Google and the Department of Defense signed a weird deal in 2007: the former would let the latter use a federal airfield and buy government jet fuel at half the normal price—for scientific and official purposes. However, Google’s top brass used tons of this fuel to travel to these hot playgrounds.
Fort-de-France, Martinique, Caribbean
San Juan, Puerto Rico, Caribbean
Fa’a’ā, Tahiti, South Pacific
Fiji, South Pacific
Agana, Guam, Western Pacific
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
Las Vegas, Nevada
Nadi, Fiji, South Pacific
Saint Maarten, Caribbean
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, Caribbean
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific
Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico, Caribbean
Honolulu, Hawaii
Kailua/Kona, Hawaii
Kahului, Hawaii
Majuro, Marshall Islands, South Pacific
Nice, France, Mediterranean
Beef Island, British Virgin Island, Caribbean
Arno Vale, Saint Vincent and the Granadines, Caribbean
Scarborough, Tobago, Caribbean
Cockburn Town, San Salvador Island, Caribbean
Exuma, Bahamas, Caribbean
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Pacific
Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, Caribbean
Belize, Caribbean
Kiritimati / Christmas Island, South Pacific
Canouan, Grenadines, Caribbean
Nassau, Caribbean
Olbia, Sardinia, Mediterranean
Figari, Corsica, Mediterranean
It’s hard to imagine which kind of scientific experiments or official business Google execs had to attend to in such vacation paradises. This is perhaps why the government hasn’t renewed the agreement. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley appears to think that something smells bad here (fraud anyone?) and has asked the Pentagon’s inspector general to audit the deal.
Google’s execs used their many private jets for the trips, including a Gulfstream V, a Boeing 757 and a Boeing 767. Reportedly, the last one was bought to Australian airline Qantas for $15 million, and then retrofitted with a luxurious interior for $10 million made by Gore Design Completions, of San Antonio, Texas. The new interior included rooms with king-sized beds, full bathrooms and $600,000 worth of exotic woods.
Certainly, not the best platform to conduct scientific experiments.
http://gawker.com/google-execs-have-been-flying-to-nantucket-with-taxpaye-1310297294%2F1310355985
