Posted on 05/05/2009 3:35:44 PM PDT by KJC1
WASHINGTON — The White House is refusing to release the controversial photos of Air Force One flying over the Manhattan skyline last week that triggered panic among New Yorkers and an internal review in the Obama administration.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Tuesday that there was no need to release them.
"I've watched CNN," he said, noting the considerable coverage from amateur footage. "I didn't notice a lack of archival material from that flight."
He added that he didn't know where to locate the photos taken from inside the plane.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I think the public is OWED a viewing of these photos, if they exist.
How about the list of dignitaries on board? Is that too much to ask? LOL
Beck talked about this today and said he was filing a suit to make them public. Gee, I wonder if this was done by Republican president so soon after 9/11 if the media would have spent more than 15 seconds on coverage.
I’m calling total BS on this one. The White House KNOWS
where all official photos are. This is a blatant lie.
No photos exist.
After all, what other possible excuse could there be for not releasing “publicity photos” that the American people paid undreds of thousands of dollars for?
One more thing I forgot to add: Unless I misheard him, Bret Baier said a short time ago on Fox that the photos are being considered “classified.” Outrageous.
Who was on board???
FOIL
They can’t release something they don’t have.
That fly over was not a photo shoot. The WH has painted itself into a corner here.
“I didn’t notice a lack of archival material from that flight.”
Hmm. I wonder if that’s more intelligible in context. Must search for video...
I/WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE PHOTOS, AND THEY WILL NOT BE RELEASED!
Hopefully some conservatives with really deep pockets will "reward" those who come forward with the photos and passenger list on that flight.
Another nail in the coffin holding truth and transparency for the facists in charge.
I am glad to hear that Glenn Beck is doing that, and I hope it gets traction...and results.
Photo gallery:
http://www.nypost.com/photos/galleries/news/regionalnews/pp_20090428_plane/photo01.htm
Story:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/04272009/news/regionalnews/obama_plane_photo_op_startles_new_yorker_166470.htm
_______________________________________________
From the Wall Street Journal, April 30, 2009...
"I don't know what their rationale was for wanting a photo op," Mr. Morrell said. "This originated in the White House Military Office, so I am assuming it was at the behest of the White House and it was their idea of something they wanted to take place."
The three-hour round-trip flight from Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C.'s Maryland suburbs cost more than $300,000, according to an Air Force estimate. Mr. Gibbs said the president didn't believe it was an appropriate use of money at a time of austerity and asked a deputy chief of staff, Jim Messina, to head the review.
"The president was furious upon learning of this decision," Mr. Gibbs said.
The 747-200B aircraft, one of two used as Air Force One, was accompanied by two F-16 fighters from the D.C. Air National Guard, which operates out of Andrews.
"We've never been asked to do this before," said Capt. Byron Coward, a spokesman for the guard unit.
While the F-16s were flown by guard pilots, the photographs were taken by Master Sgt. Andrew N. Dunaway, a specially trained Air Force photographer based with a combat camera squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.
Only one of the F-16s was involved in the photo shoot; the other peeled off once the 747 reached New York, but both accompanied the plane back to Andrews. According to Vicki Stein, an Air Force spokeswoman, the cost for the fighters, both of which flew nearly two hours, was $28,000.
Despite the cost of an Air Force One flight, both White House and Air Force officials said the flyover also served as a routine training mission, allowing the 747's pilots to log sufficient flight hours.
"The crew on these aircraft have to maintain their proficiency," said Gary Strasburg, an Air Force spokesman.
A White House spokesman said, "They took that opportunity to marry up the two missions to take the photo," adding, "The president thinks there is nothing wrong with the previous official photo of Air Force One."
"I think it's symptomatic of being new," one former Bush administration official said of the flap over the Manhattan flight.
A former Bush White House aide said he didn't recall any Air Force One trips specifically for publicity. A handful of documentaries about Air Force One were produced during President George W. Bush's tenure, and the production team flew along on a few presidential trips to shoot footage.
A production crew also flew along on some Air Force One trips with President Bill Clinton for one of the documentaries, which straddled the two presidencies.
Mr. Caldera occupies a position overseeing various military units that provide services to the president such as transportation, communications and medical personnel. The White House declined to make Mr. Caldera available for an interview.
Asked if the judgment error might lead to Mr. Caldera's dismissal, Mr. Gibbs said the decision would wait until Mr. Messina's review is complete. Following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Bush administration effectively converted the job of head of the Military Office from a political appointment to a Defense Department post. It was filled by a series of active-duty admirals under Mr. Bush.
The aim was to maintain high readiness levels in light of the new terrorism threat. But it was also a recognition of the overall importance of White House military personnel: There are several thousand whose jobs bring them in close proximity to the presidency, from the squad that carries the nuclear-weapons "football" to Marines who tend the West Wing's front door. The head of the Military Office coordinates all of it.
The Obama administration decided to switch the post back to a political job, despite some concerns that Bush administration officials conveyed during the transition planning.
Former Pentagon officials who worked with Mr. Caldera when he was Army secretary said the East Los Angeles native came to the job with a "bullet-proof resume," having graduated from West Point and earning law and business degrees from Harvard University.
Tax payer paid photos of stupid flight - NO.
Abu Grab photos which will cost lives and turmoil world wide - YES.
One
Bad
Ass
Mistake
America
Might just as well be termed ‘toilet paper’, because it’s pretty obvious the pres__ent is going to cover his ass with them.
So do we talk about it on here or raise a stink and force them to show them. We did pay for it. I am really so over this government, and I mean really over it. I just want to get far away.
We raise hell about it. I’m sick of this man whoever he is being able to hide anything and everything and getting away with it.
I vote for both.
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