We have all heard by now, about the attempt on Christmas day to blow up a flight from Amsterdam to the US. There has been a lot of hullabaloo around the fact that he was already known to be a terrorist and even his own father had pointed him out as an extremist. It was another sign of government competence when the US state department revoked the would-be bombers visa well after the incident occurred. We have the extremely long period of time for any acknowledgment of the incident by the leadership of the US. There is also the story of how he got on the plane in the first place, which involves the bizarre tale of a man in a suit speaking with a manager to overlook the lack of a passport. What most people might have heard about in the aftermath of this incident is the fact that TSA screenings have ratcheted up and people are calling for the use of the dreaded strip search machines on everyone.
What I have not heard pointed out at this juncture and what seems painfully obvious to me is the fact that changing the laws in the US to make screening more R-rated and strict would have very little impact on the situation that has prompted the discussion. The flight was from Amsterdam to Detroit. To have an effect on this type of situation foreign laws would need to change. It might be a good idea to actually require passports since we have them and they are a standard to be followed already. We could even try using our terror watch lists. The ineptitude of people all along the chain in this situation does not give me any confidence in anyone. Either they are completely worthless at doing their job or someone did something on purpose.
Since people couldn’t check a passenger to see if he was a terrorist, which he plainly and clearly was known to be, now citizens of the United States of America will lose even more of their already thin right to privacy. The logic in this situation just doesn’t work out.
I’m not sure what it’s been like for you and others you know, but in my experience, you could be the nicest grandpa in the world and still be required to present a passport. In fact, the number of times any domestic or foreign agency checks that you have your passport is rather annoying.
Just as I might give you the impression that I watch too much of The Daily Show and Colbert Reports (along with reading to much liberal punditry), with this post you give me the impression that you might read too much of the government conspiracy theorist shenanigans (not that they can’t be right).
As for the source you do not mention, I think Kurt Haskell’s testimony is about as reliable as the average woman’s testimony of her weight, or the average man’s testimony of his height or… whatever. Some people will remember what they want to and the human mind is perfectly capable of creating its own reality, just ask someone having a psychotic episode, sleep walking (especially someone who experiences night terrors), and etc.
So, I think that he thinks he is telling the truth, but I am very skeptical of his claim. I would be very surprised if the poor fellow was not deluding himself unintentionally.
Regarding Kurt Haskell, I did not say that I believed him or disbelieved him. I merely mentioned his story as part of the hullabaloo. I guess I should have put quotes around “story”. I do find it very interesting that we know there is video footage of the purported incident but it has not been released. It would surely discredit/vindicate Haskell in an instant if it is released.
As far as my mention of possible conspiracy, I was merely stating fact. Either we have idiots guarding the safety of our country or someone let this through on purpose. Take your pick. If you go with idiots, fine. If you go with on purpose, terrific. I made no pretension to special knowledge either way. And either way we are in deep crap.
How do we know that there is video. Who knows that?
Granting the video, how would that disprove Haskell’s claims? The myth has already been created, and like WMDs being in Iraq, there will be those who will believe that Mutallab got onto the plane without a passport, regardless of the evidence against it.
All I want is to be able to carry my pen knife again. Not having a little knife should be considered a crime against man kind.
Well, not *being able to have* a knife should be…
We know there is video footage because they were in an international airport. They all have cameras everywhere. The video would show whether there was a man helping Mutallab through the airport or not. If there is not then case closed.
You have greatly missed the main point. The entire first paragraph is just listing hullabaloo and clearly there is hullabaloo around Haskell’s story. The main point is that amidst the hullabaloo no one is asking or answering: How will changing US laws and screening change the Dutch way of doing things?
This comments section demonstrates my point nicely.
Well, I certainly hope that they will screen passengers more effectively, and if the Nederlands and/or the U.S. knew that this kid was a potential terrorist, the Dutch should have been able to spot that (so long as the countries are sharing intelligence–which might not always be the case). I suppose it all comes to anecdotes versus hard evidence. To me, hard evidence would be a video or perhaps multiple points of agreement between multiple witnesses who are unfamiliar with the Haskell story (and hence unbiased).
As far as video at international terminals go, I can see one from where I’m sitting in San Diego Int’l Airport. I would love to credit the government (and well-developed international nanny governments) for being superior in observation and keeping video records, but if Amsterdam Closed-Circuit TV is as sparse as San Diego, it would be expected for them to occasionally, if not often miss someone boarding an aircraft. Having missed such a thing might also be good cause for a “cover up”, most governments being slow to admit faults and mistakes in security, not wanting to give the impression that terrorists remain unwatched in an airport as much as the concerned citizen might wish. I hope you would also grant the possibility that there simply might not be video for this.
I still want my pen knife, dammit!
Sure, sure, video might not even exist. If you can meander through the San Diego airport without being caught on any camera I would say your case is very good for that (which also strengthens the ineptitude argument). I don’t really even care about the Haskell story. It is strange and interesting, but is obviously not going to get anyone anywhere. Again the point is, how does clamping down in the US have an effect on the Netherlands?