'The buck stops with me,' Obama says on terror plot

[HughMoran]

President Obama today ordered a series of steps designed to spot potential terrorists, stop them from boarding passenger aircraft -- and prevent a repeat of the near bombing of a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas Day.

In a memo to top officials, he ordered a "thorough review" of existing lists of known and suspected terrorists, starting with the no-fly list; ordered a review of how visas to the US are issued; and told homeland security officials to pursue "enhanced screening technology" since existing metal detectors would not have spotted the explosives the suspect had hidden on his body.

The White House also released a declassified version of the preliminary report of what went wrong that reinforced that the US government had enough information to stop the plot, but failed to do so.

The review said the watch list system "is not broken but needs to be strengthened and improved," and also said a reorganization of the intelligence community is not required to fix the flaws.

...

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/01/the_buck_stops.html

[babylonsister]

1. Imagine that; a president who takes responsibility. What

a breath of fresh air.

[HughMoran]

3. For 8 years I've been waiting for a President to say this

I thought it was noteworthy.

[babylonsister]

4. Very much so!

:thumbsup:

[shawcomm]

9. Yep, even though

it's obvious those under him dropped the ball, so to speak. He has nothing to be sorry for, and really wasn't responsible. Too bad there aren't more people like him that could be hired into government. I'm so glad I voted for him.

:toast:

[HughMoran]

10. Refreshing to see a President take responsibility

...as it should be...

[shawcomm]

13. Oh yeah, I agree

Compared to the previous so called administration. Good to see an adult in the Office.

I realize a few here are not happy with President Obama, but they need to look at the big picture. Look at how much shit was dropped in his lap, and how much he has to do to fix things. How many here could handle that and still smile? I think some need to cut him some slack.

Besides, the angst over the health care bills should be directed solely at Congress. They are the ones trading our lives and livelyhoods around for their little back-scratches.

[boston bean]

2. I hope people will believe him when he says it

I just don't understand how people cannot see that making excuses for him, makes him look weak.

And by excuses, I mean these kind of excuses:

It's Rahm's fault

He doesn't have any power

He can't be held to promises made on the campaign trail.

He's better than McCain or Palin.

[seeinfweggos]

5. excuses for what, doing a good job?

[HughMoran]

14. Some people get so caught up in their own rhetoric

That they actually believe 'Obama = bad' so strongly that they consider any support for him as 'excuse making'. When negativity is reinforced by others and a 'mob mentality' occurs, all sense of balance is lost in the echo chamber of negativity. It's an interesting study in human behavior at minimum, possibly destructive to the Democratic party if this level of animosity continues through the midterm elections.

[Frosty1]

6. Boy You really have a hard on for this guy don't you?

:thumbsdown:

[sandnsea]

7. Full Text

Speech
http://obama-mamas.com/blog/?p=925

Memoranda of Directive of Corrective Action
http://obama-mamas.com/blog/?p=922

[HughMoran]

8. Thanks

for adding that...

[bigwillq]

11. As it should.

Strong speech (shocking, I know :P ;) ) from President Obama today. :thumbsup:

[gratuitous]

12. How the previous administration would have dealt with it

"There was no problem. The terrorist didn't blow up the plane, nobody died, and Bush didn't have to come home from vacation, which he's still on, by the way. Presidential Medals for everyone! Heckuva job. Anyone who keeps asking questions will be noted in this building, because we're at war, and it's treason to doubt the commander-in-chief during wartime because you're giving aid and comfort to the enemy."