Obama Blames "Systemic Failures" For Plane Attack (System didn't fail, Obama's people failed)

NY Times ^ | 12/30/2009 | Reuters

[tobyhill]

President Barack Obama on Tuesday blamed "human and systemic failures" for allowing a botched Christmas Day attack aboard a Detroit-bound airliner and a U.S. official said the incident was linked to al Qaeda.

Interrupting a vacation in Hawaii for the second straight day to address the U.S. public, Obama listed several mistakes that allowed a 23-year-old Islamic militant from Nigeria to smuggle explosives onto a plane to the United States.

"What is apparent was that there was a mix of human and systemic failures that contributed to this potential catastrophic breach of security," Obama told reporters.

"There were bits of information available within the intelligence community that could have and should have been pieced together," he said.

Obama, a Democrat, is under pressure from opposition Republicans who fault the administration for not preventing such an attack and the president for keeping silent about it for three days.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect who claims to have been

[BigLittle]

No failures,we just need an UNDERWEAR CZAR for the system to work.

[gov_bean_ counter]

This is one of the more idiotic statements to date. In the INTEL world humans ARE the system. Clearly this man and/or no one in his close circle has any experience with systems design or management. Idiots, all of them.

[RU88]

Having Janet Incompetano in charge of securing our country's safety is many times more frightening than any terrorist. I'm predicting she'll be the next one thrown under the proverbial barry bus.

[Falcon4.0]

"systemic failures"

is just another why to blame Bush. He's stating that these "failures" were already a part of the system before he was anointed.

[tobyhill]

His referral to “systemic failure” is nothing but trying to blame Bush. The system had been in place for 8 years before this attack and seemed to be working just fine until Obama’s people got in office.

[tobyhill]

Obama wants an open government then he needs to tell us where the system failed under President Bush. I want examples.

[gov_bean_ counter]

I fully understand Obie's intent, but the statement is idiotic for the very reason you stated (the processes and procedures left in place by the Bush administration were successful).

[blueyon]

All Obie the toddler in chief does is BLAME, Blame Bush, Blame the system, Blame the Corporations, Blame the Drug Co., and on and on and on and on.

Blame Blame Blame Blame......Be a man Obama, take responsibility like a President does!

[tobyhill]

Obama has been able to use this “blame Bush” crapola for way too long now, with the media's help, and now it's time the GOP fought back hard and decisive.
The Rats started this internal US battle but we will finish it.

[Miss Didi]

"Mr. President, it's time to...GET A GRIP!"

[timetostand]

Take the automobile for example. The car has many “systems” working together to make it run effectively and safely. You drive the car for eight years and it works with no problems.
I new driver comes along and Bam !!totals it in an accident and then blames the car!!

[Venturer]

We could probably start building a better security force by hiring competent people who could pass a written test for the job instead of hiring people who can barely speak English.

[Caipirabob]

Unacceptable. Obama - you’re fired!

[who knows what evil?]

Hmmmm...so it’s “I, I, I, me, me, I” until a major screw up like this, then it’s “WE blew it”. Got it. Surprised he didn’t say “they blew it”.

[Kozak]

The systemic failure, and it does go back to Bush, is a failure to recognize that the enemy is Islam, and until we recognize that we can’t effectively counter it.

[TexasCajun]

Janet, if you can't identify and catch this guy will all the pre-existing intel from his father no less, the cash-bought one-way no-luggage no passport Nigerian muslim then you have put Americans at risk for further successful attacks.

[Carley]

He’s defending Nappy by suggesting the system worked....after the fire.

[thinking]

Where is Mrs. Bill Clinton....her administration is largely responsible for this terrorist attack...

[thinking]

Where is Mrs. Bill Clinton....her administration is largely responsible for this terrorist attack...