Janet Napolitano · "The system worked, but it could have worked faster."

Response to the failed 2009 Christmas Day bombing attempt on Northwest Airlines Flight 253, **2009** · Gecheckt op 22 april 2026

The system worked, but it could have worked faster.

Analyse

Napolitano’s statement—made on December 27, 2009—suggested the counterterrorism system functioned effectively, yet the attack exposed critical flaws: Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (the bomber) was on a U.S. watchlist but not the no-fly list, his visa wasn’t revoked despite warnings, and airport screening failed to detect explosives. While post-incident responses (e.g., passenger subduing, emergency landing) mitigated harm, the *preventive* system demonstrably failed. Her phrasing downplayed these lapses, prompting backlash and later clarifications from the Obama administration.

Achtergrond

The December 25, 2009, attempt involved Abdulmutallab boarding Flight 253 with PETN explosives hidden in his underwear, a plot linked to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The incident triggered reviews of watchlist protocols, visa revocation processes, and airport screening (leading to expanded use of full-body scanners). Napolitano, then-Homeland Security Secretary, faced criticism for her initial remarks, which contradicted evidence of systemic failures.

Samenvatting verdict

Janet Napolitano's claim that 'the system worked' after the 2009 Christmas Day bombing attempt was widely criticized as misleading, given the multiple intelligence and security failures that allowed the attacker to board the plane.

Geraadpleegde bronnen

— U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (2010). *A Terrorist on a Plane: The Failure to Connect the Dots in the Christmas Day Plot*. [https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/](https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/)

— The White House. (2010). *Review of the December 25, 2009 Attempted Terrorist Attack*. [Obama White House Archives](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/)

— CNN. (2009, December 28). *Napolitano: 'System worked' in thwarting attack*. [https://www.cnn.com](https://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/27/airline.attack.reaction/)

— The New York Times. (2009, December 28). *Officials Say U.S. Had Warnings on Suspect*. [https://www.nytimes.com](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/28/world/28intel.html)