Obama eyes Sarkozy ear piece
US government orders ten high-tech inner-ear translation gadgets as modelled by the French president at Nato conference.
THE WHITE House has ordered a dozen inner ear piece for simultaneous translations after spotting Nicolas Sarkozy sporting the device at a Nato conference.
According to Le Figaro newspaper, the head of communications at the White House, Robert Gibbs, told his counterpart at the Elysée Franck Louvrier that he would like to order a dozen of the ‘invisible’ ear pieces after President Barack Obama tried one out at the same summit.
The US team also asked for the same Perspex lectern for Obama’s Nato press conference as used by the French president.
Sarkozy, who has sought to tone down his ‘bling’ image, is increasing the amount of technology in government.
The Ministry of Defence recently revealed it has ordered 14,100 of the latest phones – specially encrypted with their own network to increase security – from electronics specialists Thales.
The phones, which specialists claimed would be “the future mobile of Nicolas Sarkozy”, will not be available to private buyers.
Sarkozy has also ordered an upgrade to the presidential jet, which is limited in range and recently suffered an engine fire on the runway while preparing for takeoff.
Photo:Afp/Mandel Ngan
