What were they thinking?

So who has heard of this "fly over" that happened over NYC on Monday, sending people into the streets, fleeing from their office buildings, basically causing panic?

What were "they" thinking? Now, who is the infamous "they"? The government? From what I've read, President Obama was "furious". Who authorized it? I find it all alittle strange that it was a photo op featuring a presidential jet, and the president didn't know about it. The mayor of NYC didn't know about it. It's all alittle weird to me, no?

Offices evacuated!
911 inundated!
People running in panic!

Why wasn't the public, or the people of NYC informed of this ahead of time? Seems as if there was some unnecessary panic. Or at the very least panic that could have been lessened had people been told ahead of time.

"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."
WHAT?

And why fly over the financial district? Flashbacks of 9/11 would certainly come to mind. Have we forgotten what that day was like? I am sure the people of NYC have not. I know I have not. And most Americans have not.

"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."

I guess I just don't get it.

Thoughts?