It was a curious phenomenon. The "cover story" issued after the fact is that this as a "photo op" and that law enforcement had been notified, but not the public.
Why a photo op? What can they do that can't be done more easily (and more cheaply) with computer graphics?
Why not notify the public? Why not just a simple announcement on the evening news?
On Thursday night, city officials say, a junior mayoral aide had been alerted to the flyover by the Federal Aviation Administration, which requested that it be kept secret. Someone in City Hall alerted the New York Police Department, but no public announcement was made...The email specifies that the information "only be shared with persons with a need to know" and "shall not be released to the public." It also says that, "Due to the possibility of public concern regarding [Department of Defense] aircraft flying at low levels, coordination with Federal, State and Local law enforcement agencies...has been accomplished."
The email's author, James J. Johnston, of FAA air traffic, declined to comment.
An Obama administration official said the mission was "classified" by the military and that the FAA, which controls much of the airspace over Manhattan, did what the military asked. "The mission was to send [the aircraft] up to get a picture of it flying around the Statue of Liberty," this person said. "They said they needed to update their photo files."
I'm glad President Obama is beginning an investigation into this. All I want answered is "how much money did this photo op cost the tax payers?" Then I want that sum taken out of the savings account of the moron who ordered this idiot stunt.
ReplyDeleteHey...look at that! This cost around $328,000! Was this paid with tax payer dollars? Or did it come out of Obama's Campaign budget?
ReplyDeleteI find it totally bizarre that this had to be kept secret. When President Bush came to my city, it was stated on the news that Air Force One would be coming to the airport nearby. There's really no need to keep it secret, especially if the president is not on board.
ReplyDeleteThis is absurd. Are the public trying to be frightened? If you saw a 747 flying this close to an area in a location such as NYC the thoughts "terror", "crash", "trouble" would flash through even the most sane and unparanoid person's head. Especially with some sort of fighter jet "tailing" it.
ReplyDeleteWhy on earth was this allowed or necessary and who were involved in this incident from idea to completion.
Photo files? my ass!
ReplyDelete"Obama is beginning an investagation into this"???? What??? It's his freakin plane. That thing doesn't leave the ground without HIS say so.
ReplyDeleteJust look at the fear exhibited by the people in that video. We haven't seen any of that for a long time, now that Obama is president.... people know in their heart, the attacks could happen again.