Blame game won't stop terrorism
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/12/31/abdulmutallab.terror.radical.cleric/story.suspect.air.usm.jpg caption="Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab appears to have had contact with radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki." width=300 height=169]
Julian E. Zelizer
Special to CNN
Almost as soon as the botched Christmas airplane bombing hit the airwaves, the politics of national security reared its head.
Many Republicans quickly attacked President Obama for being responsible for the fact that Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab was able to walk onto an airplane with dangerous explosives despite the fact that the government had received warnings about him. They argued that the failure proved the White House was weak on terrorism.
"Soft talk about engagement, closing Gitmo," warned South Carolina Republican Jim DeMint, "these things are not going to appease the terrorists..." Representative Dan Burton of Indiana called for Janet Napolitano, who said the system "had worked," to step down. Napolitano, said Burton, "does not have the background or experience necessary to execute her responsibilities." Former Vice President Dick Cheney asked of the president, "Why doesn't he want to admit we're at war."
|
|
Filed under: 360° Radar • 360º Follow • Julian E. Zelizer • Terrorism |
About this Show:
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°
Subscribe to the podcast
On Twitter
Search the AC360 blog
Before setting up a 9/11 type commision, how about actually implementing the recommendations from the last 9/11 commision first? Bush failed to do that, and I guess Obama has been too busy apologizing to the wolrd to get around to it.