to leave the airport via helicopter in order to avoid passing through the Palestinian checkpoints that interrupt the route from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem. The United States Secret Service put out a statement about the incident, saying that it was a situation where it pays for them to be prepared. 'One of our protective vehicles experienced mechanical problems in Israel earlier today. This is why we bring multiple vehicles and a mechanic on all trips,' said Edwin Donovan, a spokesman for the Secret Service. 'Situations like this are planned for extensively by our advance teams so that the President's itinerary is unaffected by these types of issues.' They did not confirm that whether or not the driver used gas or diesel, and if that was the cause of the malfunction.  All of the specs: Leading up to his visit to the UK in 2011, the Daily Mail broke down the details of The Beast  American made: The car that President Obama drove off in after speaking at President Peres' house was definitely an incarnation of 'The Beast' given it's Washington DC license plates and 5-inch-thick doors  Happy traveler: Mr Obama smiled as he rode off in the second car that they had brought for his trip  Making his way: The schedule is filled with various meetings throughout the day President Obama's first stop was to Israeli President Shimon Peres' house, and after planting a ceremonial tree and giving brief scripted remarks, he drove off in an armored limo. Given the Secret Service statement, it appears that the President drove off in the second limo while the American technician worked on the first. The President started off the trip by apologizing to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as he was overheard saying: 'it's embarrassing, our entourage. My wife, Michelle, teases me mercilessly'.  Problem: The important trip to Israel had its first hiccup before the President even arrived as his limo- dubbed 'The Beast'- broke down after the driver put gas in the tank instead of diesel  Make way: Obama has also come under fire for requiring so many of the streets of Jerusalem to be closed for security even though it is the lead up to the very busy holiday weekend of Passover  Before it broke: The presidential limo was on the way to the airport when it stalled out because of the wrong fuel DEFEATING 'THE BEAST': HOW THE DRIVER BROKE OBAMA'S LIMOThe President's comfortable travel is not limited to the air, as he always has his custom limo shipped overseas when he goes abroad. The 18-foot Cadillac limo is made with military-grade armor that is at least five-inches thick and developed out of a combination of steel, aluminum, titanium and ceramic. It comes equipped to take on almost anything, as it is armed with its own tear gas cannons, pump-action shotguns. The most unusual accessory in this seven-person vehicle is the on board bottles of the President's blood in case he needs a transfusion on the road. Ignoring all of the bells and whistles, the one truly important fact that was overlooked by the driver this morning is that the engine runs on diesel and holds 6.5 liters. All told, the car is said to cost more than $1.5million. He isn't kidding about the fact that he travels with a crew: the Israeli government issued a press kit that reports the President has a 600-person entourage, and they will occupy all 233 rooms in the King David Hotel during their stay. By comparison, Madonna has a 200-person entourage when she tours, meaning that the President has a crew three-times the size of the best-known Material Girl. Mr Obama must enjoy hanging out with a familiar group, as he reportedly agreed to do a cameo in the upcoming movie version of the show 'Entourage'. Upon touchdown he called the U.S. Israel's 'strongest ally and your greatest friend.' The kind words were traded on both sides, as Israeli President Shimon Peres welcomed Obama, declaring that 'A world without America's leadership, without her moral voice, would be a darker world. 'A world without your friendship, would invite aggression against Israel.' In a veiled reference to tensions and regime changes in the region, President Obama added: 'The winds of change bring both promise and peril.' Mohan K. Ponnath |
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