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Thursday, October 29, 2026Oct 29

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Smith: In Context — National Security Failure

In the wake of a report showing a 97 percent failure rate in security procedures at 67 airports, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said, "The numbers in these reports never look good out of context, but they are a critical element in the continual evolution of our aviation security."
In the wake of a report showing a 97 percent failure rate in security procedures at 67 airports, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said, "The numbers in these reports never look good out of context, but they are a critical element in the continual evolution of our aviation security." In the wake of a report showing a 97 percent failure rate in security procedures at 67 airports, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said, "The numbers in these reports never look good out of context, but they are a critical element in the continual evolution of our aviation security."
photo Robin Smith

It’s easier to govern and campaign when your policies are based not on principles, but on appeasing groups of people. In doing so, there’s no need for consistency.

Need proof?

Last week, President Barack Obama signed a compromise bill into law that re-establishes the National Security Administration’s activity in collecting the phone records of all citizens under the expanded Patriot Act. According to much of the dialogue around this “meta-data” collection, without such a program America would be weaker in its ability to protect itself against terrorism.

Yet America’s borders are almost completely open and porous to any and all who wish to enter into the country, friend and foe alike.

If not for a decision by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, an executive order issued by Obama would unilaterally grant “legal status” to up to 4.3 million individuals present in America illegally.