Free Republic

It cost the U.S. taxpayer $357,000 and cost Louis Caldera his White House gig. Perhaps if you were able to zoom in really really close you could probably even see the citizens of New York City running in the streets.

President Barack Obama has accepted the resignation of an official who authorized the presidential aircraft flyover in lower Manhattan last month, CBS 2 has learned. Louis Caldera, the director of the White House Military Office, handed in his resignation Friday. The news comes as Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the Air Force flyover that sparked a panic was not adequately reviewed and approved by senior service and department officials. The flyover was arranged as part of a photo opportunity for White House records. The official photo was released along with Caldera's resignation and the official report on the flyover.

"We'll release its findings and release a photo," he said. That was after Gibbs indicated Tuesday that the White House would not release any images. "I've watched CNN," he said at the time, noting the considerable coverage from amateur footage. "I didn't notice a lack of archival material from that flight." The flyover triggered panic among New Yorkers as well as the internal review by the Obama administration. Officials last week sent an Air Force One backup plane to fly over lower Manhattan to capture the presidential plane with the Statue of Liberty in the background. The public was not...

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.