Tell me again why this is the 'Smart' administration?

White House approves low altitude flyby of Air Force One over New York, seems puzzled by citizen panic. [Link]

Hmmm... I guess Obama wanted to remind us all that terrorism is a real and present danger.

How thoughtful. George Bush didn't have the balls to panic New Yorkers just to remind them of 9/11.

Like Christopher Buckley, I'm really starting to admire the cut of this man's jib!

White House Approved: Same link to Hot Air. Wow.

White House Military Office director Louis Caldera issued a brief statement.

“Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision,” he said. “While federal authorities took the proper steps to notify state and local authorities in New York and New Jersey, its clear that the mission created confusion and disruption. I apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused.”…

Hm. So the smart guy's White House approved this, and the retarded hillybilly's White House somehow managed to avoid such nap-of-the-earth canyon runs, huh?

UPDATE: FAA Memo: Feds Knew NYC Flyover Would Cause Panic [Link]

In a memo obtained by CBS 2 HD the Federal Aviation Administration's James Johnston said the agency was aware of "the possibility of public concern regarding DOD (Department of Defense) aircraft flying at low altitudes" in an around New York City. But they demanded total secrecy from the NYPD, the Secret Service, the FBI and even the mayor's office and threatened federal sanctions if the secret got out.

"To say that it should not be made public knowing that it might scare people it's just confounding," Sen. Charles Schumer said. "It's what gives Washington and government a bad name. It's sheer stupidity."

The flyover -- apparently ordered by the White House Office of Military Affairs so it would have souvenir photos of Air Force One with the Statue of Liberty in the background -- had President Obama seeing red. He ordered a probe and apologized.

"It was a mistake. It will never happen again," President Obama said.

The NYPD was so upset about the demand for secrecy that Police Commissioner Ray Kelly vowed never to follow such a directive again and he accused the feds of inciting fears of a 9/11 replay.