The American Spectator : Abdulmutallab and the Obama Mindset

Text Size

Washington Prowler

Abdulmutallab and the Obama Mindset

By The Prowler on 12.29.09 @ 6:09AM

Shifting blame won't cut it, Mr. President.

When Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was placed on the British government's watch list in May 2009 and banned from entering the country, the U.S. embassy in London (and by extension the U.S. State Department), as well as U.S. intelligence agencies, were notified of this move as part of information-sharing agreements entered into by a number of Western governments after the September 11, 2001 attacks, says a U.S. State Department employee on the condition of anonymity because of concern that by speaking about the situation, their job could be endangered.

"We have agreements with a number of different countries that work with us cooperatively on intelligence matters," says the State Department employee. "A number of the treaties work through our justice departments or foreign offices or intelligence and interior or homeland security agencies. Several departments here in Washington got the information from London and it didn't trigger anything within our own system.

This employee says that despite statements from the Obama Administration, such information was flagged and given higher priority during the Bush Administration, but that since the changeover "we are encouraged to not create the appearance that we are profiling or targeting Muslims. I think career employees were uncomfortable with the Bush procedures and policies and were relieved to not have to live under them any longer."

The Obama Administration is attempting to shift blame for Abdulmutallab, pointing reporters to information that the Nigerian was given a visa by the U.S. embassy in London to travel to the U.S. in 2008, around the same time that he graduated from University College London, a well-respected university. But the State Department source says at that time Abdulmutallab was not on a watch list and traveled to Houston on that visa without incident. A year later, in May 2009, his application for a student visa to return to Britain was rejected because the college Abdulmutallab claimed he would attend was "bogus," and that red flag was shared with U.S. State Department, Homeland Security Department, U.S. Justice Department, and almost certainly U.S. intelligence agencies.

The State source says that several schools, particularly those with ties to the British Muslim community, have come under tighter scrutiny over the past five years, and when foreign nationals with Muslim backgrounds apply to those schools, it is red flag for British security offices.

"I'm not saying that this kind of screw up might not have happened in the Bush Administration," the State source says, referring to the Christmas Day snafu. "I'm just saying that a number of us were encouraged to have a different mindset about such intel and such individuals, and today, we are encouraged not to have that same mindset."

topics:
Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Terrorism

Letter to the Editor View all comments (80) | Leave a comment

Ret. Marine| 12.29.09 @ 6:34AM

"I'm just saying that a number of us were encouraged to have a different mindset about such intel and such individuals, and today, we are encouraged not to have that same mindset."

There you have it, APPEASEMENT. So the difference is the Bush Admin. saw this type of potential threat as a concern for the safety of all traveling public, the little o and his chicken littles do not want to offend his brethren. And what? again, another little lie to cover his kenyan butt from taking a public hit of stupidity? He own's this issue at present, he damn well better start taking responsibility for this Constitutional duties before his boot-lick'n followers, and his bull at the dhs head start to take notice. This is typical little o strategy, blame, deflect, blame, move on nothing to see here gang.
What me responsible?

Glenn Koons| 12.29.09 @ 12:06PM

Ret. Marine: right on my friend. Take a look at El Al and the Mossad in Israel. No Islamofascist terrorist has ever damaged either one of these entities because they not only profile all, all, Muslims but they do not care if they 'offend' them. I do not either. We must profile all Muslims coming in or out of the USA. Period. We must bug and profile every mosque in America. We must profile every iman or mullah in the USA. Look at the guy born in New Mexico and now leading terrorists in Yemen! Profile now and tell the liberals to go to Hell. Oh and Janet Napolitano and Erik Holder should both be fired.

cargravel| 12.29.09 @ 3:18PM

A thousand amens to you. And here's hoping Americans wake up and stop this over the top pc foolishness for our nation's safety and future....

Ret. Marine| 12.29.09 @ 6:29PM

You do mean fired at don't you?

Alan Brooks| 12.29.09 @ 5:56PM

You might be under-estimating Obama, he is probably learning to speak softly and carry a big stick.

We had better hope so.

Daisy| 12.29.09 @ 6:48PM

Wrong again, Alan: Obama whines, complains and blames everything on Bush, and the only 'big stick' he carries is a golf club.

You voted for him--you'd better hope he grows a pair; we always knew he was a liar and a coward.

Elaine| 12.30.09 @ 12:06AM

Yep, you got it nailed. Especially the "you voted for"...part. The only problem being we ALL got stuck with O. What the hell is wrong with profiling? That 65 year old grandma is NOT going to blow up an American, yet you put her through the hoops and NOW are thinking she ought to pose for complete exposure xrays??? I am understanding "going postal" more and more these days. What next? The White House is full of arrogant buffoons. We've never had a president so inexperienced, so dangerous to our well being as a democracy. That's even counting Carter!

Chasmore| 2.8.10 @ 2:06PM

Yes, what is wrong with profiling? It can exculpate as well as indict. We have yet to profile Obama and when we do what will it reveal? We know at least one of his ancestors was black but beyond that it turns into belief, not knowledge. I don't believe every Muslim is a threat to my country but I do believe we have an administration that is. We have an administration that appears sympathetic to the agenda of those who demonstrate their enmity to our Constitution, who has chosen and appointed czars that follow a different agenda.

I would strongly favor profiling as the best way to keep would be bombers off our planes. It would go a long way to eliminate the innocent. This is simply a matter of making certain use of known facts and has nothing to do about race or religeon.

Our advertisers are known profilers in order to target the most lucrative targets. We take no note nor is there anything sinester about doing this.

Chasmore| 2.8.10 @ 2:07PM

Our advertisers are known profilers in order to target the most lucrative targets. We take no note nor is there anything sinester about doing this.

Chasmore| 2.8.10 @ 2:07PM

Our advertisers are known profilers in order to target the most lucrative targets. We take no note nor is there anything sinester about doing this.

yeah| 12.30.09 @ 2:57PM

his only stick is for america, not our enemies

cant have a muslim protect us from muslim

obama's misprepresentations show he is not our friend. despite what MSM feeds us

Sam| 12.30.09 @ 8:08PM

The above comments are the reason no one takes you people seriously. I come here to here legitimate criticisms of Obama and the Democratic Congress and I can only find posts about Obama being a Kenyan Muslim. An earlier poster thought Obama swore on the Koran.

THESE ARE LIES! THIS IS WHY NO ONE TAKES YOU SERIOUSLY! They reflect your prejudice that because he has the middle name 'Hussein', is black, and had a Kenyan father, he must be a Kenyan muslim. That sets you up to believe the lie that he swore the oath of office on the Koran.

Like you, many of us disagree with Obama and the policies of the Democratic Congress. But the Kenyan Muslim nonsense? Only you and your personal echo chamber of like-minded people.

Daisy| 12.31.09 @ 2:03AM

No one takes US seriously? What a pantload, liberal moron.

Sam, Obama's approvals are in the forties--no president in history has been this unpopular only one year into his tenure.

Sorry, but your Obowma is tanking in the polls with 10+% unemployment, wildly unpopular ObamaCare legislation, out of control spending and totally incompetent and DANGEROUS mishandling of National Security.

He's a disaster! And unfortunately for you fascist democrats, so will the elections of 2010 and 2012
prove to be for your traitorous Dummocrap party.

Thank you, God.

Sam| 1.1.10 @ 12:24AM

Daisy,
I was talking about the nonsense that Obama is a Kenyan Muslim. I am not defending him from your legitimate attacks.

Daisy| 1.1.10 @ 4:17AM

Why focus on the opinions of a tiny percentage of republicans? YOUR claim that no one listens to us is ridiculous.

Sam| 1.2.10 @ 3:17AM

I'm glad we agree then. And yes, many people do listen to you. That's why I want to hear legitimate criticisms so that we can pressure the government more effectively.

And by the way, I'm no Democrat or fascist. Though I lean left, I am a moderate and registered as an independent. I don't trust the Democrats, especially Pelosi. Where do you stand?

Chasmore| 2.8.10 @ 2:32PM

Sorry. I hit the send button and thought nothing happened so I have this same post three times and only needed on time

arish sahani| 12.30.09 @ 4:17PM

By the time Obama learns we will be all dead. Our forfathers in India Hindus were also believing in talking to day we have 500 millions hindu convert to islam and they are ready to kill other 500 millions hindus living next door. To uderstand Islam you need to read Mohammad and last 1400 yrs of lslamic killings and conversion.There is no way out unless we get leaders and public learn all about islam ways of living know about islam. Obama knows about Islam is he their friend or our friend soon we will know.

Occam's Razor| 2.8.10 @ 6:44PM

OK, he shot the pirates after some dithering. The Afghanistan two step was disgraceful.

Otherwise, name where he is getting "tough." He's going to let Iran get Nukes.

Smokey447| 12.30.09 @ 10:33AM

Retired Marine, well spoken, what can we expect when he appoints people like Janet Napolitano to the very important job as Secretary of Homeland security. What qualification's does she have to protect every American from these terrorists, that the Dems don't think will kill us every chance they get.

Jim O'Brien| 12.29.09 @ 7:14AM

The ACORN Administration has yet to appoint heads of the TSA and the Customs & Border Patrol. Small wonder - who in his or her right mind would want to work for the federal government under Obama, Napolitano, Holder et cetera?

The ACORN Administration has been pretending that terrorism is a thing of the past, more specifically, the Bush administration. Obama and Holder are bringing Gitmo terrorists to the U.S. so they can enjoy the rights of Americans in their New York City trials. Obama has sided with Hamas and Hezbollah against Israel, calling for unilateral concessions from Israel. Navy SEALS are faced with court martial for being being too aggressive wen capturing terrorists.

Obama and his crowd speak with forked tongue, saying they will get tough on terrorists while giving the terrorists aid and comfort. This is treacherous.

Smokey447| 12.30.09 @ 10:41AM

Jim, don't forget they are still trying to persecute our CIA agents for water boarding those known terrorists from 911, and blame it on Bush.

Big J| 12.29.09 @ 7:17AM

"...such information was flagged and given higher priority during the Bush Administration, but that since the changeover "we are encouraged to not create the appearance that we are profiling or targeting Muslims. "

Herein lies the problem, and it is destroying this country.

Birds of a feather, I guess.

I met President Bush last September. He gave a speech (sans notes AND teleprompter, I might add), and he shared his vision for the Middle East. He likened it to our alliance with Japan, in spite of the rift that was created by WWII. While I found his vision to be naive at best, I understood his conviction. He also made it very clear that Islamic Jihadists are our number one enemy and have to be destroyed (not disrupted, dismantled and defeated).

In my humble opinion, there will never be peace in the Middle East. Those folks have been fighting each other for centuries. Always have, always will. He who carries the big stick rules there, and I don't see that changing.

That said, our policy must be to seek out and destroy these radical Islamo-fascists, before they destroy us.

Bush got that, Obama does not.

Ret. Marine| 12.29.09 @ 7:44AM

A muslim (obama) is not allowed to kill another of his own faith and still be a good muslim. The land of vipers (m/e) is just that. They only understand raw power. When are we going to release the dog's?

martin j smith| 12.29.09 @ 7:34AM

I have absolutely NO CONFIDENCE in this OBAMA administration. As an independent voter I saw well before Obama was elected that his background--wich many ginored even on the right, were dangerous. Rev Wright,Louis Farrakhan, Bill Ayers an on and on--these connections should have been part of the presidential campaign but we had a moderate who failed this country in this respect. He denied us the right to know who Obama really was and sadly is. The so called moderate ( or RINO crowd ) has failed in enabling the voter to know what they are buying. On the other hand, information was out there. I do not spend many houyrs at the computer reading blogs etc and news papers--forgetaboutit. But there were those who did not want to see or who are frankly currupt again the result for the American people could a disaster due to terrorist attacks.

It is vital that all information about the screw ups of our nations defenses MUST be spread far and wise so the American people at least know that they are on there own. We are no enlisted in what I call the informal Citizen Army--of observers,and even possibly taking down a terrorist in mid flight as happened just recently.

This adminbistration has a "mind set--as this article shows--and I knew it before Obama was elected--that would put the American people in danger. But in fairness to some degree GWB was heading that way in his second term. The problem of Political correctness is a disease and it will kill us unless the people demand action just they are rising up against government run healthcare.

Again, we are still at war: Welmcome to the fight ( for those of us who see it )

martin j smith| 12.29.09 @ 7:47AM

What is to be done ?
All blogs and those who believe there is a war on terror should highlight any post with this:
Topic: War Against Islamic Terror
Following this the particular issue of concern

Demand dof your representative that the term Islamic Terror be used.

Demand that in addition to whatever protective methods to thwart terrorism are used also profile those who are from the middle east,muslims,of known political radical persuaion and also profile any person of whatever ethnic group who has extremeist terrorist views in the contest of ading or abetting Islamic Terrorist. Let me give an example: There was a so called attorney who was not long ago convicted to aiding an imprisoned terrorist by passing messages from inside to outside prison.. I am certain there are those on left who support such behavior and who are not moslims

At the airport interview those who are suspicious again this could be an Islamist or or of any ethnic background. If a person supports terrorism they are suspect. That brings to a very uncomfortable thought:

The Democrat Party leadership itself--they may truly believe there methods and point of view are correct--but events are quickly proving them wrong. Now they too have to answer to the American people. And the American people should let them know they are heading in the wrong direction for our national security.

Northern Rebel| 12.29.09 @ 8:09AM

Ret. Marine:

This administration will never release the dogs. If one of these towel-headed sub-humans brought a plane down in the center of D.C. (hmmm.. bad idea? Ooops, sorry) he would take no action, because it is against his "values."

He would blame Bush, and say we must be kinder, and more thoughtful.

His favorite kind of American, is a kind thoughtful, dead American. The man is evil, period.

yes| 12.30.09 @ 2:59PM

correct

Brassnads| 12.29.09 @ 8:10AM

Since the panty bomber's nickers had the PETN sewn into the Y pocket,guess what part of his manhood was first to fry. A posting on Drudge this morning told the story of another jihadi who blew himself up from the nether regions with PETN sewn into his bloomers in an unsuccessful attempt to take out a Saudi official. Sounds like a good idea. Encourage the stupid @(#*$&%?! to carry on wearing such undergarments and pretty soon the jihadis will either be neutered on their way to collect their virgins or singing soprano for Barry. The only caveat is how to stop them from taking out their targets.

Tim| 12.29.09 @ 10:13AM

"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..."

Appropriate for Christmas, no?

Nobama| 12.29.09 @ 6:52PM

Great balls of fire!

Northern Rebel| 12.29.09 @ 10:13AM

Martin J Smith:

I think fascist muslim terrorists would be acceptable too.

We have to realize, the people creating this kind of evil, are a sub-species of human, that does not deserve to exist on the planet.

No rational human being would attempt this kind of mayhem, and no other animals exhibit this kind of behavior.

Therefor, these human looking animals need to be exterminated, as you would a rabid dog. They need to be killed, until there are none of them left, and the rest of the muslim population chooses to live in peace.

Frankly, it is hard to tell the difference between peaceful muslims, and evil terrorists, because the peaceful ones don't speak against the evil.

So unfortunately, many innocent people will have to die along side wicked, in order to purge the planet of these satanic sub-humans.

Sad.

Ret. Marine| 12.29.09 @ 6:33PM

Yes sad but, neccessary. My count is up to 43, how about yours?

Chasmore| 2.8.10 @ 2:52PM

I would question the subhuman part. That seems to be more the natural state of man. We have to be taught to be moral and compassionate, Fortunately, most of us learn. But there are those who do not and they are not all Muslim. Troule seems to be that the Muslim does not see the point in teaching love.

Red Bubba| 12.29.09 @ 10:18AM

During the Bush administration, US interest were a priority. During the Obama regime, not. Even now they are leaking information about covert operations in Yemen in an attempt to show that they have been doing something (other than releasing Gitmo prisoners to Yemen) all along. In effect, sacrificing covertness (if true) for propaganda purposes.

Al Adab| 12.29.09 @ 10:29AM

The lesson to be learned here is not that of the failure of our systems, protections and government. No. It is that each individual has a role to play in keeping our nation safe. The actions of the man who stopped the event should be recognized and rewarded. Ultimately we must rely on ourselves for our security and safety.

Like the passengers on Flt 93, who fought the first battle of this war, we too must maintain vigilance and be prepared to act wherever and whenever the need arises. We are all on the front lines.

Mick0311| 12.29.09 @ 1:16PM

True indeed. But, it is the number one priority of the Govt to keep us safe, not provide welfare, healthcare and all that jazz. Bush understood this, Obama does not.

Appleby| 12.30.09 @ 6:44AM

The man who stopped this bomber will be lucky if he is not brought up on charges for sex crimes (touching the exploding underpants), assault, Islamophobia, racism, and a host of other thought-crimes against this poor Black victim of society.

Reward him? Obama will, speaking without his binkie, call him stupid.

Wankel| 12.29.09 @ 12:07PM

I wonder if the passengers who jumped this obviously peace-loving representative of the religion of peace will find themselves charged with assault or hate crimes?

cynic| 12.29.09 @ 4:52PM

Probably and most likely charged with interfering in a religious rite. It was after all just an attempt to perform self circumcision.

Majito Querido| 12.29.09 @ 12:16PM

did anybody noticed how the great one interrupted his golf game immediately as soon one of his guest's kids got hurt while taking his sweet time in addressing the foiled terrorist act? Shows that in his view, if his kids are in danger he'll jump to it but if they're ours, we must wait for him to built up his nuances...now one thing to say here, our marines, special ops, usaf and army at large have been very busy supplying fresh kills to muslim nirvana...so the pros have been long gone...the only ones left are the amateurs (thank be to the Christian God) that burn themselves instead of blowing up stuff...and lastly al adab, the guy who stopped this clown was not an american...it was a dutch tourist...but holland long ago stopped islamic immigration and actual repatriated most of them after Van Gogh's grandson was murdered by one of these adherents of the religion of peace...so they're are true partners in this fight...win their hearts and souls? for what? hell no...need to kill these assassins and leave the country building to the the sand dwellers that are left...after all they're more at home smelling like goats and sleeping on the sand over a tabriz...

Pat| 12.29.09 @ 12:50PM

If it wasn't for the danger to the innocent, including children, this would be another of those absurd situations Americans have come to frequently know, if not actually to love. Obama isn't at fault, his skills were hustling money from the wealthy or the govt. as a community organizer, he's not a military man, he has no latent talents for security or investigative procedures.

The TSA, FAA, FBI, the Border Patrol, the CIA, the FDA and the White House interns are determined to punish current and future airline passengers for putting their jobs in jeaopardy by almost being blown to bits on an airplane and due to a passenger waltzing through their tight security screening procedures while carrying explosives and humming "Nearer my God to Thee" under his breath. It makes them look bad; what's worse it makes them actually work at devising effective security procedures, where's the fun in that?

So, as a punishment, no more wheelie bags in the cabin, unless you pay the $50 fee of course, and you'll sit in your seat for the last hour before landing, you'll keep you hands on the seat back in front of you at all times, if you use the restroom, don't block the secuity camera observing you, that's a heavy fine according to the FAA.

Airline passengers have always accepted some risk while flying; the weather, indifferent aircraft maintenance, failure of critical systems - but now you can add terrorists in the seat next to you and incompetent security officers who demand you perform irksome, childish acts to prove your innocence. Frequent flyer tip: Prior to boarding, stand on one of those plastic torture devices in the embarkation area, holler for the passengers' attention, identify big husky guys, preferably with unarmed combat skills, or women with young children and the protective attitude of a mother grizzly bear, now ask these guardians to distribute themselves throughout the plane and keep a close eye on men who look suspicious; unlike the TSA officers you'll know which ones to watch.

If anyone from the airlines asks what you passengers are whispering about, lie and say you're conducting a group prayer to Allah, that will throw off their suspicions. Whatever you do, don't admit you're discussing self defense, that would get you labeled as vigilantes and bring the full weight of the Feds down on your heads - and rest assured, the Feds are no one to mess with if you're an innocent.

Chasmore| 2.8.10 @ 3:10PM

Anything but effective profiling. Abdulmutallab was successful in in all but one minor detail. The explosive did no detonate. If it had detonated then things would have been much different. It was the hand of providence that saved the plane and revealed our false security in the same stroke, We need to thank our God for this.

Franklin| 12.29.09 @ 1:23PM

It's sad that the government won’t do one of the things they ARE required to do (rather than all the crap they are doing to run our lives), and that is keep us safe.

So, it's time for the passengers to do their own profiling.

Like the incident a few weeks ago, if there are suspicious young Muslim men on board or ready to board, the rest of the passengers should leave the plane or refuse to board. (suspicious – your call)

It will be insulting to the Muslim community, seen as overreacting and hateful, etc., but it’s nonviolent civil disobedience.

We need to send the message that we are fed up and are going to keep ourselves safe.

Marc Jeric| 12.29.09 @ 1:47PM

I think that Muslim terrorists are subhuman, akin to deadly virus and should be treated as such. Reasoning with that 7th century "thinking" is not only waste of time but, what is worse, conducing to more innocent deaths. Wait until they start killing vacationing Americans strolling through Europe - I think that will be their next modus operandi.

martin j smith| 12.29.09 @ 1:55PM

I revieved a letter today that I am very embarrassed about so I must share with other readers. The letter is from the4 National Association of North American Neanderthals ( CAVEMEN- NANAN ). The letter in pasrt says:
Deaqr Mr Smith: Our legal department wishes to inform you that we have you in our sights for a lawsuit due to your de-faming the intelligence of cavement. Mr Smith, it is your Homo Sapien in chief and his tribe that you should look at--please leave us alone. If you allow this H. Sapien to lead you down the primrose path to hell that is your business --but for us--we will be in our cave because of you and your type. Your H. Sapien stupidity is truly unbelievable . If you want to get blown up fine, but leave us out.
Any further comments about our group ( CAVEMEN NANAN ) will lead to the CCLU( CAVEMEN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION will slap you with a law suit. So be warned. We sincerely hope that your species comes to your senses.
Sincerely
XXXXXXXX
In the Cave
Somewhere In North America

Akaky| 12.29.09 @ 2:21PM

The failure of the Nigerian Crotch Bomber, and yes, I know that sounds like the nom de smut of a male porn star, to blow Northwest Flight 523 out of the skies above Detroit on Christmas Day does pose an interesting theological question, or at least I think so, but then I am easily amused. Had he succeeded with his plan, just what did he plan to use to deflower his ration of 72 virgins in the next world or does jihadi doctrine cover the loss in more or less the same way that State Farm does?

Mattled| 12.29.09 @ 2:55PM

Overheard Obama reaction upon hearing about the failed attempt:

Dang! Foiled again.

Mattled| 12.29.09 @ 2:55PM

Overheard Obama reaction upon hearing about the failed attempt:

Dang! Foiled again.

Pat| 12.29.09 @ 3:47PM

For decades now, flying has been the safest form of travel, but, recently, one airline, I think it was Northwest/Delta, is now claiming that air travel is safer than paddling through a northern Australia swamp infested with saltwater crocodiles, so it's still somewhat safe. And like many air travelers, one government official who wished to remain anonymous - no, not President Obama, him and his family don't fly commercial but a White House spokesperson insisted he still worries about airline safety - anyway, this government employee prefers to rely on a safety measure called RC or random chance for short.

During most hours during the day, there are 50,000 folks in the air over these United States and that doesn't count those in the air over the oceans on their way to U.S. destinations. For terrorists, that's a "target rich" environment but the good news for air travelers is they can't kill everyone, particularly those inept terrorists who had to attend remedial suicide bomber training. It's like playing the lottery except when your number isn't drawn, you actually win.

And a Zen technique called "drunk as a skunk" is useful when employing random chance. Basically, to use this technique, you stop by one of the conveniently located bars in airline terminals before your flight and down six or eight shots of Johnnie Walker or Jack Daniels, then continue this meditative calming technique on the plane with lots of dollar bills and the help of your friendly flight attendant - although you need to stop at least two hours before landing, you soon won't be allowed to use the restroom prior to landing so personal hygiene is a consideration. Employing this technique lessens fear by dispelling any tendencies toward panic or rational thought.

So, flying is still relatively safe, but carefully observe who is being wanded or strip searched by security guards, it's usually a grandmother from Iowa or an overweight businessman, but in the event it is a suspicious looking young man with a middle eastern accent, refuse to board the plane and head back to the bar for some additional Zen meditation.

martin j smith| 12.29.09 @ 4:20PM

Until there is a basic change in our methodology to address Islamic Terrorism we will be at risk.
Now let me pose a theory about this: Suppose the Democrat Party wants our economy destroyed. After all all of their legislative plans involve tremendous debt for our nation--but wouldn't be something if there was a really big attack or, even if not just the fear of using public tansit because of hassles to go thru in so called "security measures" which are really nothing more than punishment of the innocent citizen. When someone get theidea that profiling is actually necessary --until then will say categorically-I DO NOT TRUST OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRAT PARTY LEADERSHIP. I WILL HOLD THEM AND EVEN THEIR SUPPORTERS AS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS.

Jane2| 12.29.09 @ 4:33PM

When do we find out that HE is a Muslim?

slayer| 12.29.09 @ 5:09PM

Napolitano must resign immediately!

Pat| 12.29.09 @ 6:53PM

"The system worked as expected" so says Janet Napolitano, the big cheese at Homeland Security. So now in addition to watching your 401-k gasping for breath, or wondering where you'll live after your home is repossessed, you have to determine if there is a young Dutch filmaker on your plane ready to pounce on would be suicide bombers.

Flight attendants will be given added responsibilities soon - along with asking folks in the emergency exit rows if they are able and willing to assist in an emergency, the polite attendant must inquire if anyone on the plane is capable of tackling a terrorist. Should make for an interesting pre-takeoff procedure. And what if no one steps forward, is the flight cancelled? Does the attendant go out into the terminal and offer free drinks and a first class ticket on any future flight to someone, preferably a contestant going to the World Kickboxing finals, as an inducement to board your flight to Cleveland?

What Napolitano really meant about the system working is that many new employees, a budget enhanced with billion dollar botox treatments and increased bureaucratic authority is apparently needed due to this latest failure. That's how "the system" works in D. C., you fail your way to ever greater success. When you have spent $40 billion on airline security enhancements and can get another $40 billion just for the failing, then the system has certainly worked.

Appleby| 12.30.09 @ 6:50AM

I came home from Christmas holidays in the States by train. There was NO security on board. At the border, the Canadian customs agents ASKED us if we were carrying firearms. There was no checking of luggage, and nobody was actually observed to see if s/he were in fact packing heat. We were ASKED. Usually they ask if we are carrying liquor or cigarettes, and do not check for those either.

This is what passes for security in Canada.

Christopher Holland| 12.29.09 @ 7:49PM

What happens if the nice athlectic young man the trolley dolly asks if he can tackle a terrorist is actually a terrorist himself? Why have sky marshalls if you have to do the bloody job yourself? And why ban pilots from carrying guns if they have to rely on some sap back in the cabin risking his life by jumping on a walking bomb. That Janet Napolitano is a moron, saying this system worked - it isn't a system at all, it is madness.

Oh, and two blokes released from Gitmo and sent back to Saudi Arabia helped organise the Detroit fiasco. The madness continues, unabated.

DaveS| 12.29.09 @ 8:34PM

More 'change' that enemies of American citizens can believe in - notwithstanding the vote totals from caves, tunnels and modern American universities.

hairstraightenerssale| 12.29.09 @ 10:07PM

Washington's gambling laws allow for a fair amount of leeway http://www.hairstraightenerssale.comwith regard to legal gambling in Washington casinos, as well as allowing for charitable gaming. Online gaming, however, is illegal in Washington and is a class C felony. Online horse betting is allowed in some circumstances. Free or play money online gaming remains legal. Washington casinos did not speak out on the new laws, even though they clearly stand to benefit from them.

Arlo Price| 12.30.09 @ 12:51AM

Every animals ability to survive is directly dependent on their ability to profile.

To not profile is to invite your demise.

Andrew B| 12.30.09 @ 6:57AM

El Al Airline is the world's leader in profiling (just try to walk into their terminal, if you want to see quick response). They are also among the safest, if not THE safest, on the planet.

Coincidence?

No, just what works best.

Richard L.A. Schaefer| 12.30.09 @ 3:27PM

To the Editor:
Separated at birth?: Tiger Wood and Abdumutallab.

Governor Ed Rendell insulted Janet Napolitano at the time of her appointment by saying that she would do a fine job, since she has no social life and so would devote herself completely to the job. Maybe he was wrong about the deduction. Two things for which she made headlines after her appointment: 1) After a big raid on a factory to catch illegal immigrants angered her, she saw to it that such raids stopped. 2) She took away Sheriff Joe's participation in the federal program regarding illegal immigrants and then ordered an investigation of Sheriff Joe for profiling. Those two items might suggest that she both does little or nothing and then tries to stop others from doing anything either.
Richard L.A. Schaefer Dubuque Iowa

Retired USAF| 12.30.09 @ 4:02PM

The only thing our enemy understand is strength and weakness and in our current leader they see weakness. They know a coward when they see one.
I hope and pray I am wrong, but I am convinced we will suffer at least one if not more than one major attack on some U.S. city this year.
Until this administration is voted out we are in grave danger. Our enemy has no fear of the US and it's power, they know Obama will not use it, for fear of offending others.

spawn44| 1.7.10 @ 6:04PM

Just what policies were the career employees uncomfortable with under Bush. Since you don't mention it I'm guessing you actually had to make an effort to try and catch A terrorist. This article proves we can not depend on these people who have sympathy for the terrorists and despise this country to defend us. It ain't gonna happen. Look at his appointee's, all commies and radical american haters. To defend this country we must vote out these non american socialist democrats and boot their commie rear ends all the way to cuba in the next elections.

Sometime Spook| 1.30.10 @ 6:54PM

Thanks to the United States, I live as a free man and the country of my birth and adoption of a great deal to you. With the morbid fascination of someone who has worked in intelligence for over 30 years and now wonders whether he has wasted a life, I have watched terrorism from 9/11 onwards with a sense of growing disbelief. The last I heard was that the FBI still doesn't have a number of reliable Arabic translators.

Thanks to the idiosyncratic ramblings of a sometime left-wing historian and political raconteur, we are called "the Lucky country" because we have never been invaded, there has been no revolution and generally speaking, prosperity is reasonably abundant, although the poor are always with us.

The shootings at Fort Hood and the Christmas Day airline bomb fiasco have been compounded by various spokesmen (anyone for spokespeople?) From Gen. Casey at Fort Hood to the indomitable and apparently unsackable Janet Napolitano. Surely, if the rule of three strikes and you're out applies, she should have gone by now but no, the last I heard she was tripping around the world talking blithely about the lessons of the Christmas Day incident.

I have to say that contrary to some comments, I don't believe it makes much difference who lives in the White House when it comes to terrorist matters. The system is flawed completely, from the poor checking of visa applicants through to the misguided and nearly impossible notion of profiling terrorist suspects. I spent most of yesterday reading various reports by US legislators on the Christmas bombing and its aftermath. Thousands of words and not a great deal of sense.

The biggest problem is that turf wars are endemic to the US intelligence community, if you can call it that. Looking back at all the newspaper reports and those legislative reports, everyone but everyone is playing "pass the parcel" and the lessons of 9/11 have not been learned. I invite you to remember what Santyana said about those who fail to heed the lessons of history being foredoomed to repeat them. I hope not but I fear so.

allan guida| 2.8.10 @ 1:35PM

Hi...All of you seem to ignore the many fine American soldiers sent to lose limbs and die in Iraq and Afghanistan. What has been accomplished? With Saddam gone, Iran is more nasty than ever. Pakistan with it's nuclear weapons is under attack by the Taliban. We are much less safe due the crazy policies of the "decider". With all his faults, Obama is still a big improvement over Bush. allan guida

Jack Kinch| 2.8.10 @ 1:42PM

Mr. Prez., only dead weight will go along with your program.

AfriSynergy| 2.8.10 @ 3:20PM

Often, any source of information that wants to remain anonymous while throwing potential political firebombs should not be given too much credence.

It is very likely that Umar Abdulmutallab thought he was working for al-Qaida but most likely was working for the Mossad, M1 or even rogue elements of the CIA, all out of the European office with ties to intelligence within Yemen. All of these intelligence agencies have Arab personnel who work for them and could easily depict themselves as being al-Qaida to infertile minds such as Richard Reid and Umar Abdulmutallab. If this is the case, the question would be - why would elements of Western intelligence do it and what would be gained by doing such a sinister act as that which they put Umar Abdulmutallab up to?

It is quite clear that the more "terrorism" noise, the greater the benefits for the Israelis. You many recall Benjamin Netanyau stating that the 9/11 attacks helped the State of Israel immensely. However, it would help the Neocons here in the US also. The Obama Administration was in the process of closing down Guantanamo prison and had just released 6 Yemenis to Yemen prior to Christmas. In the following videos, I mentioned what was happening prior to the Christmas incident:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKG8v41c-AI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCIXreap9Ds

Umar Abdulmutallab had no idea that the underwear bomb would never blowup the plane. However, the Western intelligence that enabled him knew the bomb would never blowup the plane but they knew it would provide the media coverage they needed to accomplish their political goals in the US. The very next day, Dick Cheney was all in the news attacking Obama about Guantanamo, not Umar's attempt to blowup the plane. Obama had also recently signed an executive order that was undoing the secrecy of the Bush/Cheney Administration less than a week prior to this incident.

It is very likely that Obama knows this incident was enabled by Western intelligence but he cannot reveal such because it would really spread fear in the US. Imagine having an "ally" operating against you in this manner, or worse, members within your own intelligence community. Therefore, he states that the "buck stops" with him and no one is to blame. This is another way of saying we have some serious problems within our own Western intelligence, and I will go further by saying it was enabled by some of our own or our "allies". If this is the case, it would also explain why Obama's justice department refused to allow the military or CIA to get close to Umar, they needed him to talk so that they could connect the dots and try to quietly deal with the rogue elements. It would also explain why the opposition is making so much fuss about Umar not being turned over to the military or CIA. It is obvious that Obama has more confidence in Justice Department Chief, Eric Holder than some within the military and the CIA who have verbally attacked the leadership of Obama. Recall the military judge at Guantanamo declaring he would not carryout Obama executive order to suspend the military tribunals at Guantanamo. There were also a few negative words about Obama from within the CIA immediately following the Christmas "underwear bombing" incident.

If Congress wants to investigate something, I suggest they look into what Neocons are doing to enable terrorism, including the cascading collapse of Building #7 across from the Trade Towers without a plane or any parts of a plane striking it. I assume Flight #93 was intended for Building #7 but the passengers assured it never reached its destination. If we were Rome, we would say the Legions have entered the gates of Rome.

T. West
CART/AfriSynergy

shipley130| 2.8.10 @ 4:35PM

Obama was the wrong black man to support for POTUS. His attitudes about A-Z issues are all wrong for our Republic. I hope we can get thru the next 3 years without irreparable damage to our great nation.

gaetano| 2.9.10 @ 6:57AM

I have never seen so much fear in american people as I see in todays world.I would like to change the subject for a little while,and ask all of you or any of you , If there is manditory drug testing in government. I would think that all government employees should be taking it! I do know that who ever voted for this administration had to be on something other then kool-aid.

lay123| 3.31.10 @ 10:18PM

Now certain devices run on their own with no batteries what so ever and some get updates from satellites so that the time is always perfect.Looking back on all of the famous inventors or the wrist watch, it makes you happy to know that the item located on your wrist is truly a miracle and wonder of the world. From the first watch with its round face to the tiny ring watches discount watches that sit delicately on your finger, they are truly a piece of history.Dating back to the 1800s up until now, watches have constantly have been moving forward and keeping us in time with the rest of the world. If you are looking to find out more about the history of the watch cheap watches then you will want to look to the founder's of this wondrous invention.

karen| 4.1.10 @ 10:54PM

If the occasion turns out to be a discount chanel outlet restaurant where a certain dress code is expected, simply tuck a into your pants and secure your belt and you could then be considered as being well-dressed. cheap chanel outlet
it’s a place you are not familiar with so you don’t know what the dress code for the venue is likely to be.These are magic clothing accessories in any man’s wardrobe today.

monster| 4.2.10 @ 1:47AM

i'm monster

monster02| 4.2.10 @ 1:49AM

Juicy couture handbags are among the brands which have gained a great repute over a longer period of time.
Juicy outlet The quality and material used for their manufacturing is up to the mark and has no match.

77| 4.2.10 @ 3:10AM

asdfasdf| 4.7.10 @ 9:38PM

AVI to MP4 Converter is a professional and multifunctional software which can not only convert AVI to MP4, but also support converting between all other video formats, HD video formats included. In addition, AVI to MP4 Converter also functions as excellent AVI codec, audio converter, audio/picture extractor and video editor.
iTunes Converter is a professional and multifunctional software which can convert iTunes support formats, such as MP3, AIFF, WAV, MPEG-4, AAC, Apple Lossless, etc. to any other format and vice versa.

werlop| 4.22.10 @ 9:44PM

ArenaBetting.com dukung fair play FIFA world cup AFSEL 2010Winning is without value if victory has been achieved ArenaBetting.com dukung fair play FIFA world cup AFSEL 2010 or dishonestly. Cheating is easy, but brings no pleasure. Playing ArenaBetting.com dukung fair play FIFA world cup AFSEL 2010 requires courage and character. It is also more satisfying. ArenaBetting.com dukung fair play FIFA world cup AFSEL 2010
always has its reward, even when the game is lost. Playing fair earns you respect, while cheats are detested. Remember: It's only a game. And games are pointless unless played ArenaBetting.com dukung fair play FIFA world cup AFSEL 2010

I’ll have a Poptropica full written walkthrough very soon, but in the meantime, here are some answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Mythology Island. Having trouble? Post a question in the comments and I’ll try to answer it!
Getting Hercules to Help You

Hercules won’t help you until you have all five items from Zeus’ quest. Once you have the five items, bring them to Athena. Zeus will appear and steal them. The big jerk! Once this happens, talk to Athena and she will tell you that Hercules will help you. You’ll need to have the magic mirror from Aphrodite because Hercules doesn’t want to have to walk. He’s so lazy!
Getting the Hydra Scale

ArenaBetting.com dukung fair| 5.3.10 @ 11:42AM

Mantab gan Infonya Maaf gak bisa bahasa inggris

ArenaBetting.com dukung fair | 5.3.10 @ 11:47AM

Nice info Gan .....

dfdfgd| 5.5.10 @ 3:44AM

Flip Converter is a professional Flip Video Converter to help you convert Flip video, you can use it as Flip HD video converter and Flip MP4 converter. Supporting all Flip camcorder models, it can also function as Flip Ultra converter and Flip Mino converter.
bhhhhh