Would the incident on Northwest 253 have happened if McCain were Preside?

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I'm curious as to the partisan breakdown on this.

[Mint]

Probably, or if not that then something like it.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Definitely

[MODU]

Yes, especially since this was a foreign flight.  We don't have too much control over the screen process done by other nations.  However, it seems that there were more advanced screening processes that could have been done overseas, but since the US has yet to approve the practice, the passengers coming to the US do not have to go through that process.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Definitely not. McCain would have prevented this for sure.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Yeah, probably.

Janet Napolitano should still resign, even if only for the frustratingly "but we did most stuff right" way she's handling this.

[Franzl]

Yes, especially since this was a foreign flight.  We don't have too much control over the screen process done by other nations.  However, it seems that there were more advanced screening processes that could have been done overseas, but since the US has yet to approve the practice, the passengers coming to the US do not have to go through that process.

I go through Amsterdam quite often en route to the US, and I've always found that their security is very efficient and thorough, superior to most US airports.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

Probably (R)

as long as we continue to go about this randomly and not profile people, we're going to be more open to attack

[© tweed]

who on Earth knows?  causality is infinitely complex.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

who on Earth knows?  causality is infinitely complex.

I'd wager this was planned long before Obama was elected and the causality is simple - muslim extremists hate Americans ( so do others).

[© tweed]

who on Earth knows?  causality is infinitely complex.

I'd wager this was planned long before Obama was elected and the causality is simple - muslim extremists hate Americans ( so do others).

yes, and it obviously ends there.  'Muslim extremists' hate Americans because they do, and for no other possible reason.  it is just a universal truth.  the Big Bang, the coefficient of gravity, and Muslim extremists hating Americans and blowing up planes.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Probably.

[Magic 8-Ball]

Probably (I/O)

[J. J.]

Probably.

This is a problem for Obama, but a perception and PR problem.

[anvi]

Probably.  The president doesn't assemble or cull suspect and no fly lists himself.  Wherther those lists are examined properly and whether the president is informed depends on the structural and human factors operating in our intelligence agencies.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Janet Napolitano should still resign, even if only for the frustratingly "but we did most stuff right" way she's handling this.

I disagree.  I think she definitely mishandled the ways she spoke, but honestly, this was more a mistake in Amsterdam than it was here in America.

[2952-0-0]

McCain would have been on that flight and personally used his super-vision to detect the powder on the man's lap and wrestled him onto the ground by yelling,"GET OFF MY LAWN!!"

[Franzl]

Janet Napolitano should still resign, even if only for the frustratingly "but we did most stuff right" way she's handling this.

I disagree.  I think she definitely mishandled the ways she spoke, but honestly, this was more a mistake in Amsterdam than it was here in America.

How so? Granted, it was a mistake that he got through security with something explosive, but it is still quite incredible that a guy US intelligence was warned about got a visa to enter the United States.

[Middle-aged Europe]

No, because President McCain would have reinstated Jack Bauer as federal agent.

[Brittain33]

I go through Amsterdam quite often en route to the US, and I've always found that their security is very efficient and thorough, superior to most US airports.

I flew through Amsterdam with my partner twice when I was in my early 20s and he was in his late 20s. The first time, we didn't out ourselves, and had a lengthy interview about our visit to Gothenberg to check for consistency and nerves. The second time, returning from Barcelona, we immediately said we were partners, and had only a cursory interview. This was good to know.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I go through Amsterdam quite often en route to the US, and I've always found that their security is very efficient and thorough, superior to most US airports.

I flew through Amsterdam with my partner twice when I was in my early 20s and he was in his late 20s. The first time, we didn't out ourselves, and had a lengthy interview about our visit to Gothenberg to check for consistency and nerves. The second time, returning from Barcelona, we immediately said we were partners, and had only a cursory interview. This was good to know.

brittain brings up a good point, as ususal.  There is an interview process in Amsterdam, right?  So who interviewed this guy?

[Psychic Octopus]

Probably, although the "butterfly effect" could make this event never happen.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Probably, although the "butterfly effect" could make this event never happen.

I understand that, which is why I made the choices "Probably" and "Probably not" - clearly nobody knows what would've happened had McCain have been elected.