Napolitano: ‘Adjustments,’ ‘More to Come’ on Whether Muslim Women in Hijabs Will Undergo Airport

CNSNews ^ | November 15, 2010 | Nicholas Ballasy

[jazusamo]

Complete title:Napolitano: ‘Adjustments,’ ‘More to Come’ on Whether Muslim Women in Hijabs Will Undergo Airport Body Pat-Downs

Homesland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

When asked today if she will insist that Muslim women wearing hijabs must go through full body pat downs before boarding planes, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano did not say yes or no, but told CNSNews.com there will be “adjustments” and “more to come” on the issue.

“On the pat downs, CAIR [the Council on American-Islamic Relations] has recommended that Muslim women wearing hijabs refuse to go through the full body pat downs before boarding planes,” CNSNews.com asked Napolitano at a Monday press conference. “Will you insist that they do go through full body pat downs before boarding planes?”

“Look, we have, like I said before, we are doing what we need to do to protect the traveling public and adjustments will be made where they need to be made,” Napolitano responded. “With respect to that particular issue, I think there will be more to come. But, again, the goal here, you know, we’re not doing this just to do it.

VIDEO 1:54 minutes

“We’re doing it because we need to keep powders and gels and liquids off of planes that are unauthorized just as we need to keep metals off of planes,” Napolitano said. “This is being done in recognizing that we all have a collective role in our security and we all know and can recognize that there are threats and risks that have been articulated by those who seek to harm the United States, particularly in the aviation environment. And, so, you know, what we are doing is designed to really be risk based, to be intelligence based, to be layered like I said, when you get to the airport at that screening center, that’s really--these TSO’s [Transportation Security Officers] are really the last line of protection we have for the aircraft and that’s the way we’re going to evaluate things.”

Napolitano responded to CNSNews.com’s question at a Monday press conference held at Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C., that she called to announce that the department’s “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign was going to be placing advertisements around the Washington, D.C. area to encourage people to report what she called “indicators of terrorism” to law enforcement agencies.

"As Americans head into the busy holiday travel season, it is important to remember that every individual has a role to play in keeping our country safe and secure," Napolitano said in a statement. "The ‘If You See Something, Say Something' campaign encourages travelers and those who work in the hotel industry to identify and report indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats to the proper law enforcement authorities."

Napolitano was joined at the press conference by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator John Pistole, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Chief Stephen Holl and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Police Chief Michael Taborn.

Last week, the Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a “Travel Advisory” that included “[s]pecial recommendations for Muslim women who wear hijab.” These recommendations suggest that women wearing the hijab decline to undergo fully body pat-down’s when boarding commercial airflights.

“In this situation [when a woman has been selected for secondary screening], you may be asked to submit to a pat-down or to go through a full body scanner,” the CAIR recommendations say. “If you are selected for the scanner, you may ask to go through a pat-down instead.

“Before you are patted down, you should remind the TSA officer that they are only supposed to pat down the area in question, in this scenario, your head and neck,” says the recommendations. “They SHOULD NOT subject you to a full-body or partial-body pat-down.”

“Instead of the pat-down,” say the recommendations, “you can always request to pat down your own scarf, including head and neck area, and have the officers perform a chemical swipe of your hands.”

[ZULU]

This should generate a National Revolt.

These bastards occasioned the incident which generated this offensive search and now they are claiming religious exemption from what everyone else has to go through.

This is Stealth Sharia.

WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!

[WayneS]

We can even offer “loaner” Korans to complete the look...

[jazusamo]

Well said! Agree completely.

[massmike]

Meanwhile....here's a nun being frisked by a muslim....

[WayneS]

Great.

Let’s do it.

Where do you want to start?

I was thinking Washington DC, Philly, New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, Denver and Dallas-Fort Worth might be the best places for our first stores.

[jazusamo]

Words fail me.

I’m thinking things about CAIR I won’t post.

[240B]

You make a VERY GOOD POINT.

How will they possibly know who is under burka? Or if the person is even Muslim? There genuine Muslim ID card. And, there is no against a man wearing a burka in the US.

So, I propose a protest were we all go out a buy burka costumes, and go TSA and then take it off on the plane.

Just a thought? From what I read of the rule, there could be nothing they could do about it. They can’t force anyone to keep wearing it. And they can’t force you to proof of your religion.

That is absurdly silly what they are doing is. It is complete backwards logic and it cannot be enforce in any logical way.

Let’s have an all burka day in honor of muslim outreach! Hey, I’m am doing this in honor of Islam.

[crosshairs]

No muzzie should get through without a full body cavity search. And that includes the baggage handlers.

[WayneS]

Seeing that, with an American flag on the wall in the back-ground, makes my stomach hurt...

[opentalk]

Bill O’Reilly is covering this in his show tonight. - Do TSA rules apply to Muslim women? Napolitano will not be able to dance around an answer much longer.

[moovova]

Where does one buy a hijab large enough to fit over this here beer gut?

But then, I guess I’d have to shave my beard...

(One other question...Do they make penis turbans? My little man could wear one on his head and skip the line maybe.)

[kosciusko51]

I think we should start in Red States first, inconvenience the Blue States. DFW and Charlotte would be good starting locations.

[del4hope]

We did not stop them at our shoe removal.

It was just a litmus test of what was to come. I saw it then as a reverent submission to the “religion of peace”. Then they handle us with rubber gloves as if we are infectious.

We said nothing then and looky now. I no longer fly.

Many have said before, and I will repeat. This entire problem could have been solved on 9/12.

[DManA]

It turns my stomach that they have to “study” this subject for more than 30 seconds. Of course you have to treat muslims the same. Who do you think we are defending ourselves from you nincompoop.

[WayneS]

You’re right. I hadn’t thought about that.

We should offer our services where they will be most appreciated.

[AAABEST]

So let me get this straight:

The Islamists - who are always trying to blow up planes - don't get searched. The Americans - who are never trying to blow up planes - get searched.

This woman is a stupid pig and our government has gone insane.

[WayneS]

But then, I guess I’d have to shave my beard...

...not necessarily. Did you see some of the ululating women celebrating on the streets of the various 'Jihadistans' after the 9/11/2001 attacks? A large percentage of them had five-o-clock shadows dark enough to show through their veils.

[hattend]

If you want preferred treatment at the airport all you have to do is kill 3500 Americans and blow up a few airplanes.

Is this a great country or what?

[hattend]

just... WOW!

[nina0113]

I’m wearing my burka next time I fly.