The Quiet Conservative January 10, 2010
Finger Pointing
"This was a screw up that could have been disastrous," the president said during a meeting in the
White House situation room, according to the White House media office. "We dodged a bullet but
just barely. It was averted by brave individuals not because the system worked and that is not
acceptable. While there will be a tendency for finger pointing, I will not tolerate it."
Reuters News Service Tuesday January 5, 2009
“I am less interested in passing out blame than I am in learning from and correcting these mistakes
to make us safer. For ultimately, the buck stops with me.. As the President I have the solemn
responsibility to protect our nation and our people, and when the system fails, it is my
responsibility.”
The President, January 7, 2010
O.K. Here is what we can positively state by listening to the administration since the attempted
bombing of a planeload of Americans over Detroit on Christmas. A super stealthy plot reminiscent of
the movies Mission Impossible or Air Force One was uncovered involving complex advanced covert
intelligence assets of Al Qaida. They had infiltrated the United States by engaging a Jason Bourne
type agent in an attempt to bring down a plane carrying scientists with the antidote to a humanity
ending virus using binary explosives agents undetectable to modern science. It was foiled by covert
but dedicated professionals working tirelessly to keep us safe from the evil that surrounds us...well, no,
not really. That just sounds better than some mook who tried to blow up his genitals on the plane and
had to be restrained by a Dutch tourist.
Seriously, here is what we do know because we keep finding out how hopeless the national security
picture is when the people in charge don't want your side to win. Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab is a
radicalized Muslim who trained with Al Qaida in Yemen. We knew that before the plane flight. Why?
Because his dad called us. This James Bond/ Allah Akbar bomber wanna be simply popped down to
the airport and bought a ticket. He used his real name. No cover identity. No clever fake name like...
"Bob." No, Umar simply picked up a ticket, pulled on his explosive underoos, and hopped on the
flight. We, as in the entire intelligence structure of the United States, were unable to figure out that
"Bob", sorry, "Umar", was a possible guy we might want to give more attention to than Sister Mary
Katherine of Our Lady Who Wouldn't Hurt Anyone.
On the seventh of January the President came out into a roomful of reporters at the White House and
ooh, he was angry. He was strong. He gave a speech in which he stated that what happened was not
only unacceptable but might even cause the formation of another federal form the bureaucracy might
have to fill out in the war on terror. Sorry, fight against "man caused disasters." This caps an
exhaustive two week review process and will result in a monthly continuing review of what we are,
and are not, doing in form filling. Oh, and another billion dollars or so will be thrown at the problem
just so you know we are serious.
What will not happen, by the way, is profiling the other "Bobs" out there with explosive panties. It is
one thing to keep a plane from exploding in the air, it is quite another to possibly offend someone.
Between not being perceived as intolerant and losing a plane load of Americans over a U.S. city the
liberals will pick the diversity and tolerance angle every time.
In the days after the bombing Janet Napolitano stated everything worked magnificently before it didn't
and no one was to quote her or take that out of context. The head of the National Counter Terrorism
Center, Michael Leiter, asked for, and received permission, to embark on his planned ski trip. No
worrying if this "Bob" was part of anything bigger or possible the first in a wave of suicide bombers.
Why allow this hypothetical to crimp on one's vacation plans? Because it is your job? You don't see
the President allowing a terrorist attack to stop him on his vacation, do you?
There was someone in charge after Janet Napolitano was wrestled down and duck taped to keep her
away from the media, John Brennan leaped to the forefront. Masterfully Mr. Brennan announced that
Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab was receiving the best of care, hadn't been mistreated, was quickly
gotten a lawyer, and was now thoroughly not cooperating with authorities on advice of counsel. Oh,
and he was pleading not guilty. Liar, liar, pants literally on fire.
As for whatever timely intelligence that might have been obtained from Umar, only the most cynical
will contend that if he was declared an enemy combatant, flown to Guantanamo Bay, and harshly
interrogated, then however many other terrorists about to slaughter innocent Americans might be
stopped. No, in setting an example of how to deal in a tolerant and understanding way with peoples of
other cultures, Mr. Brennan announced to the press that a plea bargain was on the table. The weaker
we make our country, the less threatening we will seem is the mentality of the liberals in charge.
If the buck stops with the President as he says, then this complete shambles and complete lack of
fulfilling his oath of office should mean that a line of Greyhound buses pull up to the White House and
every other major governmental center and they all should head home. Resign Mr. President. Take
the clueless liberal elites with you. Don't finger point. Let the buck stop with you for real. Accept the
responsibility.