The Pentagon Scares the Poop out of NYC
This is one of the most unbelievable stories I’ve read in a long time.
The White House wanted to do new photos of Air Force One. So the Pentagon informed the New York Police Department that Air Force One would be flying low in Manhattan and it would be accompanied by F-16s.
The only catch? The Pentagon told NYPD not to tell the public. Oh yeah, what could go wrong. Not telling the public about a low flying plane in New York City, why would they think anything’s wrong. I don’t know about you but when I see a plane that is flying too low I get slightly nervous, and I don’t even live in NYC. I don’t even know what I would do if I saw a 747 flying alongside F-16s, especially if I’m in New York.
Mayor Bloomberg, rightfully so, is furious that the Defense Department didn’t tell him.
“First thing is I’m annoyed – furious is a better word – that I wasn’t told,” he said. “Why the Defense Department wanted to do a photo op right around the site of the World Trade Center catastrophe defies imagination. Poor judgment would be a nice ways to phrase.”
White House Military Office director Louis Caldera is the one who scheduled the photo-op, at least he was man enough to take responsibility for the confusion.
“Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision,” he said. “While federal authorities took the proper steps to notify state and local authorities in New York and New Jersey, its clear that the mission created confusion and disruption. I apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused.”…
There’s a lot of blame to go around on this one. But if the Pentagon told NYPD not to tell the public, I think we can put most of the blame squarely on their shoulders.
–jb
