Fri, Apr 01, 2005
Confusion Over Cheney's Location Cited
04.01.05
Special Edition: "It had to happen sooner or later," says
one Air Force official who spoke to ANN, on background. The Capitol
is all abuzz over the revelation that Air Force One, carrying
President Bush, has been cited for a violation of an in-force TFR
that was instituted to protect the Vice President.
The details are being debated by a few in the know, but what we
can piece together is this... Some time after Air Force One had
taxied for take-off on Friday, a TFR was implemented (with the
usual short notice) to cover the travels of Vice President Cheney.
At some point in Friday's flight, Air Force One violated the Cheney
TFR and F-16s were scrambled to intercept the President's 747.
The big surprise came
as the F-16s intercepting Air Force One had to deal with the F-16s
that were flying in support of the President... resulting in some
"really nasty name-calling" on the guard frequency, some "really
aggressive 1 v 1 action," and some quick excuses for the crew
of Air Force One. The Presidential 747 was forced to divert
and land in Podunk (ID) Municipal Airport... where the small
municipal strip's runway proved to be barely enough to get the
Boeing down and stopped.
The flight crew of Air Force One is not amused by all the fuss.
A Senior Master Sgt. supporting the flight says that the flight
crew was "beat-red" when they came out of the cockpit, and were
"really pissed." According to the SMS, the flight crew complained
about "short notice on the TFR and the nebulous details surrounding
Cheney's actual location..."
Additional quotes
reportedly have the flight crew complaining that, "How the hell are
you supposed to know where the damned VP is when he's always at
some 'undisclosed' location... how the hell are we supposed to
avoid an undisclosed location. Can ya tell me that? This TFR system
is absolutely unworkable... how can ANYONE get around with this
kind of nonsense going on?"
Air Force officials are, officially, staying mum for the moment.
Whatever disciplinary issues that may remain will reportedly be
handled by Air Force investigators. In the meantime, Marine One was
dispatched to carry the President the rest of the way to his
destination. More info to follow...
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