Recriminations after NYC jet flyover photo op

AP ^ | 4/28/09 | ULA ILNYTZKY and SARA KUGLER

[Upstate NY Guy]

NEW YORK (AP) — It was supposed to be a photo op that captured images of an Air Force One plane with a majestic Statue of Liberty in the background. Instead, it turned into a public relations nightmare that led to recriminations from the president and mayor and prompted thousands other to ask, "What were they thinking?"

Just before the workday began on Monday, an airliner and supersonic fighter jet zoomed past the lower Manhattan skyline. Within minutes, startled financial workers streamed out of their offices, fearing a nightmarish replay of Sept. 11....

An Air Force combat photographer took pictures from one of the fighter jets, administration officials said.

The photo op was combined with a training exercise to save money, according to another administration official who also spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to speak publicly about the behind-the-scenes discussions about the flight....

It had a classified footnote that said, "Information in this document shall not be released to the public or the media."

[Upstate NY Guy]

The FAA notified the New York Police Department of the flyover..... It had a classified footnote that said,"Information in this document shall not be released to the public or the media."

A very strange event. Many questions need to be answered.

1. Why were the NYC authorities told not to release the info to the public or media prior to the flyover?
2. Why did the NYC authorities go along with this bizarre request?
3. Why didn't Bloomberg know about it?
4. What was the nature and purpose of the "training mission"? To scare the crap out of New Yorkers?
5. Who at the White House originally requested the mission?
6. Who was on board the 747?
7. Why did the plane circle around at low altitude? Why not just flyby and cirle over a less populated area?
8. Who in the White house knew and when did they know it?
9. Why are White House oficials being instructed not to speak publically about the mission?

[kb2614]

We are in the very best of hands.

cough

[wny]

"The photo op was combined with a training exercise to save money, according.."

This is comlete BS. A training excercise does not involve a single F-16 buzzing a civilian area. These people are disgusting.

[jersey117]

AIR HEADS IN DC TERRORIZE CITY

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04282009/news/regionalnews/air_heads_in_dc_terrorize_city_166544.htm

[Zack Attack]

It had a classified footnote that said, "Information in this document shall not be released to the public or the media."

Ah! More transparency! This is good.

[utahagen]

Here's more: at least one bank participating in TARP sent an email out to its NYC employees BEFORE the photo op, telling everyone exactly what would happen with the plane and assuring them there would be nothing to worry about. I emphasize that this email went out BEFORE the exercise, which is why employees were surprised later in the day when they learned how frightened many New Yorkers had been. Why was a TARP bank told about this, while Mayor Bloomberg was not?

[Daisyjane69]

I hope, when election time comes, that some clever GOP media types find a way to use this video. Perhaps as an example of how “tone deaf” some libs are with respect to our national security. It’s a disgrace.

Two of my NY friends called tonight and their comments to me, would get me banned from here. And they are libs!

[Pravious]

“...The Government by the people, for the people....”

Oh, wait. That must have been some other, earlier incarnation of Government.

This one sucks.

[boycott]

This whole administration is just one big group of idiots.

Their entire reason for being in the capitol is nothing but one big photo op.

One of the sad things is that the muslim (or former muslim) in this plane is a great threat to this nation too just like the terrorists that flew planes into our buildings.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

There was no need for surprise," Sen. Charles Schumer said. "There was no need to scare thousands of New Yorkers who still have the vivid memory of 9/11."

In my humble opinion, their memories are not that vivid and needed a good shaking-up...

[evad]

We Need A WAR ON STUPIDITY!!

[anoldafvet]

You can’t fix STUPID, but you can VOTE it out of office.

[evad]

One of the sad things is that the muslim (or former muslim) in this plane is a great threat to this nation too just like the terrorists that flew planes into our buildings.

In that respect, it's very apropos, doncha think?

[evad]

Yes...then let the war begin.

[jennyjenny]

The photo op was combined with a training exercise to save money,...

To save money? HA! That does it for me. I'm now convinced this was no photo op.

[JudyinCanada]

Yes - this whole transparency thing is great. The world can see some pictures which will put the men and women fighting the enemy in danger, but America can’t see a document about a flight to take some pictures.

Something very strange going on....

[reformedliberal]

Did they specifically blame zerO, the adminstration and the donk party, in general? Feel free to post w/expletives deleted.

[caver]

“The photo op was combined with a training exercise to save money”

Oh, well that’s OK then. Barry and his fools are saving us money.

[adc]

We can only imagine the response of our enemies to the buffoonery of the current administration. This is the exclamation point at the end of the first hundred days. God help us.

[Liz]

We are in the very best of hands...........cough.

Don't we all feel s-o-o-o-o- safe (/snic)?

The director of the White House military office.... Louis Caldera......engineered this debacle.

GUESS WHO Louis E Caldera. Born: 1-Apr-1956. Birthplace: El Paso, TX. Race or Ethnicity: Hispanic

Idiot must have gotten his brains from the Third World.