Terror Attack in the Skies Thwarted

[azbadpuppy]

Obviously, no system will ever be 100% foolproof, and we have to learn to accept that. Moreover, we need to stop handing these morons successes even from their failures. When we publicly respond to their idiocy, they have won. The way to defeat this scourge is to stop reacting. The tactic of terrorism is taken directly from that of four year olds. The whole point is to get attention, and every time they try, whether successfully or not, we give them what they seek.

I completely agree with you on this. The media needs to take the lions share of the blame here, however we are a country that has had fear shoved down our throats for so long now we don't even know how else to react and we just eat it up.

IMO, this non-reactionary approach is more effective, and I believe (and hope) is the reason that Obama has not addressed this situation as of yet with some knee-jerk speech. 

[patric]

I don't really see the problem here. Just check all your bags and stop trying to bring weird crap that you aren't going to use in flight on the plane. Stuff like shaving razors and zippo lighters, I don't do this and I have zero hassle at any airport.  Do you really need to use some kind of gel on a 4 to 5 hour flight? Do you really need to bring your own water on a plane when they serve it for you?

Yes.

For years, fliers have worried about everything from stuffy cabin air to bad meals. But what about the water? While airlines insist it's safe to drink, some little-noticed studies from Japan to the Netherlands have turned up some unfriendly bacteria in the tank water, including E. coli and the germ that causes Legionnaire's disease. U.S. researchers have tested it, too, with mixed results that suggest you don't know what you're drinking.
http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB1036110025940498271.html

[azbadpuppy]

Yes.

For years, fliers have worried about everything from stuffy cabin air to bad meals. But what about the water? While airlines insist it's safe to drink, some little-noticed studies from Japan to the Netherlands have turned up some unfriendly bacteria in the tank water, including E. coli and the germ that causes Legionnaire's disease. U.S. researchers have tested it, too, with mixed results that suggest you don't know what you're drinking.
http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB1036110025940498271.html

Stick to vodka- makes the trip faster too. Just make sure you use the restroom at least one hour before landing!

[guido911]

I completely agree with you on this. The media needs to take the lions share of the blame here, however we are a country that has had fear shoved down our throats for so long now we don't even know how else to react and we just eat it up.

IMO, this non-reactionary approach is more effective, and I believe (and hope) is the reason that Obama has not addressed this situation as of yet with some knee-jerk speech.  

Yeah, just ignore terror attacks, that'll make them stop--except of course for that whole "9/11" thing.

As I previously stated, we have had two terrorist attacks in this country in less than two months, so closing Gitmo, trying terrorists in our federal courts, and an international apology tour is sure paying off safety dividends. Obama's "non-reactionary approach" is freakin genius.

[azbadpuppy]

Yeah, just ignore terror attacks, that'll make them stop--except of course for that whole "9/11" thing.

As I previously stated, we have had two terrorist attacks in this country in less than two months, so closing Gitmo, trying terrorists in our federal courts, and an international apology tour is sure paying off safety dividends. Obama's "non-reactionary approach" is freakin genius.

Nobody said anything about ignoring terrorist attacks.

[Ed W]

There's a first person account of the incident on Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roey-rosenblith/over-detroit-skies_b_404255.html

I was on my third in-flight movie when the screaming started, shattering my tired half-awake travel state. I had gone from watching Up to Inglorious Basterds and had decided to try rounding things off with Land of the Lost. That was when my fellow passenger Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab decided to ignite his explosives 19 rows ahead of me.

[joiei]

Why is everyone trying to blame screeners in the United States and Obama and Janet Napolitano for not catching this guy before he got on the plane.  If I am not mistaken he was screened in Nigeria first,  then rescreened in Amsterdam.   He was NEVER screened in the United States.   He had not set foot on American soil when he tried to set off his bomb.   He was not screened by anyone in the United States,  just for a little clarification.   Was he on no=fly lists in either of those countries?   Were there American Passport control agents in either Nigeria or Amsterdam?   

[azbadpuppy]

Why is everyone trying to blame screeners in the United States and Obama and Janet Napolitano for not catching this guy before he got on the plane.  If I am not mistaken he was screened in Nigeria first,  then rescreened in Amsterdam.   He was NEVER screened in the United States.   He had not set foot on American soil when he tried to set off his bomb.   He was not screened by anyone in the United States,  just for a little clarification.   Was he on no=fly lists in either of those countries?   Were there American Passport control agents in either Nigeria or Amsterdam?   

The TSA has 'international partners' in all major world airports- whatever that means, but they have no jurisdiction in foreign countries and can only 'issue directives' on new security measures. He wasn't on the no-fly lists, and there was not enough evidence to revoke his visa.

So in other words, the US, Obama and Napolitano had little, if anything to do with what happened with this guy being properly screened and boarding the plane in Amsterdam. But it's easier just to blame them anyway apparently.

[Conan71]

There's a first person account of the incident on Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roey-rosenblith/over-detroit-skies_b_404255.html

I was on my third in-flight movie when the screaming started, shattering my tired half-awake travel state. I had gone from watching Up to Inglorious Basterds and had decided to try rounding things off with Land of the Lost. That was when my fellow passenger Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab decided to ignite his explosives 19 rows ahead of me.

That's a yawner, let's hear from the little old lady sitting next to him who got powder burns on her knitting bag 

[guido911]

Why is everyone trying to blame screeners in the United States and Obama and Janet Napolitano for not catching this guy before he got on the plane.  If I am not mistaken he was screened in Nigeria first,  then rescreened in Amsterdam.   He was NEVER screened in the United States.   He had not set foot on American soil when he tried to set off his bomb.   He was not screened by anyone in the United States,  just for a little clarification.   Was he on no=fly lists in either of those countries?   Were there American Passport control agents in either Nigeria or Amsterdam?   

I hope you did not think I was blaming Napolitano for failing to stop the attack. My beef with her was that idiotic the "system worked" comment she made (which she has subsequently backed off of).

[Conan71]

So in other words, the US, Obama and Napolitano had little, if anything to do with what happened with this guy being properly screened and boarding the plane in Amsterdam. But it's easier just to blame them anyway apparently.

I think it's along the lines of saying Bush didn't care about Katrina victims because he wasn't in N.O. immediately after the storm had moved on, staying out of the way and letting rescuers do their job with as little of a circus as possible.  It's partisan hacks playing tit-for-tat.

I'd definitely expect lax security in Nigera, not Amsterdam though.  I honestly don't see how TSA or HS had a thing to do with this if he boarded in Amsterdam, that falls squarely on the shoulders of the Dutch authorities and can't imagine what sort of stretch it takes to pass the blame to U.S. authorities unless they are soley responsible for training the screeners who let this guy past, or soley responsible for maintaining the terrorist database which apparently went un-heeded.

Nothing much to see here other than TSA coming up with more Draconian guidelines to let the terrorists and pranksters know they've screwed the poor air traveller yet again by creating more inconveniences.

[azbadpuppy]

I think it's along the lines of saying Bush didn't care about Katrina victims because he wasn't in N.O. immediately after the storm had moved on, staying out of the way and letting rescuers do their job with as little of a circus as possible.  It's partisan hacks playing tit-for-tat.

I'd definitely expect lax security in Nigera, not Amsterdam though.  I honestly don't see how TSA or HS had a thing to do with this if he boarded in Amsterdam, that falls squarely on the shoulders of the Dutch authorities and can't imagine what sort of stretch it takes to pass the blame to U.S. authorities unless they are soley responsible for training the screeners who let this guy past, or soley responsible for maintaining the terrorist database which apparently went un-heeded.

Nothing much to see here other than TSA coming up with more Draconian guidelines to let the terrorists and pranksters know they've screwed the poor air traveller yet again by creating more inconveniences.

I will have to respectfull disagree with you in the Katrina comparison. That *was* a disaster- one of the worst natural disasters in this country's history where almost 2,000 people died and I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone- right or left- that actually thought the Bush Administration handled it well. That was a complete and utter failure on a world-wide stage. And even if you dont believe that, it is still a bit callous and insulting to even compare the two events.

What we are talking about now was an attempted, but failed terrorist strike. No one died. Still incredibly important for national security, but it's like comparing apples to oranges.

I understand what you are saying about partisan hacks, but seriously, the Katrina tragedy (and aftermath and subsequent criticism) goes well beyond that and should not be so trivialized.

[guido911]

A sidebar to the Christmas day drama...

The "hero" that saved the Northwest flight sold his exclusive story to CNN for $10,000 in the form of licensing a blurry cellphone photo.
His agreed-to 5-minute interview did not include any mention that his heroic leap over the seats and heads of other passengers apparently took place after the Flight Attendants got water to put out the fire.
So do we give this guy his own reality show with the Balloon Boy?

http://jezebel.com/5434950/the-shady-mainstream-media-payday-of-flight-253-hero-jasper-schuringa
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/27/jasper-schuringa-northwes_n_404247.html

What a shame.   

Did you rip into Sully Sullenberger, the pilot that landed his plane in the Hudson, over his cashing in on fame. This doosh wrote a book and has a TV show Brace for Impact coming up. /sarc

[we vs us]

This is kinda interesting.  In a post dated December 18th, ABC News's The Blotter blog posted this tidbit which went wholely unnoticed by anyone anywhere.  Except maybe our friend with the explosive drawers.

Obama Ordered U.S. Military Strike on Yemen Terrorists

Cruise Missiles Launched Thursday Hit Two Suspected al Qaeda Sites; Major Escalation of US Efforts Against Terrorists

On orders from President Barack Obama, the U.S. military launched cruise missiles early Thursday against two suspected al-Qaeda sites in Yemen, administration officials told ABC News in a report broadcast on ABC World News with Charles Gibson.

One of the targeted sites was a suspected al Qaeda training camp north of the capitol, Sanaa, and the second target was a location where officials said "an imminent attack against a U.S. asset was being planned."

And yes, as you probably guessed, I found this link in the middle of this post on antiwar.com.

[guido911]

This is kinda interesting.  In a post dated December 18th, ABC News's The Blotter blog posted this tidbit which went wholely unnoticed by anyone anywhere.  Except maybe our friend with the explosive drawers.


And yes, as you probably guessed, I found this link in the middle of this post on antiwar.com.

Thanks. Good to know.