The International Association of Firefighters’ video Giuliani Gets Exposed As Fraud by Firefighters is a disgusting, disingenuous, politically motivated hit piece on former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Before you watch it on YouTube, please read and see the following.

Firefighter Jimmy Riches, of Engine 4, did not die because the FDNY’s radios did not work on 9/11. Jimmy Riches died because murdering terrorists callously attacked innocent civilians in New York City where the firefighters of the FDNY are rightfully known as the Bravest. Jimmy Riches died because he had the courage to answer the call, stand by his Brothers in a building with a huge fire burning over his head, and do what firefighters always do, their duty to community. 343 active duty FDNY firefighters died on 9/11, including 14 members of Ladder 15 / Engine 4 firehouse, among them Jimmy Riches and my brother-in-law, Ladder 15’s LT Joseph G. Leavey. They died heroes, not the victims of a Mayor who bought radios under a no bid contract.

Engine 4’s driver, Bobby Humphrey, told me 5 years ago that he heard Engine 4 on the radio, while they were upstairs and he was below at the staging area. Jimmy Riches went with Engine 4 to assist people in the North Tower. Alongside firefighters from Engine 28 and Truck 7 [Ladder 7], Engine 4 was evacuating yet selflessly stopped to search the North Tower’s lobby. Engine 28 and Truck 7 had barely cleared the building (and survived) when the North Tower collapsed. Bobby was interviewed by Dennis Smith for Report from Ground Zero and is quoted there saying much the same thing. Click on the image below.

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Oh, by the way, the radios used on 9/11 were not the radios Giuliani ordered; they were the old ones. The ones Giuliani ordered are currently being used by the FDNY today. Some of the firefighters did in fact hear the evacuation order that morning and either went to tell others, continued to assist in rescue operations, or hesitated while evacuating to search further. Because of the limits of the technology it took an additional 5 years — after 9/11 — to fully test, tweak, configure to speak on one channel with the NYPD in an emergency, and field those radios. Because of the limits of the technology, on 9/11 and still today, no radio currently in existence overcomes all the obstacles and atmospheric conditions that detract from communications while operating in high-rise towers.

Hundreds of firefighters were, six weeks after 9/11, crawling all over and under a very dangerous Pile. They were supposed to coordinate their search efforts with the construction workers operating the equipment to safely remove the crushed towers so those murdered could be recovered. Yet many firefighters were placing themselves and others at unnecessary risk.

While Rudy Giuliani pulled them off at that point, he did not “have them arrested” when “families and off-duty firefighters” protested “Rudy’s appalling lack of respect.” The Harold Shaitenberger organized and IAFF produced hit piece implies that Rudy Giuliani had numerous 9/11 family members and firefighters arrested when no family member was ever arrested for protesting. A few union leaders and one firefighter were arrested (the latter for punching a NYPD police officer in the face). Only that firefighter was prosecuted and he got slapped on the wrist, paying a small fine after pleading guilty to the reduced misdemeanor offense of being disorderly during the protest.

75 firefighters per shift were allowed back on the Pile a few days later when cooler heads prevailed, firefighters agreed to operate safely while on the Pile, and FDNY battalion chiefs were ordered to closely supervise their movements.

Despite IAFF Union President Harold Shaitenberger’s endorsement of John Kerry, FDNY firefighters overwhelmingly voted to reelect George W. Bush in 2004. In addition, FDNY firefighters booed FDNY firefighter union (UFA) President Steve Cassidy’s choice for 2008 [Hillary Clinton] off the stage in 2001.

It is one thing to have an opinion about Rudy Giuliani’s worthiness for President yet it is another to twist the truth about what happened on 9/11 to fit your own political objectives. Those that cry and scream that others are using 9/11 for political gain when they themselves are doing exactly the same thing are hypocrites. If Rudy Giuliani is fair game for his 9/11 related actions, then the veracity of the statements and political and personal motivations of those using 9/11 as a weapon to attack him are also fair game.

Terrorists caused the deaths of Jimmy Riches, Joe Leavey, and nearly 3,000 people on 9/11. I did not hear that mentioned once in the following video and wonder why not? I think we all know the answer to that question.

There is more to say about the lies being offered against Rudy Giuliani yet there will be more IAFF orchestrated attacks on him as the campaign heats up.