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!

;-)