“Last week, I approved a mission over New York," Louis Caldera, director of the White House military office, said. "I take responsibility for that decision. While federal authorities took the proper steps to notify state and local authorities in New York and New Jersey, it’s clear that the mission created confusion and disruption. I apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused.”
When President Obama was told about the incident, he was "furious," a White House official says.
Caldera was called into a meeting with White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and deputy chief of staff Jim Messina.
"It didn't sound like a fun meeting," the White House official says.
-From ABC News
bunch of clowns..............
Old School Wrote:"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."
"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. "
"The cost of the frivolous flight was about $60,000 an hour and that was just for Air Force One. That doesn't include the cost of the two F-16s"
http://wcbstv.com/topstories/air.force.o...96457.html
As we learned today, the mayor's office was indeed contacted. Whoever worked at the mayor's office did not tell the mayor. It's unknown whether they were supposed to tell the mayor to keep it secret or to not tell the mayor at all.
IMO, I think the mayor was told and is just trying to play it off like he didn't know. Think about it, if this aide had not told the mayor and this happened he would have been canned. However, the aide is instead "repremanded."
Also, your article calls the plane Air Force 1. This is incorrect. Air Force 1 is ONLY Air Force 1 if the President is on it. He was not, so this was just a government aircraft.
As for the flight being "frivolous," government aircrafts do several flights and landings every year. As an example, blue and white government airplanes (that look like Air Force 1) fly in and out of Bluegrass Airport several times a year. They do not have anyone on them except for pilots. They do this to practice landing/takeoffs, instrument readings, etc. This kind of stuff is going to continue happening whether it's for a photo shoot or not.
We have no idea whether this mission was planned before or after Obama took office. For all we know, this could have been approved and put in the budget under Bush, and they're just now getting around to it.
^^lol! The mayor is lying and this might have been set up by Bush? Instant classic!:thatsfunn
jetpilot Wrote:^^lol! The mayor is lying and this might have been set up by Bush? Instant classic!:thatsfunn
What? You don't think politicians lie?
Not saying it was a set up. I'm saying that from what I have read, they update these photos from time to time, and for all we know, this could have been approved in a previous budget and they just now got around to it.
As for the cost...
From CNN:
Air Force officials estimate that the mission and the photo shoot for the 747 and an accompanying F-16 fighter jet cost $328,835. But they said "the hours would have been flown regardless, and the expenses would have been accrued on a different mission."
^^Bloomberg was furious. It would have come out if he knew. And the Obama administration would be screaming it all over network TV if this deal was OK'ed by the Bush administration. They blame everything else on them. The Obama administration is taking their lumps on this one and moving on...as all their fans should do lol...
jetpilot Wrote:^^Bloomberg was furious. It would have come out if he knew. And the Obama administration would be screaming it all over network TV if this deal was OK'ed by the Bush administration. They blame everything else on them. The Obama administration is taking their lumps on this one and moving on...as all their fans should do lol...
And if you think the $300k+ was really necessary to get those photos, I have some swampland for sale. There are tons of people on here who could photo-shop it for free...:please:
jetpilot Wrote:And if you think the $300k+ was really necessary to get those photos, I have some swampland for sale. There are tons of people on here who could photo-shop it for free...:please:
As reported, that money would have still been spent. It was a training mission that would have happened,
with or without the picture of the plane and the statue of Liberty.
TheRealVille Wrote:As reported, that money would have still been spent. It was a training mission that would have happened, with or without the picture of the plane and the statue of Liberty.
Riiiiiiiight........
Idiotic move no matter what the cost...which was high...
I heard on the news last night that the White House had another photo op set up for a flight over D.C. next week. Apparently the planned flight has been scrubbed.:biggrin:
It's bad enough that, they buzz New York City and scare people to death, they spend $328,835 of tax payer money, now they won't release the photo's.
"The $328,835 snapshots of an Air Force One backup plane buzzing lower Manhattan last week will not be shown to the public, the White House said yesterday.
"We have no plans to release them," an aide to President Obama told The Post, refusing to comment further.
The sole purpose of the secret photo-op, which sent thousands of New Yorkers running for cover, was to take new publicity shots of the presidential jet over the city.
"The photos . . . are classified -- that's ridiculous," Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., said.
The photos have not technically been "classified," a White House aide said, but they are being kept from public view."
http://www.nypost.com/seven/05052009/new...167671.htm
^^If Republicans did this the outrage would be off the charts...now, not a peep from the "sheeple."
Why are they only releasing one photo? I mean since we (the taxpayers) paid over $325,000 we should be able to see every last one of them, even the blurry ones.
"Louis Caldera, the director of the White House Military Office, handed in his resignation Friday."
"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."
"When Obama appointed Caldera to the job during the presidential transition, the then president-elect hailed Caldera as having a resume that was second-to-none. Obama said then: "I know he'll bring to the White House the same dedication and integrity that have earned him the highest praise in every post."
"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.
http://wcbstv.com/local/air.force.one.2.1004904.html