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Napolitano: 'The System Worked'

GOP piles on White House over near-bombing on Detroit flight

By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 27, 2009 10:28 AM CST
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(Newser) – The Detroit terror incident took center stage on the Sunday talk show circuit today, with Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano coming out swinging as the GOP blamed the White House for the lapse. "The system worked," she told State of the Union, and there was "no suggestion that [the bomber] was improperly screened." She did admit, however, that there was no air marshal aboard the flight.

  • Malarkey, says Long Island Rep. Pete King to Napolitano—the system did not work, and "He made it on the plane with explosives." King called the close call "a teaching moment" for the White House.
  • White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told Meet the Press that more air marshals had been added to flights coming into the US.
  • Detroit GOP Rep. Pete Hoekstra continued to pound the administration for having "downplayed" the terrorism threat, noting, "Radicalization is alive, it’s well."

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano delivers remarks on the Obama administration's efforts to reform the US immigration system, Friday, Nov. 13, 2009.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano delivers remarks on the Obama administration's efforts to reform the US immigration system, Friday, Nov. 13, 2009.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at the Center for American Progress in Washington.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at the Center for American Progress in Washington.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says that air marshals have been added in the wake of the attempted suicide bombing aboard a flight to Detroit.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says that air marshals have been added in the wake of the attempted suicide bombing aboard a flight to Detroit.   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
In this Nov. 7, 2009, file photo Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., picks up a copy of the House health care bill HB-3962 after he wheeled it up the steps to the House after a rally against health care overhaul.
In this Nov. 7, 2009, file photo Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., picks up a copy of the House health care bill HB-3962 after he wheeled it up the steps to the House after a rally against health care overhaul.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
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The system did not work, and we have to find a bipartisan way to fix it. He made it on the plane with explosives. If that had been successful, and we would have had a Christmas Day massacre with almost 300 people murdered. - Rep. Pete King, R-NY

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 49 comments
matteo
Dec 28, 2009 11:29 AM CST
the point is simple, these people are nothing but driven, thats all they have, yet they manage to do what they want no matter what measure is put into place.........the saddest part is seeing people even on this blog talking about left and right, all of you deserve to be on the next plane ...
Ucantusethatname
Dec 28, 2009 10:59 AM CST
Napolitano should be fired. This terrorist was listed on the terrorist list but not listed on the no-fly list. The guy was on Great Britain's no-fly list. His father warned our government of the danger his son posed. The solution is not to limit passengers access to rest rooms, ban the use of laptop computers, or cease showing in-flight movies. It's time to hire someone knows something about security instead of an expert in bladders, hard drives, and films.
Ucantusethatname
Dec 28, 2009 10:31 AM CST
The system worked? What is Napolitano drinking these days? An identified terrorist whose name is not on the no-fly list? This means working? God help us if the system isn't working. Worse is the reaction--the added control of airline passengers to increase the perception of better security. Depriving passengers of rest rooms is a brilliant idea to improve security. But don't do something useful such as taking a second and third look at Muslim passengers. Much better to strip search grandma and reinspect grandpa's cane 20 times as evidence of improved security.

 
Pete Hoekstra • Janet Napolitano • Robert Gibbs • Sunday morning talk shows • Detroit terror incident

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