International Association of Firefighters vs. Rudy Giuliani Over 9/11

The International Association of Firefighters is lashing out at Rudy Giuliani, and his legendary status with the 9/11 attacks in New York. They have released a video in the attempt to voice their opinions about Rudy Giuliani entitled, "Rudy Giuliani, Urban Legend."

At the beginning of the video, Harold A. Schaitberger, the IAFF General President reminds firefighters and their families that the Union cannot force them to vote, or not to vote, for certain individuals. It can, however, make suggestions and give information on views about the different candidates.

One of the facts that is pointed out is that it was determined in 1993 that the radios that the firefighters in New York were equipped with did not work properly in the World Trade Center. During the first attack on the World Trade Center, the firefighters realized that they needed new radios if they were ever going to attempt to fight a battle in a skyscraper again.

The responsibility for these new radios would fall on the Mayor's office. Rudy Giuliani approved new radios to be issued in March of 2001, but no testing had been done on the radios. The International Association of Firefighters believes that there would have been less firefighter's lives lost during the 9/11 attacks if they had been equipped with radios that were powerful enough to carry throughout the complex.

The International Association of Firefighters never approved the radios that were issued. If the radios had been given to the Union previously, it would have been learned that the new radios were even more faulty then the old radios that had been given up.

During the attacks on 9/11, at 9:32 a.m., Chief Callan ordered all New York firefighters in the North Tower to report to the lobby immediately. Even after repeating the message, none of the fire companies present responded to the call. Twenty minutes later, the South Tower collapsed.