Posted on 12/11/2004 11:43:16 AM PST by wagglebee
Norman Mineta should have been the first to leave Bush's Cabinet, not one of the few asked to stay!
The holiday travel period is a good reminder of just how far we still need to go when it comes to airline security in a post-9/11 world, and although Mineta’s power has been largely usurped by the Department of Homeland Security, it was he who set the mindset for the post-9/11 world.
There have been several significant developments in airline security in the last few months. None bode well.
First, what was touted as a passenger profiling system was instituted at Logan International Airport in Boston (from which two of the four airlines involved on 9/11 departed) really doesn’t profile; yet it has drawn its first lawsuit.
The ACLU – surprise, surprise – maintains that the new system relies on race and ethnicity. I wish! Unfortunately, the architect of the new system, state police Sgt. Peter DiDominica, has gone to great lengths to say that those factors which united the 19 on 9/11 - race, gender, religion, ethnicity and appearance – will not be relied upon. Go figure.
Second, the FBI agent who authored the pre-9/11 memo now known as the “Phoenix Memo” – a recommendation that the State Department coordinate with the FBI so that flight students from Middle Eastern countries could be investigated – has now said that there was concern over racial profiling that stopped action on his recommendation.
Ken Williams is the FBI agent who wrote the memo dated July 10, 2001, and he offered those sentiments in his first-ever interview, given to the Arizona Republic, as he was receiving an award from war veterans.
Third, the TSA has instituted new policies on body searches that involve “use of the back of the hand when screening sensitive body areas, which include the breasts (females only) genitals and buttocks.” In other words, we’re still looking for bombs, not bombers.
There is lots of talk at this time of year about the administration re-establishing priorities. Unfortunately, there is not enough discussion about airport and border security. Maybe Bernard Kerik will end the nonsense. What I do know is that now is the perfect opportunity to set the stage for a more aggressive posture with regard to our enemy.
And just to be safe, I’ve come up with a few questions that should be used at the Senate confirmation hearings for any prospective secretaries who will play a role in the war on terror:
“Mr./Ms. Secretary-designate, do you acknowledge that the war on terror is a war against radical Islam?
Mr./Ms. Secretary-designate, would you agree that the 19 hijackers on 9/11 were all associated with radical Islam?
And that they had their race, gender, religion, ethnicity and appearance in common?
And that in looking for those who would emulate the 19 on 9/11, we should be mindful of that which those individuals had in common?
Even if some call that profiling?”
Only a “yes, yes, yes, yes and yes” are acceptable.
Absolutely effing A. Now everyone will see what happens when "loyalty" trumps competence. Before the inevitable flames from the Koolaid drinkers commence, bugger off.
Well, Kerik aint gonna change it now.
We could always jump on the impeachment bandwagon with the libs. Suppose that would get President Bush's attention about his decision to keep Mineta?
What a waste of my time.
If Dubya was unhappy with Mineta he would be out. It is clear that Mineta's policies are Dubya's policies.
Mineta is useless. Actually, he's worse than useless. He should have been handed his walking papers on 3 November.
Is it me, or is the flavor of this second term cabinet turning out to be more, well, "left" than the previous one?
'nuff said.
He's an overt cultural Marxist.
Spreading misery on everyone, because he has he head stuck where the Sun doesn't shine.
I don't care about his experiences. I care that he puts his psychobabble problems on the rest of
the country, rather than doing what is right and minimizing the trouble and inconvenience on the traveling public.
He should resign if he is that intellectually small, and psychologically damaged.
Or is it that we voted for President Bush, we bought him, we own him, and we want him to do what we want?
You'd think the profiling would be at least as focussed as the police use to profile drug dealers/transporters. In the case of preventing terrorism, it should be MORE focussed. If I was a drug dealer, I'd file a complaint for denying equal protection -- i.e., more profiling than a terrorist gets. But then, running drugs is ten times worse than smuggling an atom bomb into the country, or flying an airplane into a skyscraper, right? ;
Bravo! The refusal to profile, based on the *obvious* knowledge of the identity of our enemies, is frustratingly, and perhaps fatally, INEXPLICABLE! Americans need an explanation for this agonizing folly.
I nominate Michelle Malkin to replace Mineta. If Bush feels beholden to have an "Asian" in his cabinet (cannot imagine any other reason Mineta hasn't been fired) let's get one with brains and courage.
Then "Dubya" is obviously an ass.
Such men are dangerous!
That is why "W" keeps him close.
A ha! Another Kerry supporter. Who knew there were so many.
Here's a tip: don't fall in love with a politician. Ever.
After the next airplane or two is crashed into more buildings, he'll go as well as his insane "don't check Arabs passengers!" policy. The man is a loathsome race pimp.
Saw an old man getting frisked at the airport last night. My blood is boiling.
If the goal is fostering an ineffective government bureaucracy at the DOT and TSA, then dim-witted Dem Mineta is the man for the job.
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