"System Fail"
Posted on 12/28/2009 6:54:27 AM PST by 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."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
The System worked, the System failed. This is confusing.
We need Mohammed Obamma to clear this up.
She may have admitted that the system failed miserably, but there was one caveat. This is the same system the prior administration had in place. In other words, this is all Bush’s fault!!!!
Next we find out from the Obozo administration that it was actually Dick Cheney who trained this guy in Yemen to blow up airplanes...
I just don’t understand why my luggage is always picked to be inspectwed with that stick with the kleenex square. The TSA roots around in the clothes....changes the little white square....shuffles some more of my clothes and finally lets me go. Everything in my bag is harmless,little bit of cat hair on stuff, but nothing dangerous.
“Political correctness is tyranny with manners”.
Charlton Heston
Of course we know that the 80 year old woman is just as much of a threat as the 20 something male muslim. Can’t be profiling dontcha know. CAIR might get upset....
It is a little embarassing, but truthfully, I think they may be just so silly that they do random searches for prospects instead of checking “likely” suspects!
“I think that you may be right about picking on older white women. They love to go for the make-up that they think old white women might carry in their purse or carry on.”
I don’t know about going for make up honey.....maybe it is the large size bras’ or big panties....
There she goes again. So they plan for dutch passengers jumping over seats to take matters into their own hands and save a plane?
I am stuned ... and appreciate this more than I can say. Keep those polls going.
// “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.” //
Yes. That is why it is now forbidden to do so. Make us a bunch of micro-managed schoolkids with so many rules, none of which address the real problems.
Head Ho Nappy should be fired ASAP
You have to admit, though, that Crowley got Napolitano to say something really stupid...
The system didn’t fail before it failed.....
I’m looking forward to an update on that, too, before the info-door slams shut.
proving the fact that in the end...there is no justice, there’s just us.
U.S. (still) Can’t Trace Foreign Visitors on Expired Visas
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/us/12visa.html?_r=2&th&emc=th
DALLAS — Eight years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and despite repeated mandates from Congress, the United States still has no reliable system for verifying that foreign visitors have left the country. New concern was focused on that security loophole last week, when Hosam Maher Husein Smadi, a 19-year-old Jordanian who had overstayed his tourist visa, was accused in court of plotting to blow up a Dallas skyscraper. Last year alone, 2.9 million foreign visitors on temporary visas like Mr. Smadi’s checked in to the country but never officially checked out, immigration officials said...
...officials said, about 40 percent of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States came on legal visas and overstayed.
Smadi’s case has brought renewed calls (for) a universal electronic exit monitoring system.
But despite several Congressional authorizations, there are no biometric inspections or a systematic follow-up to confirm that foreign visitors have departed. Homeland security officials caution that universal exit monitoring is a daunting and costly goal...The wrong exit plan could clog trade, disrupt border cities and overwhelm immigration agencies with information they could not effectively use...airlines balked at an effort last year by the Bush administration to make them responsible for taking fingerprints and photographs of departing foreigners.
The current system relies on departing foreigners to turn in a paper stub when they leave....
Mr. Smadi was able to fade easily into society and encountered few barriers to starting a life here, according to court documents...He enrolled in high school, obtained a California identification card, landed jobs in two states and rented a string of apartments and houses. He bought at least two used cars, and even procured a handgun and ammunition...
Read more at nytimes.com ...
Several of the terrorists who murdered 3,000 in the Twin Towers were also here on expired student visas...
CBS and NY times reports : “Last year alone, 2.9 million foreign visitors on temporary visas like Mr. Smadi’s checked in to the country but never officially checked out, immigration officials said.”
http://paxalles.blogs.com/paxalles/
Looks like I’ll have to quit wearing women’s underwear now or my secret will be out.
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