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.”

[Diogenesis]

"I will protect Muslims and undocumented aliens
because this country is by, and for them.
They alone will be excused from the breast and pelvic examinations."

[240B]

The burkas have to come in all sizes. There have been unverified claims that a 3yr old girl was molested and that every guy pedophile in the TSA are volunteering to search all the little boys.

[silverleaf]

muzzie robes and scarfs are pretty cheap- if it will protect my preteen daughter from a grope or virtual strip search, it may be the only way to fly.

For now we are not flying. We can find plenty of vacations within a 4 hur drive of DC.

[ZULU]

“This entire problem could have been solved on 9/12.”

Before Bush came out with his Peaceful Religion speech!!

[jazusamo]

I hear you, we haven’t flown for several years and don’t plan to.

[andyk]

“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.

Does anyone know what CAIR is talking about here? Is there already a ruling in place that exempts people wearing outlandish garb?

[NEMDF]

FOR SURE, if nothing else, have a little notepad. Be obviously noting the date, time, ask for the names of the TSA people who check your ID, check your luggage, assault you, or whatever. Write them all down. If anyone in your line appears to be exempt from the scanner or assault, ask the TSA people why was that person exempt, write it down. If about every third passenger would do this, probably would see something change.

[Gene Eric]

Absolute betrayal of the American Citizen!

While special consideration is given to the likeness of those fundamentally related to the group that includes terrorists, Americans at large are being treated and handled like dogs!

On this issue, not only are the terrorists winning, so is the #ing Left.

[jazusamo]

You’re absolutely correct!

In my view this issue is where the line in the sand should be drawn. If we cave on this it is the establishment of Shariah law in our country. We cannot allow them to be treated differently under American law.

[Kozak]

SHE however will get the full treatment.
Also note who is doing the screening.

Welcome to the Bizarro USA.

[exit82]

Positively brilliant.

[WKUHilltopper]

What an idiot tub of lard she is...

[DH]

How stupid can anyone be? All of this government PC and incompetence and everyone should feel “warm, fuzzy and happy” to board our safe airplanes. Just don’t check the people who kill Americans...swarthy people from Moslem (yes that is the correct spelling before PC) countries.

Now, to demonstrate how wonderful and effective the screening process is, let me demonstrate:

I am a very strong man weighing 135 pounds. My hands alone are enough to snap the neck of any passenger or crew member. However, I don’t have to check my dangerous hands at the screening center. Why? They are more dangerous than a tiny 2 1/2 pocket knife aren’t they??????? How about those dangerous blond haired white children? Is it necessary to grab and molest them while letting people in authentic middle eastern garb get a different search...which is less personal?

I say, people should rise as a single voice and force action on these needless and impotent policies of Obama and his political unelected minions.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

God...I just saw that !!!

[moovova]

No wonder the mooslim men make their women wear veils.

[TheThinker]

So Muslim women in hijabs won’t have to undergo patdowns but 5 year olds have to?

[Godwin1]

CAIR is a terrorist front group and wants to make sure that female Muslim suicide bombers can carry out their operations unmolested. The TSA sghould submit known Muslims to MORE not less scrutiny than other travelers. This is becoming absurd.