Posted on 01/01/2010 4:29:16 AM PST by reaganaut1
The Obama administration is scurrying to implement new procedures to find and keep potential terrorists off U.S.-bound planes, as results of a preliminary intelligence review flow into the White House.
Emerging as a central focus are deficiencies in the U.S.'s network of watch lists, a system designed after the Sept. 11 attacks to keep tabs on potential terrorists and prevent them from boarding planes, according to a senior U.S. counterterrorism official. The official noted that government audits turned up problems in recent years, including gaps that kept suspected terrorists from being added to the U.S.'s no-fly list.
President Barack Obama earlier this week ordered the review into intelligence failures leading up to the Dec. 25 attempted bombing of a U.S.-bound jet, which he characterized as a "systemic failure" of counter-terrorism intelligence. The final results, expected Thursday, likely won't be complete until early New Year's Day, amid a growing furor in Congress and by the public for answers into what went wrong.
On Tuesday the president ordered half a dozen agencies to report on the series of breakdowns that allowed alleged bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to board a flight to Detroit with a bomb concealed on his body.
In the months leading up to the attacks, various agencies received tips that combined could have led intelligence officials to look more closely at Mr. Abdulmutallab. Key among them were warnings from his father about his extremist views, which were communicated to a roster of federal agencies, and communications from Al Qaeda leaders intercepted by the National Security Agency that a Nigerian was prepared for an attack.
Intelligence officials say the pieces of information, which weren't properly shared or analyzed, appear significant largely in hindsight. That said, the U.S. has spent billions of dollars since the 9/11 attacks building intelligence capabilities
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
The easiest way to fix the intelligence flaws is to have everyone in the White House, including the Idiot in Chief, resign.
While the status quo is correctly described with all these posts, does anyone besides me think that Obie has realized he owns the next attack and his presidency crashes and burns when that happens. He’s acting like it finally sunk in
“The Obama administration is scurrying...”
That is what RATS do. Scurry.
Brilliant!
They now rush to “fix” what they created, as if they can attach all balme for their doing on the past 9 years of the opposite approach.
It is not only a question of what went wrong. The US was attacked and a military response is needed so we do not look weak before the world. To not respond sends a message you can attack us with impunity.
This is now Obama's war. He cannot blame Bush or Cheney. Any failure will be his.
Sure sounds like they brought back that infamous wall builder, that sat on the 911 'get Bush' commission.
What people have written here about the easiest way to address this being getting rid of the whole lot of 'em is true. The drastic measures needed will not be done because they're invested in their retaining and expanding power for their buds. Napolitano is still in her job, for example, beyond all reasonabless, while the guy who approved the Black Panther voter intimidation prosecution has been reassigned.
The muslim advisers throughout the administration and those a phone call away will see to it that AQ is always able to pull out their next surprise tactic (e.g., box cutters stuffed in the seats by cleaning people or a black (protected class) muslim perpetrator).
He's not acting like it's finally sunk in. His PR people have constructed an alternate universe in which this infinitely wise leader (ptui!) is taking command of the situation to make it right, now deserving an A+ instead of B+. Yeah, right!
So we're led to believe.
HF
Bump! That is a classic.
I guess the nobama misadministration somehow figures more conservatives will be blow up than liberals. Have a great day! BOOM! You and your family are dead. Hahahaha! Aren’t our mooslim friends funny! Boom! Hahahahaha!
Classic definition of "Behind-the-Curve."
Actually "stupid" may be the incorrect word. He may be smart enough to know better, but seems to want to create chaos by design to strengthen his political hand. I weigh that motivation with his ignorance, since he was raised to believe whitey, capitalism, and democracy are the real problems. He may not know any better? Regardless, it promises to be a tumultuos year.
We need to adapt El Al’s security measures which were bandied about after 9-11 and promptly forgotten. The goal is to identify the risk of certain behaviors. The measures include such things as:
Profiling by religion and country of origin,
Looking at recent travel history,
Checking passport and name against multiple data bases,
Multiple screenings of luggage,
Luggage not left unattended once screened,
Intense inspection of passports and boarding passes,
Sky marshals on every plane,
Double doors on all cockpits,
Pilots are allowed to armed in cockpits, and
Interviews by security officers prior to boarding.
Even at overseas airports El Al conducts security checks, even if they are supervised by government or private security firms.
http://www.israelinsider.com/channels/security/articles/sec_0108.htm
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/meast/09/26/rec.el.al.security/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2097352.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Al
What I like about El Al’s approach is that they catch not only those on the terror watch lists, also those who have recently traveled to Muslim countries for ‘training’, converts who don’t fit the traditional Jihadist profile, e.g. blond blue-eyed man name Patrick O’Reilly, and those who are duped into carrying ‘gifts’ in their luggage.
Everyone is treated the same.
You don’t have to get partially undressed, undergo intrusive, embarrassing procedures, or adhere to insane regulations that change minute to minute in order to fly.
Also, IIRC anyone who not allowed to fly EL AL is very courteously assisted in getting a flight on another airline.
Napolitano and Blair will be the minimum cost to the admin for this event.
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