Napolitano: Airline Security System Didn’t Work, ‘No One Is Happy or Satisfied With That’
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano conceded today that the airport security systems did not work in the lead-up to the Northwest Airlines attack, after she’d previously focused on how the system did work during and after the attack itself. “Our system did not work in this instance,” said Napolitano, on NBC’s Today show. “No one is happy or satisfied with that. An extensive review is under way.”
Obama To Speak On Airline Attack
President Obama will take a moment out of his vacation today to make a statement on the Northwest Airlines attack. The statement will happen in Hawaii, where Obama is staying with his family. The exact time has not yet been announced.
NYT: In Congress, Shorter Arms And An Ever-Widening Aisle
The New York Times points out that the more polarized partisan atmosphere has led in the last several years to fewer and fewer members of Congress voting with the other side. “Once you get in these battles where you break into camps, every vote is about the next election,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). “As soon as the last election is over, those who lost are thinking, ‘What can I do to get back in power?’ and those who won are thinking, ‘What can I do to stay in power?'”
White House Condemns Violence In Iran
The White House released this statement Sunday from National Security Council Spokesman Mike Hammer, on the violence in Iran: “We strongly condemn the violent and unjust suppression of civilians in Iran seeking to exercise their universal rights. Hope and history are on the side of those who peacefully seek their universal rights, and so is the United States. Governing through fear and violence is never just, and as President Obama said in Oslo – it is telling when governments fear the aspirations of their own people more than the power of any other nation.”
Bush Library To Hold Photos, Cowboy Hats, Gift From Pope, And Saddam Hussein’s Glock
The Washington Post reports that the George W. Bush Presidential Library, set to open in 2013, will include all manner of political artifacts of his administration, as well as the lavish gifts that a president receives: “Included here are 68 million pages of documents, a surfboard, 175 million e-mails, countless cowboy hats, 3,845,912 photographs, Stan ‘The Man’ Musial’s autograph, gold and silver swords, handmade quilts, diamond jewelry, cowboy boots, classified files, a gift from the pope and the 9mm Glock pistol that Saddam Hussein was armed with when he was rooted out of his spider hole in Iraq.”
Obama Scores Well For First Year On Ethics With Watchdog Groups
The Hill reports that watchdogs groups are largely applauding President Obama’s performance on ethics issues, though they still want to see more. “It is like an appetizer. The main course is yet to come,” said Meredith McGehee, policy director for the Campaign Legal Center, who called on Obama to do more next year, even if it causes fights with Congress.
