White House Keeping NYC Flyover Pics Under Wraps

[Subdivisions]

If a 747 and supersonic jet fighter buzz the Manhattan skyline as part of an ill-conceived photo-op, but the pictures are never seen, did it really happen?

The White House hopes not.

The photos of Air Force One's low flyover of Manhattan will not be released, CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller confirms.

The operation, carried out by the Defense Department and designed to capture one of the president's planes near national landmarks like the Statue of Liberty, sent panicked New Yorkers rushing from their office buildings April 27, fearful of a terrorist attack reminiscent of 9/11.

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/05/05/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4991828.shtml">MORE from CBSNews.com

Funny that ethereal connection to 9/11 considering this refusal to release the taxpayer-funded images is reminiscent of bushco's refusal to release images from cameras all around the Pentagon on that day, along with a library-full stash of other things they refused, and the Obama Administration continues to refuse, to release.

[NYC_SKP]

1. Yes, this is IDENTICAL to bushco's refusal to release images!!11!!!1!!

And if Mark Knoller of CBS News says it's true, well, it's gotta be true. :sarcasm:

[Subdivisions]

4. Did I say "identical"? I believe I actually used the word "reminiscent"

which means, according to Princeton's WordNet, "serving to bring to mind".

But, how dare me to say such a thing!

As for Knoller, well...if he turns out to be misguiding us, then my (and his) bad. But http://www.nypost.com/seven/05052009/news/regionalnews/phantom_air_farce_pictures_167671.htm">according to the New York Post, an Obama aid stated: "We have no plans to release them." But it is the New York Post.

Mods: If this post isn't sourced well enough, please feel free to delete it.

[Olney Blue]

2. That photo-op was a terrible idea.

[blogslut]

3. Are you kidding?

Really? This is your conclusion?

[Subdivisions]

5. Is what my conclusion? That this refusal to release images is "reminiscent"

of the refusal of bushco to release images and video of the attack on 9/11/01 of the Pentagon?

Why, yes. HOW DARE ME!!!

[blogslut]

6. Okay

Remind me to contact you the next time I encounter straws outside my grasp.

[Subdivisions]

8. If the images are released, then my bad. Ok? But if they are not released,

then we definately got a problem considering this incident caused a panic. Time will tell.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

7. I can see how you'd make that connection,

but I don't think the reasons for not releasing the photos is sinister at all.

It was an absolutely stupid idea from the beginning, and its execution was even worse. No one wants to see photos of ANY planes flying close in over Manhattan, even Air Force One.

I think the White House is just embarrassed by this, and taking the vastly wise course of trying to forget it ever happened...............

[Subdivisions]

9. I wasn't trying to say the reason was sinister, only that our government

sure does like to keep things to themselves. I'm sure the WH was embarrassed and would prefer to forget it ever happened. But I'm sure those who panicked that day won't ever forget it.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

15. That's exactly what your post implied -

sinister - especially when you recall it along with Fuckface's reign.

Are you just figuring out that the government keeps secrets?

Really?

This should never have been a secret. An absurd set of circumstances. I still don't understand why the guy who headed it up didn't "resign." His judgment is obviously very, very flawed............................

[Subdivisions]

33. Do you really think I just figured out that the government keeps secrets?

Come on!

Ok, let me spell it out for you loud and clear: THE GOVERNMENT SURE DOES LOVE TO KEEP SHIT TO ITSELF THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO KEEP SECRET. THERE'S NO GOOD REASON THOSE PENTAGON IMAGES AND VIDEOS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RELEASED! THERE'S NO REASON THESE AF-1 FLYOVER IMAGES SHOULDN'T BE RELEASED!

There.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

35. Feel better?

Your post - about the government keeping secrets - was very sweet.

I'm glad you're so smart..........

[Subdivisions]

36. What are you, like, 12? n/t

[Tangerine LaBamba]

37. ". . . like, 12?

Come on. My sentence structures are far too sophisticated for a 12-year-old. Surely, you're smart enough to recognize that.

Plus, my punctuation skills are exceptional.

Try to find a 12-year-old who has a command of the semi-colon; you'll fail.

And don't get me started on the way I can handle a paragraph. I'll take on any 12-year-old in the Paragraph Olympics and cruise to the gold medal.

Gee, I thought you were smart. And, obviously, your venting didn't make you feel, like, better.

Don't worry - everyone goes through those changes at your age. It's perfectly normal ..............

[Subdivisions]

38. Wow, you sure told me. I'll just go over there now and whither. n/t

[Tangerine LaBamba]

39. Where?

Over where?

There ------------------------------------->

or

<------------------------------------------- there?

You know, you get uppity at my use of the word "sinister," when that was exactly what you implied, and then you go off on me?

Yeah, go stand somewhere. You'll be of more use there, anywhere .........................

[Subdivisions]

40. I'm getting strangely turned on. Can I stand next to you? n/t

[konnichi wa]

10. Perhaps they can dope out a way to make everyone else forget it as well...?

Or maybe not.
I sure wonder if they didn't learn from history...that the coverup is worse than the deed.
:shrug:

[Beam Me Up]

11. I don't want to forget it happened. I want to know whose 'bright idea' this was.

I also want to know why it needed to be kept secret from the public.

I don't agree with the way the OP is connecting the dots, suggesting there is some similarity to the way video evidence from the Pentagon was witheld from the public. What I want to know is, if Obama was unaware of this -- and I believe him when he says he was -- whose idea was it? To me, this is too much of a PR embarrassment for the WH to simply be chocked up to ignorance or incompetence -- and the reason I say this is precisely because of the secrecy surrounding it. Had the public been informed that this photo op was going to happen this would be a zero interest story. But they weren't -- authorities were but they were told specifically NOT to inform the public. Why? Why was there need for any kind of secrecy regarding this? The whole thing has a "rovian" stench to it if you ask me.

typo

[Subdivisions]

12. I'd like to know how having that 747 and fighter jet in

local airports airspace affected those airports' operations. Just out of curiosity.

[Beam Me Up]

14. Among other things

including who authorized it -- and precisely how it is that the photographs were to have been taken. From the escort jet? How does that work?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

16. The man who authorized it

came forward immediately and took full responsibility. It was in all the news reports the day after it happened.

I don't know why they just didn't Photoshop the scene they wanted.................

[Beam Me Up]

19. Authorization is not initiation. Who initiated the idea? n/t

[Tangerine LaBamba]

21. Why?

Authorization is where the responsibility lies, so I'm satisfied with Caldera taking the rap.

Why do you want to know which minion thought it up? I'm curious - just like you................

[Tangerine LaBamba]

13. As I recall,

the guy in charge of this came forward immediately and took full blame for the bad decisions made. I don't remember his name, but he had some impressive credentials that belied the stupidity involved in this whole caper.

It made absolutely NO sense not to make it public well in advance. People would have been out with their cameras, having picnics, it would have been a really positive experience.

Dumb, dumb, dumb .............................

[Beam Me Up]

18. Yes,

AP:

Louis Caldera, director White House Military Office, subsequently said in a statement that he approved the mission last week.

"I take responsibility for that decision," Caldera said. "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."

We could just accept it at face value but this was an embarrassment to the WH and that is why I'm suspicious. Note Caldera said he "approved the mission," not that it was his idea or originated from his office. I appreciate his taking "responsibility" but where did this "mission" originate?


typo

[Tangerine LaBamba]

20. Oh, who knows?

Some "creative" type in the vast workforce came up with this brainstorm, and it made its way to Caldera. We'll never know whose idea it was, but I was just relieved that the man at the top stepped up and took responsibility.

A refreshing change - accountability - isn't it?

[Beam Me Up]

22. Yes, the accountability was refreshing. Here's my beef:

I believe there are people within the military who want to embarrass this administration and worse. If my memory serves, Obama has said there would be an investigation into this matter. Now, has there been? If so, what was the outcome?

Perhaps it is all perfectly innocent. A "mistake". But there is just too much about this that makes no sense. It makes me very uneasy.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

23. I missed that part,

about the investigation.

That will take weeks, so it's not surprising that you've not heard anything about it. It will come out, and even then, I seriously doubt that any one individual will be named, simply because that person is probably so low in the hierarchy as to be meaningless.

I'm sure you're right about people in the military with less-than-enthusiasm for our President. But I'm not convinced this came from the military - this is much more of a PR idea, and, for that matter, it could even have come from an outsourced public relations outfit. It just as possibly could have come from some genius in the military's own PR section.

That Caldera, though, approved the secrecy, that's what troubles me, and I still don't understand why he's not gone.

Should be interesting, though.....................

[Mind_your_head]

24. Tangerine.....you are a real "peach"

Square peg, round hole.

You don't "fit". Know what I mean?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

25. What did I do?

Now, who did I offend?

Do I write the note of apology tonight or tomorrow?

No, I don't know what you mean. Should I be worried?

[Beam Me Up]

26. CNN: 'Furious' Obama orders review of NY plane flyover:

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/28/low.flying.plane/index.html

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

27. Here you go.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5597733#5598138

[Beam Me Up]

31. Woah! Hadn't seen that.

Is that for sure?? If so, this is even MORE alarming.


:scared:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

41. I just did a bit of research and cannot find Caldera as director of SOA but as Secy of Army

under Clinton, he was a defender of it.

http://media.www.unewsonline.com/media/storage/paper953/news/1999/12/02/News/Slu-Activists.Take.Stance.Against.Soa-1665428.shtml

However, officials at the SOA maintain they do not teach torture or condone the massacres that have occurred in the past.

In an article posted on the SOA's official website, Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera explained the military's position.

"This school has made tremendous efforts to make sure human rights are part of every course of instruction," Caldera said.

"It should be that way because it is an important principle for our nation. It is a principle we seek to share with the nations throughout the world, not just Latin and South America."

[Beam Me Up]

43. I can see where there could be some confusion. Same initials for both. SOA n/t

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

44. lol! My brain was running on empty this AM when I wrote that and I didn't

put together that the initials were the same! Thanks!
:rofl:

[annabanana]

17. Has anyone in the Administration given any kind of rational reason

for not releasing these ?.. Or ANY reason at all?

[Richard Steele]

28. There are no pics to release. That "photo op" story is complete BS.

I can't believe anyone here is BUYING such a transparent lie.

There was some sort of "security situation", and the decision
was made to keep it under wraps. Hence, the laughable "photo op" explanation
that was released to the Press.

If it was a Photo Op, then where were the PHOTOGRAPHERS?
There were none, therefore it WASN'T. Duh.

[obliviously]

30. joy ride

I think Joe decided to take her for a spin.

[Beam Me Up]

32. No, I don't believe it. That's the problem. This story STINKS --

which begs the question. So what WAS this all about?

[Joe the Revelator]

29. MIHOP!!!!!

[Better Believe It]

34. What pictures? It was a military training mission.

That's what it's beginning to look like.

Ever here of a government photo op in which the government refused to release the photos?

But, that was the best cover story they could come up with.

And assuming it was a classified military training mission the government certainly won't say that.

It's a secret.

And maybe it was necessary.

[Blue_Tires]

42. yeah, i'm starting to believe more and more this was

was some sort of exercise or drill or decoy mission...