The Christmas Terrorist
He was a Nigerian Muslim traveling (apparently) without a passport. His father had reported him to the US Embassy as a terrorist. He had paid cash for a one-way ticket. He'd
had a "helper" help get him on the flight without the passport. He had no luggage.
He tried to light his "underwear". Because of our sensitivity to Dutch concerns we had no Air Marshalls on board. Our system still left him on the plane with only a Dutch film maker and some flight attendants to stop him. Our "expert" Homeland Security Secretary
says the system was a success before she
says it was a failure. She also says there's
no indication of a larger plot even as Al Queda Arabian Peninsula (they apparently have regional commands) says that they trained him and he
says more are on the way. The government returns many to Yemen and they are his leaders but they are going to return 90 more just to get that nasty GITMO center closed. 100% of the Yemenis have returned to the "fight" with the US. The response is to make the children keep their seats on the flights.
I listened to the former El Al security chief once again decry our lack of real security and childish (and weak) behaviors while pointing out 30 years of El Al success. Then I discover that a
DEMOCRAT Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee supports the profiling.
Meanwhile, the additional screening time makes flying to destinations within 6-10 hours of driving distance less and less attractive. Let's face it, when you have to commit 5 hours to make a 1-hour flight the convenience of air travel disappears.
So, who won? I'd say the terrorists won, even if you are too stupid to call them terrorists, they won.
Labels: Culture
