Does President Obama have any clue what the rest of his administration is doing ?
The unannounced recent flyover of New York City by two fighter jets and a 747 from the presidential fleet to buzz ground zero and the Statue Liberty for a photo op set off nightmarish fears of a 9/11 replay.
The flyover was ordered by the White House Office of Military Affairs so it would have souvenir photos of Air Force One with the Statue of Liberty in the background.
To make matters worse, the Federal Aviation Administration's James Johnston said the agency was aware of "the possibility of public concern regarding DOD (Department of Defense) aircraft flying at low altitudes" in an around New York City. But they demanded total secrecy from the NYPD, the Secret Service, the FBI and even the mayor's office and threatened federal sanctions if the secret got out.
Even New York Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer disapproved stating:
"To say that it should not be made public knowing that it might scare people it's just confounding, It's what gives Washington and government a bad name. It's sheer stupidity."
The NYPD was so upset about the demand for secrecy that Police Commissioner Ray Kelly vowed never to follow such a directive again and he accused the feds of inciting fears of a 9/11 replay.
"Did it show an insensitivity to the psychic wounds New York City has after 9/11? Absolutely. No questions about it. It was quite insensitive," Kelly said.
President Obama ordered an internal review of Monday's low-flying photo op over the Statue of Liberty.
"It was a mistake. It will never happen again," President Obama said.
But if this was carried out by the White House Office of Military Affairs, didn't anyone brief the President on this? And if they didn't why not? Is Obama in control or are others running the show?
We have since learned that the White House planned a similar flyover in Washington DC on May 5th or 6th according to the Wall Street Journal.
"The White House had planned a second photo shoot of a jumbo jet used as Air Force One in Washington D.C next month. The follow-up session would have taken place May 5 or May 6, using the nation's capital as a backdrop, according to two government officials."
"One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Washington photo session is being reconsidered, given the reaction to Monday's flight in New York."
Post a Comment