Law enforcement Quote by John Stossel
““On September 11, it was government that failed. Law enforcement agencies didn't detect the plot. The FBI had reports that said young men on the terrorist watch list were going from flight school to flight school, trying to find an instructor who would teach them how to fly a commercial jet. But the FBI never acted on it. The INS let the hijackers in. Three of them had expired visas. Months after the attack, the government issued visas to two dead hijackers. The solution to such government incompetence is to give the government more power? Congress could have done what Amsterdam, Belfast, Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, London, Paris, and Rome did: set tough standards and let private companies compete to meet them. Many of those cities switched to private companies because they realized government-run security wasn't working very well. Private-sector competition keeps the screeners alert because the airport can fire them. No one can fire the government; that's a reason government agencies gradually deteriorate. There's no competition.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: 60 Minutes, CBS, 2004
Government security agencies failed to prevent the 9/11 attacks due to lack of accountability and competition; private sector could improve vigilance through market forces.
In simple terms: Government security failed; competition could help.
Key Takeaway
Consider privatizing security oversight.
Themes
security
government
accountability
competition
terrorism
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
political
analytical
When to use this quote
- airport security
- policy reform
- government oversight
- private contractors
Key Concepts
public policy
risk management
privatization
Questions to Reflect On
- How can accountability be ensured in private security?
- What safeguards prevent profit motives from compromising safety?
A Different Perspective
Private competition may prioritize profit over public safety.
