You’re Just Now Figuring Out That Jersey City Serves As The Stunning Backdrop Of The Statue Of Liberty From That Angle?

I can almost make out the turnpike in the distance there:

On April 27, a plane that usually serves as the president’s plane was flying low over the New York City skyline, trailed closely by two fighter jets. It was a photo opportunity — authorized by several government officials, including Mr. Caldera — that infuriated Mr. Obama.

Earlier: What Kind Of “Photo Shoot” Involves Air Force One Flying At A Low Altitude Over New York Harbor? Publicity For A Harrison Ford Sequel?

What Kind Of “Photo Shoot” Involves Air Force One Flying At A Low Altitude Over New York Harbor? Publicity For A Harrison Ford Sequel?

Which is to say, I don’t get it:

A low-flying commercial jetliner, followed by a pair of military planes, flew low over the lower New York Harbor on Monday morning, skirting close to the Jersey City coastline and prompting evacuations of office buildings in Lower Manhattan and Jersey City, N.J.

Perplexed officials at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey were inundated with calls from ferry passengers and residents in the area, but in fact there was nothing to be alarmed about. The large plane was a backup for Air Force One — a military version of a 747 commercial jetliner — and it was accompanied by two fighter jets, as part of a photo shoot, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Good To Know

Apparently it’s just that easy:

A stack of blank birth certificates has been stolen from the city Health Department’s offices, leading investigators to worry that they may have fallen into the hands of terrorists, The Post has learned.

On March 12, an employee discovered that 104 certificates with the agency’s stamp on them were missing from the department’s offices at 125 Worth St., near City Hall, sources said.

It was the first time in 10 years that blank birth certificates were stolen from the department.

The NYPD and the city’s Department of Investigation are investigating.

“It’s like hitting the Lotto for a terrorist,” one investigator said.

. . .

Investigators believe the theft was carried out by someone who has access to the offices, probably an employee.

Juicy! Nuclear!

When rich rogues aren’t stealing from us and each other to support their conspicuous Manhattan lifestyle, roguish governments are using Manhattan real estate as a front for their unneighborly activities:

The Fifth Avenue building that houses Juicy Couture’s flagship store is secretly owned in part by an Iranian bank that helps fund Tehran’s nuclear program, the feds charged yesterday in a bid for an ownership stake.

The Manhattan federal court case targets a 40 percent interest in 650 Fifth Ave. held by the Assa Corp., an alleged front company for Iran’s state-owned Bank Melli.

The bank has “facilitated the purchase of sensitive materials utilized by Iran’s nuclear and missile industries,” according to the Treasury Department.

Travel Tip!

If you are by chance traveling by rail this holiday weekend and the train seems crowded, check out the first or last car — both of which may be emptier than usual:

The FBI’s source reportedly told agents of an al Qaeda-connected group’s desire to place bombs or suicide bombers inside the first and last Long Island Rail Road commuter cars and detonate them as the train entered Pennsylvania Station in Manhattan, also used by the Washington-New York-Boston Amtrak system and the New York City subway.