Link to the story from CNN:

http://att.cnn.mlogic.mobi/cnn/lt_ne/lt_ne...BAA27948.live5i

The stupid thing about that whole incident was the fact that they didn't bother to tell the citizens of New York what was going on—why? Because of security concerns. Why did the citizens of New York panic? Because of security concerns.

I can understand the government not wanting take out a full page ad in the Times advertising the fact that "Air Force One" (or one of the presidential aircraft) was going to be making low passes over and around the city. However, they could have given a vague heads up by saying there will be A LARGE AIRCRAFT possibly overflying the city today. We know about it, it is planned, it is one of ours and there is nothing to worry about. They don't have to say what aircraft it is, they don't have to say why it's flying over the city, just that there will be one and it's benign.

The person who organized this is out of a job and rightly so, however not for the overfly itself, but for lack of thought for the impact of the flyover itself when coupled with zero information to the public.

Hmm hmm, oh yeh, I agree. Must have looked good, a 74 looking for a target chased by an F16

It was sheer stupidity!! What on earth was going through their minds to even contemplate this. The folk must have been terrified and rightly so.
As Empress rightly says as bit of communication would have solved this no bother. You do not have to say too much for the sake of security but nothing was said and total panic took place.
I just hope that idiot who decided not to inform the public does not get another responsible job.

Interesting to me that private planes and helicopters routinely fly low over the Hudson and the surrounding area every single day. Every one of these planes is a potential threat, being capable of delivering explosives to a target faster than anyone could possibly respond, yet when an aircraft painted in US government colors followed by a US military fighter jet flies just as close to said buildings people mass panic.

I see why they panic, but just have to shake my head at the lack of reason displayed by the average public panic-er.

Here in DC we have anti-aircraft batteries installed on some buildings - how comforting. /sarcasm

[font="Impact"][/font]F L Y B Y T H E M O V I E

S T A R R I N G BARACK O`BAMA as The President of The United States of America
Chuck Am Gittin Dare as Pilot of the F16
Beets Mee as the FAA/MIL Controller
Am Hon Olidaee as the Mayor of New York
the citizens of New York as themselves.

Scene One. 18 B747-400s scream down the main street in Mahattan at 100 AGL followed by 10 F16s departing up various Streets on full power, lots of noise.

Sirens blaring everywhere. Police and Fire vehicles rushing up and down the street. Generally, everyone having mucho fun.

People of New York walking about their daily business - nonchalant and continuing window shopping- " "hey, I like that in a red. . . . Goddamn noise, what they playin` at now. . ."

A man in a blue suit negotiates a delicate issue with the Hot Dog seller, on the sidewalk ( maybe its a briefing. . .) lets take a listen into their secret conversation. . . . .shh. . . "no wait, I am not kiddin you buddy. . . its three hot dogs with no chilli, two with mustard and one with no mustard plus, one with a seepson of Dijon. . .y`got that ok buddy. .?"

"Wass all the aeroplanes mummy. . ahh just some exercise honey. . .do you wanna buy that jacket now, lets got down to the store. . "

Meanwhuile on the corner of 42nd street a guy who stole the video camera out of a parked vehicle is filming Scene One and jumping up and down. . . "They`re here, they`re here. . . am gonna make meggga bucks, this`ll be an exclusive, they`ll make me into a reporter, I`ll be the next Bersteen, they`ll make me editor, they`ll have me writing the scripts for Walt Disney. . . , I`ll jus film this then zip round to the T.V. Station and become. . . well, World Famous. . !!!

In 30 minutes hals the world are wondering why a 747 is causing so much stir, it looks lost.

Then its. . . Its Air force One, probably President O`Bama having a look round.

Next report - why should a presidentail plane (escorted by an F16, under full eye and controll of the MIL and the FAA be circling around New York.

No-one gives a monkey`s as it is obvious that since nine-one-one, you can`t even walk around with a Stinger Man Pad anymore. . . ..

the video thief, gets his rep, Joeys Mom got him the jacket, the guy got all of his hotdogs, the world went about its business, the people of New York went on shopping, but someone got the chop and the News reporters had a field day

Louis Caldera. Director of the White House Military Office.

-Harvard Graduate
-Lawyer, O’Melveny & Myers,
-California State Assemblyman, and chairman of the Banking and Finance Committee, the Revenue and Taxation Committee, and the Budget Committee.
-Secretary of the US Army.
-Vice Chancellor for University Advancement in the California State University System
-President of the University of New Mexico
-Member of the board of directors of IndyMac Bank from 2002 until its failure and subsequent seizure by the government in July 2008.
-Member of the board of directors for Southwest Airlines until January 15, 2009...with his selection to serve as Director of the White House Military Office.

-Following an investigation directed by Deputy White House Chief of Staff Jim Messina, Caldera announced his resignation on May 8, 2009, effective May 22, 2009.

I mean...The Director of the White House Military Office. Look at all that flight time he has. All those years in the military, and all those time overseas...uh...well...I mean...look how QUALIFIED he is to be making decisions about military missions.

Yeah...your leadership at work. Are there any REAL questions about why this guy is looking for another job?

My point was, that this guy should not have been fired. My point was that some shmuck with a camera caused all this stir.
It was an unnecessary reaction, obviously every one is doing their job and no-one should have got fired. . . My point was - the Goddamn media make a mountain out of a mole hill and people unnecessarily get the chop. I don`t think it is funny.

So, the President wants to fly around New York, so let him fly around New York. He`s the President - his staff all know their stuff - I think it was a total over-reaction by the bods with the portable video camera who were perhaps bored. Trust the media to create a little over excitement, lik: A gas container went poom in the UK once, for the next week, gas containers were going off everywhere in the UK and it started to look like an epidemic.

Look at Swine flu, people die of flu, my cousin did in W W 1 (wasn`t born then but he was still my cousin)
People die of flu sometimes it is a real attack on the body. Asian Flu, Bird flu, Flu flu, any flu - flu can kill you - it does not have to have a name. swine flu is no more serious than cherry custard and strwberry flu either you die or you don`t. but, as soon as the media get hold of it "oh my gawd, we`re all gonna die - poppy-poo - its only flu.

Knock Knock
Who`s there?
Tish
Tish-who:?
Bless you !

Uh...no...the schmuck with the camera didn't approve a flight of a transport category aircraft over NYC. It was Caldera...a member of that staff...you know...the one that knows their stuff. And if you actually believe that Americans are going to let ANYONE just do what they want...president or not...then you apparently haven't dealt with many Americans.

As for the rest of your post...uh...swine flu and cherry custard? Knock-knock jokes? Are you drunk?

I apologise if my bad humour was not taken seriously. I was just trying to make a point that the MEDIA tend to make a teeny weeny fly-by into something larger and more serious than it actually was, and that a full time professional has to get the sack because somebody needs a scapegoat, which is probably what I should have said in the first place.

Yes...the media does like their drama. They're kinda like teenagers, with all their overblown hormones turning them into some kind of whacked out, deranged basket case...except that the media has access to cameras.

That being said, Caldera resigned of his own accord, so says he. Don't cry too much for him...he'll be making millions on the speech circuit, become another university chancellor making WAY too much money, or he'll write a book, or something. He's NOT like just any other American...out on his can when the auto plants closed, or falling victim to job losses from regular employment...although I wonder if he's in the statistics for job losses for last quarter. His buddy, Barack, will see to that...