Quotes of the day
posted at 9:30 pm on December 27, 2009 by Allahpundit
“Officials now say tragedy was only averted on Northwest flight 253 because a makeshift detonator failed to work properly.
“Bomb experts say there was more than enough explosive to bring down the Northwest jet, which had nearly 300 people aboard, had the detonator not failed, and the nation’s outdated airport screening machines may need to be upgraded…
“Al Qaeda, said Clarke, is aware of this vulnerability in the U.S. airport security system. ‘They know that this is a weakness and an Achilles’ heel in our airport security system and this is the second time they’ve tried it.’”
***
“White House sources tell ABC News the President will ‘likely’ speak publicly about the alleged attempted terrorist attack on Flight 253 in the next few days. The President is on vacation in his native state of Hawaii – he has received regularly briefings on the incident and called for increased security for air travel, along with a full review of the terror watch list procedures. The White House is adamant that the President is actively engaged on the incident behind the scenes, receiving regular updates as information comes in. While on vacation Mr. Obama does not keep a public schedule, but he did spend much of the day golfing on Saturday and is spending Sunday with his family at the beach…
The President is walking a fine line. Responding immediately could perhaps increase the value of such attacks – even those that are unsuccessful – and encourage other would-be terrorists. President George W. Bush also waited to respond publicly after Richard Reid, the ‘show bomber,’ [sic] attempted to attack a plane by hiding explosives in his shoes in December of 2001.”
***
“So we’re now all in agreement, correct? Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 was a cavalcade of cheap shots, and Bush’s speaking from a golf course in no way indicated a casualness or lack of appropriate focus on the threat of terrorism, correct? Because it might have been nice to hear non-conservatives saying this, oh, five years ago or so…
“At some point, a strategy insisting that unsuccessful attacks are not worth presidential comment starts looking like whistling past the graveyard, or pretending that the incidents aren’t a big deal when they are.”
***
Click the image to watch.
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Berkeley “to address Berkeley’s dismal racial achievement gap”
Obviously they find it much easier to ‘address the gap’ by reducing the white students performance than to boost the other students performance.
agmartin on December 28, 2009 at 1:30 AM
It is because of Obama’s incompetence and craven fecklessness that we are now worrying about dodging airliners and terrorist plots almost every week. If these terrorists succeed in an attack we need to make Obama pay.
elduende on December 28, 2009 at 1:38 AM
They did succeed. Nobody was killed this time, but the terrorist did succeed.
Kini on December 28, 2009 at 1:52 AM
The intellectual heavyweights of Berkeley call it
” Academic Justice”
macncheez on December 28, 2009 at 1:56 AM
You’re right and that Fort Hood pig succeeded too. But so far the media has covered for Obama until this weekend. Thats over now. His freebies are up.
This country will make him very sorry if after all the vapid speeches and wretched policies we get hit again.
elduende on December 28, 2009 at 2:00 AM
I’m pretty sure that the failure to destroy the popular credibility of Islam, the failure to destroy muslim rulers, and the failure to seize the sources of muslim wealth and influence all have something to do with the continued existence of terrorism. Among U.S. Presidents, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, Clinton, G.W. Bush, and Obama all seem to have something to do with that failure. Note well that I have not defended Obama.
Kralizec on December 28, 2009 at 2:02 AM
That’s another useful correction, Kini.
Kralizec on December 28, 2009 at 2:03 AM
Muslims don’t drink
Kini on December 28, 2009 at 2:05 AM
WAIT! WAIT! WAIT!
He bows. Long and low bows.
Those bows are supposed to get other folks to stop hating us. This is the era of “Hope And Change.” He carps about “America” every chance he gets and is going to close Gitmo. That was supposed to stop the one of the main recruiting tools of the beheaders and the suicide bombers. There was supposed to be a river of dialog with those with a “clenched fist” that would help to stem the tide of hatred and aggression.
shorebird on December 28, 2009 at 2:07 AM
Obama will be hailed as a great President if we get hit again. The policies he pursues no matter how irrational and dangerous won’t be held against him because there are no policies that can keep us safe.
His fecklessness will be excused because he is unprecedented and he transcends “America”.
LOL.
elduende on December 28, 2009 at 2:08 AM
They do
6 dozen virgin drinks
every friday!
macncheez on December 28, 2009 at 2:10 AM
Practicing Muslims can’t drink (fermented) alcohol like wine or beer. But they can smoke pot and hashish and also pound heroin and pills and BOY do they ever!!! LOL
shorebird on December 28, 2009 at 2:30 AM
So this turd of a president cannot be bothered responding to U.S. citizens while he and his family are vacationing in Hawaii? Is this actually so?? Another terrorist attack and he can’t be bothered??? Man-oh-man what a completely worthless self-absorbed piece-o-shitz. bama is sub-human and needs to be impeached just as that idiotic ditz of a homeland security chief (naples or whatever) should be impaled on a pike an given the old Mussolini treatment; you know, by the heels. This is truly a new level of incompetence and malfeasance!!!
jgdp on December 28, 2009 at 2:36 AM
Obama doesn’t need to speak about this when a-hole like Clarke are opening their pie-holes.
As long as we allow PC situations, we’re always going to be vulnerable. There is a solution to this. However, while we have idiots that want to treat the terrorists as criminals, we are all put at risk.
Screen for terrorists. Hurt feeling are only relevant when you’re alive.
Kini on December 28, 2009 at 2:40 AM
And anxiety about the Americans’ response to terrorism seems unlikely to drive them to drink.
Kralizec on December 28, 2009 at 2:45 AM
What hasn’t been talked about is, what are they doing to interrogate this guy. They keep talking like he did this alone and had no help. Where did he get the explosives? Where did he get his indoctrination and by whom in Al Qaeda?
They want so much to treat this like a criminal act. Read him his Miranda rights, but don’t call him a terrorist.
Kini on December 28, 2009 at 2:52 AM
The next time I fly, I will order a double when the drink cart reached my row
Kini on December 28, 2009 at 2:54 AM
The system will only work when the religion of peace can only travel underwater.
Think about it. Security at an airport today is a religions fault. Its not radicals or fanatics fault. Its the religion they follow. Thank long lines to some idiots who took things too far. Why do News folk not name the group they are from? I’ll never know. Its just funny the last names are Mohammed, Bakr, Hammad or a middle name of Hussein.
Gedge on December 28, 2009 at 2:55 AM
Obama wouldn’t spend his own money to fly to Hawaii and visit his dying grandmother, the woman who raised him. But he has no problems spending millions of taxpayer dollars on an all expenses paid family Hawaiian vacation. They must feel like the hit the lottery, while we get hit with terrorist attacks.
Never been prouder /s.
ray on December 28, 2009 at 3:12 AM
Indeed, indeed. It’s just a matter of time. Shortly they’ll succeed all the way…and will promptly be declared a “man made disaster” or some such. Children are in charge of our world, specifically our country.
Schadenfreude on December 28, 2009 at 3:31 AM
Statement from the AbdulMutallab family:
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=162889
BREAKING NEWS: Mutallab Family Issues Statement
12.28.2009
Our family, like the rest of the world, were woken up in the early hours of Saturday, 26th December, 2009 to the news of an attempt to blow up a plane by a young Nigerian man, who was later identified as Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab. Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab is the son of Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru AbdulMutallab, the head of this Family.
Prior to this incident, his father, having become concerned about his disappearance and stoppage of communication while schooling abroad, reported the matter to the Nigerian security agencies about two months ago, and to some foreign security agencies about a month and a half ago, then sought their assistance to find and return him home.
We provided them with all the information required of us to enable them do this. We were hopeful that they would find and return him home. It was while we were waiting for the outcome of their investigation that we arose to the shocking news of that day.
The disappearance and cessation of communication which got his mother and father concerned to report to the security agencies are completely out of character and a very recent development, as before then, from very early childhood, Farouk, to the best of parental monitoring, had never shown any attitude, conduct or association that would give concern. As soon as concern arose, very recently, his parents, reported it and sought help.
The family will continue to fully cooperate with local and international security agencies towards the investigation of this matter, while we await results of the full investigation.
We, along with the whole world, are thankful to Al-Mighty God that there were no lives lost in the incident. May God continue to protect us all, amen.
Finally, as the matter is being investigated by the various agencies, and has already been mentioned in a US court, the family requests that the press should regard this as the only statement it will make for now.
Thank you.
Signed
The Mutallab Family
Abuja,
Nigeria
Chudi on December 28, 2009 at 3:32 AM
As a Nigerian, can say that the only thing that gives me comfort in this whole embarrassing business with this stupid, imbecilic silver spoon idiot, is that his father reported him. That shows that Nigeria as a country doesn’t support this madness. I’m at least happy about that.
I think the US embassy dropped the ball huge time on this.
Chudi on December 28, 2009 at 3:34 AM
Only thing I can do at this time–is break out the whiskey…
lovingmyUSA on December 28, 2009 at 4:25 AM
Interesting quote in the NYT by a an explosives expert and professor of chemistry at the University of Rhode Island:
Well, I hope she tells the FBI…but then again, the system worked, so what do they care?
Nichevo on December 28, 2009 at 4:25 AM
HawaiiLwyr, which family is Obama related to?
Alexanders, Baldwin, Cook, Castle, Hitchcock, Dole?
DSchoen on December 28, 2009 at 5:51 AM
Never gonna, happen never coulda happen, as it would require someone in the Obama Admin to have actually worked in the “privet sector”.
DSchoen on December 28, 2009 at 5:56 AM
Starting with the model Napolitano 1.0…. it’s not quite functioning correctly…..
ted c on December 28, 2009 at 6:36 AM
….dots….unconnected…..
ted c on December 28, 2009 at 6:39 AM
So this is the Hope and change we were promised, I hope our lib/Marxist friends get to enjoy it…
doriangrey on December 28, 2009 at 7:07 AM
I don’t think I will be flying for awhile.
Terrye on December 28, 2009 at 7:11 AM
I was just told by Janet Napolitano that you have been placed on a watch list.
Mr Purple on December 28, 2009 at 7:36 AM
Well that bow to the Emperor of Japan didn’t go over so well with the Chinese – as the Chinese Premier failed to show for a scheduled meeting with Zero. Zero had to go track the guy down and intrude on a ‘Zero-free’ meeting.
The Japanese and Chinese have been rivals for thousands of years. The Japanese slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Chinese in the ‘Raping of Nanking’ – an act so horrible and gruesome western press would not report on it. (pre-holocaust media)
Mr Purple on December 28, 2009 at 7:48 AM
God Bless and Protect Straight Talk, Rep. King!
The DHS is not only an utter failure, but the absolute authoritarian Beast, protective pet of terrorists devouring American citizens daily. Rescind the Beast’s authority, and put it down.
Meanwhile, Israel calls home ALL AMBASSADORS WORLDWIDE at once.
maverick muse on December 28, 2009 at 7:58 AM
This is off topic but this will be all over the news very soon. TMZ uncovered a photo of JFK on a boat with a bunch of naked women.
http://www.tmz.com/2009/12/28/president-john-f-kennedy-photograph-jfk-photo-boat-yatch-nude-naked-women-mediterranean-sea-jackie-kennedy-ted-kennedy-senator-george-smathers-election/
SoulGlo on December 28, 2009 at 8:06 AM
‘Hey we just saved 200+ jobs over the holidays!’
Fuquay Steve on December 28, 2009 at 8:14 AM
That is strange. With Iran and the rumors of an oil discovery on top of the recent gas discovery that got me thinking the oil discovery might be legit and large.
Not real convinced how legit Givot Olam is – sort of an oil exploration mixed with Biblical prophecy sort of outfit which should sent scam alarms off in any investor.
In any case – this is going to be an annual thing for Israel and it is common for a globally influential nation.
Would oil riches change the balance of power significantly enough to precipitate this move by Israel, or is this just an expected event that was bound to happen sooner or later?
Mr Purple on December 28, 2009 at 8:22 AM
Mr Purple on December 28, 2009 at 7:48 AM
You are right. Some may not be aware of history.
Racist IMPERIAL Japan was guilty of those atrocities against the Chinese. That was then; this is now.
That Japan refuses to “apologize” sufficiently for the Chinese is a matter between those two governments to settle without American intervention. COMMUNIST China is guilty of those atrocities today against its own “citizens”, decimating anyone deemed an impediment, practicing genocide against sub-class impure Tibetans and other minority Asian tribes within their traditional territory Communist China claims its own to abuse and exploit for the advancement of particular Chinese “pure” bloodlines.
Communist China bloodies its own hands daily, imprisoning its “citizens” to slave labor, and harvesting body parts for medical markets. Until their own hands are clean, their traditional offense against the old Imperial Japan is pure hypocrisy.
American pilots during WWII owe gratitude to the brave Chinese peasants whose aid saved American lives; their aid rendered out of hatred for the Japanese, not out of love for Americans.
That the Japanese today refuse to submit to Communist propaganda and PC, ALONG WITH the Japanese American citizens proof of loyalty to our country and our Constitutional Government that abused them in self defense during WWII, provides evidence of their own admirable sensibilities.
You don’t see suburban American residential and business developments created by Japanese investors to house and employ a segregated 98% population of Japanese residents. But the Chinese have done that very thing here in Texas.
maverick muse on December 28, 2009 at 8:24 AM
it is common for a globally influential nation.
Mr Purple on December 28, 2009 at 8:22 AM
It would make good sense to gather all in at once in order to clarify a unified political line.
But I never before noticed all of a nation’s Ambassadors being called home at once except preceding wartime.
maverick muse on December 28, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Fred Thompson’s criticism of Obama’s transparency still stands: the ONLY transparency in government that Obama has provided to date has been to enable terrorism.
maverick muse on December 28, 2009 at 8:35 AM
Let us not forget all the information Obama has shared with his terrorist Islamic brethren. He’s done it quit openly, too. Even info on our nuclear secrets have been publicized. We have no more secrets because Obama has been utterly transparent with the world’s terrorists and thugs while slamming shut the windows and doors in our faces. Impeach!
SilentWatcher on December 28, 2009 at 8:39 AM
Become a fan of Jasper Schuringa’s facebook the hero who jumped over others to put out the bomb.
Ed Laskie on December 28, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Obama will claim that “We saved another muslim from certain death. The United States is a good friend of Islam.”
Cybergeezer on December 28, 2009 at 9:23 AM
I brought up this incident to a coworker who loves loves loves Obama.
I told her I didn’t feel safe flying anymore and probably wouldn’t.
Here’s what she said:
fossten on December 28, 2009 at 9:41 AM
It doesn’t matter because the dems want to remove the filibuster…this is just an inconvenient news story, nobody died, and they can blame it on Bush.
There is no war on terrorism, and terrorism is a word used by conservatives to scare people.
This is a bungling fool, whose father even knew what he was doing.
BTW, dems want to remove the filibuster…
But you know Obama has the rascal’s at Fox News under close scrutiny…
Story will fade as quickly as the Obama news core can bury it…
right2bright on December 28, 2009 at 10:57 AM
That shows that Nigeria
as a countryhas a family that doesn’t support this madness. I’m at least happy about that.I think the US embassy dropped the ball huge time on this.
Chudi on December 28, 2009 at 3:34 AM
right2bright on December 28, 2009 at 11:00 AM
One point that seems to be overlooked here: Abdulmatullab first got through security in Nigeria, then in Amsterdam (Holland). How would upgrading security checks in U.S. airports prevent a terrorist from trying to blow up a plane coming in from Europe?
What is needed is more cooperation on airport security between the United States and the European Union.
I flew into Philadelphia last night from Paris, and the French authorities had reinforced their security checks (including patdowns) for all passengers, resulting in long delays. It remains to be seen whether Holland, which allows heroin addicts to inject themselves in broad daylight in public parks, would be willing to impose security checks for transatlantic airline passengers!
This is a different type of terrorist than the 9-11 plot. The 9-11 terrorists chose transcontinental flights loaded with fuel with relatively few passengers, with the idea of killing people on the ground by taking over the cockpit and flying the planes into heavily populated buildings. They didn’t carry explosives, but took over cockpits using knives and box-cutters.
The “shoe bomber” and “liar-pants-on-fire” bomber are trying to kill people in the air by choosing crowded flights from Europe, where security measures are more lax than in the United States, which has adapted to prevent a 9-11 type attack.
Had the Christmas “pants-on-fire” bomber succeeded, most of his victims would have been the plane’s passengers, and the plane probably would have crashed on Canadian, not American, soil, in a sparsely populated area. This type of terrorist would probably claim fewer victims than the 9-11 attacks, but stopping this type of terrorism requires cooperation from European authorities.
Does the Obama Administration’s attitude toward “human-caused disasters” inspire European authorities to help prevent such disasters, or are they simply content to export the problem?
Unless, of course, some of their own citizens are blown out of the sky…
Steve Z on December 28, 2009 at 2:10 PM
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