December 28, 2009 10:28 AM

Napolitano Admits Airport Screening Failure

By
Kevin Hechtkopf
Topics
Terrorism
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has backed off comments she made on Sunday on CNN saying that "the system worked" in response to questions about how a would-be-bomber got explosive material aboard a Detroit-bound flight on Christmas Day.

"Obviously this individual should not have gotten on the plane carrying that material. And we can explain all of the reasons, but they're not satisfactory," Napolitano said on CBS' "The Early Show" Monday.

She was more blunt in an interview with NBC. "Our system did not work in this instance," she said.

Napolitano drew criticism following her remark on CNN on Sunday from Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who called her out on it during an interview later Sunday morning on CBS' "Face the Nation."

"Earlier today, Secretary Napolitano said the system worked. The fact is the system did not work," King said. "We have to find a bipartisan way to fix it. He made it on the plane with explosives and he detonated the explosives." (Read more on King's comments on the attempted attack.>)

As for how airport screening could be changed, the secretary said Monday that while there are some immediate measures being taken, the administration is also undergoing a broader review of screening and watch list procedures.

"That investigation is still ongoing," Napolitano said. "And part of that is looking at how this individual got on the plane; and also the screening technology that didn't pick up the material that he had on the plane. But now we're also in the process … of imposing some emergency rules, immediate rules … at airports while we work this problem."

White House Press Secretary also addressed the review process in an interview on "Face the Nation" on Sunday.

"We're going to go through the capabilities for detecting and we're going to go through the watchlisting procedures again, some of which are older, and evaluate whether or not they are up to date for the types of threats and security concerns that we have," Gibbs added. "I do think though that in many ways this system has worked -- we just have to continue to keep refining it and stay ahead of what terrorists are trying to do." (Read more on the interview with Gibbs>)

Napolitano also addressed privacy issues over more invasive screening techniques in the "Early Show" interview with co-anchor Harry Smith.

"There is new technology that is being installed and deployed in airports. There has been some resistance," she said, "When you talk about the security measures, there are those who from one side say, 'Don't deploy the technology. It invades our privacy.' There are others who are criticizing the rules that were used, while failing, really, to acknowledge that these rules that have been in place since -- since 2006. We're looking at those rules. We're looking at what happened here. We're looking to make sure that this sort of incident cannot recur, even as we change procedures and install new technology moving forward."

More Coverage from CBSNews.com:

Al Qaeda: We Planned Flight 253 Bombing
Officials: In-Flight Restrictions Eased
Tracing Bomb Suspect's Journey to Detroit
Expert: New Security Steps a Smokescreen
Al Qaeda's Yemen Branch Rising in Stature
Many Questions, Few Answers in Terror Case
U.S. Failed to Catch Suspect's Active Visa
Abdulmutallab Shocks Family, Friends
Would-Be Bomber Used Powerful Explosive
Who Is Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab?
Tightening Security in U.S.


Add a Comment See all 48 Comments
by youcancallmeroy December 30, 2009 12:01 PM EST
It has been, in the words of Queen Elizabeth II, an ?annus horribilis? for DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano. Beginning with her embrace of the impotent euphemism ?man-caused disasters? to the hit job on conservatives and veterans that she was forced to apologize for, to her assertion that crossing the border illegally ?isn?t a crime per se?, to her boneheaded claim that 9/11 terrorists came in through the Canadian border, Ja-No has confirmed time and again that she?s not ready for prime time. Let's face it, she?s as effective as HS Sect as she was as Gov at stopping the invasion in her home state. Perhaps another 6 month study by a blue ribbon panel is what?s needed here (just kidding). If these dopes were in charge in 1941 we?d all be speaking german and japanese. To be fair, does the White House know we are at war yet? Come to think about it, maybe they don't? Why would I say that? Because the first thing the Administration did was get this psyco a lawyer! Then there was the news that the terrorist may need plastic surgury! Arizona?s gain was the U.S.A.?s loss! What a clueless clown. So let me see if I got this right. You don?t know what happened, or how it happened but you are sure that we are all safe until we point out you don?t know but you say the system worked but the system had nothing to
do with a failed explosion (other than security measures make it tough to get a working bomb on board). When we point out the system did not work, then you agree to that. So we are left with a failed system run by you but you tell us we are safe but you don?t really know anything?
I guess her next comment will be "It depends on your definition of ?the?.
First there was Van Jones, now Janet. Another one bites the dust!
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by beowulf39565 December 29, 2009 2:01 AM EST
She is too busy profiling combat veterans and Tea Party participants as potential terrorists to be bothered with known muslim radicals
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by sdh26234 December 28, 2009 11:34 PM EST
America more and more is reaping the fruits of complete and absolute lawlessness/anarchy! Yes, 9/11 made in America, by America, for America in the shop of complete and absolute lawlessness/anarchy with the Commander in Chief its foreman, in a figure of speech. If millions upon million of illegals have basically just walked in and in reality at the pleasure of so called patriotic American citizens who hired them etc/, with Federal Government mandated health care, no questions asked, whether a legal immigrant or illegal ones, right? To add insult to injury Spanish is now equal to English, making America a true two headed monster. So, if this is not lawalessnees/anarchy, than will someone say so please? "Remember democracy never last long. It soon wastes, exhaust and murders itself. There never was a Democracy that did not commit suicide". By John Adams, letter to John Taylor 15 April 1814. I don't care is very evident amongst Government emploues or so it seems, in this last case as to this latest incident on an airplane to America.
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by wfw3536 December 28, 2009 6:31 PM EST
Does this lady know what she is doing? Sundsy she said everything worked and today she says that the screening procedures failed. This sounds like someone who should be fired. I sure do not feel very secure with this lady in charge. I can't believe Obama finally said something about this 4 days later -----------oh I guess he was to busy playing golf.
Reply to this comment
by starleo146 December 28, 2009 9:45 PM EST
Hey man I think she is more open and honest than that Chernoff, besides woman think with there head. Men think with --- well You heard how men think. Quit knocking the woman this plan of this list has been in effect since 2004. Guess who was in office claiming he kept America safe. They need to look into our visa policies too easy to get into this country student visas or otherwise if they are on a suspected list YANK the visa and stay home
by mariannpepit December 28, 2009 11:05 PM EST
Napolitano doesn't have the experience for that job. She couldn't run the state of Arizona as governor. What was Obama thinking when he hired her for Homeland Security. And when this incident happened he should have came back to Washington instead of partying on the shores. This is a serious matter and it needs attention from the president. Not in Hawaii but in Washington.
by irreverent1-2009 December 28, 2009 6:18 PM EST
Bottom line is we cannot keep our borders, coastlines, harbors and airports safe because were wasting billions of dollars overseas instead of spending it here for security. Take those ghosts of 911 and stickem in your pipe and smoke it. Just cancelled my vacation out of state.
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by ToolMangler1 December 28, 2009 10:29 PM EST
So you think we should pull all our soldiers home to protect 'our' borders?
I prefer to protect our borders by never letting them get near us.
We can handle an attack now and then, the only alternative is to let them come here and fight all battles on American soil...
by FauxNews December 28, 2009 4:14 PM EST
Napolitano should resign.
Reply to this comment
by nowhiningallowed December 28, 2009 5:38 PM EST
Agreed!
by obwan222 December 28, 2009 3:32 PM EST
Senator Jim DeMint is holding up the vote on Erroll Southers, a top cop at Los Angeles International Airport, to head the Transportation Security Administration over concerns the nominee would allow airport security screeners to unionize. Even though Southers has pledged in writing that he would not "support, recommend or endorse any system, practice or procedure that would potentially compromise the safety and security of the flying public."

Now who's playing politics with National Security? What would Rush & Co. say about a Dem that held up a TSA appointment over union issues? But we all know that its okay with them to use politics as an excuse to compromise security as long as its their version of "politically correct" politics.
Reply to this comment
by nowhiningallowed December 28, 2009 5:37 PM EST
No federal employee of any agency should ever be allowed to unionize, including the TSA. It's a conflict of interest. Unions strike and federal agencies are there for the citizenry, not the picket line or the overly paid union bosses.
by starleo146 December 28, 2009 10:40 PM EST
Senator DeMint what a loser thank God he doesn't represent my state he walks around S.C waving the rebel flag, you know he doesn't agree with President Obama.
by jimbom121 December 28, 2009 3:08 PM EST
Please note that their has been legislation to upgrade the screening mechanisms in the US...but it was held up by the Reprublicans. See June, 2009....

However, this occurred overseas, so even better screening here would not have helped this issue.
Reply to this comment
by obwan222 December 28, 2009 3:07 PM EST
"if we just do full body scans on Muslims, everybody else can..."

I hope you're not serious. Are you one of those people that think that they can spot a Jewish person in a crowd? Can you tell Catholics or Mormons from other Christians, too?

Do all the world's passports require you to state your religion? Does the US passport? UK? Nigerian? If they do require it, what proof is required? Any? After all, we all know that terrorist would never lie on an official document, right?

Let's just say, that I hope you're not serious because I don't think you've thought this one through.
Reply to this comment
by obwan222 December 28, 2009 2:37 PM EST
"-- we just have to continue to keep refining it and stay ahead of what terrorists are trying to do."

That's the truth.

Remember that 9/11 was foreshadowed, the anthrax attacks, that Richard Reid tried to use PETN in his shoes... I don't bring these up to "blame Bush", but to point out that every Administration (even one run by hardcore neo-cons) is going to have attempts and some might be successful. Pointing fingers at one President or another is going to do nothing to solve anything. We just need to be constantly refining our methods of protection.

Speaking of which - we all know that we are spending millions of dollars to protect ourselves from terrorist groups that in many cases are funded by millions of our petro-dollars. Why isn't developing non-petroleum-based renewable energy sources a national security priority? It may not pay-off overnight, but the next generation might be freed from funneling money into a pipeline that is being used to attack their safety. And the US could become a world leader in a growing energy market - that would lead to more financial security as well.

" Napolitano made comments... about Human Trafficking...they were busy fussing over prostitutes..."

Trivializing it by calling it "fussing over prostitutes" misses the very real problems of preventing slavery and securing borders from the worst kind of illegal immigration.

"...who cares if we offend a few Muslims,their religon [sic] wants us killed anyway..."

In many countries the Muslim religion is undergoing it's own Dark Ages. But we forget that Christianity has many instances of individual and state-sponsored terrorism. Remember the Inquisition, the witch trials, the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, Northern Ireland or violence against abortion doctors? By those measures, Christianity is a hateful, violent religion that is at war with those it considers heathens.

During the Dark Ages, Muslims kept alive the scientific knowledge of the past. In fact, the very concept of colleges was borrowed from centers of learning in the Muslim world. Muslims considered Europeans to be backwards, unorganized and uncivilized. In the ninth century, the library of the monastery of St. Gall was the largest in Europe. It boasted 36 volumes. At the same time, that of Cordoba in Islamic Spain contained over 500,000.

I saw an Islamic scholar who was also a woman saying that just 10 years ago she could debate a woman's role in the Muslim religion, but now there are few "learned" men that are willing to even discuss it.

One day, Islam will emerge from it's current Dark Ages.

So learn a little history and take the long view of life instead of only looking at the daily news and you might learn that there are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
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