Obama + New York = Really Stupid Idea

[AboveTheSalt]

The White House has apologised after a low-level flight by a presidential jet and a fighter plane sparked panic among New York City office workers. (BBC On-line (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8021904.stm))This is what happens when you let idiots dream up your photo opportunities.

[Garp]

Do you really think Obama over looks every tiny decision?

Sheesh.. at least aim the criticism where it's due, the morons in the white house that actually organised it.

[AboveTheSalt]

Do you really think Obama over looks every tiny decision?

Sheesh.. at least aim the criticism where it's due, the morons in the white house that actually organised it.Fair comment - substitute the word "Moron" for "Obama" in the title if it will make you feel better - JOB DONE ! ;)

[Will]

I really don't see the fuss or why the panic is due?! :/

[iCraig]

Probably because the last time low flying jets were spotted in New York by its citizens, they ended up plowing into two skyscrapers. I'll forgive them for being a bit jumpy over that. ;D

[Will]

Hmmm, not convinced. We don't get nervous everytime someone walks with a backpack onto the tube ;)

[Fayshun]

Hmmm, not convinced. We don't get nervous everytime someone walks with a backpack onto the tube ;)

I get jumpy next to people with Mongolian eyes. ;)

[Will]

I get jumpy next to people with Mongolian eyes. ;)

OMG that's like so racist innit!!!

[Mark]

Bit of a difference between a backpack that you see everywhere (it'd be rather odd if someone on a tube train didn't have one), and a jumbo jet that you really don't tend to see over a big city very often (certain exceptions apply).

[Will]

Well if you remember there were/are lots of flight paths that used to scrape past NY so it was fairly normal. I don't see the point in living in fear or paranoia certainly in things that I have no control over. But then I don't get the reactionary nature of some things or people, and 9/11 whilst tragic didn't really make me go "oh my goodness this is the worse thing ever".

This "incident" in my eyes is a mountain out of a molehill situation.

[Mark]

It certainly is, but it's also a situation that was so easily avoidable. It was a PR shot, not a presidential visit, so why was it needed at all, and why was no-one told (the President wasn't on board so security seems like much less of an issue).

[iCraig]

Well if you remember there were/are lots of flight paths that used to scrape past NY so it was fairly normal. I don't see the point in living in fear or paranoia certainly in things that I have no control over. But then I don't get the reactionary nature of some things or people, and 9/11 whilst tragic didn't really make me go "oh my goodness this is the worse thing ever".

You're not American though, and although neither am I, I can almost understand why it's a bigger deal to them. Yes, we've had terror attacks on our soil, but losing the WTC was a big deal. Not only because nearly 3000 people were killed, but also because all conspiracies and government involvement aside, it shook the US to the core and shown them they weren't as invincible as they might have thought. NORAD got caught with its trousers down and the US were sent a clear message. "We can hurt you"

Their picturesque skyline looked like a warzone and a cornerstone building of their financial system was reduced to rubble. Imagine if we had lost the LSE and the Ghurkin, and also had Thames House severely damaged? The impact this would have on Londoners would surely be closer to that as New Yorkers? :)

[Will]

I've been to NY pre and post the WTC and yes it has changed the attitude and the look of NY, however in a maybe slightly odd way which not many people will understand I think it's made NY a better place for it and a lot of New Yorkers would concur.

Don't get me wrong something like this in the western world is very much a significant event, I'm not writing it off as a non event, not in any way shape or form, and the loss of life no matter what event is tragic and sad. However

But I still feel that making such a big boohoo over a fly by is a bit OTT - for a start the airports that surround manhattan island require some form of close flying so you're never going to get away from that. PEople in war torn countries still go to work every day although shells and bombs are going off around them because they have to get on with life. Having this paranoia and making this big fuss is counter-productive IMO, but I'm cold hearted and callous.

[NokkonWud]

Hmmm, not convinced. We don't get nervous everytime someone walks with a backpack onto the tube ;)

In fairness, we were angry the following day when the busses and trains ran late. The difference between us and Americans in that respect is huge.

[Pheebs]

I guess we kinda canny judge on the situation unless we were there during both events. As Will said, I should imagine there are a fair few flights around NY, but how "low level" they are is really unknown.. well for me anyway. Looking at the footage, I would make a random stab in the dark in that the flight path the jet took wasn't that of a standard fly in and fly out jobby and so probably did catch people off guard (particularly with the whole fighter jet thingy tailing it! If I saw that in NY whilst I was up the empire state building I would probably have thought "erm... that's a little odd... normal planes don't get tailed by fighter jets... why the hell is this one?!" and then probably made quickly for the stairs :p

IMO it can be easily dismissed as a load of nonsense buuuut we don't know the full piccie do we :) If they didn't do so, they should have made it known it was going to take place to the public before hand and then this would have been prevented pipsqueekly :)

[Garp]

I'm surprised they didn't make sure it was blared out over tv and radio for a few days before it happened. They managed to co-ordinate with the city officials and whatnot, shouldn't have been difficult to get the message out to the population.

[Nutcase]

That it was followed closely by a fighter jet probably didn't help - i.e. being intercepted?