Jim Kouri
L.A. mayor criticism of Bush: Much ado about nothing
By Jim Kouri
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa claims he received word of the new details of the 2002 terror plot like most Americans — watching President Bush's speech on a cable news channel.
He complained that his office should have been warned beforehand about Bush's speech since the details concerned his city.
"I'm amazed that the president would make this (announcement) on national TV and not inform us of these details through the appropriate channels," the mayor said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I don't expect a call from the president — but somebody."
However, the White House did notify City Hall. A spokesman for Matt Bettenhausen, California's homeland security chief, said he personally contacted a deputy mayor Wednesday afternoon with advance notice of the president's comments. Apparently it was the deputy mayor who failed to notify the mayor.
Michelle Petrovich of US Department of Homeland Security, said the agency notified the Los Angeles Police Department, along with state officials, that the 2002 plot would be mentioned during the president's speech.
This writer reported yesterday that a high-ranking officer with the LAPD said that it was common knowledge within the department that there was a serious terror alert in 2002. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was elected in 2004.
Faced with mounting evidence that his office was notified that the president would discuss the L.A. threat during his speech before the National Guard, Villaraigosa later admitted that City Hall was notified Wednesday.
However, he changed his complaint claiming that information was only general, city officials said, and the mayor was never informed. They said they had no warning that numerous new details of the plot would be disclosed.
The Bush Administration did not notify anyone of the details of his impending speech which is not unusual for any administration.
Bush offered the additional details to highlight international cooperation in fighting terrorists. But in Los Angeles, the questions of how and when the city was notified underscored the fragility of communications between different government entities.
"I would have expected a direct call from the White House," Villaraigosa said at City Hall.
In his interview with the AP, the mayor called communication with the White House "nonexistent." He also called for more federal aid to safeguard the city.
But a ranking officer with the Los Angeles Police Department told this writer that the Los Angeles authorities were notified about the terrorist plot.
"I have no idea what the mayor is talking about. Those who needed to know about the [terrorist] plot knew about it," said the police commander.
Some information about the foiled attack was disclosed last year, but until Thursday the White House had provided only a vague description of what was planned.
© Jim Kouri
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa claims he received word of the new details of the 2002 terror plot like most Americans — watching President Bush's speech on a cable news channel.
He complained that his office should have been warned beforehand about Bush's speech since the details concerned his city.
"I'm amazed that the president would make this (announcement) on national TV and not inform us of these details through the appropriate channels," the mayor said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I don't expect a call from the president — but somebody."
However, the White House did notify City Hall. A spokesman for Matt Bettenhausen, California's homeland security chief, said he personally contacted a deputy mayor Wednesday afternoon with advance notice of the president's comments. Apparently it was the deputy mayor who failed to notify the mayor.
Michelle Petrovich of US Department of Homeland Security, said the agency notified the Los Angeles Police Department, along with state officials, that the 2002 plot would be mentioned during the president's speech.
This writer reported yesterday that a high-ranking officer with the LAPD said that it was common knowledge within the department that there was a serious terror alert in 2002. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was elected in 2004.
Faced with mounting evidence that his office was notified that the president would discuss the L.A. threat during his speech before the National Guard, Villaraigosa later admitted that City Hall was notified Wednesday.
However, he changed his complaint claiming that information was only general, city officials said, and the mayor was never informed. They said they had no warning that numerous new details of the plot would be disclosed.
The Bush Administration did not notify anyone of the details of his impending speech which is not unusual for any administration.
Bush offered the additional details to highlight international cooperation in fighting terrorists. But in Los Angeles, the questions of how and when the city was notified underscored the fragility of communications between different government entities.
"I would have expected a direct call from the White House," Villaraigosa said at City Hall.
In his interview with the AP, the mayor called communication with the White House "nonexistent." He also called for more federal aid to safeguard the city.
But a ranking officer with the Los Angeles Police Department told this writer that the Los Angeles authorities were notified about the terrorist plot.
"I have no idea what the mayor is talking about. Those who needed to know about the [terrorist] plot knew about it," said the police commander.
Some information about the foiled attack was disclosed last year, but until Thursday the White House had provided only a vague description of what was planned.
© Jim Kouri
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
