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28 Dec 2009 21:41

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Politics: DHS head Janet Napolitano’s getting resignation calls already

  • Does she not realize how sick we are of government officials responding to obvious mistakes, errors and failures by bragging about what they did get right?
  • Andrew Sullivan (our second link to him today!) • Regarding the perceived ineptitude of Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano, who took credit for getting the job done regarding the underwear bomber, only to get trashed by everybody around because, well, she didn’t. Her second half-apology on Today this morning has people calling for her head all around the table. source

28 Dec 2009 20:58

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U.S.: This post features scanned-in hardcore black-and-white nudes

  • Oh yeah, that’s right. Take a look at what those full-body airport scans are gonna look like. What did you think we were talking about, anyway? source

28 Dec 2009 20:41

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U.S.: Underwear bomber: About time this terrorist guy had a nickname!

  • There was a technical problem that resulted in a non-complete explosion.
  • A statement from al-freaking-Qaeda • Regarding the underwear bomber, who we’ll also refer to as the “undie bomber,” the “tighty-whitie bomber” and” the guy about to ruin security checks for everyone.” Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, as his mother named him, was in fact working with al-Qaeda, who claim great success in actually getting the explosive device through security. They claim that the bombing attempt was retribution for bombings in Yemen that screwed their stuff up. Dudes, this guy got way closer to blowing something up than any guy since the Shoe Bomber. source

28 Dec 2009 10:35

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World: Amsterdam’s airport says Nigerian terror suspect passed security

  • Was he checked? Yes, Dutch authorities say Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab went through security checkpoints. In fact, they note that Nigerian travelers go through strong security when flying because of fears of fraud.
  • What was the weak point? From the sound of things, airport security could not detect the materials on him because they weren’t made of metal. Which means that we’re going to start seeing full body scans soon. source

27 Dec 2009 23:27

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Politics: Max Headroom: Two Peters make a homeland security sandwich


  • Finger-Pointing Rep. Peter Hoekstra seems ready to stick a fork in Obama’s handling of terrorism on Fox News, blaming his staff for downplaying the threat. We think it’s a bit overblown.

  • “The System Worked” Of course, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano disagrees with Rep. Hoekstra’s assessment, and she was on CNN trying to calm the American public’s frayed nerves.

  • “No it didn’t, Janet” Rep. Peter King, looking like he’s going to rip someone to shreds, totally disagrees with Janet Napolitano’s assessment, but says that they need to work towards a bipartisan solution.

27 Dec 2009 20:30

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U.S.: Detroit terror flight, Mach 2: Don’t fly to Detroit from Nigeria

  • Human beings scared of their own shadow – more at 11. What happens when a guy from Nigeria flies to Detroit and is caught nearly committing a terrorist act, hangs out in the bathroom for an hour, and is stopped only by his own incompetence (and a brave Dutchman)? He gets caught. And what happens when a second guy from Nigeria takes the exact same flight two days later under almost identical circumstances, and also heads to the bathroom for an hour? We freak out and overreact. Human nature. source

27 Dec 2009 09:00

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World: In Nigeria, the terror suspect got through security, no problem

  • Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab even went through a secondary check. Obviously feeling the pressure that they let through a guy who tried to blow up a plane, a senior Nigerian aviation official explained the process he went through. He didn’t check any baggage, carried a shoulder bag, went through a traditional security check, passed with flying colors, and went through a secondary check at the boarding gate. He had a multiple-visit U.S. visa, but not one to enter Britain after applying to a bogus college there. Nigeria’s airline security, BTW, successfully passed recent audits. source
 

26 Dec 2009 10:06

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U.S.: Jasper Schuringa reportedly the hero in the Detroit terror attack

  • My hands are pretty burned. I am fine. I am shaken up. I am happy to be here.
  • Jasper Schuringa • On reportedly subduing terror suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab after he tried to start a fire on board. He apparently was the hero – jumping over another passenger to reach him, grabbing the explosive device, and stripping off his clothes to ensure he didn’t have any others – but CNN has not been able to independently verify his role in the attack. source