Since the attempted Christmas Day terrorist attack on Flight 253, there has been much discussion of the Obama administration's reaction and what signals it's sending. The original tactic of releasing statements from various spokespeople was supposed to minimize the affect the attempt had on the country. Supposedly if the president didn't speak of it directly, then it didn't hurt/scare/concern the American people. Take two had Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano assuring the world that the system worked. Take three had her then backpedaling a day later to admit that the system did not work.

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Next came President Obama changing course in the face of criticism over his silence. In his first public comments on the attempted attack he promised, "We will not rest until we find all who were involved and hold them accountable". Then he went back to the golf course. The next day he took another break from his vacation to appear in front of the cameras (without a tie and in a jacket that looked several sizes too large) to declare that, "There was a mix of human and systemic failures that contributed to this potential catastrophic breach of security." (source)

What does all this indecisive, back and forth, trial and error brand of alleged leadership tell those who wish to do us harm? And what message is President Obama sending to the American people?

For the first time since the Flight 253 attack, Mr. Obama showed a hint of anger in his statement on Tuesday. But alas, it was not directed at Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab or the terrorist organization which has claimed responsibility for his actions. His anger was directed at the lapses in security and called the shortcomings "totally unacceptable". (source)

While an investigation into those lapses is necessary and will hopefully result in improved security for our homeland, it might be more effective for the president to strike some fear in the hearts of the enemy and to assure the American people that he knows who the enemy is. Continuing this unfocused response to a serious act of terrorism will only serve to embolden that enemy.