Veteran White House Reporter Reveals Clinton Used Decoy Plane During 2000 Pakistan Visit
WASHINGTON — A veteran White House journalist has disclosed that the Clinton administration privately briefed reporters before using a decoy aircraft during President Bill Clinton’s security-sensitive visit to Pakistan in 2000.
Susan Page, who was serving as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association at the time, said administration officials summoned her for an off-the-record briefing before Clinton traveled from India to Pakistan, according to The Washington Post.
“They told me about the extraordinary security procedures being taken because of the dangers in flying there, including use of the decoy plane,” Page said. “Of course, the dangers threatened the journalists covering the trip as well as President Clinton.”
Page, now Washington bureau chief for USA Today, said she had kept the episode confidential for more than 25 years because of the terms under which she was briefed.
“I haven’t spoken about this episode before, because of the off-the-record ground rules of the discussion,” she said. “But since more than a quarter-century has passed — and since the ruse became evident as soon as President Clinton disembarked in Pakistan — I think it’s OK for me to relay it now.”
During Clinton’s March 2000 visit, an aircraft carrying Air Force One markings landed in Islamabad in view of television cameras. A Secret Service agent who resembled Clinton emerged from the plane before an unmarked aircraft arrived separately with the president aboard.
Page’s disclosure came after The Washington Post reported that President Donald Trump was secretly transferred to another aircraft while leaving Turkey last month because of a credible Iranian threat.
According to the newspaper, Trump was transported in an airport catering truck to an unmarked Air Force C-32A, while journalists and some White House staff continued aboard the former Air Force One, believing the president was still on the aircraft.
The White House had publicly said Trump departed Turkey aboard the former Air Force One.
Unlike the Clinton-era operation, journalists traveling with Trump were not briefed in advance about the aircraft switch or the extent of the security threat, according to the report. Reporters aboard the decoy aircraft were also instructed to keep their window shades closed.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung defended the security precautions without directly addressing the reported deception.
“As the President has said recently, there are many enemies of America who seek his demise, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats,” Cheung said.
Trump later told reporters that he continues to face threats from Iran.
“But if I go, you go. Right?” he said. “Perhaps someday you want to change professions.”
The White House press pool is a rotating group of journalists that travels with the president and provides reports to the broader news media when access is limited. (Source: IANS)
