Inside Hillary Clinton’s C-17 to Libya
EmailABC News’ Martha Raddatz (@martharaddatz) and Kristina Wong (@kristina_wong) report:
When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived unannounced in Libya earlier this week it took a military plane to get her there, the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III.
In this video, Clinton is seen reviewing briefing papers in a colorful shawl, with sunglasses in the bright and slightly chilly aircraft.
The aircraft is used to carry massive amounts of cargo — troops, food, supplies — all over the world, often on humanitarian relief missions. The inside of the aircraft can be configured any way suitable for the mission, and on this mission Clinton sat in a quartet of seats, with aide Huma Abedin next to her. Most of her staff was in a different section of seats, with press and security personnel on the sides.
Philippe I. Reines is a senior adviser to Secretary Clinton. (Photo: Martha Raddatz/ABC News)
This is only the second time she has used a C-17. The other instance was when she flew to Baghdad a couple of years ago.
In a reminder that the North African nation is still a war zone, the pilot of Clinton’s C-17 maneuvered a steep landing into Libya and a steep ascent out in order to minimize exposure of the aircraft to small arms and shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles.
In Libya, this is more than a perfunctory threat. Shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles, also known as MANPADS (man portable air defense systems) are particularly deadly in that they are cheap and very accurate, and very easily accessible in Libya, according to ABC News consultant and former Marine Corps fighter pilot Steve Ganyard.
With the fall of the Gadhafi regime, ammunition storage facilities have been looted and thousands of MANPADS are now missing. Most will show up on arms black markets around the world, making very sophisticated technology accessible to terrorists and insurgent groups, Ganyard said.
Coincidentally, Clinton is responsible for the U.S. government program that seeks to buy back MANPADS on the global black markets. This program spends tens of millions of dollars a year trying to buy up these dangerous weapons because of the great threat they pose to defenseless civilian airliners, said Ganyard, also a former deputy assistant secretary of state who worked on MANPAD issues.
“Terrorists have attempted to shoot down civilian airliners in the past, and the worry is that the Libyan MANPADS will flood the market, making it easier to for terrorists to carry out such a plan,” Ganyard said.
Ganyard added that on both the ascents and descents, any member of the crew not flying was looking out the windows so that if a MANPAD was shot at the aircraft, the pilots could make defensive maneuvers and shoot off hot decoy flares that are part of the aircraft’s defensive capabilities. That way, the MANPAD, which seeks out hot spots like the exhaust of aircraft engines, will be decoyed by the flares and turn away from the aircraft, its intended target.
Inside the cockpit of Secretary Clinton's C-17. (Photo: Martha Raddatz/ABC News)
The C-17 Clinton rode in belonged to McChord Air Field at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, and members of the crew were from McChord’s 62nd Airlift Wing and the 446th Reserve Airlift Wing.
Busy looking for missiles, the crew remained professional and calm, yet nice.
“Ma’am, we’re going to be a bit busy during takeoff but will answer any questions you have after that,” a crew member told ABC News politely before takeoff.
Once the C-17 got above 20,000 feet, it was safe from surface-to-air missiles.
In the case of small arms fire, the aircraft is usually safe above a few thousand feet above the ground. However, small arms fire is almost impossible to see and so the best defense is to climb quickly in order to get out of range.
The C-17 is cavernous. More than 55 feet tall and 174 feet long, the four-engine, multi-service military-transport aircraft can carry a cargo of wheeled U.S. Army vehicles in two side-by-side rows, including the U.S. Army’s main battle tank, the M-1, according to the manufacturer’s website. There is a ramp in the back, and windows — more like portholes — so high you can’t see out of them, making the bumpy ride a little disconcerting.
While there were few luxuries on board, there were, at least, two Porta-Johns.
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I wonder if she had to duck mortar and small arms fire again?
Posted by: newcountryman | October 20, 2011, 7:58 am 7:58 am
Will she be attending the funeral with Obama for gadaffi
Posted by: daniel | October 20, 2011, 8:49 am 8:49 am
I wonder if she is regretting her decision to get involved in the overthrow of Khadafi. Now we have anti aircraft missiles all over the place, placing American lives in danger as never before. Was it really worth it Mrs Clinton?
Posted by: Earl | October 20, 2011, 10:38 am 10:38 am
We let this psychotic woman be given the very important position of Secretary of State. There will be a price to pay for this and history will show what a mistake it was.
Posted by: Vince | October 20, 2011, 11:33 am 11:33 am
What a success story–and to think it all started with a little White Water.
Posted by: Zoob | October 20, 2011, 11:36 am 11:36 am
These people are shameful…ABSOLUTELY SHAMEFUL. It will end soon.
Posted by: Herman Cain | October 20, 2011, 11:38 am 11:38 am
Been in several of them LONG B4 her majesty Clinton but the ones I rode in didn’t have any desks or nice seats like the ones I see in the pictures above?
Posted by: Jason | October 20, 2011, 11:40 am 11:40 am
How about that…all these ex-hippie dems go from spitting on soldiers to worshipping them when their lives are on the line. Democrats support the troops (only when they occupy the White House).
Posted by: Jeff | October 20, 2011, 11:43 am 11:43 am
Did they move her throne from the Dept of State onto the C-17?
Posted by: An O'Bama Subject | October 20, 2011, 11:47 am 11:47 am
The future’s so bright I need shades!
Posted by: Curly Bill | October 20, 2011, 11:52 am 11:52 am
LOL this is the stuff of comedy! Look at her shuffle the blank pages
Posted by: Snickerfield | October 20, 2011, 11:56 am 11:56 am
this is just when she corkscrewed into bosnia for the landing under fire, not
Posted by: gary f | October 20, 2011, 11:58 am 11:58 am
Hillary Clinton is a criminal of the highest order. Don’t think so? Go to Youtube and watch ” The criminal life of the Clintons” When the corrupt are allowed to rise to the pinnacle of power then you know your society is doomed.
Posted by: aubreyfarmer | October 20, 2011, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm
I respect this woman, I only wish she would have won over Obama…
Posted by: Frank | October 20, 2011, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
She used to ride it with her husband when he was president, don’t remember him having a desk setup like that when he flew in them. Notice none of the flight crew was in uniform(?)
Posted by: James Lucier | October 20, 2011, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm
I did like the nod to the professionalism of our armed forces folks in transporting her.
Posted by: Fred | October 20, 2011, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
This is the kind of plane Rick Perry flew when he was in the Air Force.
Posted by: Jenniferr | October 20, 2011, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm
Some of you making nasty comments about Hillary are sad. If you had to put your real name for all to see, would you still make your post?
You can disagree with her politics but stop the condescending comments.
Personally, I think she’s doing a great job as Sec of State and my Republican husband thinks so too!
Posted by: Venza | October 20, 2011, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm
She selling more cattle futures up there? Or defending rapists by attacking their accusers, perhaps?
What a prize!
Irresistible to William Jefferson Clinton, though…
Posted by: Truth Detector | October 20, 2011, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
Did her personal miltary advisor LTG Charles Jacoby accompany Hillary ofn yhis trip? He has been her advisor on Libya according to past reports. He is perfect to advise Hill…he is the guy who buried the Afghanistan Prison Scandal while Taguba mafe Abu Graib public and was cashiered. Jacaboy was given a promotion. Humam Rights Watch would still like him under oath about dead bodies that were left in Houndorus after he led an SF team in as a LTC for humanitarian relief after a hurricane.
Sounds like Ms. Clinton is still picking advisors to fit her agenda. And, it ain’t American’s interest she has in mind.
Posted by: Robin | October 20, 2011, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
No, she is flying over to get his body so he can have an appropriate moooslim funeral. Barry will say a few words too! HE HE HE HE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: nopcspokenhere | October 20, 2011, 1:29 pm 1:29 pm
Wonder if the C-17 is large enough for her ego and BS—–
Posted by: BillyBob117 | October 20, 2011, 1:42 pm 1:42 pm
Boy oh boy. These f’in marxists, who whine and howl about the military, sure do like to use it at their own convenience don’t they?
Posted by: BigBoa | October 20, 2011, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
Pretty sure there are many who would have preferred she fly in a Cessna Piper with just enough fuel to get her out over the Atlantic.
Posted by: bongopop | October 20, 2011, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
To all the haters: Hillary Clinton has the highest favorability of ANY US political figure 69%!!!
(CNN Poll 9/23-9/26 2011)
Posted by: ch | October 20, 2011, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm
Another CFR puppet on her way to over see her masters take over agenda. Governments are terrorism. Nations are built on murder and maintained by murder. The military industrial academic complex is a tool of the nwo/banking elite. See something, say something COMRADE!? Where are your papers! Global communo-fascism has taken hold of every country. And the masses just want to be distracted with meaningless filth. Bread and circuses they chant, as the concentration camps are being built and staffed with more useful idiots, for after the next FALSE FLAG event. REX84 and operation northwoods just to name a couple of “plans” “they” have in store for the slaves.
Posted by: btruth | October 20, 2011, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
Ms Clinton maybe you can take a few minutes out of your busy day and explain to the American Public WHY WE WAGED WAR ON ANOTHER COUNTRY?
Just like to Know!
Posted by: paperpushermj | October 20, 2011, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
This will prove to be a very terrible and costly mistake America has made. The Obama Administration has made many of them and it will cost us dearly in the long run!
Posted by: James A. | October 20, 2011, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
I saw the weiner’s wife in the video – I couldn’t really tell, but she didn’t look pregnant. It seems to me there was a “baby bump” story a few months ago. I wonder what happened?
Posted by: Bo1921 | October 20, 2011, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm
I kind of expected something a little more plush for the Secretary of State, as far as the plane goes, with the way these people spend money, I guess I was expecting something along the lines of what Pelosi was flying in. Now that woman can spend money. She knows what luxury is. Clinton’s plane looked like a flying fortress. Am I missing something here?
Posted by: Joe Lucido | October 20, 2011, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
She’s so ugly that they make her keep her shades on — even inside the airplane!
Posted by: GozieBoy | October 20, 2011, 2:16 pm 2:16 pm
Note the ‘Hot Topic’ at the top of this ABS site: “Moammar Gadhafi Dead – Lindsay Lohan Morgue Visit”
Hmmm…
Posted by: GozieBoy | October 20, 2011, 2:19 pm 2:19 pm
How do you get that job when you are someone importants wife, and even that person knows you swing for the other team. Team lesbo…COUNT IT>> BOOM
Posted by: john | October 20, 2011, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
So why are the crew members not wearing AF flight suits, but instead are decked out in preppy togs. Guess the sight of military folks is still intolerable to the elitist left.
Posted by: Astro Boy | October 20, 2011, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
How many vodkas does it take to require those large dark glasses?
Posted by: kimdi01 | October 20, 2011, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
It’s off to a carrier for another traditional Muslim burial at sea.
Posted by: Scott | October 20, 2011, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
I don’t like Hillary that much but I still think this is not the safest idea to give possible threats this important information.
Posted by: garrison fink | October 20, 2011, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
I didn’t know Greg Allman was Sec. of State!
Posted by: Don | October 20, 2011, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm
You haters forget how WELL the country ran when BIll Clinton was in office. Jobs galore, my family had and made more money and on and on. You fools.
Posted by: Buffy Helmet | October 20, 2011, 3:17 pm 3:17 pm
The should’ve air dripped that vip pallet. Probably need an extra parachute to compensate for the XXL load
Posted by: Geobama | October 20, 2011, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
The rapists wife is still trying to be relevant. She is an old liberal puke of a fool. With a disgusting daughter well above the hedge fund law. Where did all that money go? Dominican Republic? Switzerland? Kenya? Middle East somewhere? Is that poor chinese man still in prison for the takeover of patients that have dementia? How about those three sliced in two by a train because of coke? Is she still holding on to monicas cigar?
Posted by: evefromeden | October 20, 2011, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
She is the 1%.
Posted by: Robert | October 20, 2011, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm
They should make Moochelle and her freinds and relatives fly in this when they go jet-setting. Skipping the lobster and truffles of course. I have been in a C-17 and they would have to butter her hips to get her through the hatch.
Posted by: Mike | October 20, 2011, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
Ha ha ha, this is the most ludicrous thing I’ve ever seen.. What a waste of military resources (poor crew)..
Posted by: MSgtT | October 20, 2011, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm
Her and her husband….2 pathetic human beings.
Posted by: JT | October 20, 2011, 4:04 pm 4:04 pm
I think she’s the most presidential member of the current administration…
Posted by: John | October 20, 2011, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm
One more year and we can get rid of OUR dictator and HIS corrupt regime!
Posted by: Magnum | October 20, 2011, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm
It looks like a flying ballroom or dance hall.
Posted by: Dingleberry | October 20, 2011, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
Trying to make her look as if she’s actually important and doing something. What total BS.
Posted by: boohoo | October 20, 2011, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm
Thank you Mrs. Clinton for using such an extraordinary aircraft for your travels. The trust we place in your ability to conduct matters of state is secured by the equipment and facilities we posess as the worlds only real super power. Keep up the good work and remember we average americans depend on people such as yourself who will hold ore expectations in high regard!
Posted by: Michael Chandler | October 20, 2011, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
It is not the most elegent aircraft in the world but it is damn impressive. Ive had the opportunity to ride in one and the privilage of guarding many. Enjoy your flight….you are in good hands!
Posted by: Michael Chandler | October 20, 2011, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
None of my grandparents ever flew in an airplane. My son is going to attend norwich and become a pilot. Just sayin’““
Posted by: michael chandler | October 20, 2011, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
MANPADS?!? Seriously???
“Surface to air missiles” have traditionally been called “SAMs” Can’t we just keep calling them “SAMs” instead of MANPADS? Please?
Posted by: Mountain Creek | October 20, 2011, 6:35 pm 6:35 pm
That’s funny, I thought they had something called the “silver bullet” which is like a portable quarters they could put inside these big cargo aircraft.
Guess Hillary is not important enough to rate one.
Posted by: Flint | October 20, 2011, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm
American’s are useless, plain and simple, as you only vote for idiots. Keep bickering about your political party while it all continues to get worse.
Posted by: Mike Alright | October 20, 2011, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
I love it when a plan comes together!
- America helps pay the cost and spread arms throughout the world.
- Arms get onto the open market, and in the hands of terrorists..
- America bids up the value of illegal arms
- America then advertises to buy-back arm
THEN: Madam Clinton travels to the illegal arms gallery in a REALLY BIG TARGET (?)
What a plan . . . .
Posted by: Dennis O'neil | October 20, 2011, 7:22 pm 7:22 pm
I want Hillary to bear my child
Posted by: stan_in_usa | October 20, 2011, 8:13 pm 8:13 pm
the hero of Tusla strikes again.
Posted by: deimos | October 20, 2011, 8:13 pm 8:13 pm
this woman is an awful, officious, power hungry fishwife. wonderful foreign policy, guys! if you don’t like their leaders, kill ‘em! here’s to the promise of “change we can believe in”. meet the new bosses, same as the old bosses. yuck.
Posted by: dallas baires | October 20, 2011, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
There is NO Air Force 3, there is AF1 President, AF2 Vice President. if there was an AF3 that would be the next person in the “chain of command” Speaker of the House not for “that woman”. Additonally notice the Co-Pilot and (I guess) the Loadmaster NOT in a flight suit. I guess that shows her distaste for the US Military.
Addtionally, her husband never had a fancy desk pallet like that when he was president.
Posted by: Loadmaster James | October 20, 2011, 8:28 pm 8:28 pm
white stain @ 00.16
Posted by: cozz | October 20, 2011, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
Looks like Hillary is going to be called in for back up….as Obama fails
Posted by: pelicans | October 20, 2011, 9:43 pm 9:43 pm
Tell me again why Obama was presented the Nobel Peace prize? More like the ‘No Peace’ prize.
Posted by: Banderman | October 20, 2011, 9:59 pm 9:59 pm
That corporatist is dressed like mohammar Clinton!
Posted by: sean | October 20, 2011, 9:59 pm 9:59 pm
I would be totally shocked if this woman ever did anything in the
true interest of Americans. –Vote all the politicians out, continually, just
like flushing the toilet.
Posted by: Chris | October 20, 2011, 10:29 pm 10:29 pm
We can expect Obama and Hillary to be actively killing a lot of people around the world leading up to the November elections in order to enhance their electability. The last three months have been like the first ten minutes of “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” or the final years of the Roman Empire.
Posted by: John | October 20, 2011, 11:37 pm 11:37 pm
“Busy looking for missiles, the crew remained professional and calm, yet nice.”
What does THAT even mean?! Does “professional and calm” somehow equate to NOT nice? Would the “journalist” normally expect all of the attention to be on the pax (passengers) on board (Sec State, staff, media)? Did the “journalist” just realize that the professional military crew is…human?
Perhaps it indicates a perspective of the coddled life that the “journalist” knows, as opposed to the environment of a trained professional, characterized by confidence, discipline, efficiency, mission-oriented focus, and, when required, directive decision-making.
Posted by: J3 | October 20, 2011, 11:57 pm 11:57 pm
I wonder if they set up a place on the plane where Huma can graze?
Posted by: Scabbeus | October 21, 2011, 12:12 am 12:12 am
Haven’t been a Clinton fan, and am a conservative republican, but Hillary hasn’t done too bad a job and I would have preferred her over Obama. Have no complaints on her USAF ride, espicially when you look at how Pelosi raped us taxpayers on her cross-country trips back to parties in San Fran!
Posted by: Desert Fox | October 21, 2011, 12:21 am 12:21 am
She’s the only member of the Obama Administration who gets anything done! She can fly any way she wants! I never wanted her on any Democrat to be President, but she is a heck of a Sec. of State! Give those bums hell, Hill!
Posted by: Carl R. | October 21, 2011, 12:29 am 12:29 am
It is a crying shame that the Libyan rebels did not knock HRC’s aircraft out of the air. I would much rather see Gidhafy alive than Hillary Clinton because Gidhafy was not a threat to the United States and Clinton is. I wish to hell that these rebels would get things right!
Posted by: Annie66 | October 21, 2011, 1:39 am 1:39 am
Can’t wait for an investigation of Madame Hillary’s relationship with her assistant, Huma…..former or maybe current wife of disgraced congressman Weiner. This strict Muslim lady sitting beside the SEcretary of State, reading whatever Hillary reads, hearing all the briefings, makes for possible treasonous reporting to her Mullah masters. Something in this house of corruption STINKS!!!!
God help us…..please!!!!
Posted by: JimC | October 21, 2011, 1:54 am 1:54 am
When Bush was in office Saddam was captured, tried, and executed. Under Obama, terrorists are just executed.
Who’s the blood thirsty warmonger now?
Posted by: MAC | October 21, 2011, 6:14 am 6:14 am
Where is the seat for the Wiki Leaks news team?
Posted by: JMWinPR | October 21, 2011, 7:08 am 7:08 am
Who cares how she travels?
Posted by: Archy Cary | October 21, 2011, 7:19 am 7:19 am
“True revolutionaries do not flaunt their radicalism, Alinsky taught. They cut their hair, put on suits and infiltrate the system from within.
“The Woods Fund, a nonprofit on which Obama served as paid director from 1999 to December 2002, provided startup funding and later capital to the Midwest Academy…. Obama sat on the Woods Fund board alongside William Ayers, founder of the Weather Underground domestic terrorist organization…. ‘Midwest describes itself as ‘one of the nation’s oldest and best-known schools for community organizations, citizen organizations and individuals committed to progressive social change.’… Midwest teaches Alinsky tactics of community organizing.”
Many leftists view Hillary as a sell-out because she claims to hold moderate views on some issues. However, Hillary is simply following Alinsky’s counsel to do and say whatever it takes to gain power.
Posted by: chuhyona | October 21, 2011, 8:28 am 8:28 am
Do you think this C-17 makes me look fat?
Posted by: Gizella | October 21, 2011, 8:38 am 8:38 am
“AF 3″, hmmm??
Sounds like the media is ready to kick Oblahma to the curb, and prop up Hillary for the ’12 run.
“Fortress”? More like ‘buttress”.
I really like the propaganda comment previously made by Bongopop:
“To all the haters: Hillary Clinton has the highest favorability of ANY US political figure 69%!!!
(CNN Poll 9/23-9/26 2011)”
I’ll make two comments in response to Bongopop -
1) I have no use for Hillary Clinton or any other left-wing Marxist, but I don’t HATE them. Hate is an extreme emotion for the feeble-minded, like liberal/progressives. Hate is a total waste of energy: I’d rather focus on calm planning and taking the appropriate steps to stop the enemies of our country.
2) “CNN Poll”??? REALLY, Bongopop??? I’m waiting for them to show a little honesty in advertising, and change their slogan to “The most mistrusted name in news”. At least that would explain why no one watches them any more, and why no one (except you) pays attention to their “polls”.
Bongopop, you may now go back to drooling over the Daily KAOS website dribble…
Posted by: TheRealKingMax | October 21, 2011, 9:09 am 9:09 am