Posted on 01/07/2010 6:32:19 PM PST by myknowledge
US President Barack Obama says systemic failures among intelligence agencies to detect a Christmas Day plane plot are his responsibility, maintaining "the buck stops with me".
As he unveiled a series of security reforms, Obama again criticised intelligence services for failing to connect the dots and forewarn US officials earlier that an attack was being planned.
"All of these agencies and their leaders are responsible for implementing these reforms. And all will be held accountable if they don't," Obama said in a brief White House statement on Thursday.
But the president added: "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 president, I have a solemn responsibility to protect our nation and our people. When the system fails, it is my responsibility."
Nigerian national Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, has been charged with attempted murder and trying to use a weapon of mass destruction on board a Northwest plane carrying 290 people from Amsterdam to Detroit.
The attack was thwarted when explosives allegedly stitched into his underwear failed to detonate as the plane approached Detroit.
Obama on Thursday unveiled measures to strengthen US watchlists as well as new steps to boost airport screening and bomb detection after the botched attack.
"I'm ordering an immediate effort to strengthen the criteria used to add individuals to our terrorist watch list. Especially the no-fly list," Obama said.
"We must do better in keeping dangerous people off airplanes while still facilitating air travel," he insisted.
The US president added he had directed the Department of Homeland Security to take additional steps to boost airport screenings and security around the world.
There should also be a greater use of advanced explosive detection technologies, he said.
"Now, there is, of course, no foolproof solution. As we develop new screening technologies and procedures, our adversaries will seek new ways to abate them as was shown by the Christmas attack," Obama said.
In "the never-ending race to protect our country, we have to stay one step ahead of a nimble adversary."
a simple programming change is all that is required
Drudge has it on his site... “Big Sis Wants to See Under Your Clothes”. The photo there says it all too! Already linked here...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2423572/posts
The buck stops with Obama does it.
Yesterday was headlines about how he was going to take responsibility for the failures as though that was going to make it all ok. What a bunch of bullshit.
Haven’t seen, read, or heard of him doing anything sensible about correcting the problem yet. All I see, read, or hear from him is bullshit as though he thinks I’m stupid enough to buy it.
This guy Obama isn’t fit to lead a dog on a leash for pee call.
He said it was the same breakdown in intel that caused 9/11 and that Bush had eight years to fix it...but he didn’t. So THIS was REALLY all Bush’s fault. I cannot stand this!
Lessee now...hopefully you can help me with this. I’m old, and the memory isn’t what it used to be.
Seems though that Obama has now projected Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, F.D.R., Jimmy Carter, and now Harry Truman.
Does this guy with the leash know who he is?
He is whoever he thinks you want him to be. Trouble is, he doesn’t know who you think you want him to be. No one else knows either. People used to call Reagan an actor, but this guy TRIES to act and can’t. That is all he is there for. To ACT like he is president. He couldn’t put his shoes on the right feet if they weren’t color coded.
I hadn’t thought about that, but what’s to keep CPS from arresting TSA employees for child pornography charges?
OK, seriously, Obama didn’t apologize, so “taking responsibility” was meaningless. Of course it is his responsibility to fix things. What we wanted was to see him admit it was his FAULT.
Obama is simply blaming the intel for setting him up politicaly for this. He wants terrorists protected from embarassment when caught, and he wants himself to promote them and yet blame some conspiracy out there which sends terrorists to America just so it makes him look bad.
Got one word for you Obama, LIAR!
Better summary: "When the system fails, I fail."
Well, he said all the things he’s supposed to say. It doesn’t matter for beans that it’s all BS. His loving followers can now cast away any doubts that may have crept in over the past months.
Blech.
BS. The buck doesn’t even slow down with Obama.
Because that would reveal the Obama-terrorist connections.
Your right Obama.
Apologize and step down. We’ll call it even. :)
Oh good, Barry. Then resign already, because the system ‘failed’.
Christians, whites, etc.
No, wait, Christians, whites, conservatives, NEED to be on those planes!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.