Venus One Heavy is
escorted by "red tail" F-16
as New Yorkers
duck for cover
|
I am actively soliciting
contributions to and suggestions for this page.
Email me
at:
Beckwith
@
TheObamaFile .
com |
|
|
|
date |
event |
Note: |
Items
on this page are in chronological order or order of discovery. |
Obama Is Just Plane Stupid |
Monday, April 27th -- a perfect storm of idiocy led to a frightening
9/11
flashback for thousands of
New Yorkers Monday when a jumbo jet and two F-16 fighter jets buzzed
lower Manhattan without warning. (video
-- flyby) (video
-- panic) (video
-- Ground Zero)
A "furious" Mayor Bloomberg denounced the dunces who dreamed up the
stunt.
Bloomberg said, "Why the Defense Department wanted to do a
photo-op right around the
site of the World Trade Center catastrophe defies imagination. Poor
judgment would be a nice ways to phrase it, but they did. I also think
that once they had told us, we should have done a better job. Had I
known about it, I would have called them right away and asked them not
to. It is the federal government and they can do in the end what they
please, but I would have tried to stop it. I don’t know there’s a lot
else to say other than they shouldn’t have done it."
An Obama administration official said the
mission was classified "Top
Secret." "The mission was to send [the aircraft] up to get a picture of
it flying around the Statue of Liberty."
By day's end, an obscure City Hall deputy named Marc Mugnos, took the
hit in New York City and
Louis Caldera, the director
of the White House Military Office, was identified as the White House's
scapegoats for the stunt.
The planes appeared on the horizon around 10 a.m. and sent a chill
through the city. Flying in as low as
500 feet above
New York City, they circled the Statue of Liberty before flying over
Manhattan, Staten Island and New Jersey. Before they vanished, hundreds
of frightened people had jammed emergency phone lines, and thousands of
terrified people evacuated from buildings in the city and across the
river in New Jersey.
At certain points, the blue-and-white
Boeing, with the United States of America emblazoned on its side,
flew as low as 500ft.
"People came
pouring out of the
buildings, the American Express Building, all the buildings in the
financial district by the water," said Edward Acker, a photographer who
was at the building, 3 World Financial Center. "And even the
construction guys over by 100 North End Avenue area, they all got out of
their buildings. Nobody knew about it. Finally some guy showed up with
a little megaphone to tell everyone it was a test, but the people were
not happy. The people who were here 9/11 were not happy."
Mr. Acker added: "New York City police were standing right there and
they had no knowledge of it. The evacuations were spontaneous. Guys
from the floor came out, and one guy I talked to was just shaking."
"I was crying and praying to God to forgive me my sins because I thought
I was going to get killed," said Kathleen Filandro, who fled from One
New York Plaza when she spotted the planes.
"It's like someone coming up to you, sticking a gun to your head for 15
seconds, walking away and hearing 20 minutes later it was an undercover
cop posing for a photo," said Wall Street worker Bill Privett. "I am
still shaking," he said.
A "Top Secret" photo opportunity
using Air Force One and an F-16. This is a laugh riot. Obama has no
hesitation unclassifying and releasing the nation's "Top Secret"
documents, to the benefit of our enemies during wartime, but keeps
secret a photo op for the purpose of making souvenir tie-clasps. Obama
proves he is a genius with this stunt -- a first-class
commander-in-chief.
One observer
suggested
that Obama might want to do a photo op with a Ryder rental truck in
Oklahoma City next.
And who takes the hit? Some guy nobody
has ever heard of. If you believe approval for this idiocy was made by
a low-level bureaucrat, I have a bridge to sell you. I'll bet it takes
twenty-six pounds of documents to get clearance for Air Force One --
just think about it -- the White House, the Pentagon, the Air Force,
Andrews Air Force Base, the flight crew, the ground crew, the tactical
fighter support, the Secret Service, the FAA, etc, etc, etc. -- when
asked about the stunt, Obama's Press Secretary lied and said, "I did
not see that before I came out here." -- The AP's Jennifer Loven shot
back, "Well, it's been in all the stories all day."
I wonder what
the auto CEOs who got their asses chewed out by Obama for using their
private jets to fly to Washington think of this stunt -- and then,
there's the cost in dollars and cost to the environment. For souvenirs,
the cost was enormous. It
costs
$60,000 per hour to operate Air Force One, plus the operating costs for
an F-16 escort -- we're looking at a quarter-of-a-million
dollars, and up -- for a photo! -- Bloomberg
reports that the total cost to the taxpayer was $328,835.
Wouldn't PhotoShop have been
cheaper? It's not like Obama isn't
familiar
with the popular graphics editing program. |
The Cover Story |
In an
interview
by Fox News' Greta Van Susteren, Sam Youngman, White House correspondent
for The Hill, pushed the cover story that Louis Caldera was responsible
for the overflight:
VAN SUSTEREN:
Well, but I mean, it's so profoundly stupid! Who was the idiot?
YOUNGMAN: Well, the gentleman's name is Louis Caldera, is
what the White House is telling us. He issued an apology
yesterday, and we get the sense today that heads are going to roll after
a very brief internal review.
Once again, it's important to
understand that Caldera's role was bureaucratic. He was not the
initiator of the stunt.
The question remains, who REQUESTED
the mission -- not who APPROVED it. That's the person responsible,
and it wasn't Caldera.
|
I Know Nothing |
Initially, White House spokesman
Robert Gibbs appeared taken aback when reporters peppered him with
questions about the incident.
"I
have no information beyond what I saw" on news reports, Gibbs
said at his afternoon press conference.
Later, Gibbs said the flyover was "two training missions that
became in the end a picture mission" and only Air Force personnel were
aboard.
Obama has directed Deputy
Chief of Staff Jim Messina to review "how the decision was made to
conduct the flight," Gibbs said at the daily White House briefing.
Gibbs said the White House review of the incident probably
wouldn’t take more than a couple of weeks. "And the president will look
at that review and take any appropriate steps after that." |
FAA Foresaw Flyover Panic |
Federal officials
knew that sending two
fighter jets and Air Force One to buzz ground zero and Lady Liberty
might set off nightmarish fears of a 9/11 replay, but they still ordered
the photo-op kept secret from the public.
In a memo obtained by
NY's CBS Channel 2, the Federal Aviation Administration's James Johnston
said the agency was aware of "the possibility of public concern
regarding DoD (Department of Defense) aircraft flying at low altitudes"
in an around New York City. But they demanded total secrecy from the
NYPD, the Secret Service, the FBI and even the mayor's office and
threatened federal sanctions if the secret got out.
A cryptic,
classified alert -- obtained by The Post yesterday -- written by James
Johnston, a high-ranking Federal Aviation Administration official in
Washington, predicted the fear and confusion.
"Due to the
possibility of public concern regarding DOD [Department of Defense]
aircraft flying at low levels, coordination with federal, state and
local law-enforcement agencies, emergency-operations centers and
aviation units has been accomplished," the e-mail said. |
Eyewitness Accounts |
Here are some other
descriptions sent in to WCBSTV.com by witnesses:
David Frank of Jersey City wrote:
"I work in 30 Hudson, which is the largest building in NJ and is right
on the water facing the Statue of Liberty. I ran out of the
building after a stampede of people began running out of the building as
they saw the jumbo jet being followed by two fighter planes veer sharply
towards our building and climb right over it. By the time I got
outside, it was coming around for its THIRD pass, and I watched it level
off below building height over the water and then once again veer
sharply towards the building. Several hundred of us began to run
away fearing for our lives before it climbed steeply and flew over our
building. Whoever thought that this 'photo op' was a good idea
should be removed from command...why couldn't this simply be done with
Photo Shop? Hollywood can create an entire armageddon on film but
the US military can't photo shop a plane by the Statue of Liberty?"
Patrick Kennell of NYC wrote: "We saw a low-flying 747 buzz
the Southwest edge of Manhattan, at Battery Park City, with a fighter
jet appearing to chase it on its left wing. At about Rector Street
or so, it took a hard left and looked to be headed straight for Jersey
City. It flew over J.C., turned south, and continued to climb over
Newark. It left our sight, only to return on the same path a
second time about five minutes later. It was confusing and
panicked the office. We dialed 9-1-1 and considered whether to
evacuate. We were told by 9-1-1 that it was 'authorized' to be
there. We later learned, from your website, that it was part of a
DOD 'photo op.' NotifyNYC advises it was 'part of an approved
federal activity.' To conduct a 'photo op,' unwarned in advance to
Lower Manhattan residents and workers, in that manner was completely
irresponsible."
Nancy in Lower
Manhattan wrote: "Our building, One New York Plaza, was evacuated, as
were most of the high rises in this area. How could the US
MILITARY think that NYers wouldn't be alarmed by low-flying jets?
Why was the city not notified beforehand?"
Nancy, it wasn't the military --
they military knows better -- it was the Obamamessiah.
Amy in Jersey City wrote: "I work in the 30 Hudson building
in Jersey City, on the side that faces the Statue of Liberty. Our
group is on one of the top floors and needless to say we probably had
some of the best views of this incident. We were conducting work
as normal when all of a sudden we see this huge commercial plane coming
at us. People were ducking and on the floor because it came so
close. The plane flew right over us and couldn't have missed the
building by more than 100 feet. Then we heard people scream it was
coming back. The plane literally looked like it was going to
barrel into our building coming straight at us until it turned upwards
at the last minute. I can't believe I saw the underbelly of a
plane fly over me. When it started coming back a 3rd time, we ran
for the stairs. It's safe to say we are pretty angry about having
to evacuate and go down 30+ flights of stairs for a 'photo shoot.'
What a start to the week."
"Everybody panicked,"
said Daisy Cooper, a Merrill Lynch worker in Jersey City, who lost a
nephew on 9/11. "Everybody was screaming and we all ran
downstairs. I’m devastated. Everybody was running, we didn’t
know why we were running. We just knew it was a plane, there we
go, 9/11 again." |
Terror |
One wag asked, "If
this 'plane stunt' created terror in New York City, does that qualify
the Obama administration as terrorists? |
The Flight Recording |
Recording of the conversations between
New York approach controllers and pilots of the presidential VC-25
(Boeing 747-200) that performed what can best be described as an airshow
routine over Lower Manhattan.
Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) Air Traffic Control (TRACON) was
using the call sign "Venus One Heavy" to identify the backup Air
Force One during the Manhattan overflight.
Here is a
link to a transcript of the TRACON/Venus One communications. |
Who Sent Venus One Heavy |
The first civilian to ever occupy the
White House Military Office was identified as the White House's
scapegoat for the stunt. This poor chap "approved" the request for
the flight and was promptly thrown under the bus, just like grandmother
Dunham, Rev. Wright and an endless list of others who have transgressed
the anointed One.
However, approving
the flight is the final bureaucratic task in a long, well documented
process. The first of many questions that need to be asked is "who
requested the flight?" It is the "requested by" block on
the "Flight Mission Request" document that needs to be seen by the
American People.
A hint to the identity of the unknown
"requestor" may be found in the White House's cover story.
According to the
Wall
Street Journal, the Federal Aviation Administration sent an email to
New York City Hall that described a "flying photo op"
-- government-speak for a publicity photo -- to include two or possibly
three passes over the area. The email, sent by an FAA official and
reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, lists flight patterns and specifies
a photo-op altitude of 1,000 to 1,500 feet.
The email specifies
that the information "only be shared with persons with a need to know"
and "shall not be released to the public." It also says that, "Due
to the possibility of public concern regarding [Department of Defense]
aircraft flying at low levels, coordination with Federal, State and
Local law enforcement agencies...has been accomplished."
The
email's author, James J. Johnston, of FAA air traffic, declined to
comment.
An Obama administration official said the mission was
"classified" by the military and that the FAA, which controls much of
the airspace over Manhattan, did what the military asked. "The
mission was to send [the aircraft] up to get a picture of it flying
around the Statue of Liberty," this person said. "They said they
needed to update their photo files."
OK! Who is the person
in charge of the White House publicity, and who has enough "juice" to
schedule an Air Force One flight?
Well, I like David
Axelrod, Senior Advisor to Obama. Prior to that, he
served as Senior Advisor to the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition and
Senior Strategist to Barack Obama's campaign for the presidency.
Why do I like Axelrod?
He is a
communications specialist. Since 1988, Axelrod has been Senior
Partner at the consulting firm AKP&D Message and Media, based in
Chicago. In that capacity, he managed media strategy and
communications for more than 150 local, state, and national campaigns,
with a focus on progressive candidates and causes.
Axelrod is the
publicity guy -- the media guy -- the guy in charge of "photo ops."
And, he's definitely got the "juice."
I put the odds on Axelrod's
name in the "Requested by:" block on the Flight Mission Request form at
better than 90%. |
A State Secret |
Obama and his Democratic cronies have
made it abundantly clear in the last few weeks that they don't give a
hoot for state secrets.
Regardless of the damage to the country,
they'll declassify even the most sensitive national security secrets if
it supports their political agendas.
So, one must ask, "why was
this flight classified as 'Top Secret'"?
It certainly wasn't a
military secret. It certainly wasn't a national security secret.
It most definitely was a political secret.
If I
remember correctly, something is classified as Confidential, Secret or
Top Secret by the local, responsible commander. The local,
responsible commander in the White House is, yup,
the usurper-in-chief, Barack Hussein Obama. |
The Manifest |
What is the rational behind making a
publicity flight Top Secret?
What kind of secret would it be to
have a 747, escorted by F-16s, making simulated bombing runs on
America's most densely populated city. Hell, it would be all over
TV in minutes. Why would such a stunt be classified?
Why,
to bury the flight and passenger manifests, of course.
The
American People need to pressure the White House to reveal who was on
that aircraft, and it's real mission.
Was the plane full of high
level foreign and domestic Obama campaign contributors? Was it
full of Hollywood celebrities? Inquiring minds want to know. |
Callsigns |
It
appears that this probably wasn't a "VIP Flight."
When the
VC-25 is carrying the President, its callsign -- as we all know -- is
Air Force One.
When the VC-25 is carrying VIPs (Cabinet
officers, senators and the like) its callsign is SAM [for Special Air
Mission] 28000 and SAM 29000, depending on the tail code of the aircraft
being flown.
When they are carrying relatives of VIPs, the
callsign will be Executive [tail code]. And finally, when they are
just doing the day-to-day proficiency and currency flights, the
front-office callsign will be Venus 1 (for aircraft 28000) and Venus 2
(for aircraft 29000).
Venus, incidentally, is the "house"
callsign for 89th Airlift Wing.
Plenty of other aircraft types
also use that callsign: the C-20s use Venus 2x, the C-37As use Venus 4x,
the (now retired) C-9A used Venus 8x, and the C-32As use Venus 9x.
Finally, because the VC-25's gross take-off weight is over 255,000
lbs, they will have the "Heavy" suffix appended to the callsigns.
And because the front office that day was using "Venus 1" (as opposed to
"SAM 28000"), we can assume there were no VIPs or relatives of VIPs
aboard.
Now that we know
this, I assume the Air Force will change these designations. |
Red Tails |
Here is a more
plausible scenario. The fly-by over Manhattan was to aid in
the production of the film, "Red Tails," about the Tuskegee Airman?
According to the Air Force, the F-16 painted with the distinctive
red tail of the 187th Fighter Group of the
Alabama Air National Guard
was
provided by the Alabama Air National Guard, on loan to the
Washington DC Air National Guard.
In a May 5 letter to Sen. John
McCain, R-Ariz., released by McCain's office today, Secretary Gates
wrote that he is "concerned that this highly public and visible mission
did not include an appropriate public affairs plan nor adequate review
and approval" by senior Air Force and Department of Defense officials.
Gates also asserted that he was "concerned about the use of an Air
National Guard aircraft operating in Title 32 status as a participant in
this event."
Title 32 is the status under which National Guard
units are activated by their state governor. Under Title 10 the
President can federalize national guard units.
Presumably, Gates
would rather have had an active duty U.S. Air Force aircraft and pilot
to be flying the F-16, not a plane and pilot from the Air National
Guard.
This raises an interesting
theory about yesterdays fly-by of Manhattan. Were they were
putting together some footage which would be useful to George Lucas'
upcoming film about the Tuskegee Airmen of WWII, known as the "Red
Tails."
Well, this will never be admitted. It would be part
of some epilogue saluting the proud legacy of the WWII heroes to have a
Red Tail escorting Air Force One? On the other hand, some
cinematic post script linking the current office holder with the men who
blazed his trail would not exactly be unheard of as a Hollywood ending.
Manhattan has got to be more visually interesting that the backwoods of
Alabama. (Apparently there was also a similar strafing scheduled
for Washington DC which has since been scrapped.)
Not so far
fetched if one
considers George Lucas' contributions to Obama ($33,100) on July
25th, 2008. |
The Filming Of Red Tails |
This
is a great video.
It shows the three aircraft orbiting over the Statue of Liberty during
the Air Farce One incident.
(The money shot is near the end)
The "Red Tail F-16" is clearly a
prop.
If the George Lucas' film "Red Tails" has, as is likely, a 3D IMAX
version, and this sequence were to be used as an epilogue, the camera plane would likely have an external camera mount to
attach an IMAX camera. Publicity stills would have been
photographed by an air combat photographer during the flight.
According to this Wall Street Journal
article, the camera plane was also an F-16, with a combat
photographer on board. While the F-16s were flown by guard pilots,
the photographs were taken by Master Sgt.
Andrew N. Dunaway, a specially trained Air Force photographer based
with a combat camera squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.
Could that "special training" have been in the operation of an
IMAX
camera?
Check out
Dunaway's work. This guy is definitely a "pro
from Dover."
And
here is a photo of Lucas,
lady-friend Mellody Hobson, Michelle Obama, "Red Tails" cast-member
Sidney Poitier, Barack Obama, and Ford Theater's Paul Tetreault.
George Lucas
contributed $33,100 to the Obama Victory Fund, an
additional $28,500 to the DNC Services Corp (D), and another $4,600
to Obama, Barack (D) -- that's a total of $66,200. Just friends
helping friends, no doubt.
Lucas was
quoted as saying, "We have a hero in the making back in the United
States today because we have a new candidate for president of the United
States, Barack Obama," when asked who his childhood heroes were.
Obama, "for all of us that have dreams and hope, is a hero," Lucas
said.
Just another
coincidence --
an old name and a famous paint scheme is returning to the skies above
central Alabama. The commanding general of the Air Force is
reactivating the 100th Fighter Squadron as part of Montgomery's 187th
Air National Guard Wing.
Tip of the
hat to FReeper Plutarch |
Rahmbo Investigates |
This morning, at least
one news organization and one citizen advocacy group was mulling filing
a
Freedom of Information Act request seeking the release of the
manifest for the Air Force One New York flyover to determine if any
Obama donors or other interested parties were on board the flight.
According to White House sources, Rahm Emanuel's office has
launched an "investigation" into the use of Air Force One for publicity
purposes and a low flyover. The investigation's instigation began
in the White House Counsel's Office, run by Gregory Craig.
The White House is already on record as saying that only Air
Force personnel were on Air Force One. Yesterday, White House
spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters: "I'm told that -- keep in mind
this was a -- this was two training missions that, in the end, became a
picture mission, which the President having quite clearly called today a
mistake and one that he will ensure doesn't happen again. Because
this was a training mission, the only people on that plane were Air
Force personnel."
But there are
suspicions there is more to it. "This is a bigger deal than the
White House is letting on, and there are some nervous people there, and
I'm not clear why," says the former transition team member. "If I
were still advising them, I'd say live up to the transparency pledge and
release all the documents. But from the get-go, this was a top
secret operation, which raises a whole bunch of red flags."
|
From Someone Who Knows |
An Air Force officer
who
served in the Clinton White House and for two years carried the
"nuclear football" briefcase of codes says it's almost certain that the
"highest levels" of the Obama administration knew about and approved
this week's stunt in which Air Force One buzzed New York City.
Retired Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson
served in Clinton's White House from 1996 to 1998 and was responsible
for the president's "emergency satchel," the black bag of nuclear codes
that accompanies the president at all times.
During an interview on "The Andrea Shea King Show" last
night, he said, "I can't imagine that anyone who works in the Air Force
thought that was a good idea. I have worked in the White House and
having worked for the Military Office, with the guys at Andrews Air
Force Base and the ground crews, that (decision) had to come down from
on high."
Among the procedures with
which he became familiar during his work with Clinton were those
involving the preparation of the president's 747 jet for flight.
"It defies my belief that the White
House staff did not know they were launching the 747 to go up and do
this. So it had to come down from the White House. It
wouldn't have been done on behalf of the folks at Andrews (Air Force
Base). It would have been done at the direction of the White
House," he said.
Patterson said the
low-flying escapade over Manhattan clearly was not an oversight.
"The White House Military Office
director is the Obama appointee -- Caldera in this particular situation.
So, he got the notification, he got the direction from somebody -– I'm
guessing Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff would probably be
the person behind this."
Does that
mean the president also knew?
"I'm
guessing he probably did. Did Emanuel know about it? I
guarantee you he did. It did not come from the Andrews folks.
It came from on high," Patterson said.
He said the stunt reveals the judgment level in the Obama White
House.
"I think that it shows you…
quite clearly the lack of knowledge, the lack of focus or the
understanding the Obama White House has toward the military, much like
my former boss President Bill Clinton. I think it also shows a
kind of arrogance to using toys -- I'm sure that would be a phrase
President Obama might use, his 'toys' -- to get photo op shots around
New York City and not recall or remember what happened on 9/11 and the
fact that it might have caused some alarm. And I think really, it
shows again a hundred days, a hundred mistakes with the Obama
administration."
Patterson
explained the process that would have had to take place to get the jumbo
jet in the air.
"The White House
Military Office would have called the presidential pilot office at
Andrews and said, 'We want to get this airplane airborne. We want
to get some photo ops over New York City. We want to get some
photos with the statue of Liberty in the background or the Empire State
Building or whatever, and we'll have a couple of aircraft with it taking
pictures of the airplane with the background of New York City. And
that’s what happened," he said.
"No
doubt Caldera is taking the hit for this… that's kind of how the Obama
administration works, much like the Clinton administration -- they have
to push this down to the lowest level that it'll actually stick.
So they had to push this down to 'Who can we cut loose?' And I
guarantee you he’ll be fired within the next week or two. This
façade of an investigation and a review of what happened will end up on
his desktop and he'll be fired. … But it probably wasn't his
fault. It probably came from above, and he was the person, the
lackey, executing the orders to do this. He called Andrews and the
Andrews Wing Commander got involved and the president's pilot squadron
got involved and so this thing happened. So he'll probably be the
guy that's the scapegoat."
"I fly an
airplane out of Los Angeles into New York City all the time. I fly
a large airplane. In NYC airspace at any point in time, especially
during the day during normal waking hours to fly over the city like at
that low level, it's almost impossible to coordinate with the FAA.
So there was a lot of coordination done on this, a lot of advance
legwork and groundwork done on this."
"It boggles my mind because when I fly into New York City, we
have to stay on this straight and narrow path that you cannot deviate
virtually by feet, and here's a 747 that's got the approval to fly all
over the city at low level and again, scare the people of New York.
It just defies description," he said.
"I can't imagine as a pilot, and an Air Force officer and a
former Clinton administration official, I can't imagine who thought that
was a good idea!"
It's just the
latest evidence of mistaken judgment, he said.
"The fact that they would fly a large airplane over a city
that was attacked on 9/11 and the response of the people of New York was
obviously 180 from what the Obama people thought. They just
assumed there'd be no reaction because they don't feel there's a threat
out there? They don't understand that this country is still at war
with terrorists and with the people who want to change our way of life.
Instead, we're shaking hands with Hugo Chavez; we're shaking hands and
brushing up with Hamas and Iran. We're doing all these things that
the Bush administration never would have even considered imaginable.
So I think it shows not only arrogance, but more importantly, more
troublingly to me, it shows that they're just out of touch.
"I find it incredible with our
current economic situation that we're flying 747s empty anywhere in the
country, much less for a photo op. And again, they're so wantonly
careless about this," he said.
|
Principal Investigator
Named |
Obama has set off on
the important
task of finding someone to blame. Chairing the internal White
House investigation will be Jim Messina, (not the singer) the
president's deputy chief of staff.
While Messina is investigating the flight, we have a question he might
want to throw into his query. Why the hell are we taking publicity
photos of Air Force One when we're in the midst of the largest economic
crisis in eight decades?
You
can bet the investigation will be complete and above board. After
all, why else would Obama appoint one of his own staff, rather than an
independent investigator? |
Photos To Remain Hidden |
The $328,835 snapshots
of an Air Force One backup plane buzzing lower Manhattan last week will
not be shown to the public, the White House said yesterday.
"We
have no plans to release them," an aide to Obama told The Post, refusing
to comment further.
The sole purpose of the secret photo-op,
which sent thousands of New Yorkers running for cover, was to take new
publicity shots of the presidential jet over the city.
"The
photos . . . are
classified -- that's ridiculous," New York Councilman Peter Vallone
Jr., said.
The photos have not technically been "classified," a
White House aide said, but they are being kept from public view.
It's the flight that is classified.
New Yorkers said they could not understand how a president who
shares intimate snapshots from the White House could justify classifying
these.
"So we're not gonna see the fruits of this cruel joke,"
said Frank Antonelli, 39, one of the Wall Street traders spooked by last
week's flyover.
"I'm not surprised. Obama . . . wouldn't
further all the bad publicity by putting out those pictures."
Maybe
the reason, to deep-six these very expensive pics, is that some of
the photos showed people on the ground running for their lives.
At any rate, they're now filed away with other Obama state secrets --
Obama’s birth certificate and college and medical records. |
FOIA Requests Filed |
NewsBusters.org
asks, isn't it just a laugh riot! We keep
asking the White House for information about the Air Force One flyover
incident by Lower Manhattan and they keep responding with evasions.
They keep referring us to the Air Force which keeps bouncing
the questions back to the White House which, in turn, refers us back to
the Air Force again!
NewsBusters
also
reference
an article in Time, that writes:
Sometimes, even the most straightforward question can create evasion and
denial in Washington's corridors of power -- a question like "Why does
Air Force One need publicity photos?"
A call to the Air Force on Wednesday seeking an answer to that
simple question was referred to the White House Military Office, just
across the Potomac River.
"That's a
question for the White House, and I understand that they may be bouncing
you back here," Air Force Lieut. Colonel Tadd Sholtis explained. But the
Air Force, which knows how to employ stealth technology and evasive
maneuvers when warranted, wasn't going to allow the media to lock on. "The purpose of the flight, why did it happen, all those kinds of
things," Sholtis said, "need to be addressed to the White House Military
Office."
On another call to the
White House Military Office, headed by Clinton-era Army Secretary Louis
Caldera, the reporter explained how the Air Force was answering only
questions about the cost of the flight and not anything else. Cornered,
the WHMO official punted: "You'll have to call the White House press
office." But White House press secretary Robert Gibbs couldn't shed any
light on the matter either.
NewsBusters has filed two
FOIA requests with the Office of the Secretary
of Defense and Joint Staff FOIA Requester Service Center seeking more
info, including the flight manifests; communications that would shed
light on the origin of the "mission," and copies of any and all photos
taken on the taxpayer-subsidized journey.
Let’s have some of that
vaunted transparency Barack Obama is always talking about. |
First Passenger Identified |
White House Press Secretary "Gibbles" --
a name-play on
Goebbels -- said, "I mentioned yesterday and I can
assure you, had he (Obama) had any knowledge of the stupid idea to go
take pictures of the plane in New York, I can assure you that wouldn't
have happened."
Gibbles referred to it again when someone asked
about U.S. senators traveling on Air Force One this morning. Apparently,
Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri was on board -- and
taking pictures. The TV talking heads have been hammering on
$300,000+ cost of the Caldera-approved photo op, even though it was part
of an official Air Force training mission.
Previously, Gibbles
said
the flyover was "two training missions that became in the end a picture
mission" and only Air Force personnel were aboard.
"...even though it was part
of an official Air Force training mission." Since when has the Air
Force conducted "scare-the-crap-out-of-the-citizenry" missions? I
smell bullsh!t. |
Another FOIA Request
Filed |
Freedom Watch, a
public interest watchdog, has
filed Freedom of Information Act requests with the Obama
administration demanding that it make public government videos of the
NYC flyover by President Obama's plane.
Freedom Watch Chairman
and General Counsel Larry Klayman said Obama had no qualms about
releasing detailed memos last month describing interrogation techniques
used by the CIA, so the administration shouldn't have reservations about
releasing the flyover video as well.
"President Obama thinks it
cool to release national intelligence documents concerning American
intelligence gathering techniques of terrorists," Klayman said, "but
ironically terrorizes the people of Manhattan, who have the tragedy of
September 11 emblazoned in their emotional psyches, but then refuses to
release benign video of his own incompetence and lack of national
security common sense."
Klayman said, "There's honestly
something that we're not being told," he said. "Why were they
flying over New York City? It's very strange. It makes no
sense. Why would you need Air Force One for a photo-op?"
Klayman said Freedom Watch will not back down until the truth about the
exercise is fully exposed.
"If indeed this is just a snafu, it
shows the incredible national security incompetence of the Obama
administration," he said. "But the government releases whatever it
wants to release. It's never really constrained by national
security because it does whatever is in its own interest.
Obviously it's not in the Obama administration's interest to tell the
truth." |
Obama To Release Air Farce One Photo |
Got that -- PHOTO --
singular! -- $328,835 for a single photograph of the backup Air Force
One that buzzed lower Manhattan last
week. If you
Google, "Air Force One," Google returns 1,520,000 images of
the aircraft. The last thing the world needs is another one.
Fox News is now reporting that the White House
plans to soon release
a photo from the controversial Air Force One-style
flyover of Manhattan last week, despite claiming earlier that there was
no need to release any official images from the incident.
White
House Press Secretary Robert
Gibbles told reporters Wednesday that an
internal report will probably be completed this week.
"We'll
release its findings and release a photo," he said.
That was
after Gibbles indicated Tuesday that the White House would not release
any images.
"I've watched CNN," he said at the time, noting the
considerable coverage from amateur footage. "I didn't notice a lack of
archival material from that flight."
Screw the photo! I want to
see the flight and passenger manifests. I want to know the names
of Obama's financial contributors and sycophants that were likely on
board. |
A Classic
Example Of
Misdirection |
A White House military aide who authorized an Air Force
flyover of New York that caused panic among some people in the city
resigned on Friday (evolving story
here).
Louis Caldera said in a resignation letter to Obama that the controversy over the mission -- a photo shoot of a jumbo
jet used as Air Force One with the Statue of Liberty in the background -- made
it impossible for him to lead the White House Military Office (WHMO).
White House officials said the flight was designed to
update the official photo of the plane, known as Air Force One when the
president is aboard.
The
$375,000 Photo
The flight over lower Manhattan for a photo shoot scared
some New Yorkers who remembered the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001 involving hijacked
airliners that destroyed the World Trade Center. Many people panicked and
evacuated office buildings when the planes flew over -- as low as 150 feet.
Caldera had approved the mission. His resignation came on
the same day Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in a letter to Senator John
McCain that the photo shoot cost U.S. taxpayers as much as $357,000.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs (Gibbels) said Obama had
accepted the resignation. Obama had been described as furious when the incident
occurred on April 27 and demanded a review.
Isn't that tidy -- Louis Caldera is responsible -- but
responsible for what?
Louis Caldera is responsible for "approving" the flight. No
need to look any further. Caldera is responsible -- off with his head -- move
on!
However, none of this answers the key question -- WHO
REQUESTED THE FLIGHT?
Start with Caldera's boss. Who does Caldera work for -- and
who does that guy work for -- and who does that guy work for. Somewhere up that
food chain is the genius whose brainstorm is responsible for this clusterflop --
that person is the "Requestor" or "Initiator" -- that's the guy that is really
responsible.
When the flight was a "Go," the WHMO Deputy Director sent
an email to the Director, saying the flight would receive some "local press,"
but the White House shouldn't catch any questions about it. The email also
suggested notifying Jim Messina and Robert Gibbels.
The flight then flew into history.
The White House (read
Rhambo) investigated the flight and
The White House Counsel's Office (Gregory
Craig) produced a
report, "Internal Review Concerning
April 27, 2009 Air Force One Flight." (It's interesting this report uses the
"Air Force One" designation, as the aircraft is only referred to in this way
when POTUS is on board. Is Craig suggesting that Obama was on the
flight?)
The report (I could access only the first 3 pages of the
.pdf
file for some reason) says that the Deputy Director of the WHMO "suggested that
when the plan was finalized, the Director MAY want to inform White House Deputy
Chief of Staff, Jim Messina (not the singer). The Deputy Director believed that
Mr. Messina would want notice because the plan involved the use of the
Presidential aircraft and because it was unusual."
I'll say!
Note, the focus of this report is on the WHMO, the initial flight planning and the subsequent processes and
reviews that resulted in the flight. Nowhere in the "official" report is there any mention of
the person or persons who initiated the request for the flight mission that was
ultimately "approved" by Caldera.
And, it doesn't answer the secondary question --
WHO WAS ON
BOARD? Any honest investigation would provide the flight and
passenger manifests. Neither of these are addressed in the report (whitewash).
And what were those touchdowns in Atlantic City about? Defense
Secretary Robert Gates
said the photo shoot was only part of the planes' mission, which
also included practice instrument approaches and landings at Atlantic
City International Airport. Who got off? Who got on?
A Reuters news article
said the report of the review,
mentioned above, said ultimately Caldera did not notify relevant White House
officials about the flyover in advance.
"When asked
why he failed to do so, he did not offer a coherent explanation. He
stated that it was not a conscious decision -- he did not intend not to
notify them," it said. "Instead, he suggested that it may have been an
oversight."
An oversight? I just find that
statement to be unbelievable.
Caldera had previously apologized for the April 27
incident, saying, "Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take
responsibility for that decision (approving the flight). 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."
And like a good little Obot, Caldera
fell on his sword.
The White House Military Office (2,300 managers and staff)
knew about the flight, and so did the Department of Defense, and Andrews Air Force Base, and the
Air Mobility Command, and the Presidential Airlift Group, and the 89th Airlift
Wing, and the Federal Aviation Administration and air traffic control
representatives in the New York are, and "federal, state and local authorities."
It seems everyone in the government knew about the "secret
flight" except Obama and his senior White House advisers. Sgt. Schultz ("I
know nothing") would be
proud.
Of course Obama was furious when the incident occurred. It
hit the fan the day before his 100th day's celebration and victory speech,
dramatically affecting the news.
But he knew nothing about it -- nor did any other
"responsible" person in and around the White House -- just Caldera, even though
the report contains several mentions of Jim Messina, whose boss is Rhambo -- and
Rhambo's boss is Obama -- that's two degrees of separation.
We don't know who requested the mission,
but we know the chain of command -- Obama, Rhambo, Messina and Caldera.
I find it hard to believe that Caldera, a political
appointee, kept this "unusual plan" to himself -- don't you? |
Was Air Farce One Pic Photoshopped |
A
sharp-eyed reader of the Texas Darling blog has submitted a series of
photographs that she believes provides evidence that the Air Farce One
photograph released by the White House has been Photoshopped.
Take a look at her
evidence and decide for yourself.
The photo released by the White
House was unusually dark. I had to "fix" it by brightening the
image shown here. |
Air Farce One Photo Shopped |
Yesterday's
item about the Photoshopping of the
Air Farce One photo released by the White House continues to raise
questions.
According to
all of the file photos of the Statue of Liberty and the island around
her, there is only one flagpole shown and only one American flag flying
on it.
Looking at the image released by the White House
under
magnification, one can clearly see that there are two flags shown but
only one is on a flagpole (the one on the right). The flag and flagpole
should be there: the flag without a flagpole below it should not.
This photo was taken on an overcast day, so much so that not even
the Statue herself is casting one.
But the flagpole is and in the
direction of the second flag.
Curiouser and curiouser . . . |
© Copyright Beckwith 2009
All right reserved
|