President Obama: 'A Systemic Failure Has Occurred'

[cal04]

Source: CBS News

President Barack Obama says he wants a preliminary accounting completed by Thursday into what went wrong that allowed explosives to make it onto a Detroit-bound airliner last week.

He says "it's essential we diagnosis the problems quickly."

The president said Tuesday "a systemic failure has occurred" that led a "catastrophic breach of security" and allowed a 23-year-old Nigerian to board a plane to the United States despite warnings from the suspect's father. The suspect -- described by Obama as "a known extremist" -- is accused of trying to destroy the plane on Christmas Day as it approached Detroit.

Obama says deficiencies in the system allowed the suspect to get as far as he did. Obama says he wants to hear exactly what went wrong.

Read more: http://cbs2chicago.com/national/airport.security.red.2.1395926.html

---

audio, hopefully it's still working
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34623883#34623883

transcript
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/12/transcript-of-obama-remarks-on.html#more

[timeforpeace]

1. Somebody posted that he blamed it on Bush. Is that true?

[AngryAmish]

It is Bush's fault.

[timeforpeace]

7. Fine. But not sure that the blame game is germane at this point.

[Cha]

23. That means what President Obama's doing is right.

There is no fucking blame game..it's called full disclosure and too bad you don't want the "BLAME" squarely where it belongs.

[madokie]

59. He didn't blame it directly on bush

he blamed it on a system that had been in place for 7 years. He choses his words carefully.

[shadowrider]

9. Would you care to explain why it's Bush's fault?

Bush was held completely, totally, absolutely responsible for 9/11 after 9 months in office.

This occurs 11 months into Obama's Presidency, yet it's still Bush's fault?

Just curious to your reasoning.

[jpak]

12. Bush issued the crotch bomber's visa and released his co-conspirators from Gitmo

Bush's terrorist ID system failed - like everything else he's ever done.

Obama man'ed up on this and will fix yet another Bush/GOP fuck up.

[AngryAmish]

13. Listen, I'm not a Bush worshipping a-hole

I hold him respnsible for all of this.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

14. Well Bush got a PDB saying that Bin Laden was going to strike in the U.S.

I don't think this guy showed Obama the same courtesy.

[FrenchieCat]

69. You busted!

[yava]

71. the hijackings of 9/11 were done by Saudis with flying licenses

obtained in the US during the Bush presidency when being focused on Iraq, warnings from the FBI about such flyschool students were ignored.

In the present case, the error or negligence was from a US Embassy that apparently did not enter a direct warning from the suspect's father into the various data banks and granted or did not revoke his visa.

Nigerian citizens need a visa to enter the US and by the way, only Nigerian residents, frequently visiting working or government people or the very rich property or equity owners have multiple visas.
We need to be told why this young man had an entry visa, what type of visa was it (since he did not work, study or reside in the US), when and where it was issued and the duration of its validity.
With MSM and gov. info available at this point and the fact that the act turned out to only burn the guy, I would not exclude a right wing conspiracy of sorts.
He is said to have spent 20 minutes alone in the plane's WC. Why did he not do the job there instead of among passengers who jumped him.
Does this guy look like a highly trained terrorist?

[O is 44]

22. I did not hear him blame Bush....

If they are referring to his comments regarding there will be a review of practices that have been in place for years. He is stating a fact. It really highlights how far we have not come in securing our airports since 9/11 you would think communication between agencies would have been a lot better.

[timeforpeace]

40. Oh, that's good. Someone posted in another thread that he blamed Bush which seems beneath him.

[Igel]

64. It amounts to the same thing.

"The guy before me left a mess." Policies, procedures, economy, whatever.

The problem is is that we've heard this excuse before. In 2001. The response was that it was almost 9 months into *'s watch and if the policies and procedures sucked, well, they continued to suck and what did he do about it?

It was a really good line of political attack. After all, there was the PDB saying that AQ was going to attack the US somewhere, somehow, eventually. We'd have all gone with a thorough tightening-down of airport security, power plant security, increased FBI/NSA surveillance powers, etc. Right.

The problem is that we're hearing this excuse now. In late 2009. The response that it is 9 months into Obama's watch and if the policies sucked, well, they weren't his has a few problems. But didn't we marshall fairly good, sound reasons showing that excuse wasn't exactly valid?

The only thing that's changed is the person and the letter after his name.

Me? I found *'s excuse to be weak but sufficient. You can't examine every policy. Not having people communicate between intelligence and law enforcement was a stupid idea done for lofty reasons, but still a stupid idea. Not making politically risky moves--such as beefing up airline security and just stating "intelligence, sorry, it's classified" isn't enough--when there are other things you have on the table is understandable. It's nice to say we have to do everybody possible to save lives, but nobody actually means it. Taking the previous administration's warnings about terror is all well and good, but when you suspect that they're doing it for political reasons you tend not to consider it to be so important--remember the great effort that resulted in catching the Millennium bomber, efforts that were actually routine but not comprehensive, so apprehending him was really a matter of luck?

Obama has the same litany he can recite. The excuse, "But I'm not omniscient" is true but still weak.

[IndianaGreen]

2. A day late and a dollar short

Didn't we learn in 2004 that you just can't let the rightwing frame the debate.

Here is a winner: TSA is taking all the blankets away from passengers, yet it was a blanket that put out the fire started by the bomber. Is this wise?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

4. They were going to criticize him no matter what. You know that.

[Moosepoop]

39. I read an account by a passenger that stated the blanket didn't help.

The blanket caught fire when they tried to use it to smother the first flames. It was a fire extinguisher, fetched by a flight attendant, that finally put the fire out. Or so I read.

[Titanothere]

70. Exactly

I can't stand these stupid knee jerk reaction policies. Oh yeah, we're on the case!!! No more blankets, that'll fix it!! How about don't let the terrorist on the plane in the first place and let me sleep in peace (with my blanket and pocket knife)?.

Idiots.

[truthisfreedom]

3. What went wrong is that passengers headed to the US are not sent through the millimeter scanners.

Passengers of all flights headed to the US should be sent through those things. I don't give a shit about privacy anymore.

[tavalon]

16. I take it you aren't aware that the whole TSA gig is a dog and pony show?

And it looks like you want it to be a bigger dog and pony show? Take your shoes off, don't take your shoes off, Laptops out, no liquids, okay, some liquids, drink your breastmilk, yadda, yadda, yadda. You are no more, nor less safe than you were on Sept 10 or Sept 12th of 2001. In fact, you are no more, nor less safe than you were on Sept 11th of that same year. Really think about that.

I'm not at all happy that you don't give a shit about privacy anymore. I believe Ben Franklin said it better than I can: "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

[WriteDown]

5. Janet Napolitano: ''The system worked''

Seems to be a disconnect somewhere.

[jpak]

15. She retracted that statement and you know it

try again

[WriteDown]

17. Retracted?

Why say it in the first place is the question.

[jpak]

Her statement was taken out of context and twisted by FAUX Noise et al.

parrot much?

[WriteDown]

21. No it wasn't.

Both her AND Gibbs. It was said on CNN. From the :

'The system worked,'' Napolitano declared on CNN during questioning about the lapses that let Abdulmutallab and his devices onto the plane. Gibbs used nearly the same language on CBS, saying that ''in many ways, this system has worked,'' without elaborating.

Later that same day, Napolitano put it differently on ABC, saying ''once the incident occurred, the system worked.'' She tried again on Monday, saying in a round of TV interviews that ''our system did not work in this instance. No one is happy or satisfied with that.''

Said it once, then said it again with clarification, and then retracted.

[jpak]

26. Well ya know - I watched that interview and I know differently

Now if I was a stupid parrot watching FAUX Noise - I wouldn't know any different

but I'm not

:evilgrin:

[WriteDown]

28. Please feel free to quote from the interview then like I did...

You must have gotten the secret transmissions.

[jpak]

30. Here's what she said

"Once this incident occurred, everything went according to clockwork, not only sharing throughout the air industry, but also sharing with state and local law enforcement. Products were going out on Christmas Day, they went out yesterday, and also to the industry to make sure that the traveling public remains safe. I would leave you with that message. The traveling public is safe. We have instituted some additional screening and security measures, in light of this incident, but, again, everyone reacted as they should. The system, once the incident occurred, the system worked. "

Your secret transmissions are bullshit - as usual

[WriteDown]

34. That is her second statement later in the afternoon...

In the morning she simply said "The system worked" when asked.

Your transmitter must have skipped a transmission.

[jpak]

41. Fucking Busllshit - here's the CNN transcript FROM 9 AM EST DEC. 27, 2009 - not the afternnon

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0912/27/sotu.01.html

Aired December 27, 2009 - 09:00 ET

<snip>

NAPOLITANO: Right now, that is part of the criminal justice investigation that is ongoing, and I think it would be inappropriate to speculate as to whether or not he has such ties.

What we are focused on is making sure that the air environment remains safe, that people are confident when they travel. And one thing I'd like to point out is that the system worked. Everybody played an important role here. The passengers and crew of the flight took appropriate action. Within literally an hour to 90 minutes of the incident occurring, all 128 flights in the air had been notified to take some special measures in light of what had occurred on the Northwest Airlines flight. We instituted new measures on the ground and at screening areas, both here in the United States and in Europe, where this flight originated.

So the whole process of making sure that we respond properly, correctly and effectively went very smoothly.

<snip>

try again

[WriteDown]

45. And from that statement..

The system did not work. Unless of course if the Dutchman is part of the system. In that case, the system worked perfectly and I offer my apologies.

[jpak]

48. You said that was her *second* statement of the day - and it was not

and the transcript clearly states that she was referring to the RESPONSE to the attempt.

keep on diggin'!!!

:rofl:

[WriteDown]

50. You do realize that you gave two different quotes....

Right? :shrug:

[jpak]

53. You realize you are posting RW talking points - right?

:shrug:

[WriteDown]

55. That wasn't really an answer..

I can understand that its embarrassing though.

[jpak]

56. It was a statement of fact

sorry if that bothers you

[WriteDown]

57. That its embarrassing?

:shrug:

[jpak]

58. Shamelessly repeating RW talking points that have been thoroughly debunked is embarrassing

except some have no shame about shamelessly repeating RW talking points

[WriteDown]

60. So she didn't say "the system worked" at first?

Not sure it's a talking point when you're quoting someone.

[jpak]

61. It's a RW talking point - quoted out-of-context and twisted by RW assholes

The Rovian Way

[WriteDown]

63. What's taken out of context?

In the morning she simply said "the system worked" and then someone got a hold of her and talked some sense into her. Probably Obama himself. Then she went out and corrected her statement. Finally, she just retracted the whole thing.

[jpak]

65. yes out of context

and you know it

[WriteDown]

66. Thanks for putting it back in context then....

:eyes:

[jpak]

67. Rachel Maddow said my exact words just seconds ago -twisted and taken out of context

LOL!

[slackmaster]

68. Everything worked except the part of the system that is supposed to keep folks with bombs...

...from getting on planes in the first place.

That's some powerful spin on her part. I'll go so far as to call it dishonest.

:rofl:

[IndianaGreen]

25. It wasn't taken out of context. Did you even watch her on TV?

[jpak]

33. Yeah I watched her on the teevee and this is what she said...

"Once this incident occurred, everything went according to clockwork, not only sharing throughout the air industry, but also sharing with state and local law enforcement. Products were going out on Christmas Day, they went out yesterday, and also to the industry to make sure that the traveling public remains safe. I would leave you with that message. The traveling public is safe. We have instituted some additional screening and security measures, in light of this incident, but, again, everyone reacted as they should. The system, once the incident occurred, the system worked. "

twist the night away

[WriteDown]

36. See post 34.

That is the CYA statement.

[jpak]

42. See post 41

n/t

[IndianaGreen]

38. It was the passengers, and their blankets, that stopped the fire

now the TSA is going to take the blankets away. What a bunch of geniuses we have!

[kestrel91316]

35. She was referring to how things were handled AFTER THE FACT,

with respect to alerting the airlines and planes still up in the air. And you damned well know it.

Have you ever uttered a single word of support for anything the Obama administration has done?? Do you support a single word of the Democratic Party platform??? I haven't seen any indication of either. WHY ARE YOU HERE?

[O is 44]

18. Please google the complete interview

she gave to CNN on Sunday. Her words were taken out of context she was not referring what preceded the brave passengers stepping in to put out the fire she was responding to how everyone reacted afterwards. In hindsight she should not have used those words but if you watched the interview you knew what she was saying. sheesh people.

[kestrel91316]

31. I am still waiting for evidence that you support a single administration policy

or Democratic Party principle. WHY ARE YOU HERE?

[WriteDown]

46. Oh please..

I support plenty including REAL health care, but I'll call people out when I see incompetence.

[leveymg]

6. That's a good start.

Now, let's see what happens. The point isn't to make it impossible to fly or such a hassle that nobody wants to. That concedes the game.

The issue is, how could a guy on a UK watch list (that is shared with the US) be allowed on a plane -- without being searched -- weeks after his father tells the US Embassy that his son has been playing footsie with al-Qaeda in Yemen? TSA had to know he was on the flight, and cleared him, if he used his own passport and visa. This is just weird - something was going on here that we're not being told about.

[defendandprotect]

8. Actually, I think this was intended to interrupt discussions about health care deform . ..

[Demeter]

10. The "Systemic Failure" Gave Us a President Who Refuses to Prosecute War Crimes

everything else stems from that. I'm talking Clinton AND Obama here.

[defendandprotect]

11. What a joke . . . if this was a "systematic failure" what would Obama call 9/11 . . .

and NORAD being AWOL?

Or Bush/Cheney's Operation Ignore for months and months before 9/11?

Or our having created the Taliban/Al Qaeda during the Carter administration and

setting them up "in order to bait the Russians into Afghanistan . . . in hopes of

giving them a Vietnam type experience" . . . ????

We should probably stop making underwear -- that would seem to be in line with the

rest of the insane thinking these days!!

[zeemike]

19. What I want to know is who got him on the plain with no passport

And why.
and it is all in the why.
But it is my guess that that will never be completely answered, and probably ignored.

[jus_the_facts]

20. Seems there's a systemic failure of everything with no end in sight. n/t

[O is 44]

27. Well if you were dealing with facts

your statement would not be true.

[unc70]

37. My thoughts exactly. Unable to tell topic from headline.

Where are we going?

And why are we in this handbasket?

[RedCloud]

24. Why doesn't he just go golfing so he can get re-elected?

If history repeats itself, that is.

[Cha]

29. This is serious business and we're fortunate

to have a president who is actually trying to help instead of making it worse.

[IndianaGreen]

43. Obama's solution will be to carpet bomb Yemen, killing hundreds of civilians

The war wings in both major parties will be dancing in the streets out of sheer joy at seeing more of them "terrorists" being killed.

Hasn't this been the MO for the past 9 years?

[jpak]

44. Fucking bullshit - Obama is NOT going to carpet bomb Yemen and kill hundreds of civilians

What a steaming heap

:thumbsdown:

[IndianaGreen]

47. He already has with drone strikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia

Obama will never catch up to Bush, who holds the record for the most civilians killed (over 600,000 in Iraq alone).

[jpak]

51. Do you even know what carpet bombing is?

apparently not

and Obama is NOT going to carpet bomb Yemen...

but you can always DREAM!

keep on piling it higher and dream on

[IndianaGreen]

52. I know what carpet bombing is

and he will bomb Yemen. Tonight the TV was already speculating as to how many targets.

[jpak]

54. Carpet bombing?

Nope

[GrimReefa]

32. Only one way to be safe...

Everybody flies naked.

If you're going to do something, do it 100%.

Might fix our national obesity problem, while we're at it.

[WheelWalker]

49. +1

[shadowrider]

72. Actually

There is a German airline that is a nude airline, recently started, but passengers can't get nude until the plane is at cruising altitude and must dress when the plane beings decent.

http://www.eturbonews.com/1087/nude-airline-take-germany

[and-justice-for-all]

62. Since the Nigerian was not placed on the FBI watch list...

who do you think is to blame?

Let me remind you that Osama is not even on the FBI watch/most wanted list.