December 29th, 2009
10:59 AM ET
9 years ago

The return of terror politics

[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/11/20/cia.coverup.charge/art.hoekstra.gi.jpg caption="Rep. Peter Hoekstra posted a message on Twitter accusing the administration of 'stonewalling.'"]Washington (CNN) - When President Obama spoke out on the terrorism scare in Detroit, Michigan, he entered a debate that had already begun over his administration's new approach to combating terrorism.

"As a nation we will do everything in our power to protect our country," Obama said while vacationing in Hawaii. "We will continue to use every element of our national power to disrupt, to dismantle and defeat the violent extremists who threaten us, whether they are from Afghanistan or Pakistan, Yemen or Somalia, or anywhere where they are plotting attacks against the U.S. homeland."

Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab is being held for allegedly trying to blow up a flight carrying 300 passengers on Christmas Day. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility Monday for the attack, saying it was in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Yemeni soil.

On Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano initially gave something of a thumbs up to the government's handling of the Detroit terror scare.

"One thing I want to point out is that the system worked. Everybody played an important role here. The passengers and crew of the flight took appropriate action," Napolitano said on CNN's State of the Union.

Within minutes, Republicans went on the attack.

"Earlier today Secretary Napolitano said the system worked. in fact the system did not work," Rep. Peter King, R-New York, said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Full story


Filed under: Peter Hoekstra • Peter King • President Obama
soundoff (82 Responses)
  1. Mike in Fairfax

    Really people... all the blame on Republicans?? And GW was to blame for 9/11!!?? Seems to me Bin Ladin was in the crosshairs, finger on the trigger, and one Bill Clinton told them to lay down their arms and let him go. But what does that have to do with anything really? The enemy is out there and we all need to work together to bring them down. That doesn't mean we need to buy them chocolates for Valentines Day either.

    December 29, 2009 02:27 pm at 2:27 pm |
  2. wwf

    Man. lots of stupid people out there. What really scares me is that many of them voted and will vote again.

    December 29, 2009 02:32 pm at 2:32 pm |
  3. JonDie

    Republicans have NOTHING else to offer the US but fear and failure...just like they gave us from 2001 to 2009.

    December 29, 2009 02:32 pm at 2:32 pm |
  4. Gerry NH

    In 2008 the democrats were in charge of congress. Also before George Bush became president Saudi Arabia offered Bel Ladin to the United States and Bill Clinton did not take them up on it. Remember the democrats took over congress in 2006.

    December 29, 2009 02:33 pm at 2:33 pm |
  5. samm in ny

    Ok.....The Cole was attacked under a democrat...not a republican. 9/11 happened 9 months after Bush took office. This was after 8 years of Clinton....Bush took a hard line against terrorists, and love him or hate him, Americans were safer. That has nothing to do with his political party. That came from his love for this country. Barack Obama has done nothing but apologize for what America has done in its own defense, and has put this country down. He has invited these attacks because the terrorists know he may talk a good game, but he is all bark.....NO BITE

    December 29, 2009 02:33 pm at 2:33 pm |
  6. MikeH

    The first thing that needs to be done is purge all the last-minute Bush appointees to the Department of Homeland Security. They are most likely Right-Wing Republican political sabotuers. They will let Americans come to harm in order to advance the Right-Wing Republican cause.

    Hoekstra and DeMint are traitors, giving aid and comfort to our enemies by interfering with the confirmation of the head opf the TSA.

    December 29, 2009 02:34 pm at 2:34 pm |
  7. Susan

    Let's all "BE AFRAID ... BE VERY AFRAID". That's what the republicans want. Interjecting the "politics of fear" is the very last thing we need. The "fear tactics" may have worked during the 8 Bush years, but not today. I, for one, have come to believe that every aspect of "what happens", "when it happens" and "why it happens" can not be controlled.

    December 29, 2009 02:55 pm at 2:55 pm |
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