Washington – he Coast Guard conducted a training exercise in the Potomac River near the Pentagon amid Sept. 11 commemorations Friday, sparking confusion that scrambled FBI agents and led the nearest airport to briefly ground flights.
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Coast Guard Chief Keith Moore said Friday no shots were fired as part of the exercise in the river. Media reports suggested shots had been fired in the river and showed vessels circling in the water, near the bridge where President Barack Obama’s motorcade passed as he traveled to a Sept. 11 memorial at the Pentagon Friday morning.
Departures from Reagan National Airport were halted as a precaution at 10:08 a.m., then resumed at 10:30 a.m., Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Diane Spitaliere said. The airport borders the Potomac.
A law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said federal agents scrambled to the river scene after the initial reports, because the local FBI office had not been told ahead of time about the exercise. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to discuss the incident.
Coast Guard spokesman John Edwards said references to shots fired were picked up in radio chatter. As part of its exercise Friday, the Coast Guard aired simulated instructions to participants to fire 10 rounds. But Edwards said there were no shots actually fired and there were no suspicious boats.
Obama had traveled to the Pentagon to lay a wreath in a ceremony commemorating the eighth anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
The Department of Homeland Security was created in response to the 9/11 attacks. The Coast Guard and the Secret Service were placed within the department. The massive reorganization was designed to promote sharing of information within the department and among other law enforcement agencies.
oh this sounds familiar! don’t tell me they did not know this in the white house! when will they ever learn? i guess they are busy fighting the obama care and they are to busy with that!
Sounds like a cover up story..something must have really happened.
Noeone would be so stupid and make this on 9/11.
The massive reorganization was designed to promote sharing of information, and still they don’t talk to each other in real time. Maybe they need another massive reorganization for that?
Journalism at it’s best. CNN, the Communist National Nerwork, does it again. It’s a wonder these jokers have a listening audience. The two reporters who reported without any factual checks, jeanne Meserve, and anchor kyra phillips should be fired. Period!
With reporters like this no wonder the internet does so well, and Drudge has an overwhelming audience. news you can count on.