It was dang stupid in the first place and doubly stupid to think that the public shouldn't be informed that there would be a jet flying around Ground Zero.
Even though it's unfair to tie this to Obama, this spoof from Congressman Darrell Issa's staff is quite funny.
The Air Force is now claiming that the cost of $328,835 for the flight doesn't really matter because they would have spent that time and money on a training flight. The fun of the photo op was just an extra benefit. I'm sure all those New Yorkers who were terrified yesterday to see a low-flying jet fly around Ground Zero feel so much better. And will they be even happier to learn that the FAA knew that this would scare people on the ground but went ahead anyway and still threatened New York officials if they told the public ahead of time.
Federal officials knew that sending two fighter jets and Air Force One to buzz ground zero and Lady Liberty might set off nightmarish fears of a 9/11 replay, but they still ordered the photo-op kept secret from the public.(Link via JWF)How infuriating is it that these guys knew it would freak out the public but decided the need for a new photo was worth scaring everyone on a nice Monday morning? Will someone get fired for this?
In a memo obtained by CBS 2 HD 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.
12 comments:
What next little girls throwing rose petals in front of the president when he arrives in his firey chariot? Though the prospect of seeing Celtic and Gaul kings garrotted on the Peristyle does sound pretty darn interesting.
Or did President Obama just have his first Henry II moment?
Betsy, it's quite proper to blame Obama for this fiasco. Do you really think Obama didn't know? When the midlevel flunkies told Obama that he couldn't fly anywhere on the 27th, what did they tell him? That the jet needed it's turn signal fluid changed? The wings rotated?
Obama knew, he had to know. Not only did they have to tell him he couldn't travel on that day, they had to set up a contingency plan in case something bad happened and they had to get him out of Washington, DC.
It is entirely fitting to hold Obama responsible for this stupidity. Even though his standard operating mode is to blame others, he is the one person in charge - even if he had no direct knowledge of this particular incident (which I don't believe) it is his staff, his people, his procedures that allowed it to happen. Being in command doesn't mean that you just get to take credit for things that go right - you also have to 'man up' and take responsibility for the screwups. Obama seems incapable of such leadership.
An executive is responsible for the actions of everyone in his organization, not just his own personal actions...that's the whole meaning of the job. Not too long ago, there was a bad fire on an aircraft carrier, caused by a sailor smoking in a paint locker. The Captain was relieved of command, even though he wasn't doing the smoking and certainly hadn't authorized it.
Obama may get a partial pass because he's only been in the job for 100 days, but that excuse won't be good much longer. The man has spent his entire career as an "individual contributor," to use the business phrase...what are the chances that he really understand the nature and requirements of an executive job?
I agree Peter.Obama had to know.
These are the people who do not want to call the Islamic terrorists-terrorists.
As Forrest Gump said,"Stupid is as
stupid does."
The last comment, which showed up with the name "Wright," was me. Don't know what's going on...I'm logged on with my normal username, etc.
David Foster
photoncourier.blogspot.com
OK, it's back to normal now, or I mis-read it.
Must.drink.more.coffee
No one had to tell BHO he couldn't travel on the 27th.
There are 2 of these planes, 28000 and 29000.
Plus the E4 NEACP planes are available as well if he really needed to get to Kenya in a hurry.
The argument that the fuel would have been used for training anyhow is dubious. Jet airplanes are far more efficient at higher altitudes than at low one; this is why flight planning normally aims to keep them high as long as possible.
Here's my silly-question-of the-day:
Why couldn't local NYC "authorities" have simply announced via local TV/radio and print media, etc: "Citizens and visitors BE ADVISED by [NYPD, NY Port Auth, etc] that there will be a low-flying commercial-class airliner passing near the Statue on [date] around [time]." -- and refuse calls for further clarification. What am I missing here?
Any passengers on board? Contributors? Klingons? Community Organizers?
Wow, you are stupid, you have no life, and oooh yes just because there was a low flying jet new york is suppose to freak out, do you know New York is one of the most known places in the WORLD! it is a normal thing to see jet's and air planes FLY AT ANY height!!!! and considering you can SEE it said AF1, they would have know
Post a Comment