Napolitano: ‘Adjustments,’ ‘More to Come’ on Whether Muslim Women in Hijabs Will Undergo Airport

CNSNews ^ | November 15, 2010 | Nicholas Ballasy

[jazusamo]

Complete title:Napolitano: ‘Adjustments,’ ‘More to Come’ on Whether Muslim Women in Hijabs Will Undergo Airport Body Pat-Downs

Homesland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

When asked today if she will insist that Muslim women wearing hijabs must go through full body pat downs before boarding planes, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano did not say yes or no, but told CNSNews.com there will be “adjustments” and “more to come” on the issue.

“On the pat downs, CAIR [the Council on American-Islamic Relations] has recommended that Muslim women wearing hijabs refuse to go through the full body pat downs before boarding planes,” CNSNews.com asked Napolitano at a Monday press conference. “Will you insist that they do go through full body pat downs before boarding planes?”

“Look, we have, like I said before, we are doing what we need to do to protect the traveling public and adjustments will be made where they need to be made,” Napolitano responded. “With respect to that particular issue, I think there will be more to come. But, again, the goal here, you know, we’re not doing this just to do it.

VIDEO 1:54 minutes

“We’re doing it because we need to keep powders and gels and liquids off of planes that are unauthorized just as we need to keep metals off of planes,” Napolitano said. “This is being done in recognizing that we all have a collective role in our security and we all know and can recognize that there are threats and risks that have been articulated by those who seek to harm the United States, particularly in the aviation environment. And, so, you know, what we are doing is designed to really be risk based, to be intelligence based, to be layered like I said, when you get to the airport at that screening center, that’s really--these TSO’s [Transportation Security Officers] are really the last line of protection we have for the aircraft and that’s the way we’re going to evaluate things.”

Napolitano responded to CNSNews.com’s question at a Monday press conference held at Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C., that she called to announce that the department’s “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign was going to be placing advertisements around the Washington, D.C. area to encourage people to report what she called “indicators of terrorism” to law enforcement agencies.

"As Americans head into the busy holiday travel season, it is important to remember that every individual has a role to play in keeping our country safe and secure," Napolitano said in a statement. "The ‘If You See Something, Say Something' campaign encourages travelers and those who work in the hotel industry to identify and report indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats to the proper law enforcement authorities."

Napolitano was joined at the press conference by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John Pistole, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Chief Stephen Holl and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Police Chief Michael Taborn.

Last week, the Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a “Travel Advisory” that included “[s]pecial recommendations for Muslim women who wear hijab.” These recommendations suggest that women wearing the hijab decline to undergo fully body pat-down’s when boarding commercial airflights.

“In this situation [when a woman has been selected for secondary screening], you may be asked to submit to a pat-down or to go through a full body scanner,” the CAIR recommendations say. “If you are selected for the scanner, you may ask to go through a pat-down instead.

“Before you are patted down, you should remind the TSA officer that they are only supposed to pat down the area in question, in this scenario, your head and neck,” says the recommendations. “They SHOULD NOT subject you to a full-body or partial-body pat-down.”

“Instead of the pat-down,” say the recommendations, “you can always request to pat down your own scarf, including head and neck area, and have the officers perform a chemical swipe of your hands.”

[jazusamo]

It took Nappy an awful lot of words to give a non answer.

[RexBeach]

This woman is simply dull and ignorant.

Perfect for the Obama Cabinet.

I wouldn’t hire her as a waitress at an Applebee’s.

[grobdriver]

you should remind the TSA officer that they are only supposed to pat down the area in question

Huh?

[The Sons of Liberty]

Hey Janet Incompetano - either the muzzies, who are known to blow up planes, get the full treatment, or no one does - equal protection under the law!

[WOBBLY BOB]

at least the waitresses perform a useful service.

[Puppage]

WHY IS THIS EVEN UP FOR DISCUSSION?

[jazusamo]

But, they’re the ROP. /sarc

[Vor Lady]

“We’re doing it because we need to keep powders and gels and liquids off of planes that are unauthorized just as we need to keep metals off of planes,” Napolitano said. “This is being done in recognizing that we all have a collective role in our security and we all know and can recognize that there are threats and risks that have been articulated by those who seek to harm the United States, particularly in the aviation environment. And, so, you know, what we are doing is designed to really be risk based, to be intelligence based, to be layered like I said, when you get to the airport at that screening center, that’s really--these TSO’s [Transportation Security Officers] are really the last line of protection we have for the aircraft and that’s the way we’re going to evaluate things.”

As inarticulate as this paragraph is, how did she ever get elected to anything? It sounds as if gels, powders and metals are the problem not Islamist nutjobs. Sheesh, am I glad I gave up flying? You betcha!

[momtothree]

Okay, let me get this right? I would have to either have a full body scan or be pat down in order to fly BUT if I was wearing a Muslim female religious outfit then I could have my hands swiped and someone feel only my head and neck? Does anyone else ever feel like they are living in the Twilight Zone or is that just me? Just a thought.

[EBH]

Fine, if improper screenings are performed...then everyone who would normally board that flight should refuse to fly.

[Sacajaweau]

Separation of Church and State actually applies here. The Muzzies are hiding behind their “supposed, imposed” church law.

[jazusamo]

Good question...I would make a quick guess that her boss may have something to do with it.

[dforest]

People should refuse to fly unless Muslims get the same treatment we do.

After all, they are the ones we need to worry about.

[kosciusko51]

You know what, we should open the American Hijab store in every airport outside the security check point, so that we can buy these for our wives and daughters when we fly. Then we can say “My Christian faith, I mean, my Mulism faith prohibits this search”.

[albie]

Front page of Drudge has a pic of a nun getting the pat down! I’ve seen it myself. My 87 year old mother in law has gone through this BS! Can the new congress do something about this idiot before she gets us all killed or we just stroke out from the insanity?

[a fool in paradise]

er uh hem haw.

Exclude the only group that is attacking this nation.

Why are we kissing the rumps of Isalmic supremacists that want to see us dead?

When is CAIR going to go after “so called Islamic” terrorists and point out they are giving peace loving muslims a bad name? Oh that’s right, CAIR got caught supporting terrorist groups.

They can claim they are a clean organization “now” but that does not right the past associations.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Janet from another planet speaks.

[a fool in paradise]

They will also tell you that the hihab is voluntary (so voluntary that even non-muslim women like Hillary, Michelle Obama, and Nancy Pelosi are willing to wear one in muslim territories).

Have a woman take them into a private room for a strip search then. Women can see women.

[William of Barsoom]

Only a confused and demoralized people, filled with the sillyness of Political Correctness, would not be able to be clear of mind on what to do here.

I remember when we used to laugh at our Village Idiots — and now, we quietly just do what they say too.

The only unforgivable thing here is that it’s even worth discussing as though it was a serious topic.

CAIR is making fools of us all, with our official willing acceptance of their arguments as being worthy of serious consideration.

If we can never manage to sort this out according to Common Sense, then we, as a people, will richly deserve the storm that will consume us all.

Idiots.

[WayneS]

Okay. That settles it. I’m wearing a hijab the next time I fly!

;-)

[grumpygresh]

Civil disobedience. What if a group stages a dedicated protest by purchasing the cheapest possible one-way ticket and then refuses the body scanner and pat downs all while wearing a burka or hijab?

[Sergio]

TSA Bookmark.

[240B]

That is part of the problem. The Leftist and Judges no longer believe in ‘Law’.

They just what want to do.

Their point of view is, “The Law is what I say it is.”

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

“We’re doing it because we need to keep powders and gels and liquids off of planes that are unauthorized just as we need to keep metals off of planes,” Napolitano said.

Complete moron.

[wxgesr]

Where do we get one? I see a business opportunity here!

[WayneS]

...AND I'm going to open a hijab rental outlet in every major metropolitan airport in the country. People will be able to rent a hijab at the airport from which they are departing and return it at the airport at their destination. My stores will be called We-Be-Hijabs and we will accept all major credit cards. I'll even try to cut a deal with the airlines to allow people to trade in frequent flyer miles to pay their hijab rental fees.

I'll probably even be able to get 'stimulus funds' to start my new business.

[Pearls Before Swine]

I wouldn’t hire her as a waitress at an Applebee’s.

She's completely unqualified to be a waitress at Hooters. I might put her in a Ronald McDonald suit if the labor market was tight.

[WayneS]

See my Post #26.

;-)

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

lOVE IT.....

hOW ABOUT START suing TSA employees as they pat you down.
Request a police officer immediately and file the complaint right there. Have lawyer with you...better yet have several witnesses and a lawyer with you.
Ha.

[Grams A]

“If You See Something, Say Something”.

So we can get your name right on the lawsuit against you by the DOJ.

[kosciusko51]

In the "Road to Serfdom", F.A. Hayek has a chapter entitled, "Why the Worst get on Top". It is a good explanation of why the Village Idiots are where they are.

[John O]

When is CAIR going to go after “so called Islamic” terrorists and point out they are giving peace loving muslims a bad name? Oh that’s right, CAIR got caught supporting terrorist groups.

They can claim they are a clean organization “now” but that does not right the past associations.

They are moslem. Therefore they are terrorist. They can never be clean.

(Individual members can be clean if they convert to Christianity, however, they can never be trusted as moslems are commanded to lie if they can gain advantage from it)

[kosciusko51]

Great minds think alike. See Post #9.

[kara37]

Someone should start a Rent-A-Hijab store at every major airport.

[jazusamo]

LOL!

Sounds like a sure-fire business to me. They have to be cheap to make, they’re just a black sack with three holes cut in one end and sleeves sewn on two of them.

[WayneS]

Archie Bunker posited the ultimate solution to airliner security back in the 1970s:

His plan: EVERY passenger is issued a loaded handgun as they board the plane. The weapons are retrieved as the passengers disembark.

It’d be simple, effective and MUCH less expensive than the crap we’re doing now.

[opentalk]

Seems her non-answer that everyone will go through same guide lines, indicates their exemption. Cair seems to have a lot of power with this administration.

[kosciusko51]

Sorry, I meant #14. I was replying to #9. D’oh.

[Izzy Dunne]

“If You See Something, Say Something” campaign was going to be placing advertisements around the Washington, D.C. area to encourage people to report what she called “indicators of terrorism” to law enforcement agencies.

I suppose that saying something like "That man over there is obviously part of a group having a large number of people sworn to the destruction of my country", means that they'll get right on it and pat HIM down too, huh?

[WayneS]

I remember when we used to laugh at our Village Idiots ...

Now we elect him president...

[ZULU]

This should generate a National Revolt.

These bastards occasioned the incident which generated this offensive search and now they are claiming religious exemption from what everyone else has to go through.

This is Stealth Sharia.

WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!

[WayneS]

We can even offer “loaner” Korans to complete the look...

[jazusamo]

Well said! Agree completely.

[massmike]

Meanwhile....here's a nun being frisked by a muslim....

[WayneS]

Great.

Let’s do it.

Where do you want to start?

I was thinking Washington DC, Philly, New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, Denver and Dallas-Fort Worth might be the best places for our first stores.

[jazusamo]

Words fail me.

I’m thinking things about CAIR I won’t post.

[240B]

You make a VERY GOOD POINT.

How will they possibly know who is under burka? Or if the person is even Muslim? There genuine Muslim ID card. And, there is no against a man wearing a burka in the US.

So, I propose a protest were we all go out a buy burka costumes, and go TSA and then take it off on the plane.

Just a thought? From what I read of the rule, there could be nothing they could do about it. They can’t force anyone to keep wearing it. And they can’t force you to proof of your religion.

That is absurdly silly what they are doing is. It is complete backwards logic and it cannot be enforce in any logical way.

Let’s have an all burka day in honor of muslim outreach! Hey, I’m am doing this in honor of Islam.

[crosshairs]

No muzzie should get through without a full body cavity search. And that includes the baggage handlers.

[WayneS]

Seeing that, with an American flag on the wall in the back-ground, makes my stomach hurt...

[opentalk]

Bill O’Reilly is covering this in his show tonight. - Do TSA rules apply to Muslim women? Napolitano will not be able to dance around an answer much longer.