Travelers are willing to put up with longer waits for added security, but critics are wondering whether a much-vaunted, world-wide system is being used effectively. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons/Benutzer: Ralf Roletschek.
Heading into the new year, nervous air travelers are still recovering from the failed terrorist attack and arrest of Nigerian wanna-be bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab—news that could have been much worse, but which still managed to mar the holiday season.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government was once again in damage-control mode, with U.S. Homeland Security counting its blessings and making and all-out effort to calm travelers while also touting the effectiveness of the American security system.
And his blogger’s admittedly cynical response?
Give me a freakin’ break.
In short, right at the heart of the Christmas season a student from a country with a history of instability and terrorism—who also happened to be featured on a terrorist-watch list—not only traveled to the U.S. on a multiple-entry visa, but also managed carry easily-detected plastic explosives on his person, which he attempted to set off on the plane.
More shockingly, if news reports are to be believed, it appears that the plane was saved by no less than a faulty detonator.
But no doubt most shocking of all was the following quote:
“[The attack] was stopped before any damage could be done,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said, following the incident, as reported by the Associated Press. “I think the important thing to recognize here is that once this incident occurred, everything happened that should have.”
