Obama Is Just Plane Stupid

A perfect storm of idiocy led to a frightening 9/11 flashback for thousands of New Yorkers Monday when a jumbo jet and an F-16 fighter jet buzzed lower Manhattan without warning. (video -- flyby) (video -- panic) (video -- Ground Zero)

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 1,000 feet to 1,500 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.

"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.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs appeared taken aback as 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.

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!

Wouldn't PhotoShop have been cheaper? It's not like Obama isn't familiar with the popular graphics editing program.

For those who want to know,

Obama is laughing is A$$ off

!!!

Order JO 7110.65S
Air Traffic Control
February 14, 2008
This web version contains Change 1, dated 7/31/2008

(Pertinent Excerpts)

2-1-1. ATC SERVICE (page 2-1-1)

to provide support for National Security and Homeland Defense.

2-1-2. DUTY PRIORITY

REFERENCE-
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 2-1-6, Safety Alert.
NOTE-
Because there are many variables involved, it is virtually impossible to develop a standard list of duty priorities that would apply uniformly to every conceivable situation. Each set of circumstances must be evaluated on its own merit, and when more than one action is required, controllers shall exercise their best judgment based on the facts and circumstances known to them. That action which is most critical from a safety standpoint is performed first.

REFERENCE-
FAAO JO 7610.4, Special Operations.

2-1-4. OPERATIONAL PRIORITY(page 2-1-2)

NOTE-
It is solely the pilot's prerogative to cancel an IFR flight plan. However, a pilot's retention of an IFR flight plan does not afford priority over VFR aircraft. For example, this does not preclude the requirement for the pilot of an arriving IFR aircraft to adjust his/her flight path, as necessary, to enter a traffic pattern in sequence with arriving VFR aircraft.

REFERENCE-
14 CFR Section 91.113(c).

NOTE-
It is recognized that heavy traffic flow may affect the controller's ability to provide priority handling. However, without compromising safety, good judgment shall be used in each situation to facilitate the most expeditious movement of a lifeguard aircraft.

REFERENCE-
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 10-1-3, Providing Assistance.

Expedite the movement of presidential aircraft and entourage and any rescue support aircraft as well as related control messages when traffic conditions and communications facilities permit.

NOTE-
As used herein the terms presidential aircraft and entourage include aircraft and entourage of the President, Vice President, or other public figures when designated by the White House.
REFERENCE-
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 2-4-20, Aircraft Identification.
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 4-3-2, Departure Clearances.
FAAO JO 7210.3, Para 5-1-1, Advance Coordination.

4-3-2. DEPARTURE CLEARANCES (page 4-3-1)

NOTE-
When considered necessary, controllers or pilots may initiate read backs of a clearance. Some pilots may be required by company rule to do so.

For Air Force One (AF1) operations

NOTE-
Presidential detail is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the destination airport.
PHRASEOLOGY-
DESTINATION AS FILED.

Order JO 7210.3V

Chapter 5. Special Flight Handling
Section 1. Presidential Aircraft

5-1-1. ADVANCE COORDINATION (Pages 5-1-1 thru 5-1-3)

NOTE- Presidential aircraft and entourage, referred to herein, include aircraft and entourage of the President, the Vice President, or other public figures designated by the White House.

(a)

(b)

EXAMPLE-
ALL TRAFFIC CAN EXPECT DELAYS FROM (date/ time) TO (date/time) AND FROM (date/time) TO (date/time).

(c)

NOTE-
The actions established herein do not affect the provisions of 14 CFR Section 91.113(b); i.e., an aircraft in distress has the right-of-way over all other air traffic.
REFERENCE-
FAAO 7930.2, Para 7-1-1, FDC NOTAM Categories.

NOTE-
Secret Service personnel will transmit progress reports on the Presidential entourage to the affected tower as soon as possible.

5-1-2. MONITORING THE PRESIDENTIAL AIRCRAFT FLIGHT (Page 5-1-2)

NOTE-
Supervisors and managers at FAA Contract Towers (FCT) are qualified to perform the duties required in para 5-1-2.

5-1-3. USE OF FAA COMMUNICATIONS CIRCUITS (Page 5-1-2)

5-1-4. SECURITY OF INFORMATION (Page 5-1-2)

5-1-5. MOVEMENT INFORMATION (Page 5-1-3)

5-1-6. COORDINATION (Page 5-1-3)

5-1-7. RESCUE SUPPORT AIRCRAFT (Page 5-1-3)

REFERENCE-
FAAO JO 7110.65, Para 2-4-20, Aircraft Identification.

without the President KNOWING AND APPROVING IT!!!

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