L.A. Mayor Blindsided by Bush Announcement

AP Wires ^ | 2-9-2006 | AP Wire

[Thanatos]

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Thursday he was blindsided by President Bush's announcement of new details on a purported 2002 hijacking plot aimed at a downtown skyscraper, and described communication with the White House as "nonexistent."

"I'm amazed that the president would make this (announcement) on national TV and not inform us of these details through the appropriate channels," the mayor told The Associated Press. "I don't expect a call from the president _ but somebody."

Bush has referred to the 2002 plot before but he publicly filled in the details Thursday.

Bush said Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks who was captured in 2003, had begun planning an attack to fly a commercial airplane into the tallest skyscraper on the West Coast, the Library Tower in Los Angeles, since renamed the US Bank Tower.

Instead of recruiting Arab hijackers, Southeast Asian men would be used, Bush said, because they were less likely to arouse suspicion. He said they would use shoe bombs to blow open the cockpit door.

The president said the plot was derailed when a Southeast Asian nation arrested a key al-Qaida operative. Bush did not name the country or the operative.

"I go to work every day knowing that we are a target," Villaraigosa said.

The mayor said homeland security needs better funding, including for the protection of high-risk targets in Los Angeles. He said some funding could be redirected from the war in Iraq, but he did not advocate an immediate withdrawal of troops.

[Pukin Dog]

No, no bashing, and no mention of not being informed.

[Feiny]

I got to taunt Villareallygrossa at the Chinese New Years parade on Saturday. He just oozes slime.

[Thanatos]

"The Mayor is speaking now. No mention of not being informed, since he WAS informed. Lets now see if we hear an apology..."

Of Course no apology, he is asking for more tax money to fill his bank vaults.. he is also going on about how "HomeLand Security is lacking in support of 'Big City' concerns" and he is talking about how since he has been in office, no attacks have happened on his watch..

[BibChr]

Well, good. They found a way to report this story of deflected terrorism and STILL make Bush look bad. So fresh and unpredictable!

Dan

[Flavius Josephus]

All I could think when the Admin turned around and briefed the congresscritters on the surveillance thing was that they were going to dish some misinformation that they could track to see where the leak was.

[Pukin Dog]

It appears that the "not being informed" story is a MSM invention. I'm not surprised.

[TRY ONE]

Anyone doubt that the Rats have not already written speeches that if the Terrorists hit the U.S. again --

Saying: "If the EVIL GW had not spent all that money in Iraq, we could have had the funds to prevent an attack, yata, yata..."..

[SittinYonder]

The reason why the President did not call LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is because Villaraigosa was NOT Mayor of Los Angeles till 3 years AFTER the the planned Incident and 2 years AFTER the Terrorist was arrested

Yep.

[bygolly]

Fox News reported that the California Office of Homeland Security did notify the mayors office yesterday by email.

[Thanatos]

"It appears that the "not being informed" story is a MSM invention. I'm not surprised."

Not an Invention, the AP interviewed him prior to his making this speech.. I am sure they reported exactly what he said in the interview.

[GeorgeW23225]

The Mayors office WAS notified by the White House PRIOR to the speech today. Perhaps the Mayor was out to lunch........

[granite]

http://www.americanpatrol.com/CALIFORNIA/VILLARAIGOSA/mechistaformayorindex.html

Antonio Villaraigosa - Rabid Mexican Nationalist - For Mayor?

[bildabare]

That's exactly what I was thinking- Villa would have done like nagin and rolled over- appealed to the French or something. Where are the buses??!! Oh, excuse me-- Donde esta las buses??!!

[GeorgeW23225]

Don't hold your breath waiting for an apology.............

[Joe 6-pack]

"Villa would have done like nagin and rolled over -"

He could have rebuilt LA as, "Taco Town," to go with the City of Chocolate.

[GeorgeW23225]

ROTFLMAO!!

[xrp]

I'm amazed that the president would make this (announcement) on national TV and not inform us of these details through the appropriate channels

Probably because you'd leak it anyway, you shitbox, and still try to find a way to blame Bush.

[School of Rational Thought]

Why would the Feds. expand the circle of secrecy. One only has to look at the Katrina debacle for local officials who would use an issue to self-promote and attempt to damage Bush

[beansox]

Maybe his office did get the message, but it was in English so Tony didnt know what it said.

[School of Rational Thought]

Re-Conquista Villagorosa

Another very important reason. A declared enemy of the state.