AF1 Story Changes Yet AGAIN

[RedSock]

Linked at Atrios:

Q Scott, you promised us more information about the Air Force One sighting. Was it a British Airways plane?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, I'm actually -- I'm going to give you a copy of a release that was put out by the National Air Traffic Services, which is the London-area control center. Let me just read that to you first, and then I'll be glad to get into any follow-up you have.

"NATS has now concluded its investigations and can confirm that a conversation between the crew of an aircraft belonging to a non-U.K. operator and its control center took place around 9:30 GMT, on Thursday, the 27th of November, 2003.

"The pilot of the aircraft asked whether the aircraft behind it was Air Force One. After consulting the flight plan of those aircraft in the sector at that time, the center responded that the aircraft was a Gulfstream V. NATS notes reports that U.S. officials have said that for security reasons, Air Force One had filed a flight plan which stated that the service would operated by a Gulfstream V."

So as they pointed out, it was a non-U.K. operator. What Colonel Tillman and the pilots on board Air Force One believed at the time when they heard the conversation was that it was a British Airways plane, because there had been a British Airways plane that had been in the vicinity of Air Force One on the way across. And Colonel Tillman -- and, in fact, they knew it was there because they had been using the call sign that British Airways uses when they communicate with the control center. Colonel Tillman and the pilots then heard the conversation, and to them the conversation sounded like it was coming from a pilot with a British accent. And so that's why they had concluded that it was a British Airways plane.

Q Scott, the conversation itself was as it was relayed?

MR. McCLELLAN: That's correct. I think that that was in here. Go ahead, Norah.

Q Why then did the White House, repeatedly, in two different versions, tell reporters that it was British Airways? How could the White House be so wrong?

MR. McCLELLAN: For the reasons I told you. Colonel Tillman and the pilots in the cockpit believed that it was British Airways for the reasons I just stated. And what we always try to do for you all in the press corps is to provide you a little color of important events, because we believe that's helpful to you for your stories, and to do your reporting to the American people. And so we reported it based on what we knew, and the conversation did take place. It was heard by the pilots on Air Force One. That was relayed to White House staff, and it was shared with you all in the media to help you keep the American people informed about what was a very important event.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/12/20031204-11.html



Atrios adds the release is not at the website
http://www.nats.co.uk/news/index.html

[Zero Gravitas]

1. passing the buck

so now its the poor slob who has to fly * around's fault? They have no shame.

[Goldmund]

2. A stupid question, maybe

I don't get why this story is important. Why is it relevant whether or not it was a BA plane -- and why is the story getting this much coverage?

I'm not trying to imply that it shouldn't, I'm merely asking.

[RedSock]

4. why

they sexed up this story -- or invented it out of whole cloth (my opinion) -- to make the whole * to iraq sound more daring and oooohhh they almost got spotted and would have had to turn around. but whew, they didn't and so all went as planned.

why did they have too lie and make up this story in the first place? no one was asking for it. ... they cannot help themselves. if they said the earth was round, i'd assume the Flat Earth Society was correct.

[ima_sinnic]

7. I don't think there was any flight to begin with, that's why

. . . the whole effing thing was staged somewhere in Texas or some other place right here in the US of A.

[frylock]

17. why? because it shows a pattern of dishonesty..

and outright lying. If they would go to such lengths to embellish something that is this trivial, what else are they willing to lie about?

cough*911*cough

[snippy]

22. Because it illustrates the fact that there is no subject so shallow, or

serious, or somber that Bush will not lie about it. The only other option is not to lie.

The White House lied about this because before Saddam bought the uranium Bush had no plans on his desk to invade the aircraft carrier since it was too far offshore for the Navy to make a large enough banner to describe the WMD we have found in Iraq that Saddam was going to give to Osama for using Iraqi hijackers on 9/11 which is why Laura dropped the dog.

[bobbyboucher]

24. And he rolled off of the couch while watching football

only to hit his head before the state of the union speech, where he later said they would find the leaker who leaked the leak about turkey being made of moon rocks.

[eleny]

3. "Mission Accomplished" redux

I saw Sgt. Scotty's telecast. Another wild mouse ride around yet another of Rove's bright ideas.

All I have to say in conclusion is that they "...done used the rare dime for a phone call - again!"

[wysimdnwyg]

5. Am I missing something?

Just what, exactly, is so damned important (see McClellan's last sentence above) about AF1 being spotted by another plane? Are they worried about it being spotted by terrorists? If so, why would they talk about it? If not, then who gives a s***?



Side note: I understand why WE are talking about it. The statements are more examples of their lies and exaggerations. I just don't get why THEY'RE talking about it.

[cosmicdot]

6. "...we always try to ... provide you a little color of important events.."

... because we believe that's helpful to you for your stories, and to do your reporting to the American people."

:wtf: is that all about?

are "lies" = "color"

:shrug:

[eleny]

8. That was amazing, wasn't it?

The perfect moment for the cream pie to go flying.

[htuttle]

10. Actually, that's why it's important (to me)

It reveals a little bit of what goes on behind the scenes, which appears to be nothing but crass Public Relations jobs, most of the time.

The whole story about the 'pilot who saw us' is something called a 'News Hook' in the PR business. A news hook is a little anecdote that's meant to bring the story 'home' to listeners/viewers. Kind of like when they try to find a 'local angle' on a story.

The line about 'always try to provide a little color' is about the most honest thing I've ever heard McClellan say -- he's coming right out and stating that this 'BA pilot story' was their little 'human interest news hook' for the shrub's trip.

This whole administration has been nothing but a PR snow job covering up the greatest mafia 'bust out' in history. Little slip-ups like this are a peek behind the curtain.

[RamboLiberal]

9. Aircraft behind it?

<The pilot of the aircraft asked whether the aircraft behind it was Air Force One.>

WTF, since when do airplanes have rear view mirrors or rear windows? How the hell did a plane in front of AF1 figure out the plane behind it was AF1?

Only way I could think of that they could possibly spot AF1 is if AF1 was at a higher altitude and perhaps off to the side.

But I'd expect they'd have kept a greater air space separation.

This story is certainly growing some legs.

[jmowreader]

14. Maybe the unidentified plane was flying the other way

Unidentified plane passes AF1. Co-pilot asks pilot, "was that AF1 we just passed?"

Pilot raises AF1. Asks if AF1 is AF1. Is told the plane that he thought was AF1 is really the biggest Gulfstream 5 he's ever seen.

And all this time Bush is in beddy-bye with his jammies, his teddy and Condi reading him "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" just like Mommy used to do way back when.

(And yes, I know The Very Hungry Caterpillar was released the year after Dumbass graduated from Yale.)

[Military Brat]

15. I read one report that he viewed it through the cockpit

Don't have time to look it up now, but that was the version. This is the whole problem with the bush administration. So much is farce, so much is bogus, they gild the lily to extremis. And for McClellan to have this convoluted explanation prepared is just beyond the pale.

Because of feedback from those in the States who recognized their loved ones in Iraq, bush the Turkeyhawk did go to Baghdad. However, the incident of being "spotted" is bogus. I repeat, the incident is bogus. Over and out.

[tom_paine]

11. Bushevik SOP: When caught in a lie, answer with six more lies

They are as predictable as Stalin.

[Bertha Venation]

12. I trust C.J. Cregg way more than this guy. n/t

[Skip Intro]

13. Whoa, is this too paranoid?

I was thinking this was just a story about how easily and casually the thugs in this regime lie, but the more the story changes, the more I'm starting to think there may be more to this than meets the eye (a good bet with this gang, yes?).

Is it possible the other plane, the one the WH claims was AF1 was in fact the Gulfstream V? Is it possible that AF1 never went to Baghdad? Could that be at the bottom of all of this? I don't think they'd lie for no reason. Maybe it was to reinforce thru imagery the bond between the US and the Brittish in some almost subliminal way. Or maybe this whole thing was a big lie somthered in "little" lies, one of which was this "British Airways" story, the radio conversation between the planes "pre-emptively proving" that AF1 was indeed there. I've got a feeling there's more to this than just an unneeded lie about a plane. There was a need for this lie. What was it?

Something smells, and its not that fake turkey.

Or am I being too paraniod?

[patdem]

16. WoW...AF1 allows planes in its vicinity and has no clue as to who they are

I find that quite mysterious in and of itself.
Story goes from BA to AF1...then BA to Ground Control...then from a NON BA to Ground Control....Non BA only leaves the REST OF THE WORLD TO CHECK OUT????

Are you telling me AF1 flies around not knowing who is in font of or behind them???

This story is so lucidicrious....HOW STUPID DO THEY THINK WE ARE???

[MercutioATC]

23. Of COURSE AF1 flies around without knowing...

ATC knows. We keep the other aircraft away. AF1 has nothing to do with it.

[kentuck]

18. Bush was in the Gulfstream....

That is what they are trying to keep from the public...because it would give away their secret about how he likes to use decoys. The press were in AF1 and they were the decoys for any stray rockets that might come their way in the night sky. I think it was reported that Bush was already in the SUV once the press saw him in Baghdad. No one has reported if the Gulfstream was at the Baghdad airport?

[janx]

19. On another message board there was a post by a guy who

was there.

Look at the first message at this link:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/site/user-posts?id=4311

It appears you are right, kentuck. Bush WAS in the Gulfstream.

[grasswire]

20. yep

the freerepublic GI stationed at Baghdad Airport not only leaked Bush's location in real time, but he also posted the info that Bush landed in a Gulfstream.

I have sent this info to several reporters. The two planes (Gulfstream and 747) landing in Baghdad also explains the pool reporter's notes about the plane doors being closed so the press couldn't see Bush enter and deplane. That was unusual.

Incidentally, we should examine the photo of Bush coming off the plane, to see if it looks like Baghdad or if that was the earlier flight from Texas to Andrews.

[janx]

21. There's a photo?

I had no idea there was one. Where?

[sable302]

25. This is blowing my mind

I need to sum up...let's see..

Bush was not in AF1 when he went to Turkey day in Iraq, and AF1 as well as the press et al were set up as a decoy.

Scott openly admitted that the WH often lies to the press corps for the press' benefit (the 'add some color' remark), so ultimately for our benefit as well.

Have I gotten everything? :scared:

[RamboLiberal]

26. Did the reporters see Bush at all on AF1?

I'm at work so I don't have time to look up. Anyone have a link where any reporter actually reports him talking to the press on AF1? How about boarding AF1 in either Texas or at Andrews? I remember them reporting the no phones pantomine there.

This is fascinating the story slowly breaking here that he landed at BIA in a Gulfstream. Wonder if any one if the press will look in to this.

BTW, that freeper's reference to they were thinking they were getting a mystery guest he called X42 - was that a reference to Hillary?

Does any one know if Bush flew out of BIA on AF1?