In one of the most uniquely stupid acts committed recently by our government, Louis Caldera, Obama’s Director of the White House Military Office, approved an operation where a 747 flew low over New York and the Statue of Liberty with a fighter jet in pursuit. New Yorkers panicked, fleeing buildings and running in the streets — only to be told it was a White House photo op stunt. What they succeeded in getting was pictures of New Yorkers fleeing and screaming what they believed was another attack.
The public was never warned. It appears that someone wanted the sheer terror to be a fun surprise or, for some reason, the public’s knowledge was viewed as a possible threat to the photo op.
Mayor Bloomberg was publicly furious: “The good news is it was nothing more than an inconsiderate, badly conceived and insensitive photo op with the taxpayers’ money.”
The 747 is identical to the Air Force One, but there was no explanation why they wanted this particular photo. Likewise, Caldera approved the mission, but who suggested it?
He released a statement: “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.” This contradicts Bloomberg’s statement that he was not informed, or at least puts part of the blame on other New York officials. The White House insists that Obama was furious as well but that the mayor’s office was notified.
It is incredible to me that not one of these officials realized the obvious panic that would ensue to see an airliner pursue over the site of the 9-11 attacks by a fighter jet. Where do we find these people? Next they will be creating a backdrop for a Corps of Engineers film by flooding the streets of New Orleans.
It is certainly good to see our White House using the same judgment as paparazzi in going for the perfect shot.
For a video of the photo op, click here.
For the full story, click here
Also, just for peole’s information, this is an article from Feb. which may provide insight into the current flu strain. It is from the toronto sun:
— torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/02/27/8560781.html
First of all, let me state, unequivocally, that this newest 2009 mix of flu viruses which we are calling Swine Flu does NOT include the deadly, highly pathogenic, avian flu virus H5N1.
I repeat, it does not!!!
There is a reason that this recent outbreak of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus which began in Mexico as early as February is being
dubbed the ‘North American Flu’.
Any and all bio-terrorist conspiracy theories, including accusations of a cover up regarding the unintentional, though worrisome, subsequently contained release of Avian Influenza Virus A (H5N1) which was, by all accounts, mixed with vaccine prior to shipment to recipient labs for study, would not be it.
I have provided a mix of articles below. You might remember, Keiji Fukuda, who until fairly recently, was our guy at CDC and is now interim director at WHO.
WHO Fukuda: No Evidence Swine Flu Is Bioterrorism Attack
ZURICH -(Dow Jones)- The World Health Organization said Sunday there is no evidence an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico represents an act of bioterrorism.
“There are no signs we are dealing with purposeful actions,” Dr. Keiji Fukuda, the WHO’s temporary assistant director-general for Health Security and the Environment, said on a media call.
Fukuda was responding to a question about U.S. President Barack Obama’s recent visit to Mexico, where at least 81 people have died from severe pneumonia caused by the flu-like illness in Mexico, according to the WHO.
Company Web site: http://www.who.int
-By Katharina Bart, Dow Jones Newswires; +41 43 443 8043; katharina.bart@ dowjones.com
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GENEVA (Reuters) Apr 24 – Mexico has reported a third possible outbreak of swine flu in Mexicali, near the U.S. border, with four suspect cases and no deaths to date, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday.
The WHO also said that the viruses in the outbreaks in Mexico and the United States had not been detected in pigs or humans before but were proving sensitive to Tamiflu. Known generically as oseltamivir, the pill by Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding can both treat flu and prevent infection.
“Because there are human cases associated with an animal influenza virus, and because of the geographical spread of multiple community outbreaks, plus the somewhat unusual age groups affected, these events are of high concern,” the Geneva-based agency said in a statement.
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http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_24/en/index.html
Influenza-like illness in the United States and Mexico
24 April 2009 — The United States Government has reported seven confirmed human cases of Swine Influenza A/H1N1 in the USA (five in California and two in Texas) and nine suspect cases. All seven confirmed cases had mild Influenza-Like Illness (ILI), with only one requiring brief hospitalization. No deaths have been reported.
The Government of Mexico has reported three separate events. In the Federal District of Mexico, surveillance began picking up cases of ILI starting 18 March. The number of cases has risen steadily through April and as of 23 April there are now more than 854 cases of pneumonia from the capital. Of those, 59 have died. In San Luis Potosi, in central Mexico, 24 cases of ILI, with three deaths, have been reported. And from Mexicali, near the border with the United States, four cases of ILI, with no deaths, have been reported.
Of the Mexican cases, 18 have been laboratory confirmed in Canada as Swine Influenza A/H1N1, while 12 of those are genetically identical to the Swine Influenza A/H1N1 viruses from California.
The majority of these cases have occurred in otherwise healthy young adults. Influenza normally affects the very young and the very old, but these age groups have not been heavily affected in Mexico.
Because there are human cases associated with an animal influenza virus, and because of the geographical spread of multiple community outbreaks, plus the somewhat unusual age groups affected, these events are of high concern.
The Swine Influenza A/H1N1 viruses characterized in this outbreak have not been previously detected in pigs or humans. The viruses so far characterized have been sensitive to oseltamivir, but resistant to both amantadine and rimantadine.
The World Health Organization has been in constant contact with the health authorities in the United States, Mexico and Canada in order to better understand the risk which these ILI events pose. WHO (and PAHO) is sending missions of experts to Mexico to work with health authorities there. It is helping its Member States to increase field epidemiology activities, laboratory diagnosis and clinical management. Moreover, WHO’s partners in the Global Alert and Response Network have been alerted and are ready to assist as requested by the Member States.
WHO acknowledges the United States and Mexico for their proactive reporting and their collaboration with WHO and will continue to work with Member States to further characterize the outbreak.
Doe you foldks have any info that says that President Obama flew the plane or maybe was watching the event on tee-vee while getting his jollies?
If not the STFU with you bitching and moaning.
I swear; there must be a Caesar plot against Obama—otherwise—he and/or his staff are simple buffoons
Yes, it was outrageous.
So is the swine floosy story … Willie Geist showed a 1976 government video of swine flu scare tactics … that induced a lot of folks to get the shot … and then too many then died … from the shot itself.
The swine floosy syndrome is air borne in NYC by AF1 where they try to say relax, no more planes gonna hit … see !!!:
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/04/swine-floosy.html
OH! You’re my new favorite blogger fyi
Yes, it was outrageous.
So is the swine floosy story … Willie Geist showed a 1976 government video of swine flu scare tactics … that induced a lot of folks to get the shot … and then too many then died … from the shot itself.
The swine floosy syndrome is air borne in NYC by AF1 where they try to say relax, no more planes gonna hit … see !!!:
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/04/swine-floosy.html
I think this should be investigated all the way to the top. Here’s why. Anything to do with planes, especially a large plane with two fighter jets after it, flying at a low level around buildings in NYC is bound to do exactly what it did–cause panic and terror. There can not be one person in the administration who did not know this would be the response. Therefore to do it at all one should have a very good reason and a photo op isn’t one of them. More disturbingly they deliberately asked authorities to keep it from the population. This has no legitimate purpose. That can only have been for the sake of terrorizing the population. I would like to see an immediate investigation where every single person involved in this incident reports to Congress– when, where and why. Coming along the same time as a possible flu pandemic and war crimes, people are already on edge. So why make them more frightened?
Also, just for peole’s information, this is an article from Feb. which may provide insight into the current flu strain. It is from the toronto sun:
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/02/27/8560781.html
I am not amused.
They did the actual flyover instead of using Photoshop because the conspiracy theorist would say, see, just like his birth certificate.
Maybe it’ll start a trend. I wonder how they’d like a magazine ad showing Obama’s head – or a member of his family’s – in a set of crosshairs as an advertisement for Leopold or Trijicon scopes, or the CheyTac 310R?
Of course I live in NYC and lived through my neighborhood being wrecked by 9/11, so I might be reacting a bit stronger than some others would.