diggronpaul
04-27-2009, 03:26 PM
Photo-op or Psy-OP?
YouTube - Raw: Low Flying Military Planes Cause Panic Near Statue of Liberty (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KugYMO0A2f0)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/27/AR2009042701372.html?hpid=topnews
By Tomoeh Murakami Tse
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 27, 2009; 4:35 PM
NEW YORK, April 27 -- A plane used as a backup for Air Force One and a fighter jet escort swooped low in the sky over New York Monday morning as part of a government photo-op, panicking workers, forcing evacuations and prompting an outcry from lawmakers.
The flyover -- involving a 747 that is one of two used by the president and an Air Force F-16 fighter jet -- took place in Lower Manhattan's financial district and caused traders, construction workers and others to flee for safety. An Air Force spokeswoman said the "aerial photo mission" was authorized to take place in Lower Manhattan and New Jersey and was to last 30 minutes.
The New York Police Department said in a statement that the flight was authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration "for the vicinity of the Statue of Liberty." It added that "local authorities" had been told not to disclose information about it and to direct inquiries to the FAA.
The FAA did not return calls for comment, but a spokesman there was quoted earlier today by news agencies as saying local authorities were made aware of the flight before it took place.
The flyover infuriated New York lawmakers, who said they were not notified in advance and lashed out at federal authorities. The Air Force referred calls to the White House, but White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, when questioned about the matter at his daily briefing, said he was unaware of the photo mission.
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Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said it was "outrageous and appalling" that the FAA would plan the photo-op "knowing full well that New Yorkers would still have the memory of 9/11 sketched in their minds."
"We cannot let this happen again," he said.
New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (I) said he was "furious" that he was not notified about the flyover. Had he known, he said, he would have tried to stop it.
"People started moving down on their own," said an executive who works at a large financial services firm near Ground Zero and who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized by his company to speak publicly. "Particularly for people like myself who were here on September 11, it was kind of an uncool thing. Someone should have made a public announcement."
YouTube - Raw: Low Flying Military Planes Cause Panic Near Statue of Liberty (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KugYMO0A2f0)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/27/AR2009042701372.html?hpid=topnews
By Tomoeh Murakami Tse
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 27, 2009; 4:35 PM
NEW YORK, April 27 -- A plane used as a backup for Air Force One and a fighter jet escort swooped low in the sky over New York Monday morning as part of a government photo-op, panicking workers, forcing evacuations and prompting an outcry from lawmakers.
The flyover -- involving a 747 that is one of two used by the president and an Air Force F-16 fighter jet -- took place in Lower Manhattan's financial district and caused traders, construction workers and others to flee for safety. An Air Force spokeswoman said the "aerial photo mission" was authorized to take place in Lower Manhattan and New Jersey and was to last 30 minutes.
The New York Police Department said in a statement that the flight was authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration "for the vicinity of the Statue of Liberty." It added that "local authorities" had been told not to disclose information about it and to direct inquiries to the FAA.
The FAA did not return calls for comment, but a spokesman there was quoted earlier today by news agencies as saying local authorities were made aware of the flight before it took place.
The flyover infuriated New York lawmakers, who said they were not notified in advance and lashed out at federal authorities. The Air Force referred calls to the White House, but White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, when questioned about the matter at his daily briefing, said he was unaware of the photo mission.
ad_icon
Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said it was "outrageous and appalling" that the FAA would plan the photo-op "knowing full well that New Yorkers would still have the memory of 9/11 sketched in their minds."
"We cannot let this happen again," he said.
New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (I) said he was "furious" that he was not notified about the flyover. Had he known, he said, he would have tried to stop it.
"People started moving down on their own," said an executive who works at a large financial services firm near Ground Zero and who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized by his company to speak publicly. "Particularly for people like myself who were here on September 11, it was kind of an uncool thing. Someone should have made a public announcement."