Pataki taps Kallstrom, former FBI official who led Flight 800 crash probe, as security chief

AP | Oct. 10, 2001 | AP

[The Energizer]

Pataki taps Kallstrom, former FBI official who led Flight 800 crash probe, as security chief

NEW YORK (AP) James Kallstrom, the former local FBI chief who led the investigation into the crash of TWA Flight 800, was named Wednesday to head a new state Office of Public Security.

The appointment is part of the state's effort to protect citizens after the Sept. 11 attacks that brought down the World Trade Center.

In annoucing the appointment, Gov. George Pataki called Kallstrom ``a leader who is widely respected throughout the law enforcement community for his extraordinary expertise, ability and judgment.''

Kallstrom, 58, retired from the FBI at the end of 1997 after a 28-year career. A former Marine Corps captain who served in Vietnam, Kallstrom also worked on the 1993 World Trade Center terrorist bombing case and helped bring down mobster John Gotti.

As head of the FBI's TWA Flight 800 investigation in 1996, Kallstrom became a fixture on national television with his daily briefings on the disaster. The crash was eventually blamed on mechanical problems with the plane.

Kallstrom left the FBI to become senior executive vice president with credit card giant MBNA Inc. He later was hired by CBS News as a law enforcement consultant.

[The Energizer]

I KNOW that Freepers will want to comment on this!

[The Energizer]

Paging Michael Rivero

[E. Pluribus Unum]

George must have something he needs covered up.

[boomop1]

God help NY, even more, please!!!

[japaneseghost]

HUGE MISTAKE.

[DoughtyOne]

Perhaps Pataki has the right idea. Kahlstrom may have a tinge of guilt and turn himself in to the local lockup!

[OldFriend]

Ugh, the very thought of the man disgusts me.

[MilleniumBug]

Darn, I thought the thread meant they would wireTAP him, not hire him.

[Zeno44]

If George is really serious, he should clean out those that are put in charge of security in his administration NOW. When Condit, Jackson Lee and Hastings are on any SECURITY Committee then has Halstrom and Pelosi in important spots, we are doomed. Come on George wake up.

[longshadow]

This is clearly a money-saving decision.

Think of how much money can be saved by the State of NY by using the SAME press release for every catastrophe:

"Security Chief Kallstrom today announced that results of the preliminary investigation of (INSERT CALAMITY HERE) indicate the tragedy was the result of a stray spark in a nearly empty fuel tank. Additional facts will be provided in Security Chief Kallstorm's news conference today at (INSERT TIME HERE)."

Why else would anyone hire this guy?

[Yo-Yo]

This is a logical extension of the job Kallstrom did for the FBI. Diseminating disinformation to avoid public panic, while working in the background on the real problem.

I'm sure by reassuring the Sheeple that TWW800 was NOT a terrorist attack, he learned much in how to control the New York missile witnesses. Skills that should come in handy if any New Yorkers witness a subway attack. "Only cleaning solution was used. Nothing to fear. Move along."

[Jim the Just]

Rivero won't be showing up. He was banned by the FR thought police for not being sufficiently hate-filled, blood-thirsty and gullible.

[eno_]

You can sure tell Pataki learned his politics before there was an Internet. This will have the opposite of the intended effect. People will doubt everything he says. Kallstrom could say the sun rose on time and people would double-check.

[Young Werther]

When Kallstrom stated that the cause of Flight 800 was the explosion caused by the "DIESEL" fuel in the center fuel tank, I nearly hurled my clicker at the TV.

Pataki needs his head examined for hiring this fool. I wouldn't want him as a crossing guard at the local elementary school.

[The Energizer]

evening bump!