Obama's 'Beast' of a limo stands out at green NATO summit

November 22, 2010

onment_offbeat

Fri Nov 19, 12:10 PM

LISBON (AFP) - The Portugese hosts of Friday's NATO summit hoped to use the

event to promote the clean-living electric car, but all eyes were on US

President Barack Obama's diesel-guzzling " Beast " instead.

As is usual when he travels, Obama's eight-tonne armoured behemoth of a

limousine was flown out to Lisbon before the US leader's arrival, and ferried

him from the airport tarmac to his first meetings of the weekend.

Doubtless he didn't intend the Beast's roar to drown out his hosts' green

message, but a US presidential motorcade and its attendant escort of Secret

Service SUVs do attract attention, even at the most elite gatherings.

Earlier, Prime Minister Socrates and his fellow Portuguese, the President

of the European Commission Barroso, had arrived at the summit in

quiet, zero-emission electric cars.

" I'd like to underline the priority both our countries assign to renewable

energy and electric vehicles, " Socrates said, after meeting Obama, amid amused

sniping from the Portuguese press at the mixed messages.

Portugal is proud of the lead that it has taken in introducing what it says is

the world's first national electric vehicle charging network, with 100 power

outlets in 25 towns and plans to install 1,300 by next year.

The government was particularly keen for the press covering the summit to

underline this, and a news release describing the recharging network was already

on each of the tables in the media centre as the global pack arrived.

Within the highly-secure summit site, electric buses were put on to ferry

journalists between venues.

There was no immediate reaction from the White House to criticism of Obama's

rather less green form of transport, but the administration has in the past said

that the president's security arrangements are non-negotiable.

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