From Obama, tough words, no pink slips

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Sam Youngman - 01/05/10 08:21 PM ET

President Barack Obama said Tuesday that he demands perfection from the U.S. intelligence community, but stopped short of saying he will fire administration officials who could have done more to thwart an attempted terrorist attack on Christmas Day.

Obama, having met with his national security team for about two hours, said that intelligence agencies had enough information to prevent Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab from boarding a plane to Detroit, but they failed to act on it.

“That’s not acceptable, and I will not tolerate it,” Obama said.

Obama ordered reviews into the “human and systemic failures” that allowed Abdulmutallab to board a plane to Detroit, on which he attempted to set off an explosive device.

more: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/74511-from-obama-tough-words-no-pink-slips

[atreides1]

1. Same old thing

Talk tough and carry a nerf stick!:D

[FrenchieCat]

2. I think that it is too soon to have those in the instantaneous media

making this claim.

They do not know what his going to happen,
and therefore, instead of making up news to suit their timeline,
they ought to report on what is going on, not what they want.

As Pres. Obama famously said...."I like to know what I am talking about".

Considering that this entire incident is still under review,
him firing someone just because he can is not an answer,
it would be a move made to look strong, politically.
That's not the kind of President that we need.


This only illustrates the sad state of journalism, if you ask me.

[Cha]

13. Of course, it's too early..but not too early for

those writing about it to jump the gun and offer a scenario as fact for whatever reason.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. I reminded of a historic Onion article.

Title: "LINDBERGH BABY KIDNAPPED!"

Subtitle: "Immigrant to be found and punished."

[jenmito]

4. Robert Gibbs said today that they don't know yet if any "heads will roll" since

the reviews aren't finished yet. But I doubt he'll be giving anyone the Medal of Freedom for this.

[CreekDog]

5. Should we fire experienced but imperfect people and replace them with novices?

Kind of like shooting my face because I don't like how I look in the mirror. :eyes:

[tabatha]

6. No, he should get rid of Bush plants.

[DrDan]

9. is that the only option?

Are you suggesting there is no more experience out there?

Would it have been ok to fire them should the explosives have worked?

There was enough info to have taken action. Someone screwed up - and was very lucky that the results were not different.

[CreekDog]

10. basically, i'm questioning the desire for scapegoating and saying it can be counterproductive

if the mistake made was a human mistake from an otherwise good employee --do your recommend firing them?

if you do, then you should also realize it will happen again, but you may have lost an otherwise good employee as a result.

i like the idea of people being fired for incompetence and/or gross misconduct, but i hate the idea of scapegoating.

scapegoating is perhaps emotionally satisfying. if you want Obama to lead Donald Trump style for reality tv, then this is what you want.

not me.

(and i don't know if what i'm criticizing is a sentiment held by you, but it is widely held in this thread and among DUers and i'm taking aim at it right here)

[DrDan]

11. I certainly am not in favor of seeking a scapegoat

But if this was due to incompetence - then I have no problem with the individual(s) being dealt with appropriately - to include termination. Hundreds of lives could have been lost due to the appropriate action not being taken.

I hate the idea of scapegoats taking the fall - but it is time we have an administration that does more than talk about taking appropriate action, and actually does something.

What has been the lesson learned. If in doubt do nothing - you will save your job.

We have not evolved past "heckofajob, Brownie".

[DevonRex]

7. From the article:

"White House officials would not say Tuesday whether the president would fire or ask for the resignation of any officials charged with collecting and sharing intelligence."

That's a far cry from "no pink slips."

[HughMoran]

8. Obama ordered reviews into the “human and systemic failures” that allowed Abdulmutallab to board ...

...a plane to Detroit...

Should he know who to fire without first reviewing the facts?

I hope Obama is not Bush-like in his decision making.

[DrDan]

12. "intelligence agencies had enough information to prevent Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab from boarding"

So why did they not act?

They knew enough to do so - but failed. Hundreds could have died.

Sounds like the facts are there - now time to see appropriate leadership - not another speech.

[HughMoran]

14. ...which is why he's ordered a review!

:think:

[DrDan]

15. so you are saying he has made this conclusion before the review

interesting . . . I know he walks on water in the opinion of many here - and this would certainly substantiate that

[HughMoran]

17. It's one thing to know that 'there was a problem', it's another to know who was responsible

This is fundamental logical progression - are you denying that what he is doing makes sense logically?

Do you initiate investigations when you are sure everything went just swimmingly?

[DrDan]

18. "we know what happened, we know what didn't happen, we know how to fix it"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/07/christmas-bomber-report-james-jones_n_414305.html

[ShortnFiery]

16. Just like BushCo: Nobody takes the blame.

Every thing's fine except BE AFRAID!

FULL BODY SCANS FOR ALL!

More surveillance and longer lines for peasants!

Bugga bugga boo!