Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Napolitano Acknowledges Security Failed in Allowing Terror Suspect on Plane
FOX News ^ | December 28, 2009 | Staff

Posted on 12/28/2009 6:54:27 AM PST by MaestroLC

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano conceded Monday that airline security failed in allowing a Nigerian on a terror watch list and allegedly armed with explosives onto a Detroit-bound flight, a turnaround from her declaration a day day earlier that "the system worked."

The secretary's comment Sunday was widely criticized, given that suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was foiled because his explosive mixture did not properly detonate and he was stopped in his tracks by vigilant passengers.

The suspect, who carried the explosive in his underwear, passed through security at two airports -- in Nigeria and Amsterdam, Netherlands. Plus he was not on any "no-fly" list, even though he was on a massive federal database of people with suspected ties to terrorists and his father apparently had warned U.S. embassy officials in Nigeria about his son.

"Here, clearly, something went awry. We want to fix that problem," Napolitano told Fox News on Monday.

She said officials are doing a complete review to determine what needs to change to prevent such a passenger from clearing security in the future.

"No secretary of homeland security would sit here and say that a system worked prior to this incident which allowed this individual to get on this plane," Napolitano said.

Her comments marked a change in tone from the day before, when she lauded security officials' handling of the affair.

"I think the important thing to recognize here is that once this incident occurred, everything happened that should have," she said on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. "We trained for this. We planned for this."

On CNN's "State of the Union," she said: "One thing I'd like to point out is that the system worked."

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bhodhs; failed; flight253; miserablefailure; napolitano; security; terror; thesystemworked
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-111 next last
To: crazyshrink

“So we need to be thinking like a Marxist to out fox the Obama Marxists.

You mean like wondering if the “Rahm strategy” of never letting a crisis go to waste is going to be implemented when a terrorist attack happens around election time
and is used to suspend the Constitution and implement marshall law??


That would be one example, but I am certain there are other ideas being floated by Obama’s Marxists on how to benefit from this incident.


61 posted on 12/28/2009 7:59:26 AM PST by Presbyterian Reporter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: MaestroLC
Her first response (i.e. Obama's response) was like any five year old's...."It's not MY fault!"

She obviously got enough flak to try to "clarify" her infantile, brainless comment yesterday.

Too late, Janet. The whole world now knows you're a fool.

Unfortunately that includes the terrorists.

62 posted on 12/28/2009 8:00:34 AM PST by ohioWfan (Proud Mom of a Bronze Star recipient!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MaestroLC
Story on page 1... the "the system worked" quotes on the Sunday TV shows.

The correction on page 43B -- where no one sees it.

63 posted on 12/28/2009 8:02:08 AM PST by Pusterfuss (I will give your president the same respect you gave mine.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: chgomac
but is it possible they are profiling older white women

A few years ago, my late mother-in-law, due to failing health, had to sell her house in Florida and move back north. My wife accompanied her on the flight; her mom was carrying all of her significant jewelry collection with her, rather than trusting the moving company with it. In Miami, the cretins at the security checkpoint made her open up her bag of valuables, and they oohed and ahhed over every single piece. It should have been pretty obvious that an eighty-something woman wasn't a tremendous security threat, but they were having their bit of fun. My wife said that she was afraid that there were now dozens of people in the area who had learned that this old woman was carrying tens of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry. Both my wife and her mother were terrified that they might be robbed in Miami, or in Newark. All this in the name of security.

64 posted on 12/28/2009 8:02:51 AM PST by TruthShallSetYouFree (Kenya tell me where Obama was born?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: chgomac

Sounds like they have hired a bunch of pervs. Need to pat down women carefully.


65 posted on 12/28/2009 8:02:54 AM PST by Marty62 (former Marty60)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: Former Proud Canadian

So my question to the Arizona voters . . . . (do I really need to)


66 posted on 12/28/2009 8:02:59 AM PST by mazda77 (Rubio for US Senate - West FL22nd - Dockery for Gov.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: a fool in paradise
She said that the system “worked” because agencies were notified within 60-90 minutes. Clock that at 90 minutes if you don’t know when then last group was contacted. 60 minutes is to make the numbers seem better.

Note that she didn't mention that the "president" of the United States wasn't notified for three hours.

Is that part of her "system working," I wonder??

67 posted on 12/28/2009 8:04:27 AM PST by ohioWfan (Proud Mom of a Bronze Star recipient!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: Optimist

DHS originally had a bunch of competent people running key position inside the agency. I know I worked with them, but over time they replaced virtually all of them with lawyers and the technical “hands on” people finally left or just receeded into the woodwork.


68 posted on 12/28/2009 8:05:37 AM PST by mazda77 (Rubio for US Senate - West FL22nd - Dockery for Gov.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: MaestroLC

I think the important thing to recognize here is that once this incident occurred, everything happened that should have,” she said on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. “We trained for this. We planned for this.”

The nerve... A PASSENGER saved the plane!


69 posted on 12/28/2009 8:06:44 AM PST by SmartInsight (Dems in power are a clear and present danger to our freedom and the survival of our nation.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: submarinerswife

“He paid cash for his one way ticket. No carry on luggage. He would have made a drug smuggling list 25 years ago. Now, he doesn’t get noticed.”

What would you expect from a woman who was appointed to her position because of her sexual preference? Obama chose her as a sop to the diversity mindset.


70 posted on 12/28/2009 8:14:24 AM PST by Darnright (There can never be a complete confidence in a power which is excessive. - Tacitus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: MaestroLC

I saw her on Fox this morning...as well as yesterday.

I like to fall out of my chair when she declared that the “system worked.”

The Fox people reamed her a new one where the sun don’t shine. Which she rightfully deserved. Imagine saying that such a major failure was an example of the system working.

She must think we were all born at night...LAST NIGHT.

This morning, as she was getting a new behind handed to her that not one other media outlet would dare...she finally muttered...”no secretary would say that the failures of this past Christmas are a success of any kind.”

Well Janet...ya think?

I wonder who gave her that talking point. Cause this woman is the dumbest of the dumb. I predict a move to fire this woman.

Let’s not forget last year when she got all on TV declaring tea party attendees to be instruments of brutal militia groups returning for wars filled with bloodlust.

Somebody’s pulling this woman’s silly strings and she’s too stupid to tell them NO.

Probably Rahm or Axelrod.


71 posted on 12/28/2009 8:16:48 AM PST by Fishtalk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ohioWfan

Maybe the President of the United States didn’t want his coloring book time interrupted.


72 posted on 12/28/2009 8:21:12 AM PST by a fool in paradise (Question authority!Who is the University of East Anglia to drive the 'Global Climate Change' agenda?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: MaestroLC

And remember: This is ALL on OBAMA, here. Homeland Security is run from the White House.


73 posted on 12/28/2009 8:21:36 AM PST by RushIsMyTeddyBear (I don't have a 'Cousin Pookie'.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MaestroLC
Napolitano Acknowledges Security Failed in Allowing Terror Suspect on Plane


74 posted on 12/28/2009 8:22:10 AM PST by ElkGroveDan (Get rid of the dirty moderates. Get rid of them,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ohioWfan

75 posted on 12/28/2009 8:23:11 AM PST by a fool in paradise (Question authority!Who is the University of East Anglia to drive the 'Global Climate Change' agenda?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: All

Interesting her use of the term “criminal investigation” which matches the Uhbamuh stance on how terrorism should be treated as just a criminal act rather than an act of war.


76 posted on 12/28/2009 8:24:01 AM PST by WillVoteForFood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: MaestroLC
"I think the important thing to recognize here is that once this incident occurred, everything happened that should have," she said on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. "We trained for this. We planned for this." On CNN's "State of the Union," she said: "One thing I'd like to point out is that the system worked."

If he was able to light the device, then this was a massive failure. The only thing that saved the lives of those people was incompetence on the part of the terrorists. For Napolitano's part it was just dumb luck.

77 posted on 12/28/2009 8:25:21 AM PST by ElkGroveDan (Get rid of the dirty moderates. Get rid of them,)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RushIsMyTeddyBear; ~Kim4VRWC's~; MestaMachine; HollyB

“The system worked”~J.Napolitano

“Security failed”~J.Napolitano

Napolitano: “Eeny, meeny, miny,...this is the way we let Mo go.”


78 posted on 12/28/2009 8:32:12 AM PST by 444Flyer (Save the SEALs!(Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe, Petty Officer Jonathan Keefe/ Julio Heurtas))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: MaestroLC

Mistakes were made.

79 posted on 12/28/2009 8:32:57 AM PST by BP2 (I think, therefore I'm a conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: chgomac

I think that you may be right about picking on older white women. They love to go for the make-up that they think old white women might carry in their purse or carry on.


80 posted on 12/28/2009 8:37:20 AM PST by Eva (Obama bin Lyin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-111 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson