Coast Guard scare on Potomac River was a normal training exercise (photos and video) Done On 9/11 Nice Job!
A Coast Guard scare that occurred on the Potomac River early September 11th morning was a normal
training exercise, according to Coast Guard Vice Admiral John Currier. According to a press conference held by Vice Admiral Currier, the media (CNN and Fox) overheard discussions taking place on a Marine frequency channel, misinterpreted them, and reported them to the public. Channel 81 is a discreet Marine channel, somehow their signal was intercepted and taken out of context, according to Currier.
The incident occurred near the Pentagon, at the approximate time that President Obama was traveling on the Memorial Bridge. Reports stated that the Coast Guard was holding back a suspicious boat and that ten rounds of ammunition had been fired. The security scare put many on edge as people continued to remember those lost in the horrific terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001. President Obama had just finished speaking at the Pentagon as media reports of the activity were reaching heightened levels.
According to Currier, since the exercise was routine, there was no need to notify state, local, or even federal authorities. Currier stated that such exercises are performed approximately four times per week. One of the interesting questions asked by a reporter during the press conference centered on the Coast Guard’s response to questioning during the initial mix up. The reporter stated that the Coast Guard had basically shut down their press inquiry office. As calls were made to the Coast Guard to confirm whether or not it was a training session, their questions were not answered until the press conference was held.
Vice Admiral John Currier stated that their agency will be reviewing their press policies to ensure that they have information readily available to media to ensure that this type of confusion is prevented in the future.
One of the greatest misconceptions that occurred was when someone stated to have overhead the words, “bang, bang, and bang” over Marine channel 81. The media took hold of the information and the public thought that shots were fired. Vice Admiral Currier stated that in fact, no shots had been fired. Here is a quote from the press conference,
“What we’ve seen is a reaction to a training exercise that really was just that. Our people have to train. They do it on a routine and normal basis. We coordinate our training with the other federal agencies. We have very, very well-developed protocols for protection of the national capitol region.
This being a normal training exercise, preplanned, the coordination was minimal with other federal agencies. I want to re- emphasize that no shots were fired. There was no suspect vessel. There was no criminal activity. This was a preplanned, normal training exercise.”
Photo 1- With the Jefferson Memorial in the background, a U.S. Coast Guard boat is seen on the Potomac River in Washington, Friday, Sept. 11, 2009. The Coast Guard was conducting a training exercise in the Potomac River moments before President Barack Obama crossed a nearby bridge for a Sept. 11 commemoration. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Photo 2-
U.S. Coast Guard boats are seen on the Potomac River in Washington, Friday, Sept. 11, 2009. The Coast Guard was conducting a training exercise in the Potomac River moments before President Barack Obama crossed a nearby bridge for a Sept. 11 commemoration. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
Source: Examiner
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