Today's NYTimes describes the H2 as an American Icon

[HummerMann]

I have lurked these boards for years and am a longtime H2 owner. Today's Times article made me sign up. The article referred to here appeared in the weekend Automotive section, but the online version is out of context. The beginning of the article states how there are no kings, dignitaries etc. that ride in Cadillacs, Packards, or Lincolns (Americana) anymore when American cars were icons to the world, but how the American H2 Hummer is becoming the choice of foreign kings and is fast becoming an Icon for dignitaries in other countries and then the April 2003 article follows. A specially made Hummer H2 is the personal car of King Abdullah of Saudi. Wish I had 45 cent gas like he does.
The article was followed by the one you posted. I have owned two H2s and I wouldn't be without my current '06 H2! Hello to all of you fellow Hummer people from the upstate NY....and I just love to drive my Hummer in Manhattan. Your Hummer forums have the least amount of kids on the computer BS on them and the most factual and interesting Hummer information. Cabs never cut off Hummers, take my word for it.
Interestingly, the online article did not appear in all of the weekend final sections. Pressure from somewhere???