MOTHER OF ALL IRONIES

"Isn't it fabulous how Obama has reconciled with our enemies and put fear into the hearts of Americans? Does any image illustrate so neatly the wrong headedness of the Obama administration than Americans scrambling in terror from Air Force One?"

- Tantor

The Air Force One photo op controversy began in New York City on the morning of April 27, 2009, when a Boeing VC-25 (a Boeing 747 military variant), followed by an F-16 military

fighter jet, flew low over the city and the Statue of Liberty. Although the planes were engaged in a photo-op, the citizens of New York had not been informed in advance, and many thought it was a terrorist attack similar to the September 11 attacks. Many people ran out of buildings and panicked in the streets. Some buildings ordered evacuations.

The flyby was approved by Louis Caldera, director of the White House Military Office. Fran Townsend, a former advisor to President George W. Bush, said the flyby was "crass insensitivity." He also said, "I'd call this felony stupidity. This is probably not the right job for Mr. Caldera to be in if he didn't understand the likely reaction of New Yorkers, of the mayor." The VC-25 in question functions as Air Force One whenever the president is aboard. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the flyby "defies the imagination." Senator Charles Schumer (D-New York) said the Federal Aviation Administration's not telling the public about the flyby in advance "borders on being either cruel or very, very stupid." President Barack Obama did not know about the flyby until after it happened, and he stated, "It was a mistake. It was something we found out about along with all of you. And it will not happen again." Although the city's police department had been notified in advance, they had been instructed not to tell the public.

Mr. Caldera said of his actions, "Last week, I approved a mission over New York. 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."

CBS News' New York City affiliate WCBS-TV obtained a memo from the Federal Aviation Administration's James Johnston saying that the agency was aware of "the possibility of public concern regarding DOD (Department of Defense) aircraft flying at low altitudes" in and around the city. However, the agency demanded total secrecy from the city's police department, the Secret Service, the FBI, and the mayor's office, and threatened federal sanctions if the secret was revealed.

Air Force officials estimated the cost for the photo shoot mission to be around $328,835, stating that, "the hours would have been flown regardless, and the expenses would have been accrued on a different mission".

The day after the flyby, White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs said the incident would be investigated by Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina. Gibbs also said that President Obama was "furious" about the flyby. However, Gibbs did not answer reporters' repeated questions about whether or not Caldera would lose his job. Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said the idea for the flyby originated in the White House Military Office.

refer to wikipedia