Reflections on the would-be Christmas bomber of Flight 253
A few observations on the case of Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 23-year-old Nigerian Muslim who tried to blow up a Northwest Airlines jetliner on Christmas day, but ended up following in Richard Reid’s footsteps (pun intended):
(1) It seems to fit a recent pattern, that of a single terrorist agent with backstage helpers, and an attack that—if unsuccessful—is thwarted less by the skill of opponents than by bad luck and/or incompetence on the part of the perpetrator.
(2) It shows how difficult it is to activate the proper channels to compel authorities to take proper defensive action and bar the passenger from traveling, even when multiple and glaring red flags are present.
(3) It shows once again that Islamicist terrorists often come from the ranks of the prosperous rather than the poor.
(4) It follows a well-known trend, that of Islamicist terrorists tending to have had training as engineers or to be in the field of medicine.
(5) It features the MSM disclosure that the bomber’s father tipped the US off about his son’s dangerousness. Unless this information was furnished to the media by the father himself, it seems to me unconscionable that the informant’s identity was revealed. This not only endangers the father, but will most likely have a chilling effect on any such future warnings.
(6) We will all pay with increased annoying and inconvenient prohibitions and rules for flight behavior that will in all likelihood do absolutely nothing to prevent future attacks.
The Director of DHS, Janet Nepolitano–Miss Aqua Velva–has appeared on several major news shows today to reassure us all and to say, over and over again, that “the system worked!” explaining that, after the attack, the DHS and other relevant agencies shared information, papers were prepared and sent, briefings were held, and flight security precautions were heightened.
That is “the system worked” if by that you mean; that someone who had been on the terrorism watch list for a few years, and was, further, ratted out to the U.S. Embassy in London, by his own worried father–no less–six months ago–was, yet, able to get/keep his U.S. passport, able to buy a plane ticket to the U.S., passed airport security and, yet, was able to smuggle aboard the aircraft the high explosive components of an extraordinarily compact but powerful PETN bomb that–had it detonated properly–was capable of causing the plane to crash, killing all 300 passengers and crew, and that, except for a faulty detonator and a brave Dutch passenger who tackled him, the Muslim terrorist would have possibly/likely succeeded.
Oh, yeah, our “system worked” all right!
This whole episode makes we want to retrain truffle pigs to sniff the crotches of profiled air passengers. I had enough of PC and apologies. And of golf course photo ops.
The skunk’s ass on Janet Napolitano’s head sez:
“Don’t Panic! The System worked!”
I guess “the system” consists of strategically placed young guys who will beat the ass off of any suspicious person darker than Joe Lieberman.
Speaking of which, having “a dark president with a funny name” sure hasn’t bought any love for us among dark people with funny names….
“The system worked.” I guess that phrase has now come to mean “good luck saved our sorry asses.”
Neo,
It makes me mad that the press published the hero’s name in this case also.
This hero leaped over a few seats to rip the explosive that was taped to his leg and put the fire/fuse out and then pulled the terrorist out of his seat.
His life has changed because of his heroism. It shouldn’t change. He should be thanked. He should be allowed to go on without threats to him or his family.
The press should be ashamed of themselves. They are bound to go to hell in my mind.
Baklava: I would have included the hero, except that because he’s been interviewed and shown on TV, I am assuming it is his choice to be identified. Brave man in many respects.
Didn’t know that. Sorry – I should do more than just read. 😉
Janet Nepolitano would make a better contribution to security if she became a TSA screener in Fairbanks.
Helluva job, Janet!
Btw, Janet, apparently many of the Muslim terrorists have joined the Republican Party, and want to fly to the US to participate in Tea Parties to urge others to vote agains tPresident Obama and Democrat policy proposals.
(There. That should lead to a crackdown. It’s about the only thing that will.)
On the same day, hard on the heels of the good Hollander flinging himself across the aisle to stop the seated AbdulWhatzit, came word from Air Canada that TSA will prohibit anyone from leaving their seat during the last hour of any flight, which policy TSA at that same time refused to confirm!
What can one say? Shaking my head in grudging recognition yet again of the incompetency and lunacy in charge is best I can do.
Neo,
In your brief post you have shown yourself to be infinitely more qualified to head the DHS than Ms. Napolitiano.
In anticipation of her having a ‘tragic accident involving a mass transit vehicle’ next week, may I advance your name to the White House for consideration as her replacement?
I really loved the last paragraph in the article i picked off Drudge to read about it.
Obama gets credit for there being less terrorists because he shows there are other things for a young Muslim to do with his life, or something to that effect.
Why is it muslim extremist can’t be profiled but tea bagging right wingers can’t avoid being profiled? I’m so sick of the voluntary and apparently in vogue ignorance of our political class.
SteveH, ignorance? Maybe. Maybe it’s a matter of whom one considers friends, and whom one considers enemies.
Good News .. the TSA it it’s infinite wisdom has initiated a no-pee zone one hour prior to arrival. This should marry nicely with the no-fly zones already in existence.
I wonder how long it will be before Napolitano feels the warm rubber from those bus tires?
From at least anecdotal evidence, disproportionate representation of engineers and MDs among the Jihadis is a pattern that may also have applied to Latin American radicals of past generations. Che Guevara and Salvador Allende had medical training. A family friend was well enough acquainted with Latin American radicals and exiles for a number of years to have been friends withCamilo Torres and with a future President of a Latin American country when he was in exile. The family friend informed me that engineers were fairly well represented among radicals in Latin America.
“The system worked” is Orwellian… like “War is Peace.” Napolitano has done it again. Just like when she said it’s not a “Global War On Terror” anymore, but a “natural or man-caused disaster.”
“Good News ….. the TSA it it’s infinite wisdom….”
Does the TSA, in its infinite wisdom of course, have any suggestions about handling those long lines that will now appear in airline aisles before that hour, or those who just chose to relieve themselves where they sit?
Does anyone in the government ever think?
Sorry, Michael, the government’s think tanks are positioned just behind the handle on the toilet.
Any sensible ideas are quickly flushed!
Hey, hey, calm down already, the Obama came on television and basically said that it was an “isolated incident” or something to that effect. I think the speech lasted all of six-eight minutes, and then he walked off without answering questions.
Not such a big deal, I guess. The plane he uses is roomy and has plenty of security, no need to worry about the guy in the seat next to you. No need to stand on that ice cold floor while the TSA punks bark and drive you like cattle.
More long lines, more stressed out travelers worrying about who’s on that passenger manifest. But, no passenger profiling, no “no fly” countries identified and restricted…and please, no immigration controls!