Global War on Terror Watch: Mayor Villaraigosa – “I did not overreact”

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa comments on President Bush’s lack of communication with his office Thursday, Feb . 9, 2006, during a news conference in Los Angeles City Hall. Villaraigosa said he was blindsided by President Bush’s announcement of new details on a purported 2002 hijacking plot aimed at a downtown skyscraper, and described communication with the White House as ‘nonexistent.’ In the background: Assistant Chief of Police James McDonald, Councilmember Wendy Greuel, and Los Angeles Fire Chief William Bamattre.

ASSociated Press: L.A. Mayor, Chief Disagree on Terror Plot

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and California’s homeland security chief disagreed Friday over whether the Bush administration mishandled the release of new details about an alleged 2002 terrorist plot aimed at Los Angeles’ tallest building.

Echoing comments from a day earlier, Villaraigosa said he should have been notified directly by the administration that
President Bush would divulge new information about the purported plot in a speech Thursday. By contrast, he said, he was alerted at home last year when the federal government confirmed a credible terrorist threat to the city.

Before Thursday’s speech, “We did not get a direct call from the White House or the Department of
Homeland Security in the way I was accustomed,” the mayor said at a joint appearance with Matt Bettenhausen, California’s top homeland security official.

“I did not overreact,” the mayor added.

But, Mayor AV you were on your treadmill when the President made his speech.

You shoot your mouth off about being “BLINDSIDED” and previously your city staff had communicated with the White House.

But Bettenhausen told reporters there can be differences in the way such information is handled, depending on whether it involves a current threat to a city or details from an investigation years ago.

“I think the terrorist information was handled appropriately,” Bettenhausen said.

There is no dispute that City Hall and the Los Angeles Police Department were notified prior to the speech, but the mayor has said important details were withheld, without providing specifics.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s remarks were a partisan “cheap shot” at President Bush.

Mayor have your facts correct before you shoot your big mouth off again…….

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Global War on Terror Watch: Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Says He was “Blindsided”

Global War on Terror Watch: Cooperation Thwarted 2002 Attack

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