Napolitano Acknowledges Security Failed in Allowing Terror Suspect on Plane

FOX News ^ | December 28, 2009 | Staff

[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."

[MaestroLC]

Video of FOX interview (note especially her facial reactions to the questions): Safe to Fly?

She is Obama. She repeats his beliefs.

[paulycy]

[SmokingJoe]

“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.”

So why did she say it?

[submarinerswife]

Great point I just heard on TV from a security expert:

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.

[sniper63]

The telepromter misspoke the day before.......

[Lawgvr1955]

This useless “public servant” and Prez Zero were just one failed explosion from seeing his poll numbers and the Democrat Party’s numbers reach an all time low.

[Lazamataz]

"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.

Yet, that is what you sat there and said.

Ergo, you are NO secretary of homeland security.

Q.E.D.

[KarlInOhio]

I guess the polling results on her first statement that the system worked came back so they had to modify the statement.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

The Obama administration would not allow a representative of any kind to appear on FoxNews prior to Monday and the word was that the “system worked”. One appearance on FoxNews and they have to admit that the system failed. They don’t diss FoxNews because it is biased against them, they boycott FoxNews because they will get questions that reveal the truth.

[joe fonebone]

The so called people running our government are delusional at best, inept most of the time, and plain old traitors at worst.....well, like fubo says, elections have consequenses....let us hope american lives are not the consequences we face...

[rwfromkansas]

This is a serious problem...if people can just slip through screening at airports in other countries, they could wait until they are on U.S. soil and then do all kinds of havoc.

Something needs done to ensure stricter security overseas.

“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.”

[Starboard]

"Here, clearly, something went awry."

Captain Obvious.

[PGalt]

Thanks for posting. Resign now Napolitano...you lying, scumsucking, backpedalling IDIOT!

[jacob allen]

How can this be? The 9/11 Commission had 41 Recommendations for Congress to fix the flaws so this wouldn’t happen again. Didn’t Homeland Security Implement them?

[mylife]

So we’ve decided that you cant get out of your seat or have anything on your lap for the final hour of the flight.

Brilliant

[wastedyears]

These people aren’t competent enough to wipe themselves.

[pburgh01]

She still was with the “Bush's fault” stock answer for everything the MN(Magic Negro) does. She did it more in a backhanded way. They are like most mentally ill liberals, never take the blame for anything, ANYTHING. I am sure if this was some snag in the healthcare plan, MN would have been on a plane back to Washington. Folks he doesn't care if you and your family die, he just doesn’t. Atheists and Muslims don't care a whit about human life, they give lip service but in the end, it's about them, what life can provide for them and providing for others is an inconvenience.

[Former Proud Canadian]

She is spectacularly incompetent. She should not be in government above the level of dogcatcher. She might even screw that up.

[lonestar]

Should be fired for “being confused and dangerous...at best.”

[raybbr]

She actually tried to lay this off on the previous administration. They kind of cut her off by asking whether she reviewed the plan herself. She kept saying she was "aware" of the plan.

Idiots all in this admin.