“Our system worked.”
Posted on 12/27/2009 12:44:08 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Fire Napolitano [Jonah Goldberg]
Understandbly, the White House is trying very hard to get out in front of the would-be Christmas bomber story. The head of the Department of Homeland Security isn't helping. I watched her on three shows and each time she was more annoying, maddening and absurd than the pevious appearance. It is her basic position that the "system worked" because the bureaucrats responded properly after the attack. That the attack was "foiled" by a bad detonator and some civilian passengers is proof, she claims, that her agency is doing everything right. That is just about the dumbest thing she could say, on the merits and politically. I would wager that not one percent of Americans think the system is "working" when terrorists successfully get bombs onto planes (and succeed in activating them). Probably even fewer think it's fair that they have to take off their shoes, endure delays and madness while a known Islamic radical — turned in by his own father — can waltz onto a plane (and into the country). DHS had no role whatsoever in assuring that this bomb didn't go off. By her logic if the bomb had gone off, the system would have "worked" since it has done everything right.
Napolitano has a habit of arguing that DHS is a first responder outfit. Its mission is to deal with "man-caused-disasters" afer they occur. It appears she really believes it. If the White House wants to assure people that it takes the war on terror seriously (a term Robert Gibbs used this morning by the way), they could start by firing this patenly unqualified hack.
Here she is her own words, over at RealClearPolitics.
There should be two forms of intelligence: Domestic and foreign. Foreign intel should consist solely of military intelligence and various state department affiliates. The CIA should be disbanded. FBI should handle any domestic intelligence/surveillance.
If anything, by making smaller units, fewer lines of communication, turf wars, group loyalties, you will have more effective intelligence and defense.
End the “intelligence bureaucracy.”
You make a very strong point here. And part of the problem is that the democrat party's primary interest is in growing the size and scope of government and it's control...but the focus is on apparatus and not effectiveness.
“Our system worked.”
Home Land security and its derivations are nothing but a tragedy in the order of a police state, in which the threat is deemed inward and staged against the citizenry; when in reality the threat is outward, as a war waged upon the western world by those supporting a through back dogma of the 7th century for the unwashed; of course the political class and masters of schmart will be exempt.
They are holding her in reseve to blame when the next 911 occurs. Blame anything and everything but Obonzo.
Well he can say whatever he wants but just a few months back they were talking about abolishing the no fly list IIRC so this is all on their shoulders because of how they have relaxed everything. Remember there is no war on terror now only man made disasters!
according to AZCentral (az republic) two men (ethnicity unknown) were detained last night after a flight to Phx from Orlando. Passengers reported the two acting suspicious
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/12/27/20091227usairways1228.html
I just wrote a paper on the subject of public choice and bureaucratic dysfunction. though there can be ideologically-driven organizations that put an emphasis on “results” (like killing dissidents, bringing the economy under their full control) what you tend to have in Western societies is the continued persistence of bureaucratic group loyalty and self-interest (in the form not only of budget but power and status.)
We try to explain dysfunction in a number of ways but, in reality, bureaucratic actors insulated from market/private pressures and thus their incompetence or malfeasance is never penalized, thus never spurring significant reform (which is a continuous process—there can be no ONE great reform that works forever for any organization)or new modes of thought or organizational structure to deal with the agency’s PURPORTED mission.
Occasionally, fulfilling certain objectives related to the mission can enhance the group’s status or budget, and therefore, they will pursue that objective. But generally, they are interested in avoiding risk and protecting the gravy train, and projecting competence. Appearing competence is not only vital for the org’s success (in existing, not in meeting it’s mission) but is important to the self-image of the various technocrats and appointees who infest the halls of power.
Noooo, how about THREE! The two recruiters that were shot in ARK. One died. Remember?
What has Napolitano been doing all this time if not reviewing the security procedures of this country?
**She’s one of the “Top 20 DC singles”. She’s busy dating. /s
Amen.
You made her look more attractive in that picture.
I’m not a Goldberg fan but he hit the nailhead (my invented term) this time. Heckuva job there Nappy!
“You made her look more attractive in that picture.”
Bizarre, but true.
Janet Napolitano is a national embarrassment. She might do ok as a kindergarden teacher, but she’s definitely been way outside her pay grade for a *long* time.
I give your paper a B+
“She had no business in that position to begin with. The entire administration is totally inept.”
I beg to differ. Most are inept, but some a corrupt. Both are serious problems for America, but we should not mistake the fact that some are terribly competent at being corrupt.
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