STORM2K

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg accused the head of a House of Representatives panel on terrorism of lacking courage on Wednesday for shunning the traditional Times Square New Year's eve celebration because of security worries.
Bloomberg, appearing on morning television programs Friday, equated showing up for the street party with defying terrorists.

Extra precautions, including ones he declined to discuss, were being taken to keep revelers safe, he said.

Rep. Christopher Shays, a Connecticut Republican on the House Select Committee on Homeland Security and chairman of a terrorism subcommittee, said in a television interview on Tuesday that he would not go to Times Square "for anything."

"I wouldn't go into places when you're packed and where if there was panic, a lot of injuries would take place," Shays said on Connecticut's WVIT-TV.

Bloomberg has lined up a former U.S. Army prisoner of war in Iraq, retired Specialist Shoshana Johnson, to help ring in the new year with the dropping of a brightly lighted glass ball on a tower overlooking Times Square at the stroke of midnight.

"Maybe the congressman should talk to her a little bit about courage," Bloomberg said on CBS' "The Early Show." Johnson was shot in both ankles during her capture. "You're going to see a million people here who have the courage to come," the mayor added.

This year the skies above New Year's Eve revelers in New York and some other major U.S. cities will be off-limits to certain aircraft and patrolled by warplanes as part of increased vigilance for terror attacks.

Nine days after raising America's terror alert to its second highest level due to heightened fear of attack, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said on Tuesday, the same day Shays made his comments, that temporary flight restrictions would be in place over Las Vegas, New York City, Washington and Chicago.

© Reuters 2003. All Rights Reserved.

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okay...okay... Maybe Congressman Shays is overreacting, but Mayor Bloomberg was very unprofessional with that comment IMHO. The more appropriate response would have been, "While Congressman Shays has the right to think whatever he likes I have been informed of no specific threats against our great city and I encourage people to come out and enjoy the festivities."

I just think that maybe this was harsh on Bloomberg's part.

Plus, God forbid, something happen... Bloomberg is going to look like an idiot after this. Congressman Shays is just being cautious IMHO.

Your thoughts?

It is Shay's actions that the terrorists want. They want our lives to change. If they can change our way of life, then they win.

I disagree; I don't believe Mayor Bloomberg was being overly harsh. The goal of terrorists is to influence how people go about their daily lives, not only through acts of terror, but by the thought and fear of possible acts. If we let these terrorists influence our lives by being afraid to go to certain functions, then they've already won.

Although I'd personally never want to go to Times Square for New Years Eve, that has nothing to do with any possible terrorist act. So many precautions have been taken that I would feel very safe. Mayor Bloomberg's message was that people should not be afraid to do what they'd normally do, and that's why he came down so hard on Congressman Shays.

I understand what you are saying and I agree, but I feel that his remarks are very harsh and disrespectful. Using Ms. Johnson as a parallel to Congressman Shay's fears is not very respectful to either, but that is JMHO.

I know that we can't cave in to the fear. That wasn't the point of me posting this. I agree with that point. My point was the harshness of Mayor Bloomberg's tone.

As a side note... I don't think that not attending the event in Times Square is a lack of courage, it is a precaution. His point mainly lies on the large number of people there. I wouldn't go either but it isn't because I lack courage... I like to think of it as having common sense and not heading into a crowd of people in various states of alertness (ie: drunkeness, panic, etc)

If his harshness hurt someone's feelings, tough crap. People need to get tougher skins in this great country. Quit worrying about hurting someone's feelings. JMO

blizzard, blizzard, blizzard... you have misunderstood me wxbuddy. As a politician or a public figure there is a certain amount of professionalism one must have. I was posting on the professionalism of the comments made by Mayor Bloomberg. Maybe I am wrong for doing that. I don't care if he hurt Congressman Shay's feelings, but I do think that he is class and tact is in question here.

wx247 wrote:blizzard, blizzard, blizzard... you have misunderstood me wxbuddy. As a politician or a public figure there is a certain amount of professionalism one must have. I was posting on the professionalism of the comments made by Mayor Bloomberg. Maybe I am wrong for doing that. I don't care if he hurt Congressman Shay's feelings, but I do think that he is class and tact is in question here.

Point taken, sorry for the misunderstanding...

That's why I would never make it as a public figure (politically speaking that is)..lol