Legal Commentary

Obama's Response To The Attempted Terrorist Attack

By Big Tent Democrat

I largely agree with Glenn Greenwald that President Obama's response to the attempted terrorist attack on Northwest flight 253 was appropriate and intelligent.

I thought that the President's remarks acknowledging a "systemic failure" and promising a full investigation was the right thing to do. It certainly did not merit a "red alert" situation with meetings in the Situation Room. That said, I disagree with Glenn's description of the terror attempt as a "a lame, failed attempt to kill people by a fractured band of criminals." It was a failed attempt surely. But it was a serious threat and Islamic extremists are not just a "fractured band of criminals." The threat of terrorism by Islamic extremists is very serious. The President recognizes this. I disagree with progressives who attempt to diminish the seriousness of that threat.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on December 31, 2009 (boomark / email).