How, exactly, does the attempted bombing represent a failure in US screening systems?

[margotb822]

I must be losing my mind or completely missing something.

I don't get how all these people are running around screaming "failure" at the TSA when the suspect boarded the plane in a different country. How will increased security at US airports have any effect on flights originating outside of the US? What could the TSA possibly have done to prevent the materials from getting on the plane?

I suppose there's the bit about the watchlist, but how many people are on that, a million? Wouldn't it have been up to other US intelligence organizations to share the information with foreign countries to prevent the suspect from even boarding the plane?

[Shagbark Hickory]

1. I keep asking the same question! This fuckup belongs to Amsterdam.

[margotb822]

3. Or Nigeria

Did he have to reboard the plane in Amsterdam? If all he had to do was get on in Nigeria and wait out the layover in Amsterdam, then it would seem that all flights originating from developing nations are vulnerable...and out of US jurisdiction.

[Shagbark Hickory]

5. And if they didn't rescreen at Amsterdam, then it's still their fuckup! Those fuckups.

Who doesn't rescreen a plane from Nigeria?
A bunch of fuckups, that's who.

[stray cat]

2. I think they want to prevent bombers and bombs from getting on the plane

in that sense the system failed. There were some warnings but they didn't get communicated to the right people.

[Christa]

4. I will try and explain

Security at our airports will not increase our safety in any way.

He should have been screened before he boarded the plane. There were enough red flags - the moment someone arrives at the gates to board, ticket and boarding pass in hand it is too late.

[GCP]

13. I'm wondering how the hell he was alllowed on board without a passport

I heard on CNN radio that another tall Indian-looking guy talked the counter agent into letting him on board. This was reported by some passengers who were immediately behind him in line at the desk.
I thought it was no passport - no travel, unless you had permission from the local consul of the country issuing the passport, for emergency purposes only, (death in family for instance).

[Christa]

17. It is highly impossible

I doubt he was allowed to board without a passport.

Let's wait for the evidence. No one can board a plane without a passport.

[evan2]

6. Some will argue it was a success

Because it was an intel operation, designed to ratchet-up fear and prep the nation for...good Lord knows what they've got
planned. Attack on Yemeni? Nigeria? Reminder that it isn't just Osama, it's ALL of "them"? Prompt Congress to increase
corporate welfare to "security" industrial complex? Punish the Dutch for some reason? Who knows.

[GCP]

14. Puleeze

:eyes:

[NJmaverick]

7. Break it down to the most basic components

We created a system that was suppose to make it difficult, if not impossible, for a terrorist to smuggle weapons or explosives onto a plane. In this case a terrorists, who our nation received tips about, was able to smuggle explosives on the plane. The failure to detonate does not negate the failure to stop him at the gate. As for the international aspect, that was supposed to be addressed as well.

[customerserviceguy]

8. Don't we have Customs screening at all foreign airports

that fly people to the US? Perhaps that's where people put the blame on our government.

[HughMoran]

15. This might be it

I know I've been on flights back to the US where we got special screening by US agents. I was surprised that there were US agents in foreign airports.

[dgibby]

9. He should have been placed on our "no fly" list.

There were red flags everywhere, including his father's warnings to the US. We had the info we needed, but didn't share it within our own security agencies. Even Pres. Obama said it was a "systemic failure" on our part.

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. I was wondering the same thing.

Since when does the US have to be responsible for the rest of the world's actions?

[OHdem10]

11. It was a faiure in Intelligence. He should have been stopped

before ever getting to airport.

[mmonk]

12. It doesn't. It provides the excuse for more dollars to the private

security industry as we move deeper into a corporate state.

[freddie mertz]

16. The "no fly" list is international and "works" for flights into US

But obviously the system failed this time.

[FarCenter]

18. The correlation of information from multiple sources was not done or not acted upon

The warning of the US embassy in Lagos was not put together with the visa denial by the UK, for example.

Had all the data been associated to the single individual, it should then have been used to deny his boarding or at least to require additional screening, including a pat-down at Lagos and Amsterdam.