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...

FMI: www.af.mil/TFRs-suck.html