The Right Way to Respond to the Christmas Terrorist Attack

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We know very little about the technology infrastructure and architecture that has failed so systemically with respect to recent terrorists or White House gate crashers, for that matter.
Let's use Cloud Computing to keep track and compile and collate this information the way we can keep track of customer relations, inventory, packages, Internet traffic.
I bet that there is a huge opportunity to solve this problem creatively with Salesforce.com and Force.com and Amazon and Google and Apple by managing to connect the dots in the Cloud rather than close the bathrooms and collect the blankets in the cloud.

Charles Atkinson of MA 9:46AM December 31, 2009

How risk averse are we? Even in the worst years the number of people harmed by this kind of thing is insignificant (in 2001 less than 0.1% of American deaths were the result of terrorism). Everything visible that is done in the name of security is really there to make people feel better and effect it has does not compare to the negative impact it has on regular people just going about their business. How long will it be before traveling requires you to check everything (the clothes on your back included) to be returned to you once you arrive at the other end, go through a body cavity search, then be issued paper clothes to protect your modesty when you fly. Even given such ridiculous measures, someone will eventually find a way to perpetrate an attack.

Alex of VA 2:19AM December 31, 2009

I can’t believe that our great nation has such "unintelligent" people serving the State Department and the intelligence services. It is so pathetic that we cannot find good competition individuals to fill important positions, people who can connect the dots and take timely action.
Time and again the CIA, FBI and other "so called" Intelligence Service Agencies have done a terrible job of preventing an attack on the nation and its people. What good does it do spending billions on hiring intelligence officers who do not know what to do with important information on terrorists. Like the massive pre-911 bungle up between the CIA, FBI and others agencies. This incident shows how incompetent and "unintelligent" our intelligence service people are.
As part of his review the President should demand full and thorough accounting of why and how this incident was allowed to happened, in spite of the fact that there was so much information was already available, with so many red flags. Those responsible should be fired and thrown in prison for such gross incompetence and reckless endangerment. Ratcheting up the security check and putting more restrictions on ordinary law abiding travelers will only make traveler’s lives of more difficult and miserable, not to mention adding cost to travel and causing delays.

Chris of FL 1:54PM December 30, 2009

The British,Bob,have been in our drawers for most of the last century.They harbor & abet radical muslims that have America in their croshairs- which gives The Realm plausible deniability.They are no friend of ours & have everything to gain-or should it be stated re-gain ,by helping to select this man impersonating a U.S. President.

Fellow Texan of TX 5:33AM December 30, 2009

Security can't even keep a couple of idiots trying for a "reality" TV show out of a party they weren't invited to.

Shaking My Head of IL 3:09AM December 30, 2009

SKIP THE P.C. - TOLERANCE CRAP AND START PROFILING!!!!!!

R.L. Schaefer of CA 8:27PM December 29, 2009

Why is it that the security folks in the UK were smart enough to not let the terrorist into their country while the idiots in the US had no concerns with letting him in??????
This was an individual we were warned about, and one who bought a ticket with cash and had no luggage. A three year old would be smart enough to know this individual required special scrutiny.
I think we have to resort to some type of profiling. No luggage on an international flight, you get checked out. Buy a one way ticket with cash, you get checked out. Your name is on the list of 500,000 possible terrorists, you get checked out.
Entering the US is a privledge, not a right. If you are offended by some extra scrutiny, stay in your home country. We are too concerned with offending someone and not concerned enough with protecting our people.
I was subjected to extra scrutiny (checked bag search, special personal security check including pat down) when I flew into one city in South America and back from another. Not a lot of fun, but I accepted the intrusion and thanked the TSA folks for doing their jobs.
Instead, we tell an eighty year grandmother flying from NY to Cleveland she can't use the lav for most of the flight. That makes me feel real safe.

Bob of TX 5:59PM December 29, 2009

We must eliminate the enemy from our soil and we'll end this problem once and for all.
Close all Muslim related activity in the U.S.
If they are on any list don't let them enter and remove those who are suspected. Profiling is the only defense and is our right!!
Stereotypes fit like a glove so use it. Those who object are the guilty.
This religion is of no good or value. Those of you in denial will be the first to condemn them when your loved one dies!
For every good one there are many more bad. Do the math, if we don't allow it it won't happen.
This is not a matter of political correctness it is now a matter of our right to safety.
Only the strong can survive, we need strong and decisive leadership based on this.
We need a real president with real American values and culture to understand, be thankful for George W.Bush at least he loved and protected his country.
President Obama is the weakest and most unqualified president we could ask for following 9-11.
We need to elect leaders not sympathizers and socialists who only crave power.
Make a statement in 2010 say good riddance to the Harry Reid's / liberals of America.

Hung of NY 12:28PM December 29, 2009

That people waging WAR on the United States are treated like mere shoplifters is outrageous. Obama and his gang are putting us all in continual danger. His hare-brained idea of putting terrorists on trial in New York City is even more outrageous. Obama is unfit for office, and he should be impeached for incompetence and for aiding and abetting our enemies.

tanarg of MA 7:57AM December 29, 2009

Look, the idea of a plane exploding would harm the US economy and set off a great deal of consternation and fingerpointing. But at the end of the day, we'd be better off were we to recognize that our national interests are not served by policing the world. This creates blowback and thus, we have our terrorists to contend with. The primary blocks to a policy of isolationism include big business and neocons and their interventionist agenda. Put those two on the bench and we can realize a new and better era for the US.

Puller58 of TX 7:05AM December 29, 2009