Security Measures Ramped up After Foiled Terrorist Attack

In the wake of a thwarted terrorist attempt to take down a Detroit-bound plane on Christmas Day, the Transportation Security Administration announced stepped up security measures on Saturday. The agency did not spell out details, but a TSA official who did not want to be identified told Politics Daily that no new restrictions are being imposed on the number of carry-on bags. Examples of increasedsecurity will include a variety of measures including, the official said, "increased pat downs and gate screening as well as having to stow carry-ons and personal items such as pillows.

"TSA has a layered approach to security that allows us to surge resources as needed on a daily basis," the official said. " We have the ability to quickly implement additional screening measures including explosive detection canine teams, gate screening, behavior detection and other measures both seen and unseen. These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passenger should not expect to see the same thing at every airport."

On Sunday, American Airlines, on its website, was advising passengers on flights starting outside the U.S. to arrive at airports three hours early for extra screening. Fliers from New Delhi, India should get to the airport 3.5 hours early

Air Canada said on its website that it was putting into effect limitations on carry-on items: "In response to new government policies and in order to reduce delays caused by the enhanced security measures for flights operating into the United States, effective Sunday, December 27, and until further notice, carry-on baggage will be restricted to one personal item (purse, computer bag, diaper bag, brief case or small backpack). All other items (roller bags, large backpacks, etc) must be checked-in." The airline said the new restrictions were temporary.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement that "additional screening measures into place - for all domestic and international flights - to ensure the continued safety of the traveling public" were put in place after the incident, where passengers and crew subdued Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the man charged Saturday by the Department of Justice with trying to take down Northwest Flight 253.

"We are also working closely with federal, state and local law enforcement on additional security measures, as well as our international partners on enhanced security at airports and on flights. The American people should continue their planned holiday travel and, as always, be observant and aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious behavior or activity to law enforcement officials," Napolitano said.

She added that the security measures "are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same thing everywhere. Due to the busy holiday travel season, both domestic and international travelers should allot extra time for check-in."

The Obama team booked Napolitano to appear on three Sunday news shows in order to reassure the public on the safety of air travel and discuss security in the wake of the failure of screening to prevent Abdulmutallab from boarding Flight 253 with an incendiary device. He flew from Lagos, Nigeria to Amsterdam, where he boarded the Detroit-bound flight - even though his father reported his radicalization to the U.S. embassy in Nigeria. Abdulmutallab was on a general terrorist watch list - known as "TIDES" - but not on a no-fly list.

On CNN's "State of the Union," Napolitano asserted "the system worked"

"What we are focused on is making sure that the air environment remains safe, that people are confident when they travel. And one thing I'd like to point out is that the system worked. Everybody played an important role here. The passengers and crew of the flight took appropriate action. Within literally an hour to 90 minutes of the incident occurring, all 128 flights in the air (from Europe) had been notified to take some special measures in light of what had occurred on the Northwest Airlines flight. We instituted new measures on the ground and at screening areas, both here in the United States and in Europe, where this flight originated."

"So the whole process of making sure that we respond properly, correctly and effectively went very smoothly," Napolitano said.

Napolitano's assessment was challenged by Rep. Peter King, the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, who said on CBS' Face the Nation, "Secretary Napolitano said the system worked. The fact is the system did not work. And we have to find a bipartisan way to fix it. He made it on the plane with explosives and he detonated the explosives. If that had been successful, the plane would have come down and we would have had a Christmas Day massacre with almost 300 people murdered. So this came within probably seconds or inches of working."

Napolitano told CNN there was no air marshal on the flight because "we do not have air marshals on all flights. They are assigned on a random basis."