Does anyone stop to think anymore?

[Photog]

Seems the Defense Department decided to do a "photo op" with one of the Air Force One 747's and two F-16's. They decided to do flybys of the Statue of Liberty...unfortunately, they decided to tell only a few important people and only at the last minute. The news said it caused a minor panic with people trying to get out of buildings.
So let's see here, low flying jetliner, over New York, being "chased" by two fighters...I can see where this might cause a bit of consternation! To paraphrase the scarecrow, "If only they had a brain."

 

[Photog]

Seems the Defense Department decided to do a "photo op" with one of the Air Force One 747's and two F-16's. They decided to do flybys of the Statue of Liberty...unfortunately, they decided to tell only a few important people and only at the last minute. The news said it caused a minor panic with people trying to get out of buildings.
So let's see here, low flying jetliner, over New York, being "chased" by two fighters...I can see where this might cause a bit of consternation! To paraphrase the scarecrow, "If only they had a brain."

 

[Andy Taylor]

"Mama always said "Stupid is as stupid does."

 

[USAF385]

Both the FAA and local law enforcement were warned in advance. Why they didn't make the news known across the city is beyond me. The city could have told the citizens "on Monday there will be a planned military fly by.." They could have gotten their cameras and enjoyed the show.

 

[handejector]

Both the FAA and local law enforcement were warned in advance. Why they didn't make the news known across the city is beyond me.

Well, one reason comes to mind.......I wonder if they thought the bad guys might want to use the announced fly-by as a cover for another real plane attack.
In other words, the bad guys could hijack a plane that day, knowing people would not be panicking to evacuate buildings, even if a low flying jet was spotted.....

 

[venomballistics]

the road to hell is paved with the best intentions.

Im not sure whether to shake my head or laugh about this one .... probably a bit of both

 

[pharmer]

News alert-stand by for more BO knucklehead tricks. Followed by apologies,explanations, redirections, and distractions. Joe

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

What was the purpose of this "Photo-Op"? How much did it cost the US Taxpayer? Under whose direction was the flight made? Can we all get a copy of the photographs that WE paid for?

 

[ChadW]

Originally posted by handejector:
Well, one reason comes to mind.......I wonder if they thought the bad guys might want to use the announced fly-by as a cover for another real plane attack.
In other words, the bad guys could hijack a plane that day, knowing people would not be panicking to evacuate buildings, even if a low flying jet was spotted.....

I don't think they would have enough time to plan an attack if there was an announcment made 24 hours prior. Just a simple "A scheduled flyby of an airforce one aircraft and a fighter will occure on Monday the 27th." could have prevented the panic. Terrorists would have to scramble like mad to even think about pulling something off with 24 hours notice.

 

[Gutpile Charlie]

The whole thing is BS. Was it the executive branch or the DOD that had this idea? Yes, pictures of Air Force one with the Statue of Liberty in the background, could, under some circumstances, be an interesting, moving and patriotic picture. However, the events of 9-11 changed everything.

I've stood at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan and looked into that hole in the ground. It brought tears to my eyes. They just need to stay the hell away from there for right now. The only reason for making a picture of that right now would be for political reasons. It darn sure wouldn't be for "patriotic" reasons?

Maybe at sometime in the distant future, it might be ok again. Right now it is just not appropriate.

That aside, no matter who's fault it is, somebody really dropped the ball by not announcing what was going to happen. If I were there, I would be going ballistic if I saw that.

Don't we have anybody that can do things right?

Sadly, it sure doesn't appear so?

God save us.

 

[ChadW]

Originally posted by Gutpile Charlie:
The whole thing is BS. Was it the executive branch or the DOD that had this idea?

Everything I've read so far points to the DOD. Apparently they do these photos often. I've seen one a few times of Mt. Rushmore from thw air, with Airforce One in the foreground.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

"What we have here is a failure to communicate."

 

[Gov]

Originally posted by Lee in Quartzsite:
What was the purpose of this "Photo-Op"? How much did it cost the US Taxpayer? Under whose direction was the flight made? Can we all get a copy of the photographs that WE paid for?

+1000

 

[MaricopaKid]

Why not Photoshop? I recently saw a photo that that had the audacity of making it appear that a United States President was actually bowing to a king!

 

[hoglaw]

This isn't news. They've been doing this for years...20+. I've seen many photos of military aircraft with NYC as the backdrop. They gave the necessary heads up, but it didn't get passed along. Not the military's fault.

 

[Jack Flash]

Originally posted by MaricopaKid:
Why not Photoshop? ...

That was my first thought. It would be trivial for someone with a little skill.

Big Government has a "spare no expense" mentality.

 

[Bassamatic]

Big Government has a "spare no expense" mentality.

Why should they...it's not their money!!!

 

[Catshooter]

Originally posted by Bassamatic:

Big Government has a "spare no expense" mentality.

Why should they...it's not their money!!!

People in politics don't think of it as "money", it just "taxes".

A small percentage of the population can think.

A small percentage of the population think they think.

The majority of the population would rather die than think.


Cat

 

[Jack Flash]

Basically, they have a credit card with no limits, and the bill is sent to someone else.