px_eliezer_ The whole thing seemed highly questionable to me from the very beginning. If it were a gift that they “gave” by ordering the aircraft, to be delivered directly by Boeing, there could be some level of trust. Anything else raises many alarm bells, and you might just as well politely decline the offer and order your own through official government procurement processes, given how much effort (and cost) would be involved in dismantling a “flying palace” to try ensuring its security.
The other matter is the fact that the jet is intended to follow the current president. So, when he gracefully leaves office in 2029, never to return, it goes to his presidential library? Does that not mean that his successor, whoever it may be (even if it were to be Vance) would have to start the expensive procurement process that the current guy claims it is essential to avoid, since the old one will have been retired, and its replacement will have gone to the current guy’s presidential library? It seems really strange, from both a security and ethical standpoint.
The burning question is: unless it allows them privileged access to government data via telemetry and listening devices, etc., what is in it for the Qatari royal family?
