# The system worked **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 29, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908 "2009-12-29T15:02:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/21 "2009-12-29T15:53:51Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > This knucklehead boarded in some dusty low-tech African airport. Then connected in Amsterdam, _ **where they don’t let us put air marshalls on planes** _ coming into the US. How the fuck can that be the case? Why don’t we _ **force those cocksuckers** _ to let us do that?.. else, ban any direct flights from Amsterdam into the US, where all passengers aren’t forced through security again at some real airport. > > This boggles the mind. > [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > We demand it for any plane that wants the **privelege** of direct-flying into our airports. > > Yes. I’m very, very grateful to you. I was going to mention how silly it was for Napolitano to say that “the system worked”, but now I don’t have to, because you’ve said something much, much dumber. ETA: the nice non-uniformed men with guns are called _air marshals._ Flying into our airports is a _privilege_ (though not really). ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/22 "2009-12-29T15:55:42Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > We demand it for any plane that wants the **privelege** of direct-flying into our airports. And we can make them give us all blow jobs when they get here too. America – Fuck Yeah! ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/23 "2009-12-29T15:57:13Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > We demand it for any plane that wants the **privelege** of direct-flying into our airports. > > Yes. Its jingoistic dickwads like you that make America a target in the first place. How about I say that America should pay my country $1million for the privilege of hosting one of our scientists, $2 million for the privilege of using our talents in movies and $3million for the sheer joy of hearing our accents. Pull your head in and get a clue you friggin ignoramous ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/24 "2009-12-29T15:57:16Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > She shouldn’t have used those words in the first place, **Sinaijon** , but based on **GIGObuster** ’s post it looks like you’re dishonestly quoting Napolitano out of context. You can call me dishonest, but watch the linked videos, or here is the full transcript of the interview: [http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20091227/pl\_cq\_politics/politics3273705\_1](http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20091227/pl_cq_politics/politics3273705_1) Here is the full paragraph in question > [@](#): > > \*\* What we are focused on is making sure that the air environment remains safe, that people are confident when they travel. And one thing I’d like to point out is that the system worked\*\*. Everybody played an important role here. The passengers and crew of the flight took appropriate action. Within literally an hour to 90 minutes of the incident occurring, all 128 flights in the air had been notified to take some special measures in light of what had occurred on the Northwest Airlines flight. We instituted new measures on the ground and at screening areas, both here in the United States and in Europe, where this flight originated. > > So the whole process of making sure that we respond properly, correctly and effectively went very smoothly. You can try to parse words and claim that there are 2 separate systems and she is only talking about the response system, and not the prevention system. But it is not the _response_ system that makes us safe and confident, it is the _prevention_ system. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/25 "2009-12-29T15:58:40Z")
> [@](#): > > And we can make them give us all blow jobs when they get here too. > > America – Fuck Yeah! Dear most esteemed excellent sir: I am writing unto you for presenting a most excellent opportunity! My late father, the Nigerian Minister for Oral Sex, recently is passing away… ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/26 "2009-12-29T15:59:07Z")
If the “prevention” system makes you confident, you’re not paying attention. I thought everyone knew you could smuggle more or less anything you like onto a plane. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/27 "2009-12-29T16:11:21Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > You can call me dishonest Actually I’ll hold off on that, since you’re talking about the initial interview and **GIGObuster** is talking about her followup, half-retraction interview. She’s wrong to suggest that passengers and screwups by terrorists are part of the security system. The security system is supposed to prevent this kind of thing from happening in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/28 "2009-12-29T16:16:08Z")
Hey, just because you people hate America doesn’t mean that I want to go along with your ‘we suck’ meme (\*I guess I have to fulfill your jingoistic image you have of me, now) PS thanks for the spelling correction, **RNATB** PPS If we are members of some int’l org that prevents us from securing our own flights, then it’s time to leave that org. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/29 "2009-12-29T16:17:37Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I think it’s appropriate you borrowed a word from a beer commercial while making these ridiculous arguments. FYI borrowed from one of my favorite radio sportscasters, Steve Czaban, local to us here in DC. I guess he got it from a beer commercial, no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/30 "2009-12-29T16:18:50Z")
Ah, the old “International Organization That We Helped Set Up Doesn’t Do Precisely What We Tell Them To Do So Fuck Them” tactic. I call it the “United Nations Syndrome.” You’re right, there’s nothing remotely jingoistic in that attitude. Don’t know what we were thinking. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/31 "2009-12-29T16:19:30Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > You can call me dishonest, but watch the linked videos, or here is the full transcript of the interview: [http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20091227/pl\_cq\_politics/politics3273705\_1](http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20091227/pl_cq_politics/politics3273705_1) > Here is the full paragraph in question > You can try to parse words and claim that there are 2 separate systems and she is only talking about the response system, and not the prevention system. But it is not the _response_ system that makes us safe and confident, it is the _prevention_ system. And she did say that the prevention failed. Really, if a reporter then had asked that before, it is clear to me that she would had told us that earlier. As it is, she is not clueless nor she conceded anything. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Smashy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mr\_Smashy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Smashy)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/32 "2009-12-29T16:26:58Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Ah, the old “International Organization That We Helped Set Up Doesn’t Do Precisely What We Tell Them To Do So Fuck Them” tactic. I call it the “United Nations Syndrome.” > > You’re right, there’s nothing remotely jingoistic in that attitude. Don’t know what we were thinking. Maybe you want to outsource our security policy to the UN. I don’t. I can’t believe anyone would be against what I’ve proposed. This really shines the light on where your priorities lie; better to get along with other countries rather than save American lives? Better to be the ‘team player’ rather than do all we can to prevent the next 9/11? Clearly the Air Marshal program increases safety and saves lives; else your guy Obama would have long ago eliminated it, right? Clearly the back-scatter machines, currently at 40 US airports, work, else we wouldn’t have paid millions to buy them… the fact that the 15 backscatters currently installed at Schiphol aren’t allowed to be used on American inbound flights… wtf? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/33 "2009-12-29T16:27:17Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > You want sources from the other side? > > Here’s Eugene’s piece today in the WaPo; he’s so far left he makes Howard Dean look like Pat Buchanan > > [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/28/AR2009122801337.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/28/AR2009122801337.html) > > He hammers Napolatano but absolves the Obama administration, inexplicably. Well, Obama’s his boy, I guess he cannot criticize (the stonewalling, the dodging media… hell, playing golf the next day!) > > The WaPo editorial board wasn’t as kind, and they are only slightly less lefty than Eugene > > [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/27/AR2009122701655.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/27/AR2009122701655.html) > > This knucklehead boarded in some dusty low-tech African airport. Then connected in Amsterdam, _ **where they don’t let us put air marshalls on planes** _ coming into the US. How the fuck can that be the case? Why don’t we _ **force those cocksuckers** _ to let us do that?.. else, ban any direct flights from Amsterdam into the US, where all passengers aren’t forced through security again at some real airport. > > This boggles the mind. He never passed through a TSA gate. He boarded in Amsterdam . Yet Obama was playing golf. Clearly his fault. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/34 "2009-12-29T16:28:50Z")
Unless we institute a system where passengers on domestic flights are strip-searched, their carry on bags rooted through (if allowed at all) and we build some giant offshore airbases where incoming international flights are offloaded and passengers put through the same, these things will happen from time to time. You guys all realize that, right? It really doesn’t matter who the President is or what party sponsors him. I hate CYA political boilerplate as much as anybody else, but it’s part and parcel of Democracy. It’s pretty disingenuous to point at it as though it was some shocking proof of an administration’s ineptitude. Especially since no one died in this incident, thanks to alert and brave passengers and the perp’s incompetence. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/35 "2009-12-29T16:31:20Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > better to get along with other countries rather than save American lives? If we get along with other countries, we \*will \*be saving American lives … and non-American lives as well; but I can see that that’s your bugaboo. Can’t be saving any non-Americans. Too pussy. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/36 "2009-12-29T16:34:53Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > Maybe you want to outsource our security policy to the UN. I don’t. > > I can’t believe anyone would be against what I’ve proposed. This really shines the light on where your priorities lie; better to get along with other countries rather than save American lives? Better to be the ‘team player’ rather than do all we can to prevent the next 9/11? Better to be able to fly overseas and back to the US than leave the ICAO and not be able to fly anywhere beyond Puerto Rico. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/37 "2009-12-29T16:35:20Z")
I’d like to know if the Netherlands is reviewing its own security measures in light of this. It’s the least they could do. But air marshals on all incoming flights? How ludicrously expensive would that be (especially in light of the fact that the passengers seemed to do a good job themselves taking care of the guy)? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/38 "2009-12-29T16:36:10Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Really, if a reporter then had asked that before, it is clear to me that she would had told us that earlier. She should have done that anyway instead of hitting the ‘reassure, reassure, reassure, keep flying’ button. It sounds like she was trying to say it is safe to fly because the agency had responded to this attempt by tightening security and instituting new procedures, and had successfully shared information quickly after the attempt. All of that is good. She did screw up by suggesting that the security apparatus worked because the bomber was incompetent and the passengers subdued him. Self defense is necessary and all, but if it gets to that point, something went wrong and it needs to be fixed rather than minimized. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/39 "2009-12-29T16:36:16Z")
I’ve flown out of Amsterdam, security was tighter than in the US before 2001. What I don’t understand is this: how does one go from having it pointed out to them that Dutch aviation authorities don’t answer to the US goverment to “you hate America”? I find the phenomenon fascinating even after years of watching the American right’s particular brand of performance art almost daily. ---
**Author:** ![Sinaijon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Sinaijon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaijon)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908/40 "2009-12-29T16:37:05Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Actually I’ll hold off on that. Thank you [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-system-worked/522908.md?page=3)